Trudie & Gabrielle spending some mother daughter time together in Italy, Spain & France so we were thrilled when they said they could come for 5days on Linquenda. One night with them in Metz, a hurried tourist ronda , a quick bit of pink therapy in the shops took care of that afternoon.
Next morning bright and early we set off , evening destination Liverdun. A big cruise for us, 55km and 5 locks, all went smoothly with only a couple of little waits at locks. Arrived to Liverdun in time to go up to town for a look around, if you want more photos there is an earlier blog on Liverdun.
Another gorgeous evening so dinner up on deck.
Next morning bright and early we were off, made our VHF radio announcement to lock, no response got to lock , nothing happening, moored to high concrete quay, tried radio again, tried ringing different phone numbers supplied by VNF finally a person! Lock keepers are on strike, locks will open again at 13.30 ! oh well looks like we wait for 6 hours. 6 hours passed pleasantly chatting, sewing, reading, very relaxing. Lock keepers finally appeared and we were locked through. We were still on the Moselle River so locks are 200mt long 11.5mt wide so the actual locking process takes a good 20min to hallf an hour. The weather was taking a turn for the worse, winds picking up and rain starting, we had hoped to have been at our destination by this time securely moored instead we were just beginning. By the time we got to Toul it was bucketing down, our last lock saw me drenched to the skin as I did the ropes.
Small world, Aussies from Perth Dianne & John on Dijon arrived latter to moor at quay , we met them 2 years ago north of Berlin, last year just south of Amsterdam and now here in Toul.
Next morning , gorgeous, who would have thought the weather was so wild the day before. We continued up the Moselle River only 25km or do till we left the big river behind and were back on the Vosges Canal.
enjoying the gorgeous weather
A stop below lock 40 Saturday evening and into Charmes by early aftrnoon Sunday. Up to station to get tickets to Paris, an extended walk to work off the afternoon tea and so anther lovely day flew by.
A great time with Trudie & Gabrielle on board, up to Charmes station to say goodbyes Monday morning, they off to Paris we heading to home port of Epinal, 30km and 16 locks away.
Next morning bright and early we set off , evening destination Liverdun. A big cruise for us, 55km and 5 locks, all went smoothly with only a couple of little waits at locks. Arrived to Liverdun in time to go up to town for a look around, if you want more photos there is an earlier blog on Liverdun.
Another gorgeous evening so dinner up on deck.
Next morning bright and early we were off, made our VHF radio announcement to lock, no response got to lock , nothing happening, moored to high concrete quay, tried radio again, tried ringing different phone numbers supplied by VNF finally a person! Lock keepers are on strike, locks will open again at 13.30 ! oh well looks like we wait for 6 hours. 6 hours passed pleasantly chatting, sewing, reading, very relaxing. Lock keepers finally appeared and we were locked through. We were still on the Moselle River so locks are 200mt long 11.5mt wide so the actual locking process takes a good 20min to hallf an hour. The weather was taking a turn for the worse, winds picking up and rain starting, we had hoped to have been at our destination by this time securely moored instead we were just beginning. By the time we got to Toul it was bucketing down, our last lock saw me drenched to the skin as I did the ropes.
Small world, Aussies from Perth Dianne & John on Dijon arrived latter to moor at quay , we met them 2 years ago north of Berlin, last year just south of Amsterdam and now here in Toul.
Next morning , gorgeous, who would have thought the weather was so wild the day before. We continued up the Moselle River only 25km or do till we left the big river behind and were back on the Vosges Canal.
enjoying the gorgeous weather A stop below lock 40 Saturday evening and into Charmes by early aftrnoon Sunday. Up to station to get tickets to Paris, an extended walk to work off the afternoon tea and so anther lovely day flew by.
A great time with Trudie & Gabrielle on board, up to Charmes station to say goodbyes Monday morning, they off to Paris we heading to home port of Epinal, 30km and 16 locks away.
What two gorgeous girls! Yes, that day at Toul must have been a bummer.
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