Reached Paris

We have been pressing on fast since Joigny. Firstly we went to Sens and the following day, aster a fast run, reached Montereau at the junction of the Yonne and Seine Rivers. Since then, we have travelled 96km in two days and reached the Southern part of Paris, several days ahead of schedule. We have even managed to finish varnishing the mast and the rustproofing under the floor! We quite enjoy the Seine and have been able to "tag along" with a commercial barge and therefore experience very little delay at the locks.

 Montereau at the junction of the Yonne and Seine Rivers

We have been travelling more slowly on the Seine this year because it is not in flood. However that is also more relaxing as well.

Next, we will have a long day transiting Paris and staying on the North side at the end of the day. We will then be in the area where the Impressionists painted.

 The difficult tank (circular with red button in middle)

You will recall we were disappointed to find that we could not use the electric water heater to also heat water from waste heat produced by the engine. Well, we had further problems with it because it started to leak and the element developed a fault. So, I (David) emptied it and isolated it from our hot water system. I then decided to try and remove the tank and actually succeeded in finally removing it. It is 17 years old. Rather than buy a new element and put it back, we have decided to buy a new one which will also let us connect up the engine to it for "free" hot water. The main challenge is finding an address where it can be delivered as we are moving rapidly further away towards the North.

We also had a problem with the Bowthruster batteries which have rapidly died. They are seven years old and we have ordered replacements which we should receive in a couple of days. The Bowthruster is a "nice to have" rather than a "must have" item.

Penny teaches the carpet "Who is the Boss" between the Seine and railway line