Category Archive

Richardmenil to Nancy Richardmenil to Nancy

Chill, chill, bone – aching, numbing ice biting chill. White upon the breath, chill deep into the lungs, nowhere warmth! Where had the summer heat gone this year? Add to the mix, rain, rain and more rain! Wet to the bone, we at last arrived at the junction where we would enter Embranchment du Nancy. […]

Charmes to Richardmenil Charmes to Richardmenil

Heavy drenching rain overnight, brought with it a chill that pervaded the air. Out came the trackies, woollens and wet weather coats as we made our way to Richardmenil. 9am, engine on, lines being brought on board, the first lock commenced the opening process. Upon the canal, it is etiquette to allow those who arrive […]

Pont des Forges to Epinal Pont des Forges to Epinal

An early start – as starts went, that was when locks didn’t open until 9am – on a grey drizzly day, yet not that cool: a change pleasant change to the heat of the sun beating down. The numbering system recommencing at ‘one’, the downward journey upon the Golbey Stair case – 15 locks one […]

Pont des Forges, France Pont des Forges, France

Yes, we are still alive. It is so remote that we have been out of internet range. Last night we moored at the bridge, Pont des Forges. The pic was taken whilst going through one of the locks. The Canal des Vosges is absolutely stunning and so much easier to do than the Canal du Midi/Canal du […]

La Colosse to Pont des Forges La Colosse to Pont des Forges

Waiting for the lock keepers to arrive at work, I had time for a play with my macro lens in this idyllic setting.   So spectacularly different to the so popular Midi which is known for its towns, castles and Cassoulet. This trip through the Vosges Mountains was truly one for the nature lover: the […]

Corre to La Colosse (Lock 25) Corre to La Colosse (Lock 25)

Welcome to Canal des Vosges!! At pk 147.4, Gratis entered the first of 93 narrow locks, less three because Gratis would be entering L’embranchement de Nancy prior to the canal’s conclusion. Operated by lock keeper, here we were handed the automatic wireless device that would open the gate of most locks along the canal and […]

Baulay to Corre Baulay to Corre

Countryside was much like that of previous days and Corre being a plain overnight stopover, there were no photos this day. This was an easy morning with just three locks to contend with and an afternoon for relaxing in Corre. Despite being described as 1.80+ metres in depth, there were spots where the river was […]

2016 Journey to Come

Here are some maps showing the route we shall be taking upon the waterways this year. This covers the Rhone, Soane, Canal des Vosges, Mosel, Rhein, and Mittelland Kanal.

Planning the Trip

I may not have been up and about today, but still put the time to good use. After several hours, the numbers have roughly been counted: 1700km from Port Saint Louis, France to just before Potsdam, Germany (here we will plot our last part of the trip as we draw closer) 166 locks to lock forward […]