After Lyon we entered the Saône. The river was quieter and more rural than the Rhône, but it was also shallower. The depth sounder became an increasingly important instrument.

Into Burgundy

We moved north through towns such as Neuville-sur-Saône and Mâcon, where we happened to be moored for the Bastille Day celebrations. The journey was now taking us into Burgundy — a landscape of rivers, villages, food and wine.

As the water beneath the keel reduced, the real test still lay ahead: the Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne.