Across from the Mairie we then toured the Moet-Chandon champagne winery as Epernay is in the heart of the Champagne vineyards. It was an interesting tour to see how champagne is produced. We toured their caves, tunneled into the chalk deposits which run throughout this area of France. They were quite extensive with over 35 kilometers of tunnels for storing and processing the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes into the world famous Moet-Chandon Champagne. We enjoyed our showers before going to bed.
Happiness is a pontoon with electricity, and luxury is a hot shower.
The next day, November 12, we left at 0930 to head a few kilometers back down the Marne to enter the Canal Lateral du Marne at Dizy. No more river currents against us. We did not encounter much traffic on the Marne, perhaps one or two peniches a day. The Marne river and associated canals are not the best maintained, and the route is not a heavily used one even in the summer season. However, the canal climbs at a higher rate, going up 34m in 67 km and 15 locks.