Thursday 26 July 2018

Bois la Chevre to St Jean des Losne (or, Fighting for Space with the Hire Boats……..)

One of our favourite moorings ever!

It’s hot.  Very hot.  But thankfully we are now on the River Saone, so as soon as we’re moored up, it’s swimming stuff on and over the side to cool down.  Cast your minds back though and we were still on the Canal des Vosges, it was the morning of the 18th and we were casting off from our rural idyll at Bois la Chevre and on our way to Fontenoy le Chateau.
Another huge blue sky above the tree-lined Vosges

The Narnia lock - with the gates lined with rogue trees and plants
Despite average reports we found the town of Fontenoy rather charming with cobbled streets and both the canal and River Coney running through the middle.  All of the bridges had flower boxes in full bloom, adding to the charm.  It was Wednesday afternoon and the little corner shop and bakery were closed but the large bar was open – and we walked right past!!  As news of low water levels causing restrictions on the northern and central canals of France was dropping into my Inbox from VNF, we chatted with Jane and Billy on WB Lazybones who were stopped on the Canal du Midi in the south due to high waters!!!  It’s been rather stormy down there apparently…….. Mike then settled down to do some boat maintenance as the gearbox oil was due a change as was the air filter.

In the morning I took a walk into town for some croissants and bread and enjoyed another little saunter through the centre and back where just as we were readying to leave the capitaine arrived to take our cash for the previous night.  We had tried to pay the previous night but the capitainerie had been all shut up and she explained that it had been her day off, one of the mechanics for the hire fleet is on holiday and the other had had a call out to assist a boat, so no one had been around – if we’d been up earlier we could’ve had a freebie!!

Croissants and coffee in hand we pushed off for our last day of the Vosges.
Welcoming committee at Fontenoy-le-Chateau

The steep cutting as you leave the town

And the lock with its pretty flower-adorned bridge
Along the way we stopped off for half an hour for a look at the pretty little village of Selles.

You can just see Quaintrelle on the canal, sitting above the river.

Very cute little chaple at Selles

The old bridge at Selles
We had intended to stop for a night here but we had ordered a second (tilting) parasol and a new boat hook which we had arranged to be delivered to the port at Corres.  We’d had notification that all the goods were there so decided to crack on and collect our goodies.

As we left Selles the little German boat that had been in front of us at Fontenoy appeared behind us, so as we pulled into the next lock we waited for them to come in with us.  They were taking for ever and eventually when I could see them I waved to them to come in with us but they declined……….  There weren’t any moorings so I don’t know if they had a problem, had decided to pull in for some reason or simply don’t share locks, but we continued down and on our way.

As we neared the end of the Vosges we passed through the town of Demangeville.  The town itself is a little bit away from the canal but there were houses built alongside the canal that looked like old millworkers houses or something.  Really different from any other houses we’ve seen in France but reminiscent of the terraced houses found in the UK, especially in industrial areas.
The unusual terraced houses at Demangeville which reminded me of the mill towns in the UK

And the only chimney......
One block further back looked to be occupied but the rest looked either derelict, or like the ones in the photo, as if someone had started renovating them (new doors and windows) and then run out of money.

Slightly further on was a lone-standing chimney, probably the remains of whatever works it was that the occupants of the houses were employed at.

Soon after, we reached Corre and the final lock on the Canal des Vosges that would take us down onto the Petit Saone river.
The most flowery lock cottage we've seen!

Bye bye faithful telecommand

Out of the last lock on the Vosges and onto the Petit Saone
We took an immediate right on leaving the lock and moored on the visitor pontoon that is on the cutting leading to the marina.  Because it was on a cutting there was little, if any, flow and we didn’t like the look of it for swimming……. So we headed up to the capitainerie, collected our parcels from the lovely Doris, unpacked them back at the boat and then headed out to dump the rubbish, get rid of our old oil from Mike’s oil change the other day, and get some supplies from the supermarket.

After a shower to cool time it was then time to head for some dinner at the marina restaurant.

After a top up of water the next morning we pushed off down the Petit Saone.  Having not seen an awful lot of traffic for a week or so, there suddenly seemed to be rather a lot and as we approached our first choice for mooring that evening at Montureux Les Baulay, a cruiser came from the other direction and took the last remaining spot…..  Ah well, such is life.  It was a nice day and we continued on to the next option.  
Nice, calm Petit Saone


As we passed a tree on the bank a HUGE cloud of ravens took off but I was too late to get a photo.  So when we spotted some in another tree, Mike hooted the horn, but instead of all flying off and up, they went downwards and it didn't look so impressive.

