Friday 1st June Rethel to Ecluse 5 Montgon

Trip 32 Kms. Departure 10.30 Locks 27 of 75

Got lucky this morning. 2 poached eggs for starters and both double Yolkers. I came up with a master stroke to solve the starting issue bearing in mind we had an awful lot of locks to do today. I rigged a battery isolator switch across the relay on a lead long enough to sit on the back wheelhouse shelf and leaving the flooring in place. It meant i could simply push in the switch and it would make the relay and start the engine. Worked like a dream. this was gonna be a good day.

We were packed and away by 10.30. All very smooth as the scenery got better and better although there was a threatening sky ahead. I turned a bend to be confronted by what looked like a complete canal block. I had checked the works schedule and had missed this. They were repairing the canal side. I edged forward and realised we could just scrape past as long as the bank was good depth in the trees and no fallen branches would cause a problem. To complicate things a boat was heading from the opposite side but we would pass first.

We squeezed through just and I watched as the Belgium boat pushed through the trees in passing.

We arrived at the last lock prior to the start of the two staircase 26 lock Montgon flight travelling just 8 Kms to the summit at Le chesne. A Luxembourg cruise barge was exiting the lock. A pretty tight squeeze. It was all of 90 ft long and was appropriately called Elizabeth with our queen heading into her jubilee weekend.

At the first of the staircase we are given a radar and told not to stop between locks as they are set to give a continuous passage through all 26. "how long to do them" 41/2 hours. It would be very tight as it was gone 2 and she told us the locks closed at 6.30. We entered the second lock. The starting procedure was sweet but I was horrified to notice the stbd engine temperature had risen to 230degrees. Collette was trying to attach the lines and I just needed to turn the engine off. This was not the time to suffer an overheat. I quickly lifted the strainer and got the pump to blast an air bullet down what I assumed was a blocked intake. On the 3rd go there was a thud and a bubble of air surfaced. The lock gates had opened and it was time to move 100 metres into the next lock. I desperately needed both engines constantly now as manoeuvring Doucette on one at low speeds was a non starter and these locks were very narrow with very firm concrete sidewalls.

I started stbd hoping to see an immediate improvement. No change. I was forced to try and enter the lock on one engine. I needed speed to steer and I was seriously stressed as we moved into lock number 3. Then the heavens opened. When it rains as they say, this was really not funny, I would have to phone the keepers and tell them I had to stop but first I would give it one more try. I lifted the strainer lid again and noticed there was no release of pressure when I opened it. I quickly got some leather gloves and carefully released the coolant lid. Eased the pressure out. There was water at the top but as the pressure was released the coolant level started to drop. The system had an air block within the engine. I topped up the coolant with about 2 pints of water, then heard Collette shout "gates are opening"

I started stbd engine and immediately the temperature dropped. Crisis was over and the rain stopped as quickly as it had begun.

We celebrated with a beer and snickers bars and started to thoroughly enjoy the routine of lock after lock in increasingly beautiful settings.

I had read this canal had been compared to English canals and it was easy to see why.

We started to count down from double figures but at ecluse 6 and the time at 05.50. A Vnf man said next one is last ecluse. Ferme a 6 heures. Surely not we were told 6.30.

Much too our delight 6 it was because we ended up staked alongside a bank between 2 locks in the most fabulous setting. Remote and glorious we had a stroll,

BBQ of asperges, superb, and bavette steak with salad followed by bananas and custard with a bottle of merlot. I fished on sweet corn for a while and all in all it was an idyllic night on a boat ona French canal. What you dream of!