Day 15 France 12 November 2021

Yesterday we toured Valenciennes looking for a bakery before heading off shortly before 10am. On arrival at our first lock we found out that locks and canals were all closed for Armistice day. So we turned around snd headed back to the marina at Valenciennes.

I took the “day off” as a good opportunity to wash down the boat deck to hull. Emilie’s father told us we should experience the local beer, so we found a nice pub for lunch. The pub involved a tram ride which was the highlight of Max’s trip!

After the pub we returned to the boat and I cleaned out the bilge while Emilie did puzzles with the kids.

This morning we woke up early to try to make up for lost time. There is a superstition that ships should never sail on a Friday… well we had one of those days.

On departure from the marina we had to turn the 45ft yacht with 10ft mast overhang in a 60ft river with 2kts of river current. The boat just did not want to turn, and it took quite a bit of persistence.

As we made our way up the river a cargo ship approached taking up most of the channel, I was forced to starboard and took out a tree branch in the process.

At our first lock Emilie reported to the office with boat papers to get our official VNF waterways pass. Emilie returned snd we passed through the lock. At the next lock however they told us that we left some papers behind do we motored all the way back to the first lock.

The rest of the day followed suit with two steps forward one step back. It was so comical Emilie and I could only laugh about it!

Where the canal split in two the other vessels continued on the Sensee canal and we followed the Escaut. At our next lock Pont Du Bassn Rond we picked up our remote control for opening up the small locks to Paris. The remote looks a bit like a 1980’s roller garage door opener and took a while to get used to.

Throughout the day we were trying to contact the office of the tunnel we plan to enter on Sunday. It took a whole day of calling around, leaving messages and we have still not been successful. It seems everybody is on holidays until the 15th!

We continued along the Escaut to Cambri where we would stop for the night. We were laughing on the way to the marina how our day could not get much worse. As we were parking the boat along the dock, we could almost breathe a sigh of relief. Max was on deck “helping” and put a line over the side. Before we could blink it was wrapped around the prop!

I have dived in cold water in my life, but 4*C with only a short wetsuit is pretty bloody cold! It took me three dives, returning to the marina to warm up my head, but the rope came off easy and we were ready to leave tomorrow. But…. while I was diving Emilie was talking to the men from the boat next door. Emile discussed our route and the shook their heads, informing her the canals are clogged with algae and another boat had recently been stuck fast in the algae ahead for over a week!

We are now re routing our passage to go down the Canal Du Norde to Paris Hopefully tomorrow will not be quite as adventurous as today!