Us again

Pleased to have managed to post a photo and map yesterday, so here’s another today – Saskia in somewhat scruffy cruising mode – taking the sun at Isle sur Doubs. The important item to note is on the roof at the back – the barbecue is brilliant on these cruises. For those who don’t know Saskia, although she looks modest – and is, indeed - she is quite comfortably fitted out. The divan in the main cabin folds out into a full size double bed, there is a hot shower, fridge with freezer – ice for the evening whisky – a washing machine, cooker and oven etc.  We have 240 volts power, either when plugged in at a port, or though the inverter from the batteries.  Unfortunately the air conditioning isn’t working, and the yard has failed to find out why. But the heating is, and was used earlier. For the technically minded, we have a 75HP Volkswagen marine diesel engine, which drinks about three litres an hour at normal cruising speed – 8kph is the speed limit on the canals. The tank is about 160 litres, giving us a fair range.

 Here is the captain relaxing after lunch......................

We are now tied up in the port of Montbeliard, best known, I understand, for an obscure Lutheran scholar and the fact that Peugeot makes most of its cars here. Various other boats we saw during the day are here too – including a jolly German couple in a Sadler 34 who come from Heidelberg, and promise to show us the town when we get there.  A fat German who keeps his boat at Cochem on the Mosel tells me we will have no trouble on the Rhine – famous last words!

People ask about the costs of this sort of travel: you pay at commercial or municipal ports, but it varies. Last night at Isle sur Doubs came to 8.70 euro, tonight it is 16.60. For that you get to tie up, plug in and fill your water tank. Sometimes there’s WiFi, but not here. You can also simply stop on the side of the canal, drive in a stake and spend the night completely free: it can be very pleasant.

We are now off the River Doubs, which is something of a relief, and it has been canal all day – some parts a bit weedy, but others reasonably clear. Tomorrow we head for the summit, and then down an amazing staircase of some 15 locks in five kilometres into Alsace.