Pages

Sunday, 7 July 2013

Cement

Day 11
Saturday  6th July 2013

We awoke to clear blue skies, in a pool of sunshine and enjoyed breakfast in the solitude of the green surrounds.....I wish I could say the ambiance was the same for our lunchtime  venue.....

 
 

   
Judging by the siren not sounding on DAF No.1, convinced that oil pressure was not the problem, overheating appeared to be the culprit. The strategy was to run on No.2 and turn on No.1 for locks.



In the blazing sunshine, the crystal water sparkled, shimmering in the distance, luring us round the next delightful bend. We were out on deck, soaking up the chance to melt away some of the underlying problems that lingered.





Ahead was a succession of 4 automatic, unmanned locks. Surely entry would ensure a smooth sequence.?  Were they monitoring this sequence?......bien sur?!    .......mais non....... Lock No.2 proved uncooperative.











So, we sat out on deck in the sun, lunching on now limp Caesar salad baguettes, wedged inside the lock overlooking the neighbouring cement manufacturing plant, watching clouds of cement dust billowing out and the time tick away, waiting for the man in the van to arrive. Jealous?

 



Our lovely lunch venue
Pretty huh??
Layers of built on cement


1 1/2 hours later we resumed the mission, entering the 867m tunnel after lock No. 1.





It was one way, managed with entry lights and mercifully lit inside. We sounded like a well drilled battalion, calling out clearances as we nosed along. Our hours of seamanship were reaping rewards........no nail biting, no tension, just diligent attention to the task at hand. Were we qualified to apply as crew members of a Melbourne to Hobart vessel yet?
 




We entered the daylight on approach to a new canal, the canal which connects the Marne to the Rhine. A new nautical chart, a new leg, a new direction.... and...for a short while.....downstream...it would be much easier to nurse our hardworking engines.


 
G kept a constant gaze on the dials in front of him. DAF No.1 was understandably running hotter. The mechanical situation we found ourselves in was far from ideal, but it was manageable. There are always compromises. For example, the charging system for the internal power had suffered. This was a juggling act.

The Tour de France is currently running. It captures the imagination of the sporting public...but after hours of observation, I have decided the second most popular national sport is fishing. There are literally countless fisherman lining the edges of the waterways. Who wouldn't love the solitude of sitting alongside the glimmering water, ensconced in gorgeous countryside, contemplating life, the universe and everything.......and who wouldn't HATE boats like ours running past, churning the mud, disturbing the peace and spoiling their chances? We never wave....we apologetically motor past.






 
We negotiated a run of 5 locks before mooring for the evening, 7 locks before Toul.
 
After a day of punishing sun and long hours of travelling.....with hot engines beneath our cabin floors and our over-baked bodies radiating.... the evening brought a welcome cool.

The Donna Hay inspired BBQ dinner outside was eagerly anticipated...........tasty but tough! Don't blame Donna...without a broad vocabulary, discerning the difference between stewing steak and tender cuts was impossible. The setting and " ambiance" more than made up for the extra chewing.
 









Totals:

Locks: 13

Distance: 34 km

Overall: 618 out of 956

No comments:

Post a Comment