2. Wessem to Namur.

Finally we say goodbye to Simone and Guil Van Kessel, but unfortunately the boys, Victor & Guido were not there.

We had temporarily forgotten the reasons they built these huge canals, but were quickly reminded. Heading down the Julianna and the Albert Canals down through Maastricht to Namur. Firstly the heavy work that’s goes into maintaining these waterways, the dredging and rebuilding of the banks. But it leaves the water a bit hazardous!!!

                       Then the big commercial companies that line the waterways.

And we get to share a lock with these boys. Luckily we are heading towards the smaller canals that these buggers don’t fit into.    

We actually managed to see the Beautiful square in Maastricht this time, as last year we come though during The Andre Rieu concerts in July, where he takes over the whole square. Of course had to have a quiet beer.

On to Namur, on the confluence of The Sambre Canal and The Meuse. Our plans to get to Paris have changed again as we realise that the way we wanted to go had been closed for a few years……..So after much collaboration with fellow boaties, Dave and Patricia (Applejack) we have decided to head down to Givet and down The Ardennes to Berry-au-Bac and onto the River Aisne to Paris.

THIS is Belgium so NOT France and the TV stations didn’t rate the rugby, so ended up watching on the ipad, with Dunedinites, Robin & Rob (Echo).Great result, await next Sat.  

Bart and Lia visit us for the night from Brussels and we enjoy the night lights of the Citadel of Namur.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Just to say, 2 years ago this flood gate on The Julianna Canal had collapsed on one side and blocked the waterway. We had to do a long loop through Belgium to get from Maastricht to Wessem.      How they mended it ??, huge cranes on land and barges.