Arles, enough to make anyone mad
Beowulf
Tom Fenton and Faith Ressmeyer
Wed 17 Sep 2014 17:10
A great day. Up early. Breakfast before dawn. Wind blowing a houlie from the SE all night did not let up. Into the crane dock. Mast off. Busy couple of hours preparing the mast for transportation. Off at 11.30, to get to the lock into the Rhone at Port St Louis. Lock gates and bridge only open at set times. We had to make1220 if we were to go anywhere today. Made it with 20 mins to spare. Then 6 hours with a wild force 5 behind us pushing us up the Rhone to Arles. We will not have such a good day again on this river which our motor can only just handle in this the month of the year when it's flow is least.
And then Arles. The extremely expensive Guide Fluviale told us there were pontoons, but there were none. None. And no other mooring before Avignon. And you are strongly advised not to navigate at night, the river beacons, massive cast iron monsters, are not lit.
At length we found a rather shabby looking floating restaurant, who let us tie up to him, on the understanding that we would eat there. A welcome prospect after such a day, and we are overflowing with gratitude.
So here we are at last into our passage through the French canals. This year it will be a dash back to the UK. Next Spring we will revisit these places, with more experience and with more time to explore and enjoy them. T