Nederlandse versieNinth day: from Chassignelles to Tanlay

The tenth birthday of Maarten dominates today. Everyone comes at our bed to sing and to give the presents  to Maarten. Maarten is satisfied. According to the program he has made for this day, we are having breakfast with a boiled egg. After that Charlotte and the two boys are going to play football at the football field which is situated near the lock. Meanwhile I decorate the boat at the outside. With a broom as a mast I fix a garland of flags from the prow to the stern. 

It isn't raining this morning and sometimes the sum appears between the clouds. I make a little walk to take a look at the wash house which is also situated near the lock.

We leave when the football players are back. At lock 80 a paper is handed over with instructions about the coming four locks. They are all electrical and have to be managed by our selves. We agree that Maarten and Pepijn takes turn to may manage them.  

We still are very pleased with the weather. It is dry and there are some bright intervals. At the last electrical lock a huge cement factory is situated. All the environment is covered with a coat of cement dust. We navigate on as soon as possible and arrive at half past twelve in Lézinnes. We eat the pastries because of Maarten's birthday at the picnic table there.

Because of the fresh wind we are having our lunch inside the boat. After lunch we also look in Lézinnes a wash house which is situated close to the river Armançon.

In the afternoon we navigate on to Tanlay. The canal gradually becomes more wide now. We meet also more other boats on the canal. We wave at each oncoming boat and in Tanlay we are moored together with two hotel boats and six pleasure-boats in the basin.

When we moor close to one of the hotel boats, Pepijn and Maarten already have seen the football fields near the basin and are playing football soon. They come back very hot and want to take a dive in the canal. The water is very cold in early spring but they jump into it all the same. After that they run to the boat to take a warm shower together.  
In the afternoon we look at the chateau of Tanlay which is built in the 16th century. It is a huge complex of buildings with a large park which is arranged partially as a golf course.
A moat is situated around the castle.

At the outside of it another wash house is hidden.  

In the evening I am cooking pancakes according to the wishes of Maarten and after that we have a wonderful evening sitting on a bench in the sunshine.