I woke early today. It was just too much excitement! Checked in with Big chief Si and paid my final dues and handed over my car keys for safe keeping. Tearful emotional farewells to anybody that would listen before Doucettes lines were finally untethered and her bow pushed towards the middle of the still fast runningYonne under the steady throb of her old fords. I am sure Big chief Si wiped a tear as he waved for the last time as we drifted under the bridge and out of site of Evans marine bound for destination Auxerre. 5 locks and just 22kms to go. 500m round the corner, we approached Gravelines ecluse. A sea of debris and flotsam was settled for 30m across and out from the opened lock gates. The massive surge of water from the barrage would surely move it away fast and I called the lockkeeper to tell him I would wait 10 minutes. He advised me that there was some seriously big tree branches just under the water and great care was necessary if I wanted to continue the approach. I waited but incredibly the mass of debris appeared to be pinned in the same position by the current. It was decision time. I was the first boat through after the floods and every lock would probably hold the same dangers. Also, with each opening, it was unlocking the door for so much forest to come hurtling down river. This was not going to be straightforward.
I edged forward and tried to keep boat moving whilst maintaining position but soon my entry path was blocked by two huge trunks which were forcing me towards the barrage and the current suddenly had hold of doucette. she twisted beam on to the barrage, I opened the throttles and she battled towards the lock entrance. I was amazed how much power it was taking but at least as I surged the trunks had drifted slightly apart and I actually got through with just a passing clonk. Suddenly we were in, the eclusier smiled and gave that famous shrug which said, "I tried to tell you". 10 minutes later we were still sat there. A hotel barge rounded the corner and ploughed through the flotsam brutally splaying the tree trunks aside. They freed from the pinning current joined it and headed off at pace towards Migennes to cause carnage further down stream.
We made steady progress through the next two locks when the hotel barge asked to take the lead into the next lock. I was very happy to oblige. It had started raining steadily by now.
At the next lock, we had to wait for two barges who were heading down from Auxerre. As the first exited, I immediately recognised Ettie. We had shared a couple of days entering Paris 2 years ago and had crossed paths at Lutzelburg in the Alsace last year. I waved and we joked yet again about my smoky engines. Following her out was Joli Coeur, another barge we know and have met on the Marne and the marne au rhin last year. She appeared to have trouble getting out of the lock and seemed to get uncomfortably close to the waiting hotel barge which took avoidance action. We waved on passing and made our way toward the lock entrance. I immediately discovered why they had trouble. The current was horrid. The lock entrance was right at the side of the river and the water very turbulent, the current was all over the place and I again had to rely on Doucettes power to get me out of trouble to get into the lock. Another phew moment. This was supposed to be relaxing I pondered.
Next and last lock entering Auxerre, disaster strikes, just as we get into the lock, I hit reverse on stbd throttle and it jams. I bash the lock side with no steerage. Thank god it had not happened at the previous lock when it could have been catastrophic. I was able to use the wheelhouse helm for the last run in and to moor.
Once alongside, I called Big Chief Si to see if he had any cables as suspected a cable had broken. This was when I recieved the most horrific news that Joli Coeur had been holed entering a lock and had sunk at Gurgy where Simon was currently stood surveying the scene having been called out.. In fact, later reports confirmed that Joli Couer had hit the barrage wall on entering the lock we had seen them at. He had gashed a 2x6 inch hole and was taking on water. He actually went through a further lock before realizing what was happening and then it was too late and all happened very quickly. Basically they had wintered on the boat and so it was effectively their home and all their belongings were now under water. They at least were safe but it made us very very sad and served as a reminder that it may not be the sea but boating on these canals and waterways needs very much to be respected.
It was not the evening I had envisaged when we set off this morning and with another day tomorrow attempting repairs and not knowing what the problem was and if it was repairable, I phoned my guardian angel, smeds. He gave me the sort of advice I rely on and it was just good to hear his voice. oh and the rain continued to fall as we lamented the sadness of a couple we hardly know and yet as fellow boaters, feel so sorry for tonight with their summers plans in ruins at the bottom of the dangerous River Yonne.
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