This was a pleasant overnight stop in Elbeuf, Jim cycled to town and bought me a new camera as I accidentally knocked the one I had off the seat on the fly bridge whilst it was in standby mode and it stopped working! What a star, and he cut his leg in the process on his bike pedal, so he needed an extra glass of wine or twelve on his return to make him feel better.
We set off this morning at 7.45am, an ungodly hour, but this is the last time we will need to worry about the tide. At Elbeuf, you need to exit 2 hours before or after high water and if you don’t then there is not enough depth for you to outside of these times, hence the early start, and we only just made it out with 1.2m showing on our depth gauge.
We breakfasted on route, taking turns at the helm, with the weather a bit overcast, but still pleasant. There were quite a few peniches on the water at this time in the morning, travelling in both directions.
We arrived at Amfreville lock at 9.00am with a peniche in front of us, fenders all ready, with our new huge inflatable fender (which we have called Elaine!) in position, ready and waiting (thanks again Elaine and Charlie for this, it is magic). The lights were at red when we arrived, so we waited for the green light and in we went, after the peniche, into the chamber. I was absolutely terrified, the locks here are huge and we were about 25 feet from the top. This particular lock had bollards inset into the lock walls which you secure your lines to and then adjust them as the water rises, but you also need to move your lines up to the next bollard above when you become level with the one you are using, and this wasn’t simple for a short person like me, as they were so far apart, I couldn’t reach! Easier said than done……And because of the length of these locks and our tiny boat (the first time I have thought Ginger Grouse was tiny!), it was impossible to secure both stern and bow lines to bollards as they were too far apart, and it was also impossible to work it with one line operated from the stern like a pully system, so poor Jim had the rungs of a ladder to contend with, which was all that was close to hand. We got there in the end, but it wasn’t easy!
The peniche let us exit first, thank god we didn’t have to wait any longer than was necessary to get out…I was distraught enough by that time!
Well, that was the first one over, only another 175 or so to go, to reach the Med! They can only get better…….
We arrived at Les Andelys at 11.45am and tied up on the pontoon with only 1m depth! There was a lot of sild too, but ok for us. Chateau Gaillard overlooks where we are (built in 1196 by Richard the Lionheart).We showered aboard and then cycled into town for a coffee. There is a little town called Le Petit Andelys which is only 5 minutes cycling from where we are and then there is Les Andelys which is the major town about 20 minutes cycling away. We visited the Notre Dame Cathedral in the main town and cycled back to GG, bumping into the Capitainerie just as we arrived back at the boat. 10 euros to stop one night, this seems to be the basic price for stopping over where there are really no facilities apart from water and electricity. But at least you are secure, that is the main thing. The major port de plaisances (marinas) will likely be more expensive as they have full facilities (washing machines, fuel, chandlers, etc.), but if we visit them once a week and then the smaller ones in between, this will be perfect for us. Just as well we brought plenty of knickers with us!
Les Andelys is 49’14’.37N 001’23’.98E.
We will head off for L’Illon tomorrow which is a good Port de Plaisance and 60km from here with 2 locks in between (something to look forward to L )! and likely stay there for 2-3 nights.
We set off this morning at 7.45am, an ungodly hour, but this is the last time we will need to worry about the tide. At Elbeuf, you need to exit 2 hours before or after high water and if you don’t then there is not enough depth for you to outside of these times, hence the early start, and we only just made it out with 1.2m showing on our depth gauge.
We breakfasted on route, taking turns at the helm, with the weather a bit overcast, but still pleasant. There were quite a few peniches on the water at this time in the morning, travelling in both directions.
We arrived at Amfreville lock at 9.00am with a peniche in front of us, fenders all ready, with our new huge inflatable fender (which we have called Elaine!) in position, ready and waiting (thanks again Elaine and Charlie for this, it is magic). The lights were at red when we arrived, so we waited for the green light and in we went, after the peniche, into the chamber. I was absolutely terrified, the locks here are huge and we were about 25 feet from the top. This particular lock had bollards inset into the lock walls which you secure your lines to and then adjust them as the water rises, but you also need to move your lines up to the next bollard above when you become level with the one you are using, and this wasn’t simple for a short person like me, as they were so far apart, I couldn’t reach! Easier said than done……And because of the length of these locks and our tiny boat (the first time I have thought Ginger Grouse was tiny!), it was impossible to secure both stern and bow lines to bollards as they were too far apart, and it was also impossible to work it with one line operated from the stern like a pully system, so poor Jim had the rungs of a ladder to contend with, which was all that was close to hand. We got there in the end, but it wasn’t easy!
The peniche let us exit first, thank god we didn’t have to wait any longer than was necessary to get out…I was distraught enough by that time!
Well, that was the first one over, only another 175 or so to go, to reach the Med! They can only get better…….
We arrived at Les Andelys at 11.45am and tied up on the pontoon with only 1m depth! There was a lot of sild too, but ok for us. Chateau Gaillard overlooks where we are (built in 1196 by Richard the Lionheart).We showered aboard and then cycled into town for a coffee. There is a little town called Le Petit Andelys which is only 5 minutes cycling from where we are and then there is Les Andelys which is the major town about 20 minutes cycling away. We visited the Notre Dame Cathedral in the main town and cycled back to GG, bumping into the Capitainerie just as we arrived back at the boat. 10 euros to stop one night, this seems to be the basic price for stopping over where there are really no facilities apart from water and electricity. But at least you are secure, that is the main thing. The major port de plaisances (marinas) will likely be more expensive as they have full facilities (washing machines, fuel, chandlers, etc.), but if we visit them once a week and then the smaller ones in between, this will be perfect for us. Just as well we brought plenty of knickers with us!
Les Andelys is 49’14’.37N 001’23’.98E.
We will head off for L’Illon tomorrow which is a good Port de Plaisance and 60km from here with 2 locks in between (something to look forward to L )! and likely stay there for 2-3 nights.
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