Canal de Vosges

For the last two weeks we have been travelling down the Canal de Vosges, so called as it runs along the western edge of the Vosges Mountains. The weather is not unlike that that has made Melbourne the brunt of many a joke. Very hot and muggy, cold and wet, mixed up with the odd thunder storm. Some times all in one day. But generally good boating weather.

We spent 5 nights in Epinal, a pleasant small city of around 34,000. The harbour is on the edge of the old town and it and the surrounding parks have recently had a lot of money spent on them. The result is a very pleasant place to stay with lots of activity. The town is based along the upper reaches of the Moselle River which splits several times to form a series of small islands. Each has been built on and is covered with small medieval houses, narrow winding streets and of course, a church. Along the river edge are a series of beautiful gardens and parks which the town planners have wisely built bike paths so getting around the old part of the city was a breeze.

The harbour in Epinal

Size does not matter on the canals. This bloke was doing it in a rubber ducky. At night he rolled out a tarp and slept on the bottom of the boat. I guess it would be like a big water bed.

No time to finish or post this blog – battery troubles. We are now heading off to a series of 14 up locks in the form of a staircase to the top of the Canal de Vogues, from there on till the Canal de Burgoyne it will be all down hill. We will be in forests and seeing only very small villages for the next week so internet contact will be unlikely.

A great overnight spot in Selles beside a very nice little restaurant where we overindulged at lunch time. No more boating that day.

The early stages of the Canal de Vosges. Lizzy on the back deck, yachting gloves ready for the next lock. About one evey kilometre.

Overnighting in the forest

Waiting for the first lock of the day. Nicky and Walters' boat, Hygiea.

The canal de Vogues is considered on of the most beautiful in France and our trip over the last 10 days would attest to this. We have been travelling together with a Belgium couple, Nicky and Walter and their large dog Zeno. They have been great company, lots of drinks and nibbles on each others boats in the evening and having travelled this canal before, they know all the best spots. Most nights we stay in the forest or a very small village. Both very quiet and, in many cases the bird life in the forest makes them noisier than the towns. Nicky and Walter have also introduced us to slow boating. We leave each morning as soon as the locks open at 9.0 am and travel till around midday then stop for the day. 7 to 14 km tops. Lynda and I have then been getting on the bicycles and riding up and down the tow paths and doing some detailed exploring. We have become very addicted to slow travel and have no intention of going into detox.

A canal side of chateau of modest size.

Although it is occupied it has a feeling that it has grander times.

The remains of the 12thC wals that surrounded the town of Fontenroy Le Chateau. Much of the rest of strcture has been used over the years for building houses etc.

The main street in Fontenroy-le-Chateau, mid-day every thing closes down for two hours, however at 3.00pm things were not much different.

Most of the villages consist of a collection of a couple of dozen farm houses with large attached barns. French farmers tend to live in these collectives and drive out each day to their fields. Commuter traffic in these regions consists mainly of tractors towing an assortment of interesting looking agricultural equipment. In most villages you are lucky to find a boulangerie or a bar, but we do look with envy at the wonderful vegetable gardens that every house has. Things grow so well here. Even our little herb and lettuce garden on the boat is doing very well. And the flowers, even the most decrepit house or rundown village seems to be adorned with planter boxes with the most colourful collection of flowers. The care taken in all the gardens seems to be in contradiction to the lack of care taken in so much of the built environment.

Love to hear from some of you.

Regards

Ian & Lynda.