log blank 2000


2001

September 13 Thursday

Saverne to Arzviller plan incliné.

Shopping, market, diesel and getting ready to go, and much gossip + going on after long stop panic, all a.m. They’ve had filthy weather whilst we had - on the whole - good. Tough!!

Left after lunch in driving rain and wind - just as well, where we were moored has become cockpit for hire boats to joust in.

Foul weather all the way up to our "usual" mooring place in pool below Arzviller lift, cold, wet, and altogether horrid.

All set to light cabin fire, but made do with little space heater with engine running.

September 14 Friday

Arzviller plan incliné to Gondrexange.

Our luck continues - the Arzviller plan incliné broke down with us in it!

Before that, found what would have been the answer to all our woes when we were here in the "pool" below the lift 6 weeks ago, sitting and waiting for something to happen.

Tucked away amongst the machinery at the bottom of the lift is a telephone to the controller in his tower at the top! But no one tells you that - it is up to one to find it. (In the same way, in spite of the handwritten notice in the fenced in compound at the bottom of the plan that includes the moorings, no one tells you the gate security combination - but everyone knows it. I'm not going to put it on the internet - ring the guy up and ask him if you need it.

Probably fair to say that strictures in log of 5 weeks ago concerning communication between VNF and public were not justified. It was up to us to use the right telephone and ring the right people!

We didn't - just moaned.

When we were ready to go up in the morning, just phoned for the caisson, and down it

So simple!

Got to the top in the caisson, but just as the guillotine gates were opening, the power went off, and although there was space enough for us to wriggle under it, lack of electricity meant all safety measures were not working, and the gates - 16 tons - could have dropped onto us.

We waited.

About an hour, and we were off - foul weather, still, we got very cold.

Arrived at Hess, position of first barrage closing canal - nothing, no notices, all clear.Couple of before and after pics.

Arrived at Xouxange, position of planking off of dry section - nothing, dry section full of water, and again no notices.

Continued past Xouxange, past breach site - all joy.

Weather improved - but even so saw yet another storm approaching, moored up just short of Gondrexange.

2 mins later yet another heavy storm.

That was the end - lovely sunny evening followed, even to the extent of putting the chairs out for drinks on the bank.

Many hire boats passing us through the "stopped" section. (it is not officially open until to-morrow), but they seem to have a different agenda and different rules.

Some privates also passed going the other way to us - presumably also jumping the gun.
Tried to warm boat - only partially successfully, by running the 750 watt space heater, and keeping the engine running.


September 15 Saturday
Gondrexange to Parroy.

We are taking this going home boating quite seriously, as a result of the stoppage we are no longer on holiday, but strictly "getting on with it" to get Albert back to Roanne in time to lay up properly for the winter.

We have 3 weeks, but have been offered winter moorings in both Fontenoy le Chateau, and St John de Losne if we cannot make it.

Early start delayed by failure in setting alarm - it didn’t go off.

Weather just a little less grey and wet than yesterday, but soon corrected that by turning the taps on again.

To-day the canal is officially open, but it appears to have been in use for the last 2 or 3 days.

Many hire boats, caught on the wrong side of the breech, from all the companies based locally have been using the VNF depot at Gondrexange as communal base - several boats still there.

Weather perfectly dreadful - very strong cold - bitter cold - wind, many frequent and prolonged periods of rain.

Got the original frustrating L.K. at Rechicourt 15m lock.

Elderly overweight lady in slippers insisted first on 15 minute gossip (in German) with up-coming hire boat sitting in lock, blocking our entry, then on further 15 minute waving on of a boat on the far end of the lock jetty that was fishing, and had no intention of locking through.

Then further 10 minutes writing name of boat - spelt out by us letter by letter, although written in 8" letters on boat side - and our name, totally incorrectly.

Very pleased lock was automatically run, once L.K. pressed start button - would hate the thought that our boat or lives in a 15 metre deep lock were in her hands!

Things got a bit better after that, although all the locks were against us in our downhill run. This in spite of a mass of hire boats coming to-wards us from le Garde. Suspect the automatics are set to empty themselves each time, regardless of departing boat direction.

They are certainly set to operate very slowly.

Hence relatively slower progress than we expected.

Made la Garde for lunch, and water - bread and milk.

In evening, found nice bush mooring, with good view largely obscured by rain clouds.

Lit fire (in September??? we were very cold and wet) and quickly got boat and selves warm and dry.

No more pictures of this sec - we took lots on the way up, we're on a mission to go, and anyway, the weather is not photograph friendly - sorry!