Nice old mill opposite a mooring that was full.....
These also proved to be full and the first place we managed to get in was the town mooring at Port sur Saone, now a couple of days ahead of schedule as we’d planned hopping between rural moorings for a couple of days!!  We were not impressed and the town did nothing to lift our moods.  The only way I can describe it is a shithole.  Unattractive and with a small but main road with huge trucks rumbling through it really did leave a lot to be desired.  The nicest thing that happened was a group of kids, three boys and girl, about 10 years old, very politely asked if they could see inside the boat and stayed and chatted for ages – they were really very sweet and keen to be asked questions in English!

The icing on the cake was a massive rain storm late in the evening at which point we realised we were moored next to the drain that dispels the water from the pathway and poured a torrent of water all over us for about 20 minutes………..  We consoled ourselves watching the first of our Clint Eastwood; Man With No Name trilogy, a Fistfull of Dollars - It could only get better, surely….

The next morning we were off sharp as we only had a short hop to do and hoped to beat the hire boats to our desired mooring for that night.  As we were readying to pull off one of the cruisers moored with us in Corres came past so we had a quick chat and then shared the lock down with them a couple of km on.  They had been chucked out of Corres!!  When they had gone to pay, the chap had said 20 euros.  But the two rates were; less than 15 metres = 8 euros, over 15 metres = 12 euros.  When they pointed the rates out on the wall, the chap threw their money back to them and told them to leave!  Very bizarre as we had found his wife Doris to be exceptionally friendly and accommodating.

Anyway, exiting the lock, we turned off up the arm to the left and found our desired mooring to be free – hurray!!!!!

Taking advantage of the nice river mooring and good weather we got started on checking our safety equipment ahead of joining the Rhone in the next couple of weeks.  First up we needed to change the gas cylinders on our life jackets as they had expired, but before doing so we decided to see if the expired ones still worked.


Only slightly shocked as it deploys as I hit the water.

It's quite weird as I thought I'd be more supported but it literally just keeps your head up out of the water and is quite uncomfortable really.
Which it did, and was a good exercise to do as I’ve never had to use a lifejacket before and didn’t know what to expect, but now I do should the worse-case scenario happen.

Then we got our lifeboat out – the inflatable kayak which someone had suggested we tie to the roof and have as an emergency support should the worse-case scenario happen.  We thought this was a really good idea so got it out and then made use of to get some pics of the mooring.
Come on wimp - get in!!

Mike taking a picture of me taking a picure of Mike taking a picture of me taking a picture.......
Two dogs out for a wee evening boating.......




A few boats came and looked at the mooring but seeing us there turned around and we were left in peace and quiet for the rest of the evening.

Mike had been up through the night with knee pain so we weren’t quite as sharp on the off as we’d have liked to have been to try and get moored where we wanted, Ray-sur-Saone and sure enough, when we got there four hours later it was full of cruisers, which we can’t go alongside as we’d crush them……..  So we turned and went back up the lock we’d just come down and headed to Soing along a 3km deviation.  Which was also full of cruisers, so we hummed and hawed, had a good look at the bank but ended up heading back along the deviation to a spot at the end that we’d eyeballed as the last resort – a bankside picnic spot with one cruiser moored up.  As we pulled in we realised why no one else was there as the cruiser was running one of the loudest generators I have ever heard and as they spotted us, their two large German Shepherd dogs went into guarding mode, which they’d clearly been trained to do, so we backed away and headed back downstream almost to where we’d started and pulled up just before the deviation for the lock started.  It wasn’t ideal, a high, sloping wall with bollards on top, but the French chap in the cruiser moored up came and took our lines for us and then we found we could get onto the bank using our plank.  On a plus side we had an excellent internet signal so indulged in an evening of tv!
The final and only available option

A wee wander around the village delivered the bare remains of an old mill with some of the mechanisms still in situ
Another hot and sunny with a slight breeze day greeted us the following morning and we set off for Gray where there were various mooring options one of which is a +100m stone quay, so we were confident we’d get in.  
The tunnel entrance reminded me of the pyramids.

This seemed an extraordinarily large tower for the size of building!

