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Today was the canal equivalent of running downwind in the southern ocean – cold & fast! This morning we departed the dock just before 0800 and were in our first lock at 0810. By 1000 we had already passed through 4 locks, dropping a total of 32m We then had a 10nm run until theContinue reading “Day 19 France 16th November 2021”

Yesterday started at a very slow pace. The canals were still well behind schedule due to the long weekend and commercial vessels were given priority. Whilst we left the dock in Sains Les Marquion at 0800, were were promptly told there would be a two hour delay until we could join an appropriate ship inContinue reading “Day 17 & 18 France 15th November 2021”

This morning we back tracked along the peaceful canals of Sensee and turned onto the canal Du Nord so we could avoid the algae bloom up steam on the Sensee We were making great progress until we came to our first canal of the Nord. We noticed two dozen cargo vessels tied to the banksContinue reading “Day 16 France 13th 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 toContinue reading “Day 15 France 12 November 2021”

What a chilly morning it was this morning! It was so cold last night we left the diesel heater running. In the morning the thermometer outside read -2*C and the mooring lines were frozen stiff. The trusty Perkins engine didn’t miss a beat when we started it up and motored slowly out of Peruwelz yachtContinue reading “Day 13 Belgium into France 10th November 2021”

We experienced our chilliest morning so far this trip with outside temperatures below freezing with frost still on the grass and dock around us.9 The heater was switched on as soon as I woke up and then we all huddled in our bed until 0800. We departed Adeps haven and made our way to AsenseurContinue reading “Day 12 Belgium Canals 9th November 2021”

We started the day in Sombre parked under a railway bridge and conveniently next to a supermarket. Em took the opportunity to stock up on groceries while Rich and the kids got ready for a big day ahead of 7 locks and 50km of canals. We departed at 0930 snd turned north along Charleroi BrusselsContinue reading “Day 10 Belgium Canals 8th November”

We started our day in Namur finding low water pressure when Emilie filled the kettle. After dipping water and fuel tanks we found we were unexpectedly low on both (the joys of learning our née boat), so our mission for the morning was to top up on fuel and water. This is not as easyContinue reading “Day 9 Belgium Canals 7 November”

This morning we woke to the serenity of Huy and as the sun rose over the nuclear power station we let go lines to continue up the Meuse. Today we entered two very large locks. The first with two big cargo ships, the second we were alone. The bollards in the big locks are aboutContinue reading “Day 8 Belgium Canals 6th November”

This morning we woke to a rising barometer and blue sky. It was noticeably warmer and we didn’t even need the heater for the morning routine. We departed Rekem with all hatches open to dry out the boat. Our first lock was Neerhaem with where we rntered alone and rose 8.8m. This canal was followedContinue reading “Day 7 Belgium canals 5th November 2021”