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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

The Canal crosses the Vosges Mountain range which peaks at 1424m and stretches almost two hundred kilometres: from the German border in the north, to the French town of Belfort in the south. Soft rounded peaks kissing the sky, more than fifty percent of its landscape is covered by numerous species of tree. Meadowland, icy […]

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 […]

Our journey to Berlin through the Rivers and canals of Europe is well into its final planning. It will see us sail to Port St Louis for removal and storage of the mast. From there, it will be into the Rhone, Soane, Mosele and Rhein Rivers, followed by the Mittelland Kanal into Berlin.