August 12 2007 Canal Lateral a la Marne

We are heading north east now and have phoned Pont a Bar on the Canal Des Ardennes to book the boat in for the winter. All of this has been done in French so we will keep our fingers crossed that all is OK when we get there.

Sillery
We went through this town last year but didn't stay. Boy, were we surprised when we got here the port was full of boats, all the pontoons, any available canal side and many rafted up. With our smaller boat we managed a canal spot then a pontoon next day. Most of the boats are from Belgium, Holland and Germany and are heading back home. Unfortunately for them a door on the lock at Charlville Meziers has been damaged by a boat and is closed for repairs so it is another reminder that you can never be sure of being anywhere at a certain time. They will have a three week wait unless they make a long detour through west Belgium.

The village has a very big war cemetary as there was heavy fighting around here.

Above the town are the Champagne vinyards and the Maire (Town Council) provides a car ride for people in the port up to the villages for sightseeing.

There is a windmill on the top of the highest hill at Maily built in 1820.

Verzenay has a Lighthouse which was built to attract buyers to his vinyard many years ago. Now it is a very good Champagne museum.






This poem was in the museum. A different side of Champagne.