Off at 0805 this morning. About a mile on from where we moored we saw two guys who we passed yesterday in a little boat nicely moored up against a proper quay for free - typical. They caught up with us in the first lock of the day and followed us until we turned off. They’re also off to the med, but the fast route through Paris as they only have enough cash for a 30 day licence - students.
A lockeeper gave us a better map so we decided to get off the canal du nord and onto one of the smaller ones. We end up coming out in the same place as we already planned - Chauny - but it’s more scenic although there are quite a few more locks. Half an hour after turning off I noticed a little bit of Shell petrol station sign through the trees, so we decided to pull up and fill the 25 litre container.
At the first lock on this smaller canal the wind was really blowing - it’s been hat & coat with the shorts all day today - and the lock was much smaller than the last few. After we were in - with a bit of translation help from some people who had passed us on the towpath on bikes - we understood from the lockeeper that this and the next lot of locks are automatic. He gave us a little remote control and went.
The big locks are so easy compared to the small ones. The entrance is 5m wide, we are 4.1 + fenders which doesn’t leave a lot for cross currents and wind. To minimize the effect of the cross current you have to get a fair bit of speed up to and past the lock gates - I just hope my aim stays straight through the next 31 locks. The turbulence is also a lot rougher as they fill up - sending the side that’s not got all the fenders on it towards the opposite wall.
At the next lock the lockeeper was there to see if we had learned what he showed us. At the third he wasn’t so we must have looked fairly competent. The rain had started by now so as it was 1725 we’ve pulled up just before the next set of locks ready for tomorrow.
We’ve filled our water tanks & containers at the locks and as we motor all day we have lots of hot water for showers and electric which means a proper cold fridge and computers etc..
