Rethel > Reims

1st July

We spent 5 really relaxing days in Rethal, . A very pretty spot with of course the compulsory Cathedral and boulangerie.. Had a walk with Dave and Joanna to sus out the train station as they were going back to Charleville-Mezieres to pick up their Motorhome and come back to Rethel before they head of to Calais. They arrived back a couple of hours later. That evening we all went over to Chris and Paulas barge for a few drinks and dinner. Met up with Fergie and Audrey who also have a barge. Fergie was dressed up in tie and jacket and French beret. Very eccentric. A great night.

Today sorting out this French dongle and trying to easily drop the canopy as we have a few low bridges to go under. Think we have come up the answer. Had Chris and Paula over this evening for a reciprical BBQ and of course a few drinks. Chris has now become my electrical mentor and sorted out a few electrical issues. Also he has sorted out an issue we had with water in the bilge. It was coming in through the prop shaft. Now with Chris’s expertise, not a problem after spending a day and a half pumping and sponging water out of the bilge. It appears at the moment that every person who owns a Canal cruiser has an electrical degree. Anyway all is good and we are looking to exit Rethel very soon. Had a morning at the local Rethel market. 2 pairs of shorts later. A relaxing day before heading south.

 

 

7th July set off for Reims.

Said goodbye to Chris and Paula. Hopefully meet them again down the line.

And what we think are nice quiet canals…suddenly a commercial barge heads our way,..
seen,….closer,…..close,…gone !!!!!
BUT

we also collected a bit of the local vegetation  !!!!!!
Heading for Asfeld on our way to Reims. Only 20K so a short motor. Arrived at Asfeld but not much of a place. Moored next to a couple of Dutch boats and between 2 small boats they had 4 dogs… sick . Only 4 locks today. Cycled into Asfeld village and had a look around. Pretty quiet. Passed a baroque church built in 1683. Forgot the camera.
8th July. Set out for Giugnicourt. Weather stared out awful but cleared as we went.Found Guignicourt and had to moor right next to a construction site and we were the only boat there. Only 2 locks today and the scenery was quite spooky. Some parts of the Canal were so narrow that if we met one coming the other way I don’t know what I could have done.
9th July. Headed out  for Loivre and turned from the Canal Lateral A Laisne and onto the Canalde L’Aisne a la Marne. Now the locks go up and not down. Managed to get stuck before a broken lock so that delayed us an hour. Arrived in Loirve and moored next to a


silo, but the other side of the Canal was beautiful. Had the compulsory cycle around the village. But being Monday nothing open, however couldn’t even find a shop. On the boat having champagne and olives. Our new staple diet. Once again have not passed many boats on the Canals. Maybe they know something we don’t.
Now a slow motor into

Reims.

Arrived in Reims about 11am and moored on a free mooring. Right on a main road. However the road noise doesn’t worry me as little villages have no noise so its a welcome change.. Only the odd barking dog.
This city has a real history. 80% destroyed in First world war,  Ceasar presided over a meeting of delegates from Gaulish towns, 25 Kings of France have been crowned here,from Pious in 816 to Charles X in 1825,  has the ‘Gate of Mars’, the largest Roman Arch in the world. The Notre Dame Cathedral in the mail square is a 13 century masterpeice of Gothic art with 2300 statues. The photos can’t really explain.

NEW FRENCH MOBILE NUMBER IS 0033 648 56 26 95

23rd June. Said goodbye to Tex and Anthea and had slow day. Had to have a sleep in the afternoon for the first time.

Terry and Colleen leaving us at Charleville

24th June. Dave and Joanna arrived in their Motorhome and will be spending a few days with us cruising south through the Ardenne. Another slow day.

Dave and Joanna at Pont-a-Bar

25th June. Cycled into the train station to see Terry and Colleen off. Dave took T and C in to the station in his MotorHome with all their luggage. Mainly shoes. Sorry to see T and C go, It has been lots of fun. In the afternoon went in the Motorhome with Dave and Joanna to find a Lidel ( Supermarket ) and found a small gas tank and now we can run the outside fridge on gas. Great.

Some beautiful scenery

26th June. Headed out of Charleville with Dave and Joanna heading towards Rethel.  Branched off at Pont-a-Bar onto the Canal des Ardennes. However first stop was going to be Pont-a Bar but decided to continue on and through another 260m Tunnel and stopped at Chemery sur Barfor the night. Weather good and country beautiful.

