Briennon to Roanne

14 kms, 3 locks, 2.5 hours

A quick bakery run (all of 100m) for a baguette and we were on our way at 8.45.  When we entered the lock the lockie told us a second boat would be joining us so we were right at the front of the lock, going uphill, not our favourite place.  But the lockie operated the sluices very gently and it was smooth as peanut butter.

The day was very grey with rain and thunderstorms forecast.

At the second lock there was a really vicious cross current just as you entered the lock. Being a small boat, and Ian being a well-seasoned boatman, we made it into the lock unscathed with a lot of deft manipulation on the wheel, but the chap behind us got really beaten up, arriving at the entrance of the lock almost sideways. 

Signs all along the canal: Black Bass are protected, it is obligatory to release them back into the water

It is called "The Tranquil Canal" for a reason

Last lock. The port of Roanne is just beyond the lock gates.

Our new home

And so we entered the final port of our cruise.   We are thrilled to bits with this port.  Our mooring is in a secured marina, with security gates, and just metres away from the Capitainerie. There is no threat of flooding rivers seeing it is on a canal and the Capitain exudes confidence.  I can’t believe how fast the time has flown by and our spring cruise is now over.

Back home, we have had the most wonderful house sitter second time around after the disaster with the first house sitters.  He loves the house, the cats, and the island.  He has kept in touch with us almost daily and sent lots of photos and videos of the cats.  He has already organised a new house sit on the island in September and to tide him over till that time he is staying in our guest cottage for free, and he will be house sitting for us again in October.

Summary of our cruise:

From Diksmuide to Roanne in 12.5 weeks

 Statistics:
1237 kms
262 locks
26 mobile bridges
8 tunnels
227 engine hours
Fuel consumption: 1.43 litres/hour

Level graph: we started at sea level and finished 268m higher up