Tuesday 2nd July 2013
The
marina at Revin was so pretty. It was located adjacent beautiful mansions
with sweeping green, manicured backyards
backing onto the water. We were in a quiet little branch off the main river. No
current to contend with.
However,
it was very apparent we were no longer in Holland. People were minding their
own business, no one came running to help. Helping was the hallmark of docking in
the Netherlands.
It was necessary to pull alongside a moored boat...
Nancy and
Roger were perfect neighbours. Ever so friendly, generous, interesting and thoughtful. They happily shared their
local knowledge, their boat, their tips and their booty from the boulangerie
next morning.
Long
conversations with our Utrecht friends, who were also moored there, revealed their proven experience with DAF engines and boating
knowledge.......
Where
were they the next morning, when once we had left and travelled 15 min, our bow thruster
stopped working?
Who do
you call?......not "Ghost Busters" but Johan !
 |
| A familiar sight |
We had made it through the first lock
and moored alongside the exit...out in the middle of absolutely nowhere....just
the river, the wooded valley and us.... Couldn't locate the circuit
breaker....hang on...the ignition had also stopped ....it was the battery.
I don't
know the rule about just how many lucky stars you are entitled to count....had
we used up our quotient?....but IF we hadn't bought one of the 2 batteries we
ordered yesterday we would have been well and truly snookered!
 |
| The place of engine failure |
I can't
go there mentally...the consequences are too ugly!!
Johan
called back...he had apparently told G that REAL sailors don't need bow
thrusters ! He never missed an opportunity to lighten the moment with
jocularity.
It was now a glorious day. Very warm, clear and bathed in sunshine
Confidence boosters were few and far between. Amongst all the chatter with fellow boaters came the customary well wishes for a wonderful holiday....I couldn't help but feel the need to correct them...with due respect, we were on a mission, NOT a holiday. All these travellers had already done the journey we were attempting. Without fail, the mention of our time frame triggered concern. I kept a positive spin on it, .......but I wondered what was said in our absence?
We were chugging away nicely now, stocked with goodies from the boulangerie. This was more like it. The forested valley leading the way, fresh baguettes converted into BLT's, enjoying our first doses of vitamin D sprawled on the roof.
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| Chateau Regnault |
 |
| Chateau Regnault |
 |
| Chateau Regnault |
 |
| Passing Charleville-Mezieres |
We observed how strong the current was. Since ours is an upstream trajectory, we power against it everyday.It has an impact on fuel economy as noted when we
hovered and turned back downstream at Fumay..going WITH the current, just a
mere engine idle resulted in 12 knots. How much easier would it be going the
opposite direction?
Tonight
represents approximately halfway...in kilometres only.
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| Our mooring at Flize |
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| Our mooring at Flize |
Totals:
Locks:
9
Distance: 52 km
Overall:
422 out of 956
Charleville-Mézières
Siituated amongst
Ardennes dramatic valleys and deep forests, shaped by the meandering river
Meuse, it is the gateway to the district and the world capital of puppetry.
It is a city of
culture and history with exceptional heritage.
Charleville was
born from the dream of an italian Prince Charles Gonzaga. It radiates around
the architectural gem, Place Ducale (17th Century), inspired by the
Place des Vosges, Paris, with pavilions and arcades that form a beautiful
symmetrical shape.
Mézières was the
hub of north European trade in the middle ages. The Basilica, a true treasure,
contains stained glass windows ordered from the workshops of Picasso in the
1950’s: 1000 square metres of work.
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