The bar on the Aube.
We have to leave the campsite in Dienville our home for the last two nights. Our next few stops are into the unknown, we believe that Bar sur Aube has a campsite but have been unable to verify this which is a little worrying. Since the local boulongerie opens at 6.30 we get an early start. Off down the road it’s only 6kmm till Jessains and our coffee stop. On the way we cross the canal d’amenée which is a feeder canal joining the lake near where we were camped to the river we are now following upstream. Flooding has been a chronic problem in this area and theany gravel pit lakes are linked and used for flood control. It is even possible that water can flow either way at need large sluices and only 3m difference in spot hieght beside the Aube river and lake makes this entirely possible.
Coffee stop complete we move off and are a little disturbed by the name of the next village. L’Autre Monde, and wonder if we will be unchanged after passing through. Sadly it seems a standard French village not a parallel universe.
We now walk down the road in the valley of the Aube the water in which should by devious means find its way into the Seine River and through Paris to Le Have. We have not yet reached the watershed to the Seine and Rhone rivers.
There is a fountain or source along the roadside and many more marked on the map. There is a sign proudly announcing we are entering another champagne growing area but we see few vineyards and think they are higher on the chalky slopes above and thus all the water sources on the map.
Soon enough we get to Proverville just the width of the river away from our destination. We are outside the church having lunch when we’re accosted by a French, originally Polish lady who never stops talking. She seems not even to draw breath and is overjoyed to discover we are walking to Rome, she plys us with bottled water and sweets. The water is heavy and Tony and Tim when we eventually get away have to carry it around the streets of Bar de Aube as we discover that the possible campingsite has morphed into a tourist park where you can stay in wheeled gypsy style caravans at expensive rates
The internet and Tony’s abilities find us a three bedroom room in a hotel down the road for 60 euros
We still have solve the problems of accommodation for the next few nights!