Wednesday 10th July 2013
9:00am...we're
hovering in front of the first lock for the day. 4 locks until the "Golbey
Staircase" .... a 14 lock challenge.
 |
| The Golbey Staircase |
 |
| You can see the next set of lock gates in the sequence |
1 out of
14 accomplished and the bow thruster loses charge.....BUT this time we know what to do....run DAF No.1 hard to increase the charge!
In a
sequence, locks automatically open ahead to keep continuity. It went like
" clockwork".
With no traffic to contend with, the engines running smoothly and the cooling system working efficiently, we nailed it!
 |
| The last lock of the staircase |
2 1/2 hours later we exited... 30 minutes quicker than suggested in the nautical guide .....not one minute spare to take a bathroom break, have a drink or sit down...
The cook
only offered a " Carte de Jour" for lunch...not " A la
Carte".....
I
remember, so vividly, taking Maddi, as a toddler, to the rail bridge at the end
of our street, watching the trains go under. Some even tooted! ........Locks
seemed to attract the same interest. We passed so many parents with toddlers on
their hips, grandparents holding the hands of "youngsters " or school age children out for a family
ride...... watching us intently.
We were
back into beautiful, folding, forested hills, the canal sides lined with trees
like an Avenue of Honour. This was stunning stuff...the Vosges Forest continued
to impress. Cool, shadowy breezes soothing the sting of the burning sun, dense
layers of foliage and groves of trees in a myriad of forms, shapes, styles and
shades if green.
Encountering locks downstream is SO much easier: there is NO surge of water, NO constant fighting and rope tightening, the bollards well within reach, no need to extend your pole, reach on your tippy toes and extend beyond your centre of gravity just to hook on.......this was a doddle!
A
noticeable difference today....the VNF vans were ever present. Bike paths line
the waterways, winding alongside the canals, next to the forest. These paths,
just wide enough for a small van, were in constant use by the water authority,
a surveillance, a reassuring presence that today, we wouldn't be left stranded.
 |
| The ever present VNF vans |
The mind
blowing beauty was our reward....
 |
| Gorgeous Green!!!! |
We resisted
a private, green sanctuary, with picnic tables and grassy foreshore. We pressed
on, a steely determination was driving all of us now...even the valiant girls.
 |
| A missed opportunity |
At 5:48 pm we moored. Lock 15, Thillots.
With our stockpile of snack food replenished, we took delight in opening up multiple packets of chips, all our favourite flavours.....we sipped beer,wine and cordial, toasted a successful day and chilled.
 |
| Our remote controls needed to be in range of these markers |
 |
| Close clearances |
At 5:48 pm we moored. Lock 15, Thillots.
With our stockpile of snack food replenished, we took delight in opening up multiple packets of chips, all our favourite flavours.....we sipped beer,wine and cordial, toasted a successful day and chilled.
In
reflection, we wondered whether we shouldn't have bought " Boating for
Dummies". Without knowing what questions to ask, we had to trial first
hand what experienced boaters took for granted. We were literally " babes
in the woods".
We a felt
relief, for the first time, that the fear of the unknown was gone.
In the
evening, after the locks close the current stops. The forest had a reflection
in the glassy, still water. An evening chorus of birds resounded through the
foliage. There was a total peace and serenity.
Whilst
seizing the serene moment for a snuggle, Ali pops her head up, “Canasta anyone?”
The girl, who swears by beginner’s luck, has been wiping the
floor with us!
Locks:
32
Overall: 163 out of 218
Distance: 28 km
Overall:
730 out of 959
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