Quaintrelle sporting her new cream, tilting parasol
En route, we passed down Lock 13 which proved unlucky for us at the back behind a French liveaboard as the walls not only leaked, they gushed huge torrents of water which came in through our closed windows and soaked the settee and living room floor.  Fortunately no long term damage, but a bit scary and very annoying!!  The lock keeper must have known this would happen and had said nothing……….  The first moorings at Gray were full, so we passed through the lock and towards the stone quay, which despite its size was almost full!!  The town is rather shabby and not really worth a visit but the free water and electricity, not to mention lack of moorings elsewhere, seem to attract the boats.  We caught up with De Bomme, the really beautiful boat we’d seen on the Vosges and discovered they are heading south to pick up their mast at Port Saint Louis and head out onto the Med, so we’ll hopefully see them again – very nice couple.
 
Lovely building in the old part of Gray

Cute roundabout at Gray

Before leaving the next morning, we shuffled back along the quay to access a water point and filled our tank ahead of a 9.45am departure to cover 7km to our next desired mooring.  Our timing paid off and there was plenty of room at Mantoche with some of the hire boats not having headed off yet by the time we arrived.  A swim was in order to cool down and formed the main structure of the day; swim, laze around, get hot, swim, do some chores, get hot, swim….. you get the gist……. By evening the moorings were full again but with some lovely, chatty holiday makers all enjoying themselves and as we barbequed our tea there was a real holiday feel about the place.
Now there's a nice-looking pad!

Don't look now, but we're surrounded....!!!!

Fantastic mooring at Mantoche

Here's what to do with the kids of a summer evening......


A baking hot Wednesday at 34 degrees took us to Auxonne and pastures revisited.
Last year we came out of this junction, Canal du Champagne Bourgogne

A horrible site to see below the lock.  Looks like she was a lovely thing too  :(
The visitor moorings all full we headed back up to the marina and pulled in for a night, 15 euros.  A quick swim in the river to cool off I then showered and changed and headed into town for a legwax, to Institut Cybele where I’d been done last year and found them to be excellent.  Getting waxed in such temperatures is not such a good idea and I was like a (hairfree) wet rag by the time I was done.  The shock of getting a mention on BBC 6 Music’s Tea Time Theme Time was too much for Mike and he took to bed with a migraine around 7pm, while I watched some tv and tried to cool down.
 
Where we hoped to be popping out this year, off the Rhone au Rhin Branche Sud.......
The next day was a short trip down to St Jean des Losnes where on arrival we filled up on red and white diesel and then looked to moor on the steps, which were full.  However, we’d eyeballed a couple of potential boats to go alongside with and as we pulled near a nice French couple waved us in against them.  

We then headed to the restaurant for lunch as it was too hot to cook on the boat again so we decided to have a lunch and then would just need a snack in the evening.  Just as we finished our main course, a couple of boats left leaving a Quaintrelle sized space, so Mike left me with my ice-cream and went to move her, apparently to the disappointment of the French couple……  Whilst we’d been alongside, De Bomme had arrived and were alongside a barge at the end and as the afternoon drew to a close more boats came looking for room and went alongside others.  We took in a large hire boat with a French couple and their young adult son, one of their mothers and another lady – a friend or sister, I’m not sure.  They were from near Nice and all spoke English and were just delightful.  They were so grateful to be invited to moor alongside they took us for a beer and we spent an interesting hour or so chatting with them.  We discovered that Alain has two jobs; he is an osteopath and he trains racing car drivers!!!  Needless to say, he and Mike had a happy conversation about cars exchanging photos etc.

In the evening, it was so hot, I wasn’t hungry but Mike nipped up to the takeaway and got the last kebab of the day, which I ate an end of.

Then it was off to bed as tomorrow we leave the Petit Saone and join the Saone and the hire boats will be swapped for the large commercial barges that travel on her as we continue our way southwards.





Tuesday 17 July 2018

Richardmenil to Bois la Chevre (or, Bye Bye Faithful Boat Pole……..)

Not a bad view for the evening :)
We left Richardmenil under a blue sky, bidding farewell and Bonne Voyages to Pam and Dave as we passed them.  The locks on the Vosges were deep but I could just reach the bollards with our trusty pole standing on the roof so we were making good progress and soon caught up on catamaran ‘Sally’ with Jim and Jill on board.  They had just started going up a lock when we came in sight behind them, so they had waited to share the next one with us.  We were sauntering along nicely when we noticed ‘Sally’ slowed right down up ahead as she had caught up on a little boat travelling along very, very slowly.  It was Heureseument with Mike’s bikini-bottom-clad mate on board and it soon became very clear that they were novices to the boating world.  We had lost our locking partners as Sally now went in to the next lock with them, and we hung around while they went up and the lock emptied and reset for us.  We didn’t mind, it was a lovely day and we were on new waters so plenty to take note of.
Crossing the Moselle where some locals have come to La Plage!


