2001

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This Weeks "We're Still Here" Map

(The Map is a "thumbnail", same as the pictures - click on it for full size when connected to www.)

 

 

 

 

19 August,           Sunday                     to                26 August,               Saturday.

 

We are still based on Saverne, awaiting the re-opening of the Canal de la Marne au Rhine east of Hesse.  The Capitaine de Port has given us extremely favourable monthly mooring terms, so are considerably more resigned to our stay here, than last and previous weeks.

 

Weather was very  hot, and a lot of our time was spent blobbing under the willow trees keeping cool.

 

Virtually the only excitement in the week was a balloon accent from outside the Chateau de Rohan, right opposite the moorings.

 

We are told, again, that the canal is closed to navigation, until the 20th September. Much rather be told that the canal will open for navigation on the 20th September!

 

Just a faint thought in the back of our minds that we may be able to do something better than sitting here in a "moorings society", but the extreme heat does sap initiative.

 

There are 3 choices, as we see it:-

1.  Stay here till end of September, without, possibly, the time to get back to Roanne because of winter canal closures.

2.  Get ourselves craned out, loaded onto a suitable lorry, re-craned back into the water beyond the breach, and carry on cruising.

3.  Return to Strasbourg, down to the Rhine, battle against the current up to Mullhouse, and go down the Doubs - Canal de la Rhone au Rhine.

 

With the assistance of S.A. and Crown Blue Line, we looked into option 2 - much too expensive, not so much for the crane and lorry, as for the necessary permits for "convoi exceptionnel", and also the time taken to get the permits. So not on!

 

We are not powerful or "seaworthy"  enough for option 3 - anyway we're scared, so that's out.

 

Looks like a modified option 1, i.e. boat stays here, we keep an eye on work on the breach as and when, and think of something else to do meantime! and if we late back there is not a lot we can do about it except look for closer winter moorings.

 

Sudden and enjoyable changes of plans during the week.

 

S.A. arranged loan of hire boat on Brittany canals for 2 weeks from next week.    The Brittany canals and rivers are not joined to the main French/Continental system, except by sea, so the average inland boater never gets to see or experience them, hence considerable excitement and pleasure.

 

So. whilst still on Albert, we winkled Sister Jean out of Switzerland, and basically "took her up to see the hole"!

 

Nice trip up. in ordinary very changeable weather - 2 days up, and 2 back, sleep over at foot of Arzviller, next night at Hesse, as far up the canal as we could go before the stoppage.

 

In the evening a desire to see the breach at close quarters combined with less than skillful map reading involved us in walking/biking  a short cut over a hill, rather than beside the canal round it (we had 2 bikes amongst the 3 of us - work that one out - one can't).  This took us along a very rough track through an army exercise in a prohibited area - fortuneately most of the soldiers seemed to be girls and friendly.

 

 

We studied the breach knowingly - they were still working on it at 1830, and took lots of photos.   It was big, but the engineers were certainly getting on with repairing it, and then returned to Albert along the tow path, over a large and very smart (and probably very old) aqueduct - passing quite a nice cafe, on the way, but as we had neither cash nor cards amongst us, it was back to the boat.

 

Next day saw us back to Arzviller - we are getting to know the people at the inclined plain, and they are getting to know us.   We are usually mentioned by the MC during his loudspeaker borne lecture to the trippers - of which there are many.   The plain, is deservedly, a popular tourist attraction.

 

Back to Saverne to put Sister Jean back on her short train journey to Switzerland, and to prepare ourselves for to-morrow's early start, and to tuck Albert up.