TNC On Tour 2010 Page 14

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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour

Tour 2010

14 - Bellicourt to Cambrai. Canal du St Quentin.

Thursday 10trh June 2010

The VNF lads turned up around 07:15 and we soon became aware we were to be the only tow! They dispensed with the long X ropes we had prepared, instead they had a longish single rope suspended between another rope between the massive towing bollards. The loop at the other end of their rope was set to freely move on one of our ropes, set between out front bits. After a very brief safety talk, VHF on channel 10, we "should" (and did) wear life jackets, lay down VHF aerial (bit near the 600vDC trolley wires!), Turn engine on for emergency stop, turn engine on as soon as we exit tunnel so we could immediately detach and pass them under power, we set off at 07:30. Magical experience. The tow soon settled down with the tug slipping along the towpath and Final Fling settling down to being just off the towpath. Dabs of bowthruster was occasionally needed to keep away from the un-fendered tunnel wall. Many sections was cut through solid chalk, with some buttressing and vaulting, to hold up roof. For most of the passage the VNF bods were below, probably having their petit dejeurner. Yet again the tunnel was reasonably well lit by fluorescent lamps and very dry. About half way through the air got very misty, and stayed that way until we exited the 5670m tunnel at 09:05. The wires continued for some distance, as the tug had to pull up to 30 Peniches! Once round the corner we noticed the wires were getting rather low! and had to pull over to towpath side and pick out way under the support guys. Peter used the plastic end on the boat hook, and wore his gloves, just in case! It looked like a guy cable had snapped on the far bank. There was a lot of VNF activity at Bosquet top lock, we gathered that something had got stuck under the top cill of the automatic lock and they had just cleared it. A friendly VNF bod gave us a Telecomander (zapper) as the locks are automatic, but not radar detected down this side of the St Quentin Canal. The zapper locks all worked well and we positively flew down the other side of the St Quentin, with yet again NO traffic going our way. We passed one Peniche and one French pleasure barge going the other way. There was a VNF bod in the (new) cabin at Lock No9 Crèvecoeur and he popped out to ask where we were going that night and where headed after that. We were given duff info about where to moor in Cambrai, so went past the Port de Plaisance basin above Cantimpre Lock (the first lock on the Escaut Canal) and after a traverse of the next basin, we moored up just before the entrance to this basin (15:30) We had a wander about and spotted the Murrells barge "Friesland" in the Port de Plaisance. We subsequently found that what was the visitor mooring side was completely free. That night it was a good and reasonably priced set meal in the Grandmere Bistro, not far along the road to the centre of town.

The VNF lads ready Toueur 2. Riqueval Portal. Summit pound. Canal de St Quentin.

We are off, the only boat. Riqueval Portal. Summit pound. Canal de St Quentin.

Toueur 2 detail. Riqueval Portal. Summit pound. Canal de St Quentin.

Riqueval Tunnel. Canal de St Quentin.

Nearly out. Riqueval Tunnel. Canal de St Quentin.

Riqueval Tunnel, Macquincourt Portal. Canal de St Quentin.

The trolley wires extend for some distance, as the tug is capable of pulling 30+ Peniches! Riqueval Tunnel, leaving Macquincourt approaches. Canal de St Quentin.

The waiting area with traffic light, for south bound traffic. Riqueval Tunnel, leaving Macquincourt approaches. Canal de St Quentin.

Riqueval Tunnel, leaving Macquincourt approaches. Vendhuile Bridge in the distance. Canal de St Quentin.

The broken trolley wire guy.

Vendhuile Bridge. Canal de St Quentin.

Vendhuile grain loading basin. Canal de St Quentin.

Canal de St Quentin.

Lock No17 Bosquet, north summit lock. Canal de St Quentin.

Lock No17 Bosquet, the VNF bod gives us a telecomander. Canal de St Quentin.

Leaving Lock No17 Bosquet. Canal de St Quentin.

Lock No16 Moulin-Lafosse. Canal de St Quentin.

Looking back at Lock No16 Moulin-Lafosse. Canal de St Quentin.

Lock No15 Honnecourt-Sur-Escaut. Canal de St Quentin.

Leaving Lock No15 Honnecourt-Sur-Escaut. Canal de St Quentin.

Our telecomander / zapper for the northern side of the Canal de St Quentin.

Lock No14 Banteux. Canal de St Quentin.

Lock No13 Bantouzelle. Canal de St Quentin.

Leaving Lock No13 Bantouzelle. Canal de St Quentin.

Private basin below Bantouzelle. Canal de St Quentin.

Grenouillère Bridges. Canal de St Quentin.

Grain wharf below Bantouzelle. Canal de St Quentin.

Lock No12 Vaucelles. Canal de St Quentin.

Leaving Lock No12 Vaucelles. Canal de St Quentin.

Lock No11 Tordoir Canal de St Quentin.

Lock No9 Crèvecoeur. There is normally a VNF bod in the cabin, checking up on boats. Canal de St Quentin.

Lock No8 Saint-Waast. Note aqueduct incorporated into chamber approach walls. Canal de St Quentin.

Lock No7 Masnières. Canal de St Quentin.

Masnières, quay and bridge. Canal de St Quentin.

Loading wharf in Masnières. Canal de St Quentin.

Lock No6 Bracheux. Canal de St Quentin.

Lock No5 Marconing. Canal de St Quentin.

Marconing Basin. Canal de St Quentin.

Canal de St Quentin.

Lock No4 Talma. Canal de St Quentin.

Lock No2 Cantigneul. Canal de St Quentin.

Lock No1 Proville. Canal de St Quentin.

The long straight above Cambrai. Canal de St Quentin.

Cambrai. Port de Plaisance, just off to the left, before the barge. Canal de St Quentin.

Cambrai. Port de Plaisance, off to the left. Canal de St Quentin.

Cambrai. Lock No1 Cantimpré. Escaut Canal.

Cambrai. Port de Plaisance. Canal de St Quentin.

Cambrai. Lock No1 Cantimpré. Escaut Canal.

Cambrai. Escaut Canal.

Cambrai. Old, once covered, basin. Escaut Canal.

Cambrai. Lock No1 Cantimpré. Escaut Canal.

Cambrai. Port de Plaisance. Canal de St Quentin.

Cambrai. Lock No1 Cantimpré. Escaut Canal.

Cambrai. Escaut Canal.

The Tour Continues...

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