Lots of trees on the Vosges.......
A few locks and some time later, we saw a boat ahead waiting for the lock and a check through the binoculars showed it was Heureusement, who’s slow speed must have been just a little bit too slow for Sally who had gone on ahead at some point leaving Heureusement to be caught up by us to share the next lock with.  Needless to say, this prospect put a smile on Mike’s face, but not for long…….

On approaching the lock we could see they were in some sort of bother with mother, Benedicte, hanging off the lock ladder half-way up, and Coline in a panic dashing from front to back of the boat and the engine producing the odd blast of thick smoke.  They had got stuck right at the front of the lock, which normally isn’t a problem, but the water in the pound above was coming over the top of the gates and onto them below and she seemed unable to reverse the boat off.  We edged forwards and I leant forward with our trusty boat hook and hooked onto her rear fender and Mike reversed, to pull them back.  A good plan, except Heureseument must be heavier than she looks.  First our pole extended itself – it’s okay, it’s meant to do that – and as we started to move, followed by her, we were moving faster and my hands started slipping down the pole, right to the bottom, where my hand pushed the rubber stopper right off and into the water.  I shrieked to stop, but too late the pole went in and was too far below me on the bow to pick up.  No problem, I thought, it floats, I’ll wait til it comes round the side.  But as it was almost within catching distance, the bottom started to sink and in a second or two it had disappeared to the bottom of the lock.  Of course, it DOES float – if the stopper on the end is in place………

By now Heureseument was off the gates and getting into position and we recovered our rope and tied on to go up the lock.  Mike was really angry.  He said if he’d been at the front he’d have jumped in for the pole, as not only had we lost the pole, but the little hook/catch thing on it that holds the eye of the rope open to loop over the bollards.  He was really angry.  The girls offered us 10 euros as we left the lock, but I said it was fine.  If I’d realised how angry Mike was I’d have taken it……..
They pulled over to get their breath back, I don’t think boating was turning out to be quite as much fun as they’d thought and we continued on and up the next lock to the lovely little mooring just above it for the night.

It wasn’t a happy evening as we sat outside and barbequed our dinner as we worked out how and where to get another pole and Mike simmered that he hadn’t been at the front to jump in for it…….
Our pole's final lock.... :(

Lovely rural mooring
To add to the mood, we had had problems with the locks and some of them not responding to our pressing the telecommand to set them, having to call VNF out twice.  And having tried various phone numbers and an email to book into the port at Epinal for the weekend of Bastille Day and getting nowhere, we weren’t entirely feeling the love…..!

The next day there was still an aura of anger hanging over the boat as we pushed off heading for the town of Charmes – a very average town not really that charming at all.  En route we encountered another problem with the lock not being activated by our telecommand.   Before calling the eclusier, I walked back up the towpath to the receiver and pressed the telecommand.  I could hear two clicks, one on pressing, one on release, but still the lock didn’t start setting.

So we phoned the eclusier and he arrived with a big cheery smile and when I explained what was going on, he said he thought our telecommand might be faulty, especially as we’d had problems the previous day as well.  He gave us a spare from his van and said to see how we got on with that.  Meanwhile, Mike had got yet another phone number for Epinal from a French family about to start lunch on their boat.  Sadly, Heureusement was moored up here but she looked clear of any sign of living and no one was on board, and we wondered if they were just moving her on the weekend.  (Apparently as of 16th July, she’s still there with no one on board……….).

Up the lock and off and without any further problems we soon arrived at Charmes and moored up in front of all the parked motorhomes along the waterfront – not the most private of moorings…….  Having had no joy with the new phone number, Mike headed for the station to make the 15 minute train journey to Epinal to see if he could find the Capitaine and see how busy the port was.  I meanwhile, got a first layer of paint on the shutters, got some cash from the bank and filled up at the supermarket.  As I headed back to the boat I met Mike on his way back from the station and not in much better a frame of mind having had no luck finding anyone at the port and not seeing much space there for us.

