New Canals

29 Jun 15

After leaving Tournai we had a good run with moorings managing to find something everywhere. At Antoing basin we moored near the Neptunia chandlery barge - Peter managed to find some bits to buy (assuring Angie they would be useful) but decided against fuelling up - the primary reason for stopping - on the grounds it would be cheaper downstream?

Then it was a run to the bottom of the Blaton/Ath canal - to turn or not to turn that is the question - moored up in  the entrance to the now closed Pommereuil-Antoing Canal overnight to decide. Given the canal has only been closed 30 years it has deteriorated fast - in UK there would be a thriving 'Friends of the Canal' preservation group restoring it.

We decided Blaton/Ath could wait so pressed on covering new ground to Pommeroeul Grand Large, mooring on the wall next to the Ecluse. It poured with rain all day so sightseeing was limited.  The canal (Pommeroeul-Conde) and ecluse were meant to be a major commercial route to France but the French have allowed it to silt up so it is no longer in use. More EU funds wasted.

Pommeroeul

Angie decided we needed some kultur so next into the marina at Mons - a long walk into town and the Aldi supermarche was a a bit like a Russian GUM store (as remembered from our honeymoon)! Angie had 'tidied up' for one of the boat viewings so a lot of the halt was searching for things (like camera chargers). At least once a year she puts something in a 'safe place' never ever to be found again (is it a female thing)?

Another town hall - standard issue

Mons 2015 Capital of Culture and this is art?

A carriage for the patron Saint's bones

Much better the next day was the Strepy lift on the new Canal du Centre - 74m straight up

Down to the canal end and we found a nice greenbank site in the dead end of the semi closed Historic canal, which has 4 x working 15m Ascenseurs within a few km (which Strepy effectively replaced). They were built to the UK Anderton design and are the only historic lifts still operational

Then it was off to the River Sambre which was rumoured to be as nice as the Somme, certainly the start wasn't, mostly derelict steel works which made the Saarland look 'green'. First night was at Marchienne next to a chapel barge and small chateau - the town was very run down presumably due to loss of steel jobs. The Colruyt super marche was a handy 500 metres stroll over the bridge. Had a few drinks with an Oz boat, which was en route to Namur (long story).

Marchienne

The next morning had to wait 40 mins mid stream (no pontoon) while the decrepit eclusier got his act together -  after that the canal/river got prettier and prettier. Nice little manual locks and although the eclusiers weren't exactly full of bonhomie all was well. We went onto the wall at Abbeye d'Aulne, checked out the Abbeye ruins (lovely site) and ate at one of the eight restaurants! Angie being adventurous had Troute Escaveche (marinated cold trout) and Peter stuck to Brochettes Agneau - very nice other than the bill (tourist village).- local beer was OK too.

Abbaye original

Latest version

Then into Thuin. Nice town but semi medieval so Peter has to climb up the steep hill daily as we are waiting for a Poste Restante parcel (our new Sat box). Free mooring with mod cons so Angie is busy cleaning while Peter answers boat queries..Led astray the first night by barge 'Cedar' (Sheila and Clive) and friends - after some disagreement about the best whiskey type the men managed to deplete a good part of three bottles testing the claims!  Seriously hot this week 35-38 degC Midi standards so Angie is sunbathing on the cabin roof.

This blog is meant to remind us what happened each year as it blurs -  I knew quite a few friends followed it but have now found out potential buyers do too quel horreur (hi Pam in SA) so might have to go into censor mode :)

Barge for Sale

Jun 15

We had our first 'viewing' in Fintele - it was raining and the French couple didn't speak any English (ever tried to sell a boat using sign language and Google Translate) but despite that it was looking good until their boat sale fell through - so back on the road.

We had had enough of the Flanders Ring by then so we sprinted back through Veurne and Nieuwpoort (where Peter stayed up overnight for the Election - breakfasting on champagne) then to Brugge for a few nights.

Brugge circular sluis - the big boys do squeeze in

At Brugge the 'Te Koop' sign went up. Most of the winterers had moved on and a lot of hire boats were coming in (we shut our eyes).

We got a few enquiries through 'Apollo Duck (sale site) one offering a flat in Gibraltar in exchange (not tempted) but nothing serious. Then into Kortrijk Old Arm - we needed a break (and no TV) so we went off to UK for a week and then Germany for a few days.  Several thousand kms later we were more knackered then when we left. Angie's German GP said she should drink more - water to her disappointment.

A local had fallen in love with the boat before we went to Germany and was ready to proceed, but it had to be vetted by his absent wife - no surprise when she decided the windows and escape hatches were too small, the boat was too dark ...we think she fancied something more tupperware! So onwards - well almost as the Kortrijk sluis,of the Bossuit/Kortrijk canal, was blocked for the weekend as a pound had been accidentally emptied by the eclusier (what is that in Flemish)?

So the great circle route back up the old Leie to Gent - a very long day as moorings were full and we had to go on and on. Then down the Upper Scheldt (Bovenscheldt) through Oudenaarde which was new to us.

On the Oudenaarde wall - lifting height for Kes

Makes my hydraulic steering ram look puny

Oudenaarde Town Hall

Then we were back on familiar terrain (or water). The crossing into Wallonia was a non event as they didn't check our docs or put us on the computer system?  Unusually they put us into the ecluse before a large commercial - Angie was hoping they were a good judge of distance and that their reverse worked!

Managed to get on the pontoon in Tournai amidst the Dutch and we have stocked up with food, then it is off to the Neptunia bunker barge at Antoing for a fuel top up.  Given it is nearly half way through the cruising season we have not covered many km (or used much fuel).

Tournai Town square

Impressive 'bell tower'

Nice that Angie's arrival was celebrated - she is nee Moules :)