Numbers are always fun, so here are a few summarizing our trip through the European inner waterways.
We had the mast removed in Breskens on the North Sea coast in the Netherlands on the 15th of July, and had it put up again in Port Napoleon on the Mediterranean coast in Southern France on the 23rd of September. This makes a total of 71 days, but only 35 days of sailing. Continue reading
Having reached the Saone River, we were keen to finally put some kilometers behind us. The river was much broader than the canal we came from, and the banks covered in trees. The days became more relaxed as there were far fewer locks to go through, and we could prepare dinner during the day, and generally had long days of sailing. The biggest problem was finding places to dock where the water was deep enough. We stayed in Verdun sur le Doubs for a couple of days to get our laundry done and to check oil and change oil filters on the engine. Since Esben usually takes care of this, we had decided that it was my turn to do this. Not the most glamorous job, but good to know how to do these things – even if it would be easier with longer and stronger arms… Continue reading
After waving goodbye to Torbjørn and Elise in Sillery, just south of Reims, we were on our own again, and ready to go into the small canals that would take us to the highest point of our trip across Europe. As we started, we soon got into a routine where Esben would throw the first ropes up over the bollard, hand them to me, and then get the front ropes on, which he controlled. Fairly quick and easy, and after a couple of days we had made it to Vitry-le-Francois, where the “Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne” begins. Continue reading
