Bray-sur-Somme to Peronne

23 km, 5 locks, 3 mobile bridges

An early start today, 8.40, because we had a long-ish way to go and a few hurdles (locks and mobile bridges) to negotiate. 

Going back down the off-shoot of the Somme River

Today, for the first time on the Somme, the system broke down – my fault.  As we approached the first lock I called in, asking for service to go upstream.  20 minutes later the lock keeper arrived.  I told him we were heading for Peronne, he told me he would take us through the next lock and then his colleague would take over, and No I didn’t need to phone, he would.  Sure enough the colleague was there to man the next lift bridge.  And then it all came to a grinding halt.  We arrived at the following  lift bridge and waited; tied up to the quay and waited a bit more. 

Waiting for the bridge keeper

Eventually I phoned and was told, Ok we will be with you shortly.  It was definitely a new call in, no excuses or explanations as to why were we had been delayed.  Next time we come to the Somme I will make sure to always state our destination at my first call in, it was my fault for not doing so this time.

Anyway, over an hour after stopping at the bridge we were underway again and it all ran smoothly from then on.  The lock keeper even ran overtime into his lunch hour to get us through one of the locks and was waiting for us, earlier than arranged at the next lift bridge (we were inside keeping out of the sun – which was hot today! – and didn’t notice him arrive).

We were sad to leave the Somme after 18 days.   It is a beautiful river, well run, and well worth a visit.  We hope to return some day. 

The Little Train of the Houte Somme - 5 steam engines were being fired up, thick black coal smoke hung over the canal

Some of the carriages.  Victory in Europe Day tomorrow

A tank at the Froissy Museum

This left bridge was ready for us and opened as we approached

Weed in the Haute Somme - it has grown a lot thicker since we passed here 18 days ago

SO99 who we met in Deinze, Belgium, last year

Our last kilometre on the Somme

And so we find ourselves back in Peronne tonight.  We knew there was a good little marina here (free, and with free electricity, but no water), right next to a campsite where we can use the laundry (for the exchange of a few sheckles of course) and a Lidl in easy walking distance.  We’ll stay here tomorrow so I have time to do 2 loads of laundry, and call home for Mother’s Day (in South Africa).