Bergues to Houlle

We crossed into France on 31^st and have battled with internet connections since then – so, no pics I’m afraid.  I have taken hundreds of photos and as soon as we find a decent internet connection I’ll upload heaps of them.  Promise.

After a  quick dash to the post office to post my letter to the Free company requesting a refund for the dud SIM card, a visit to the bakery for bread and a detour back to the shop where the lovely lady and her daughter helped us yesterday – to give them two Euromillions lottery tickets (I hope they win,they deserve it) - we set off at 9.30.  We back tracked 8km along the Canal de Bergues to Dunkerque then turned into the “liaison Dunkerque-Escaut de Grand Gabarit”  which means the big gauge canal connecting Dunkerque to the Escaut River, some 140 km away.  There is a lock right at the entrance to the canal, Ecluse Jeu de Mail, where a very friendly lock keeper had a chat, explained that we could not go to Bourbourg because the lock is out of service and we must continue on the big canal to the lock at Watten.  This was all in French and to make sure I had understood he told me to come and lock at the map in his office.  We had already decided to head to Houlle today, on the Rivier de la Houlle just past the Watten lock, so no problem for us.

The “grand gabarit” canal is a lot more pleasant than we expected. With very little traffic, on the weekend anyway.  We passed a grand total of 6 barges in 28 kms.

Again at the Watten lock we had a very friendly and helpful lock keeper.  So far we have only met very nice, helpful people in France. Just about a kilometre after the lock there is a tiny off-cut into the Rver Houlle.  It is delightful, with houses crowding down to the water’s edge.  For the first 1km or so there is a road only on one side and each house on the opposite side had its own small ferry.

We have tied up to a public pontoon close to the village. There are no shops here, but there is a 12^th century church (with a statue of St Antoine, the saint of market gardens!), a restaurant with a display of various awards it has won, and a gin distillery.   Apparently, there is a source of spring water from deep underground which is used to make the gin. 

Route from Bergues to Houlle

Canal de Bergues - halte nautique

Approach to Jeu de Mail lock

Saturday morning exercise

The coach

The first of 6 barges

Really rather pleasant, way better than expected

Pont de l'Abbesse

Double trouble

Watten lock

The Houlle River 

12th Century bell tower