On route to France: Quays and Questions

Day 10

Friday 5th July 2013

Our pontoon off the quay was well located....in more ways than one.

For myself, I was thrilled that the market was opening up along the foreshore. An opportunity to be seized....but one which failed to reach teenage expectations....a comparison to Dandenong market was made....however, fresh roast poulet was scored for dejeuner.

I wasn't allowed to take my camera to the market (the girls too embarrassed to be seen with a "tourist") so this picture has to suffice

For our younger contingent, the neighbouring boat was the attraction. We had met this father / son team from Switzerland before. The athletic, physically fit, handsome son with the 6 pack who could plank and perform side push ups on deck was the topic of interest.

We had to climb over our neighbours boat to get ashore

For G, it was the neighbouring skippers from all nationalities. Conversations about common experiences, the hitches, the tips and the itineraries. Each had a story to tell of the journey thus far. So much was gleaned that, for once, G no longer felt like a freshman. He could speak with some authority and contribute his experience.

Thankfully the weather was dry. I won't go so far as to say sunny, as grey clouds threatened. But, given that our biminee had to be down to traverse the low bridges ahead, who was complaining?

The Swiss boy was not the only one with muscles. The manned locks were run by Uni students on their summer holidays, earning a small wage to supplement their break. Many of these students were girls, and often, working entirely alone. Turning the steel handles to engage the gates and sluices was a heavy and hard job. 4 sluices per gate, 4 gates in total. That equates to trim arm biceps! We ( the royal we....it was G) pitched in to help turn the opening gates.

A Uni student attending the lock gates

OK....I consider myself relatively neat and tidy. I clean when necessary and take considerable pride.......BUT....while I was busy coveting the Dutch boat design yesterday, G was observing the routine of the wife.

Lets set the scene,....The locks are plain SLIMY .....the walls are smothered in a dark, dense green carpet. They are sometimes home to a plentiful supply of little mollusks . When you touch them, they squirt water out at you! However, I actually touched the wall inadvertently,.....ewh!!

I digress.....after each lock, the wife would take one fender from each side and run it in the water to clean it!! WOW!! I have often used that phrase: " Above and beyond the call of duty "... But it takes on a new definition here......All first mates ARE NOT created equal...I am flat chat lifting and lowering those scratch protectors....I shan't be cleaning them as well !

A 2:20, G and I once again chartered our possible pit stop for the day. We had literally JUST figured we could catch up to the original program if we, once again, pressed on.

Around the next bend was a queue of 5 boats, hovering then moving at a snails pace...this was unprecedented.....there was a huge pleasure barge, ahead slowing the pace.

The boat queue

After much wasted time trawling, we overtook it only to hear that dreaded siren indicative of trouble. DAF No.1 had stopped again. We found a mooring just past a full quay ( they always are!) for G to brainstorm a lack of oil pressure. With oil in hand, we topped up, turned over and running like a baby, DAF No.1 pulled her weight once more...........35 minutes later.....that siren pierced the tranquillity once again.

Phone calls to Johan and a DAF engine specialist he referred us to resulted in the verdict: DAF No.1 was seriously wounded. Do we limp along now on one engine? Do we endeavour to divert to locate a mechanic to spend a day investigating?

So much uncertainty now, only sure about one thing....big expenses.

We all felt defeated. Would this alter our plans irrevocably? G was determined, after considerable more time in contemplation, that this should not beat us. Not entirely convinced it was a major problem...... Something didn't add up.....The engine ran well, to a slightly different pitch, but immediately sounded the low oil pressure alarm despite the oil pressure gauge reading normal.

After 2 locks on one engine, grappling with less manoeuvrability and the narrowing time frame, we arrived at our last lock at 5:50.....a with a mere 10 min to get through!

Our next issue: if DAF No.1 doesn't run, the bow thruster, connected to the same battery, will run out of charge.

Without wiring diagrams, the cables resemble twisted spaghetti running erratically from all directions. There are solutions to be had, an engineer to execute them, but all so frustratingly out of reach.