62.7km in 12 hours today. 7 of last 5 were hard work.

Yet another lock to commence the day’s sojourn! Life jackets on, in we headed. Upon exiting, we discovered work being undertaken: just loved the brightness of the equipment! Birds delighted in perching upon the channel marker pylons. The landscape continued to be more picturesque as the day passed. Swans were so hilarious this day. Refusing to move as […]

Two long hard days, but scenery great. One word: exhausted!!

Clear skies, on we forged. Past castles: it was possible to trace the length of the outer protective walls on this one. Yachts, barges and tourist liners kept us busy. The swans: couldn’t believe the numbers we saw! The steam from nuclear power stations towered into the skies. People at work. A wave or two, […]

Summer has arrived with a vengeance. Just two days before it was 15°C, wet and freezing. This day up to 29°C, thank you: not complaining though! After four days of waiting, the river levels had finally fallen to such an extent that pleasure and passenger ‘liner’ craft were once more allowed through. Early evening, Gratis […]

The Rhone river and current are down, sun shining and weather warm. Through the first lock on our own: what a breeze compared to the Midi and Garonne Canals! After a four day wait, we are cruising up the Rhone once more!

After sailing to Greece and back with us, our friends Anne and Cliff departed early this morning. The waters of the Rhone still at 3700 m³/s, continuing on was still not an option. For Bob and myself, a trip to the supermarket to restock for the trip to Lyon was the go.

Waters running at 4500m³/s, passing through the lock was still barred to us. Across from Avignon resides the tiny township of Villeneuve lez Avignon. Originally the petite village of Saint Andre – so named for the abbey around which it grew, it was with the coming of the papacy that the name chance took place. […]

News not good for continuing this morning: the current peaked at 3700 m³/sec yesterday, and was at 4300 m³/sec this morning. Bob surmises that it will be Monday/Tuesday before we continue on our way. In the meantime, we relax and can amble into other nearby townships. At the moment the four of us – yes […]

Prior to departing, Bob went through his daily check of the river information site (www.inforhone.fr). All looking good off we headed. The scenery each day is a significant contrast to that of the day prior. Now, low cliffs aligned the west bank of the river by the 240km (pk in the books), the greens so […]

Check out our French Page. www.gratisaustralis.com/category/france/   As time permits I will continue adding the remainder of the 2015 journey through the Garonne and Midi Canals.  

Not such an early start to the day since the lock didn’t operate on set hours. Massive barges entered or exited on a regular basis. A gentle overnight rain washed the decks. 0700, life jackets – they are a prerequisite to entering the locks on the rivers – on, lock light green, and in we […]

A 0530 start as we entered the lock at its first opening time an hour later. Radio call on channel 19: no answer, so we prepared anyway. In and looped around the poles set into the wall, it was a sedate rise compared to the canal locks of last year. Into the flow of the […]

05:59, way too early! 40km heading upstream into the current to Arles, no moorings available for a break.  

Winds predicted yesterday arvo 10kn (20km). In actuality 40kn (80km) and continual. Winds predicted today 15kn (60km), Bob’s guess is this will mean gusts from 50 – 60kn (100-120km). Departure tomorrow instead. A day of rest at last!

Winds predicted yesterday arvo 10kn (20km). In actuality 40kn (80km) continual. Winds predicted today 15kn (60km), Bob’s guess is this will mean gusts from 50 – 60kn (100-120km). Departure tomorrow instead. A day of rest at last!

With no desire to deal with the possibility of damaging furlers, as happened last year, and to provide greater ease of outdoor helming, we made the decision to remove and store the mast, furlers, sails etc. This morning saw us motoring around to Port Napoleon where the mast and so forth were removed and placed in […]

Yesterday morning the lock opened and a good sized ship passed through. Highlight of the day was watching viewing the water jousting. This morning we take Gratis round to Port Napoleon and take down the mast.

This morning the four of us caught sight of the Lock that allows boats to enter and exit the Rhone at work. Unlike the Garonne River, due to the mouth being silted, it is impossible to enter an other way. Going for a wander today, Bob and I checked out Port Napoleon, the place where the […]

Late this afternoon we arrived in Port St Louis du Rhone and the lock into the Rhone is just across from us. To date Gratis has taken us across 23,061nm at an average of 5.3kn/hr over a total of 4201 hours (just over 175 days). Not bad in 3 years of travel.