Exiting a 265M Tunnel

Moored at Le Chesne

Exiting yet another lock

Yet another lock

27th June Headed onwards and ended up in Le Chesne. Yet another beautiful little village. Moored right next to a very old cathedral. Every little town has its own amazing cathedral. Most being hundreds of years old with an amazing history. Had a cycle in the afternoon up to the lake that supplies the Canal des Ardenne with its water.
28th June. Headed out at 9 amfor the staircase of 27 locks which takes us down over 100 metres. Hot as hell today and had to have the canopy down as we are too high for the bridges. Only took us 5 hours. Country is getting more beautiful every day. We are supposed to be under 3.5m but I think we are about 3.7m. Managed to get through but really tiring. Now moored at Attigny after a long hot day. Knackered. We all virtually passed out. 
29th June. Having a recuperation day after our 27 lock experience. Had an afternoon cycle up to some ruins which we saw on the map. But by the time we got there it looks like the site had been sold to a developer and he was turning it into 3 houses and the Euro had donated money towards the project..
30th June. Set off from Attigny and headed for Rethel. Only 18k cruise. Hot day again. Currently in Rethel in a Wifi spot. Of course its a Bar. This post is a bit brief but I am trying to get some software which will enable me to do my posts but not have to be logged into the internet. I think its Windows Live Writer, but cant seem to get it working. Bear with me.

15th June. This part of Belgium is amazing. Towns on the River are surrounded by huge cliffs and and fortresses. Walked into the Namur squiare.Joined up in the evening with Tex and Anthea and had dinner with them in the square. Did 3 locks today.
16th June. Cycled to a Brico store with Tex to buy a torch as we have a long 565m tunnel coming up tomorrow. Namur is overlooked by a huge citadel on the cliff so decoded to get the bus up to the top and have look. Quite spectacular overlooking the city and the Meuse river. Weather still not very good.

Beautiful homes on the River Meuse

17th June. Set off for Dinant. 6 locks today. Didn't see any traffic on the route. Once agian beautiful country. Through Namur, Profendeville, Gidine and into Dinant. All down the River were beautiful Chateau's and house. Moored at the main pontoon in Dinant. Had a facinating trip up the fenicular ( cable car ) with Mike and June up to yet another citadel overlooking the city. This citadel was also used extensively during the war. We did a tour of the tunnels under the citadel. Went into a tunnel and the lights went out. Couldn't see anything but managed to feel our way out and found the light timer. Went down again and ended up in a room where not one wall thing was level so it made you feel as if the whwhole citadel was falling over. Very spooky. Then back down and found the Sax Museum. This is where Mr Sax invented the Saxaphone.

Kiwi Rose moored in Dinant

18th June. Woke up early to thunder and lightning, however 10am and sunshine. Decided to motor on down to Givet. Found out our batteries have become dangerously low. So need to use generator when we stop in Givet for a few hours and really give them a charge. Reached Givet and had all sorts of help with batteries. Once again the trip down to Givet was facinating as we passed beautiful homes and chateaus. Wandered around the city and left the generator on till 10pm.
19th June Woke up to thick fog. John came over and checked the batteries again. Things look better. Decided to stay in Givet another day and really charge the batteries and have a good look around the town. Also cycled down the Ardenne as the Meuse finishes here and turns into the Ardenne Canal.

Saxaphones line the bridge at Dinant

20th June.  Headed for Fumay. Entered the 565m tunnel very nervously. Our boat is 4m wide and the tunnel is 5m wide. Rock on both sides and zero lighting. Just had to point the boat at the light at the end of the tunnel and hope. Hit one side but managed to get through. Very stressful. All automated locks from here as we are entering France. Reached Fumay and found nice mooring on the River. Fumay is a small town renound for its slate. In fact all the old buildings in Paris have slate roofs from Fumay. Had a couple of beers with Terry and Col at Chez Lisa. The only bar we could find open in Fumay. 
21st June. Foggy but clearing. Beautiful country. Locks are now getting smaller as all the commercial traffic is gone. Mooored at Chateau-Regault as the visitors mariner was too small. Met up with Steve and Sarah an English couple who were taking their yacht back to England.

Lucy at the top of the Citadel at Dinant

Overlooking the River Meuse from the citadel

22nd June Headed off to Charleville- Meziers and another tunnel. This one only 256m long but minimal lighting and wider and higher. Didnt hit anything. Found Charleville-Meziers and just scraped into the mariner once we had taken our binney off. Made it by an inch. Tex and Anthea and Mike and June were there also. Had a look around the town and had a couple of beers with Terry and Collen on the square. Charleville-Meziers is supposed to have the most beautiful squae in all of Europe. In the evening we had apperatifs on Yoyager ( Tex and Antheas boat ) with Mike and June.

Me with Mr Sax

Afternoon at Givet

Drinks with Mike and June in Dinant

Refilling the wine cellar with quality stuff at Givet

A square at Charleville-Mexiers

23rd. Said goodbye to Taex and Anthea as we are staying a coupe more days in Charleville- Meziers as Terry and Collen are leaving us on Monday and we need to get the close to a sizeable train station as they are heading to Paris. Had aquiet day and strolled around the town and a bit more shopping. 

