France really is tres bon. Today we went down 2 locks to take us from the Canal de Garonne to the River Baise. The river has more bends than the canal so is more interesting for the person steering. The countryside was largely forested but we saw fields of sunflowers and of corn, as well as what seemed to be a boarded up, deserted chalet. We arrived at Vianne around lunchtime and encountered the first lock where we were going up instead of down. From now on the will always be locking up because we are going upstream. Lorraine had to hop out of the boat before the lock and climb up some steps to the top. When she got there she discovered that she was on the wrong side for the lock mechanism so she had to clamber across the lock gates to get there. I took the boat in alone and once it was stopped (more or less) I had to throw the bow rope up to her. We made it on the second try. I then tried to throw the stern rope up but there was no room to swing my arm back and it didn't go nearly far enough. By the third throw I was getting wet and the rope was really heavy from falling in the water. Lorraine had the bright idea of tying it to the first rope and hauling it up. That worked well, thank goodness, otherwise we'd still be there. Lorraine says that I throw like a girl! She has been very good at leaping out of the boat and working the lock mechanisms, and she takes a pride in keeping our water tanks topped up. Vianne is a very historical town and was the home of Eleanor of Aquitane, famous for marrying, first the king of France and then, the king of England. What a woman! The town is surrounded by a high wall with a gate in each of it's four sides. I'd estimate that it is less than a kilometre per side. We had a walk around the town in the heat of the afternoon and returned this evening for a delicious meal at a cafe in the town square. The square is full of chestnut trees which are dropping chestnuts everywhere - and no one seems to be picking them up to take home and roast! We forgot to take our torches into town but there was enough light to find our way to the boat and climb aboard. We have been in bed by 9.30 every night, so tonight was a big night out because we got home at 10.00. Lorraine is already tucked up in her cabin and I am ready for mine. We have 5 locks tomorrow and about 11 km to our next port. Bon soir.