Canal Marne de la Rhin (Est): Back to Saverne via Waltenheim-sur-Zorn

Friday 12 to Sunday 14 May 2017

The series of locks between Strasbourg and Saverne

12 May: Strasbourg to Waltenheim-sur-Zorn: 16 kilometers, 5 locks, 1 bridge.

The weather report was indicating an early afternoon electrical storm so we ‘put foot’ racing along at nearly 10kph (Dutch and German idle speed), through one lock, one bridge, another lock with the chatty lockkeepr, and in no time at all and with the black clouds breathing down our necks, we did a 180 degree turn so that we were facing into the rising wind and tied up at the lovely new Waltenheim-sur-Zorn marina which doubles as a small Canelous hire-boat base. And then we were enveloped in thunder, lightning and pouring rain – just made it!

The storm did not last too long and when it cleared a Canelous boat with two Brazilian couples pulled in and tied up ahead of us – nice people. Had a long chat to Gerd and Lesley in South Africa, the second friends we have called on the ‘Free’ cell phone deal.

The morning dawned beautifully with hope that our project for the day could be completed. We had decided that our boat name decals look a bit ‘bloated’ and as no-one immediately grasps the significance of the parentheses in “Elle” we had different and hopefully a little more fitting decals made. In bright and absolutely windless conditions we maneuvered the boat so that we could reach the bow and tentatively positioned the new bow decals which will replace those on the coachroof sides. Hmmmm, not too bad so we swing the boat around and repeat the process.

Then it’s down to removing the old decals – the side ones come down without too much trouble but the big one on the stern is another story.

Going...

...going...

...gone!

As I pulled the plastic across the polyurethane filler (the curse of our maintenance program) the paint came with it. So it was touch-stuck back in place and when get to Lagarde and pick up our paint, we will rip the thing off, replace the filler with an epoxy based one, paint that section and apply the new decal.

A short while later the Brazilians disembarked with all their luggage; one couple heading back to Brazil and the other to Italy for two months. One of the couples shyly approached us and offered their leftover olive oil, potatoes, garlic and an onion which were gratefully received and a short while later we were presented with half a packet of Brazilian coffee sweets. Lynn reciprocated by presenting them with a small, beaded, South African flag, keyring – having visited South Africa before they were absolutely delighted.

Soon the port was a bustle with arriving Canelous clients: A large Rotary group on an enormous 57 footer, a pair of couples of a 37 footer and three Austrian couples on another of the same boat. Engines were started, bow thrusters thrusted, instructions were given, and before we knew it we had the port to ourselves again. Bikes were unloaded and we cycled up to the top of the village confirming that apart from the Mairie and a church, the place is simply a farming hamlet.

Travelling boulangerie

 

Down the hill we go, stopping at the boat to pick up backpacks and saddlebags, and head for the next, bigger, town of Hochvelden (very French names these towns have, don’t they?) with its bustling little town center dominated by a very smart boulangerie,

The boulangerie

and on to the outlying Intermarche where we stock up on provisions before heading back to Elle and a pretty decent meal at the small restaurant near the port – yes, Waltenheim-sur-Zorn has one commercial enterprise, the Restaurant A L’Ancre. Lynn orders the regional speciality of tarte flambé or ‘Flammekeuche’ and I indulge a crumbed pork veal cordon bleau stuffed with cheese and ham and smothered in a mushroom sauce. Very generous and very tasty – Lynn’s thin bread ‘pizza’ dough was cheese, garlic, onion and lardon filled and was also very good.

Eventually we waddled off to bed for at least nine hours of good sleep.

14 May: Waltenheim-sur-Zorn to Saverne: 22 kilometers, 13 locks.

Once again a beautiful morning as we set off for Saverne

VNF man clearing the tow path.

Cycling is a diet aid?

The pompiers practicing.

with another thunderstorm forecast for around 14h00 so we did not dally and covered the distance in just on four hours, found a suitable mooring, made fast and the storm hit – a small front at first followed by the full Monty with buckets of lashing rain.

But the Weber was in the lee and the cuisses came off with rain pelting all around. And then it cleared up and the afternoon was glorious once again so we wandered to the 'beer garden' and spent the remainder of the afternoon watching the world go by!