Noahs Arc outside Dordrecht

View of Dordrecht from top of Cathedral

Another lock

Leaving Dordrecht

Long straight runs in Holland

Mariner in Wessam

Another obstacle on the River Meuse

7th June . Headed out of the Dordtrecht mariner and was confronted by the ARC. Amazing you must Google it. Some eccentric has built it as he knows that the world is coming to an end. Then headed onto a smaller canal and came back out onto the Oude Maas. Lost a buoy today, must have scraped against a lock wall. Used the VHF for the first time and got a reply. Fantastic. Now pissing with rain and getting towards 8pm. Decided to moor on a barge turning point in Tilburg. Nowher else to moor and we are all wet and cold. 4 locks today.

Boring stretch of water

8th June Headed off early as some large barges are arriving and want to turn. Boring stretch of water now just dead straight . Moored at Helmond and blowing a gale.

Retrieving lost fender 

9th June. Left Helmond early again and once again boring motoring. A few locks and not much traffic. Nearly had a colision with a tug pushing a barge. He was coming up and I was going down and no room to pass him. Had to reverse rapidly. Moored in Wessam. Blowing a gale and nearly smashed into the mariner. Moved to the Yacht club mariner and found the Harbour master and he placed me on an outer mariner. Great place.called Comfort Mariner. Thaen headed to the bar with TJ  and Colleen for some stress relief.

After replacing 6 large batteries

10th June Beautiful day. Sun at last. Had a cycle around the harbour and over to Maasbracht. Nice town on the river but being Sunday everything dead and closed. Like cycling through a Day of the Trifids movie set. Afternoon watched a bit of tennis with TJ at ther Beacon Bar.

87 year old engine - perfect

11th June Had a bad start this morning. Motor wont start. Organsied with the Harbour master for a deisel mechanic. Otto came over. After a few OOOOs he said |I needed a complet new bank of batteries. 1200.00 Euros later. Managed to get them and put them in with his help. Wessam for another day.
12th June. Fog. Just before we left Wessam I met Tex and Anthea Jones from Hamilton who has also just bought a Cruiser and knows nothing about them either. Hopefully catch up with them again further down the line as he and Anthea are also heading to France. Motored down the Juliana Canal ( 3 locks )  and headed for Maastrecht. A real ancient city with the Belgian border 1 K wets and the German border 2 k east. Moored alongside an 87 year old Dutch barge. Beautifully maintained by Luke. The engine is also 87 years old.. Had a walk around the town and of course stopped for a beer in the square with TJ and Col.
13th June . Stayed in Maastrecht another day as had to cycle down to the JH Peiterson Yacht Haven to get my ICC Certificate. Still raining.. Walked into the Maastrecht square and caught up with Tex and Anthea. Had a crazy eveing on the boat with Tex, Anthea, TJ and Collen. Colleen had managed to stretch the meal out to 6 people. Tex was a fighter pilot in the French airforce for 3 years. Heading to Namur tomorrow. which is in Belgium.
14th June Thursday this must be Belgium.... Up early and filled the deisel tanks to the gunnels as deisel is more expensive in Belgium 415.00 Euros later. Couldn't reach Namur in one day. So moored in Huy Yacht club about 20 k out of Namur. A nice little town perched in the shadow of 2 huge Nuclear power plants. Motored 71 K today and only 3 locks.
15th JuneRaining agian and grey ( Belgium of course ). Plan to get to Namur today. Got to Namur eraly but could not get onto the mariner as wind too high so moored across the river outside a Casino. Had diner in restaurant in the square with Tex, Anthea, TJ and Colleen. Only 3 locks again today.
16th June Had to cycle off this morning to get a large torch as we will soon be in France and encounter a couple of long unilluminated tunnels. One is 5k long. Should be fun !!!!

Me and Tex - 2 cricket experts

Having diner in the Namur square

The square in Namur

KIWI ROSE parked outside casino in Namur

End of another day

17th June. Woke up this morning in Namur to a beautiful day. We are off to Dinant. This blog needs a bit of work as I am doing it at 7AM on to of the Mariner Bar roof and the sun means I can't see the bloody screen to well.

Well picked up Terry and Colleen from Gent on 1st June and back to the boat. Introduced them to my neighbour John and Maureen and Bill from there on it was all downhill. First night had a good session at the Mariner Bar. Following day had an invite onto Bills boat for some canapes and yet more drinks. 
Tuesday 5th June tidied up and went into the village and topped up with more deisel as on the Rivers its more expensive. Said goodbye to John and Maureen and headed out on our adventure. Down to the first lock and then out onto the Oude Maas River. Well we went though the lock and was immediately confronted by bloody container ships and barges over 200 metres long. They are pretty daunting but we managed to stay out of their way and arrived at Dordrecht for the night. 

Leaving Oostvoorne

Leaving my mate John from Hull

Terry and Collen in Dordrecht

The daunting Oude Maas

Terry , Colleen and Lucy in Dordrecht

Wednesday 6th June. |Was told by the Jachthaven Commander that if I want to stay another night I will have to move the boat. When he explained to me where the berth was I thought FXXXX I will never get into that. But we managed it OK with only a minor scratch. The weather is crap today so we will explore Dordtrecht.