This canal
is really a transit one, not a tourist one. Although some people seem to hang
about, most are making passage, as we are, with an objective: Amsterdam in our
case. So today we set off betimes, and covered some 50 kilometres and 20 locks
to reach Joinville, which is infested with weed:
But we are
at least comfortably moored alongside, and have internet through the dongle.
Early on we
came across a linked swing bridge and tunnel (with a slight glance at the washing hanging out):
And later
on some impressive horticulture at one of the locks:
Topiary too
Even a
traditional honey extractor pressed into garden service:
We only met
three other boats all day, including this English narrowboat. You do see a few in France – I imagine they mostly
get trucked across rather than trying to sail across the channel.
There were,
of course, more boys bathing in the murky canal waters. This intrepid/crazy lad
was probably showing off for our benefit, but an impressive leap all the same.
The
landscape in the Marne valley here is mainly agricultural – wheat fields
waving:
And also
being harvested: amazing what one man and his tractor can do!
By the
way, in case of worries on the hygiene front, we expect to reach Vitry le
Francois in two days, where there is a well-known boatyard that can fix
everything, and hopefully our shower too! Meanwhile we have plenty of hot water
and are not too pongy yet!
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