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Leaving St Quentin and heading North(ish) on the Canal de St Quentin, one climbs through five locks, before passing through the mighty Riqueval tunnel.
Boats are towed through the tunnel by an aging tug that hauls itself along on a chain.
Just before the entrance to the tunnel, there is this bridge.
This photo was taken after passing under the bridge.
The bridge achieved some considerable fame after Hugh McKnight published a picture of it on page 46 of his book 'Cruising French Waterways'. The photo is a remarkable World War 1 picture, showing hundreds of battle-weary British 'Tommies' relaxing on the steep sides of the cutting.
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This big basin leads to a newish, biggish, disused, but well maintained lock. This lock, if in use, could save boats half a day (at least) on their journeys. However, this short-cut is now not in use as navigation works on the longer route lowered the levels, and the short-cut is now too shallow!! There is talk of dredging it, but long arguments as to where to put the dredgings are delaying matters.
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Early morning boating near Peronnes, Belgium.
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More early morning boating near Peronnes in Belgium.
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ROSY and TEMUJIN on the slip at Peronnes.
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ROSY and TEMUJIN on the slip at Peronnes.
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Winches used to drag boats sideways out of the water. The wires are attached to little trolleys that sit on railway lines.
Positioning the boats over the trolleys while the trolleys are under murky canal water is an interestingly stressful game.
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Old and new canal bridges near the new Strepy-Thieu Ship Lift.
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A converted canal company cottage near the new Strepy-Thieu Ship Lift.
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ROSY and TEMUJIN waiting for their FREE ride up the massive 75 metre Strepy-Thieu ship lift.
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Mike Clarke's R.W. Davis Norwich Trader (armed with a water cooled Ruston engine) being fitted out at Seneffe.
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Two French berrichons (in need of some tender loving care) at Seneffe. Possibly available at a good price?
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Old Maastricht.
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The old and new bridges at Maastricht.
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O Lord!! Our ships are so small and this lock is so BIG!!!
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errr ... Holland, perhaps? My first sighting of Dutch windmills.
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I think we'll let this boyo go first.
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Oy!! Where's the bloody towpath got to?!!
Our excursion out onto one of the Dutch meers.
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A lovely old Dutch sailing tjalk 'goose-winging' before the wind.
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This should have been 'Sunset at a peaceful Dutch mooring'. Unfortunately it was far from peaceful, as we were surrounded by Black Tailed Godwits that squawked (LOUDLY) each morning, noon and night.
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Reed beds fringing the navigation. These were common in Holland and in the lakes in Germany. They visually soften the transition from water to land, and, by absorbing the wake of passing boats, help prevent erosion of the banks.
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This ship had been built on the side of the canal, and launched, sideways into it. The road (on the right hand side) had to be closed for launches, as it was flooded by the tidal wave!!
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Straight. Banks either side restricting the view. DBU (Dull Boring and Uninteresting). This is the common view of Dutch canals. Actually, this was one of the few examples that we came across.
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The end of a long day.
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