Barging around in France…the canal

“Here today, up and off to somewhere else tomorrow! Travel, change, interest, excitement! The whole world before you, and a horizon that’s always changing!”
~Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

Not all barging is done on rivers.  Canals are also a big part of river travel and commerce.  And when you have a boat in another country (Sandra and Neville are from England), you have to have somewhere to keep it when you’re not using it.  In this case, that spot is a marina where they leave the barge while (or as Sandra would say, whilst) at home in England, whether for the winter or between trips in the summer.  After some time on the river, we turn and head for the canal the leads to the marina.  But first, the boat has to go through a lock.

Locks are used when water levels vary between a lake and a canal or two part of the same bit of water.  Very simply put, much more simply than the process is accomplished, the gate nearest the boat opens, allowing the water level to become the same as where the boat is.  The boat enters the lock and the gate closes behind it.  The the water level is raised or lowered until it reaches that of the water on the opposite side of the lock.  The gate in front opens and the boat moves out.

Approaching the lock

 

In the lock

On the other side of the lock, gliding along the canal, Sandra spots a mother duck and her ducklings.  Out comes the bag of dried bread.  When she tosses the bread, a moment of hilarity ensues as the ducklings appear to have been shot from a cannon as they shoot towards the floating bread.  It’s impossible to imagine that their little webbed feet can move fast enough to propel them along so quickly.  This picture can’t begin to do that urgent speed justice!

We approach the marina.

Across from their berth is an old, refurbished barge from Holland, very colorful and attractive.

Our lovely day has come to an end.  In a very short amount of time, especially when compared to how long it took by boat, Sandra and Neville drive us back to where our car is parked and it’s time to say good-bye.  They’ve shown us something that many people never have a chance to experience, yet is part of the fabric of their lives, at least for a bit of each year.  It was a grand experience.  We wave goodbye and point our car (and GPS) towards home.  It was the perfect down day after our day at le Tour de France, (if you missed the Tour posts, they can be found here, here, and here), and our first day of sunshine since we’d arrived in France.  Part one of this post is here.