Thieu to Peruwlez

We had a long day ahead of us , 37km including 2 big locks, so we set off early at 8.15,  in grey, misty, rainy conditions. 

 The first lock, Ecluse de Havré, has a 10m drop with floating bollards.  When I called them I was told we would be sharing the lock with a commercial boat and we would have to wait.  Perhaps 10 minutes later a boat appeared behind us, the lights went green and we entered the lock.  The commercial was small-ish, perhaps 50m, and tied up next to us.  They had a Dutch flag and immediately struck up a conversation in English.  Such a friendly guy.  The lock takes about 30 minutes so we found out quite a lot about him:  he bought the boat just 3 weeks ago and this is his first trip with a cargo of fertiliser, going from Maastricht to Canal du Nord in France.  He also has a pleasure Luxcruiser with which he has travelled extensively in France with his family - 4 children but only one wife(!).  His son is crewing for him.  This is his hobby and he is actually the owner/captain of a sea going cargo boat (he obviously likes collecting boats!) travelling all coast of Europe and he knows the Azores.  And he gave us some tips about where to go in France: the River Doube is highly recommended.(The conversation continued in the second lock).  I'm so sorry I didn't take photos in the locks   but we followed in their wake for quite a while:

We have done the Nimy-Blaton-Peronnes canal before, about a week ago, and it is pleasant enough but not exciting.  As we passed the entrance to the Ath-Blaton Canal, which we loved so much,

 the scenery improved and the sun even made an appearance.

 What is this great big barge doing on our side of the canal?  He appeared to be having a conversation with a woman walking her dogs on the tow path - memories of Faial!  We had to slow down almost to a halt but he did move eventually.

 We were intending to stop in the Peruwelz area but not sure where.  According to our information there is a marina, a port de plaisance, and 2 free docks.  We went into the port de plaisance in a small cut off the canal, but it is part of the marina: the same price but not close to the amenities, and while we were tied up there a barge passed with a huge surge, causing little Njord to rise and fall against the dock (not floating) by over a foot.  So we went a couple of kms further to take a look at the free docks - they were right on the canal with even less protection from passing barges.  We went back to the marina, which is also in a small cut off the canal but protected by a breakwater at the entrance so no surge from the commercials.

We were met by a very friendly man, Pascal, who took out money (€12.50/night including electricity and wi-fi, showers are €1.80) and explained where the supermarket is, and how everything works around here.

We went supermarket-ing(2 of them within 500m, Colruyt and Lidl), then took to the showers.  Wow, the best shower I have had in many years.  You pay your €1.80 and get a key to the shower, an old fashioned key that unlocks a door, not one of these card things that operates the water flow.  So, you turn the tap on and get blasted by a jet of water, as hot as you like, and for as long as you like.  My kind of shower!

Then a glass of wine and chicken bbq as the sun went down.