French canals – Page 2

Thank you to the helping hands of Jeanna, Allan and family on Denmark’s Fortuna.

There are still first’s …

A first time to cross a bridge on a boat (you should sing a song aloud), the first time to moor up by digging your keel into the mud and setting up a gangway off the bow the way Captain Cook might have, before pontoons.

Log: 3770 nm

Tuesday, 9th May 2017

Jorquenay, downhill towards Calais

We’re stuck here at a red light, and a bridge that’s not opening. It’s V-E Celebrations in France, a public holiday commemorating the end of the 2nd World War. It feels like a war is beginning, its so quiet here – as if the first shot’s been fired and everything is petrified waiting for the next bombardment.

There’s the empty control room – hopefully it will be manned tomorrow…

Plateau de Langres, Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne – 370 m above sea level

4820 m passage underground from the Saone side to the Marne side of Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne, France – towards Calais.

Monday, 8th May 2017

life:

On this day in 1945 (72 years ago, May 8), V-E Day was celebrated. Pictured here is a photo from that day – jubilant French civilians celebrating the end of the war in Europe under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. (Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) #thisweekinLIFE #WWII #VEday