On Tuesday 10th July we were accompanied by light rain for most of our journey to Thaon-les-Vosges but the good news was that all the locks worked perfectly for us and it would indeed seem as if the telecommand had been at fault after all.  Halfway through the day, the cheery lock-keeper appeared to check how we were getting on and when we reported all was well, he took away our old telecommand to get it repaired.  At Thaon we passed the nice town moorings for a rural one above the lock, which we realised in retrospect was the wrong thing to do… The rural mooring was fine, just a bit unkempt at the back of a deserted garage, but it did mean it was nice and quite with no one walking past peering in.  It was a nice afternoon so for the first time in ages we got the bikes out and decided to cycle into Epinal, and to look at other moorings on the outskirts should we not get in there.  I should explain, we needed to stop at Epinal as we had booked a hire car to drive back to Strasbourg to collect Mike’s MacBook Pro.  After some confusion on the phone over it not being ready as it was waiting for a part, a screw, which miraculously had then arrived the following day, they said it would be ready for collection from Wednesday.

The car hire depot was on the far side of Epinal so we didn’t want to be too far out.  The cycle paths in this area are fantastic and it was a lovely easy ride down to the Golbey Flight of locks and then on into Epinal.  The port at Epinal had three big Quaintrelle-sized spaces and is a really lovely port, and we decided that it would be best to come in here.  Spotting Jim on ‘Sally’ we meandered over to ask what the gen was.  Jim said it was all a bit disorganised and no one seemed to be in charge.  They were hoping to leave Sally there for a couple of months while they returned to the UK but said no one seemed interested or bothered where they went or how long they stay.  The capitaine was on holiday but a lady was coming round a couple of times a day to take your mooring fees.  THAT would explain the lack of contact we had been experiencing.  However, for anyone planning to go there, go – it is a lovely port, but it is not an organised port and although the restaurant is called La Capitainerie, it is not and they don’t take bookings for the port or allocate you a space or anything.  It’s like one of the more rural ports where someone just pitches up in the evening and takes your money.  We cycled back in a better frame of mind, but absolutely exhausted from our 20+km ride!

The next day we were up early and off sharp to make sure we could get one of the spaces spotted the previous day.  We needn’t have worried.  As we approached the port there was even more space than the day before as one of the other barges had moved on.  We got ourselves settled, hooked up to power and in early afternoon Monique the temporary Capitaine came and collected our cash for a four-night stay.  I told her it might be five if England made the final!!  She was lovely and explained where the nearest baker was, how to get into town and the nearest supermarket, so after some lunch we went to get our bearings and work out the best way to get to Hertz the next day.
Epinal in the distance

Strange curved gates on the Golbey flight.

An aqueduct takes you over the Moselle and onto the Embranchement d'Epinal

The embranchement deviates from the main canal and takes you down to Epinal running alongside the river much of the way.
The chap in the Tourist Info was great, very welcoming, advised us to take the bus, told us where to take it, how much it cost, amongst other things.  The lady in the Tabac was also very welcoming asking if we were on our holidays.  It was such a contrast to how we’d been feeling about the place and it’s a shame that the warmth of the people doesn’t extend to the restaurant running the port……  Epinal is pretty town, very clean and lots and lots of flowers, but not really much going for it which becomes clear when one of the places of interest on the Petit Train Touristique is the 1952 built Post Office building…….  Nonetheless, we had a nice few days over 14 Juillet in Epinal, a couple of really lovely meals, great fireworks, a car boot sale and classic car parade, so we left feeling much more positive about it than we had when we arrived.
I know this is an odd photo, but everytime I passed it I thought, "What a beautiful roundabout!"

Le Petit Train Touristique

The busy port at Epinal with Quaintrelle and Puzzler nose to nose

Sally and Andy deciding to walk away from the copper kettle they asked about.

There were some classic cars and some noticeably un-classic ones.....

I WANT ONE OF THESE!!!!!!!
The drive to Strasbourg from there on Thursday 12th was stunning; amazing countryside through the Alsace and a lovely chap in the Apple Store handed over Mike’s laptop fully functional with a brand new screen and cheaper than he’d been quoted in Edinburgh!!!  Before heading back to the boat, we stopped in at the marina to see if they had an aluminium boat hook.  “Yes!!!  I have two….” Said the capitaine walking over to the selection…. “Oh.  Well, I had two yesterday – they must have been sold!”  He was as surprised as us, so we sadly left empty-handed.

