log blank 2000


2001


August 5 Sunday
Rhinau to Strasbourg

Nice run back to Strasbourg from the River Rhine - even though it came on to blow a hooly at mid-day, and rained off and on - principally on - all day.
As always, although only came down this canal - Rhone a Rhine (Branch Nord) - yesterday, it appeared like a completely new canal, and seemed far shorter.

This was a good week-end trip, and glad we have actually seen the Rhine.

Now to spend the winter thinking "shall we go up the Rhone a Rhine - i.e. the River Doubs - to Mullhouse, and come down the Rhine to Rhinau and Strasbourg?"

The 2 pictures are both taken during the run back to Strasbourg.


August 6 Monday
In Strasbourg

More site seeing - particularly the European Parliament - and more gossiping.


August 7 Tuesday
Strasbourg to Schaffouse-sur-Zorn

Very hassly trip in rain and wind.
First lock out of Strasbourg - 51 - didn’t work, and wasn’t sorted for about an hour and a half, so resulting in build up of boats waiting.

This had - to us - unusual result of the 3rd boat in queue trying to force itself into lock behind us (we always put ourselves 2nd) whether or not there was room. In one case we had about 5 metres between us and the boat in front, and the same behind us and the lock gate, and a bald headed central European in a huge 20 metre boat tried to negotiate, force, and curse, his way in.

As our back end - particularly our tiller swan’s neck - is vulnerable to serious damage, we are very conscious of this particular form of bad mannered lunacy.

We reckoned that these people were suffering - partially - from a form of cultural competitive motor-way madness that blankets their common sense completely.

Because of our speed, and the build up of boats at lock 50, we never shook off or were shaken off by, the undesirable sharers - all private boats - and it went on all day.

Singular nastiness at lock 48. This lock is controlled by a keeper, who also controls the swing bridge, which he opens on receipt of a signal from a tirette.
We were second boat in convoy - and received our green light, set off and were well into the curved path of the swing bridge - a large heavy steel structure - when it started closing. S. slammed boat into max revs in reverse, clouds of black smoke from exhaust, but held boat. Even so, we were in considerable danger, but bridge stopped closing about 3" from our topsides. Very shaken, put flashing beacon on very hurriedly, let engine calm down - hopeful of having done no damage - waited while bridge was swung open again (we were still in it’s path) properly, and we went on - still flashing beacon - to lock. Asked L.K. what gave. Rather shamefacedly admitted he had not seen us. This admission from a Frenchman was a clear indication - they NEVER admit error - that there was something wrong. In fact, felt and feel that the lock is really too far away for the L.K. to manage the bridge safely. As there appeared to be a bridge keeper on site, who eschewed all responsibility when tackled with a true gallic shrug - wonder if there was some unofficial job de-creation or sharing.

Stopped in very ordinary mooring, but some relief to get out of the rain, and away from all the idiots who seem to be populating the waterway to-day.


August 8 Wednesday
Schaffouse-sur-Zorn to Saverne

Away again in rain.

Picked up one of yesterday’s sharers, also a victim of the cultural nastiness we have been experiencing, but of the same ilk as the big bad fellers, so better able to "understand" them.
Small light boat, very fast, and as the locks were a chain timed to the speed limit, he had to wait, bucketing about in the wind, at each lock until we arrived. Bad luck!
Poor fellow finally gave up - almost blown off the water, and we finished gloriously on our own.
Not a mooring to be had in Saverne, but generous Frenchman in a 28m barge let us moor alongside him. Shot off to S.M. to avoid threatening rain, and just made it.

Curious how one’s attitude changes - very good English speaking Central European tackled us at Saverne to ask hadn’t we had a lot of trouble coming up with the automatic locks? In fact 3 alto-gether hadn’t worked, out of 16, (incl the Strasbourg one) which is many more than usual, but when challenged felt immediately on the defensive, and assured him that they had all worked splendidly, and even when they hadn’t, a quick call on the blower in the lock cabin brought the L.K.s running to put them right. We are allowed to criticize the system amongst ourselves - but strangers aren’t!

The picture is of the Palace of Rohan by night with digital camera right opposite the Saverne moorings - quite satisfactory.


August 9 Thursday
Saverne to foot of Arzviler Inclined Plane.

Started early, and had very pleasant run out of Saverne, all the automatics in the chain worked immaculately and were waiting for us, and no one wanted to crowd us - or even share with us.
Going so well, didn’t stop for lunch - late one on arrival at foot of Arzviller Lift, where we decided to take the afternoon "off", sleep over, rather than tackle the Plane, tunnels, etc beyond to-day.
Best decision ever.
Nice spot, nice, quiet and attractive - except for cars on road - mooring.


August 10 Friday
At Foot of Arzviler Inclined Plane.

Got ready about 0830 to go up Lift.

Absolutely dead - not a soul to be seen - first light green, main lights red.
11.30 started some concentrated ringing. Extreme reluctance to part with information, but gathered "Lift was closed".

Subsequently, rumours sprang to the fore, much aided by officialdoms refusal to part with information.

It appeared that there was nothing wrong with the lift, but that the canal above it was somewhere, somehow breached, and knee jerk re-action - especially at the week-end - was just to close everything.
Eventually discovered that very lucky we hadn’t gone up - we would have been in the pound which was drained by the breach, dangling on our mooring ropes.
Later the plane did a few intermittent lifts with the trip boat, and a couple of Nichol’s hire boats came down, but the low level in the canal above the lift necessitated the pumping of water into the caisson each trip to match the level in the bottom pound. Presumably this was the reason it was closed so firmly this morning.


August 11 Saturday
Foot of Arzviler Inclined Plane.

Nice sunny clear cool day, but autumn is upon us.

Still trying to extract more news of the breach we are assured punctured the canal - and us - above the plan incliné.

The picture is of S. successfully recovering her kitchen scissors from the canal bed. Hasten to say that this is at the foot of the Arzviller Lift, and it was therefore unlikely that she had been poking them through the canal banks at Hesse, where the breach is purported to have occurred.

Cycled into Lutzelbourg for bread, and to try for news.

Found Locoboats H.Q., with about 8 Crown Blue Line boats alongside, making like an upturned ants nest.
Asked one bloke - but rather negative snappy answer - "the plane is shut"!
Change over day is not a good day for a private boater to ask a hire company for information on the canal!
The manager came out, and much more helpful, canal is breached, and will take 2 to 4 weeks to rectify.
Also the Inclined Plane is to be shut after to-morrow, so if we want to go to Hess, it’s to-morrow or not at all.
Don’t really want to go to Hesse - what we really need to know is just how serious the breach really is - not a lesson in playing cards close to the chest.

Basically, this breach, as reported, actually cuts us off from the rest of the waterways system and particularly cuts us off from setting off to go back to Roanne.

So week closes upon elderly English Narrow Boaters in English Narrow Boat in North East of France, with no-where to go, wondering what the hell to do next!