Tempting Toul

Day 12
Sunday   7th July 2013

You would never have known it, but here, in front of lock number 19, we were located next to 3 railway lines. Bright blue, clear, sunny skies, a warm ambient temperature and plenty of bird chirping greeted us this morning. The locks opened at 9... We had oodles of time!!
 



Increasing the Vitamin D levels

Every day is configured differently.... no two days are alike. We are filled with anticipation ...how will the day unfold? I find this strangely invigorating. The positives have been empowering.



A more relaxed first mate

During our 7 lock challenge to Toul, we rescued a bubble fender from over board and passed some Aussies going the opposite way, (all waved madly with a patriot pride) and encountered our first hire boats.

Toul represented the only serious boatyard for days. "Lorraine Marine" was well situated, well equipped and was the first of our Plan B, alternative mooring options, should we need it. Fortuitous really......this was our chance to have the boat checked by a mechanic.....except it was Sunday. 

 

 

The marina at Toul

 



 

G, in his mind, had already decided we were "good to go" the distance. MOST of the remaining journey would entail slow speeds and multiple locks. The engines would be  spared at this pace and temperatures could be monitored. He was not prepared to wait another day on the off chance.



It lives up to its name of a "Narrow Boat"

But it WAS time to take a break, re- stock, walk, and admire.



Setting off to discover Toul

 

 



Dimanche is a day of rest. Consequently, there was no one at the Captainerie's office,...... the supermarket we managed to locate closed at 12:15.....we got there at 12:15.......and the boulangeries were emptying.



Toul

We never filled the shopping bags we had carried so optimistically (apart from boulangerie booty of course)......in fact.....we never saw them again.....darn it........they had been inadvertently left sitting somewhere, sometime after our brasserie lunch of Croquet Monsieur (cheese overload).



The summertime street scape


Not to be short changed, we found the last open Boulangerie, spent more euros (whose counting now?) and bought consolation cakes and pastries.



Toul

With respect to milestones, we have finally passed the halfway point in terms of:

 
1)    motoring hours...AND

2)    time.

 

As we traversed the mighty Moselle, we admired the valley, lined with forests, deep, dense and intensely green. There were camping sites, dinghies moored against the banks, humble riverside huts, cyclists and bike paths and walkers out for a Sunday stroll.....AND ..... the unmistakable, piercing sound of shooting ringing through the valley. Duck hunting? Rifle practise? Military artillery?



Moselle River
 

As seen along the river

 

   

By 5 we reached Maron and pulled alongside a small quay. With 2 other boats, 2 lovers smooching and a handful of youth chewing the fat on the deck, we tied up, poured cold drinks and toasted the journey thus far. The outlook here was magic:  engulfed by forest, immersed in mirrored water.






 

Our stunning mooring

 

The "couple"

  



Maron

 



Maron

Totals:

Locks: 12

Lift Bridges: 1

Distance: 24 km

Overall: 642 out of 956

   

Toul

Evangelized in the 4^th century as a part of the Holy Roman Empire, it as was one of the bishoprics vital to the defence of France's eastern border during the Middle Ages. It was annexed to France in the 1500’s. It lost its Bishopric later, but gained importance as a garrison town.

It was a primary base for the US Army and Air force in WW1, rebuilt after devastating fire during WW2 and used as an American NATO base in the 50’s and 60’s.

The most striking features of Toul : the impressive stone ramparts encircling and defining the old town.

Porcelain was traditionally manufactured here.