Back in Epinal a familiar boat was moored up nose to nose with Quaintrelle.  When we’d changed our plans to not do the Rhine and come down the Vosges instead, Sally and Andy on NB Puzzler called to say they’d be coming up the Vosges and we should arrange to cross paths.  Sally had kindly offered to provide our evening meal that night as we’d had a long day driving and we had a right good catch up over food and wine – it was great to see them and Shannon the dog again.

Although we both did our own things during the day, it was nice to have friends next door that we could chat with, discuss what we were doing and we had Sally and Andy over for a barbeque and drinks on the Saturday night, when it was warm enough to sit out at 11pm.

Sadly, England didn’t make the final so Monique was disappointed to hear we’d be leaving on Sunday 15th, but leave we did.  Four days in the one place is a long time for us, so after a quick top-up at the supermarket we pushed off following in the wake of Sally and Andy up the embranchement, where at the top they turned right to head north and we turned left to head south – and it really did feel like we were on our way to the south!
Bonne Voyages Sally, Andy, Shannon and Puzzler!!

Left or right left or right left or right left or right - LEFT!!!!!

Our last 'Up' lock until we reach the Canal du Midi!!

Where are we going???!!!
After completing the Golbey flight today, we’d be literally heading downhill to the south as we would now be going downstream all the way to the Canal du Midi.  This makes sense in my head as I always think heading south should mean going downstream as surely all the water should run from the top of a country to the bottom………….  It was always quite confusing saying we had planned to head south up the Rhine!

We pulled in at Chaumoussey after a very pleasant tree-lined 13kms and 15 locks and had a quick explore of the village, via the under-canal tunnel, the same as the one at Cosgrove on the Grand Union.  We then settled down to listen to the France-Croatia final and realised how rural we were when they won and there was just one solitary trumpet from the house opposite and about three cars hooting through the village over the next few hours. 

By the time we pushed off on Monday 16th, it was already baking hot as we cruised 13 kms and 18 locks to a large, empty basin at Uzemain.  It took us about an hour and a half longer than we thought as we got stuck following a barge that was too big to share the locks with, so had to wait at each lock for them to go down, the lock then fill, or if we were lucky, bring someone up, and then follow on down.  It was such a lovely day though and the scenery just glorious with the whiff of pine accompanying us much of the way, we didn’t mind the snail’s pace.
A slight change of scenery going through this cutting.

Stunning hydrangeas in this canal-side garden 

A brand new quay has been built here for moorings but they've not quite got the new signage up, so these temporary ones are here meantime (I thought it was graffiti until i could read what it said!).

Tiny Quaintrelle all by herself
We'd passed this boat earlier and reckon she is one of the prettiest boats we've seen (apart from Quaintrelle obviously....)

The French do enjoy a Fete, and in this rural area, the next celebration was eggs – we were rather sorry we wouldn’t be here for the Fete de l'Oeuf!!
Hold me back - the excitement is overwhelming!
Once the engine had cooled, Mike changed the engine oil filters, water separator and diesel filter – just the belts to do and we’ll be all tickety-boo for hitting the Rhone!

There was more of the tree-lined scenery the following day that took us a short hop to one of the most rural moorings we’ve been on – it was glorious!!  No phone, internet, tv signal at all – just us, the trees, the birds and lots of butterflies!  I loved it and we made the most of catching up on some admin (ie. I wrote a blog entry!), and just enjoying the ambience of the wooded countryside.  In the evening, we barbequed again, fourth night in a row as it’s been too hot to even contemplate using the stove to cook, and then as the now becoming usual evening thunder arrived bringing with it a sprinkle of rain, we settled down to watch a DVD.  The choice was Dunkirk and we both sat spellbound.  At one point I looked up at the window and was kind of surprised to find myself sitting on our little boat, as I was so hooked into it.  We thought it was a fantastic film – well done Toby, loved it!!!  Once our heart rates were back to normal it was to bed, in the dark silence of the forest, our dreams taking us to our second-last day on the Vosges.
At some point in time there was a lot of commercial activity on the Vosges as it linked the North Sea with the Mediteranean.  This was an old disused factory, Peaudouce, which I must look up as I recognised the name for some reason - pronounced by me as Pea Juice.......

Lock in the middle of nowhere....

Fab spot :)  Ready-made writing table too!


For Neil and Karen - there were loads of butterflies but this was the only one I caught on camera ;) xx