Haybes to Givet

21 kms,  5 locks, 1 tunnel

With just a short run today, and waking to dark skies and rain pouring down, we didn’t have an early start.  I dodged the rain drops to make a dash to the boulangerie where I bought the obligatory baguette (I love the way they differ so much from one baker to another, but then the are deemed “artisan” bakers so it’s not like a franchise,  is it!) and two funny little things that looked like raisin scones but turned out to be bread/pastries with chocolate bits on the outside and a chocolate centre.  Delicious - beats a pain au chocolate 10 times over- wish I knew what they are called.

Eventually at 10.00 we set off, in light rain.and the temp at 12.5.  Nice comfortable weather, well my kind of weather!

Bye bye Haybes

Again we got to enjoy the wonderful scenery of the Valley of the Meuse.

A leaky lock

We must be close to Belgium - these look like my favourite "fat bottom" Belgian Blues

A lift bridge, welded into a semi-lifted position

We had a hold up at one of the locks when the lights went from red/green to double red, but the gates were open and we entered, tied up and called on the intercom thingy at the lock house.

Waiting in the lock

A chunk of wood stopping the lock gate from opening completely

 Less than 5 minutes later the VNF man appeared, with a friendly dog. 

Once she got up the courage to walk over the tiny bridge at the log gates she did her best to jump onto the boat and had to be strongly discouraged.

Then we got to the lock before the tunnel at Ham-sur-Meuse and had to wait 20 minutes for a boat coming towards us to clear the tunnel.  The lockkeeper’s post was manned and a young lady came out to explain the situation. 

Soon after clearing the tunnel and last lock we came into the city of Givet.

The Charlemagne Castle dominates the skyline

The quay at Givet. 

And I took a walk with my camera

The Hotel de Ville - Town Hall

The church, so different from the view we saw from the canal

A tunnel under the church

A row houses in the old town