Chauny
Moved down to St Quentin on Tuesday 10th July, journey uneventful until the last lock when we pressed the wrong button on the remote control and put the lock into up stream mode when we were going down stream! To complete the lock cycle you have to pull a pole in the lock, unfortunately we could not get to this lock from the canal bank and with no vessel coming upstream we were a bit stuck. So we telephoned the VNF man (itinerant lock keeper who looks after several locks) and explained the problem in our best French. Not quite sure what he replied but it ended with "tout de suite” and 10 mins later he arrived and we were sorted.
The next day was extremely windy and we had to travel further than planned to find sheltered moorings but when we did we were able to enjoy the evening sun on the back deck.

keeping out of the way of another large barge.

More trouble at lock!
On Thursday the weather was foul with poor visibility and after the junction with the canal de la Sambre a l’Oise, which comes down from Belgium, there was a lot of commercial traffic. The first 4 locks were double and we were directed to one side while the commercial barges used the other. At the 5thlock only one chamber was in use, the other undergoing maintenance work. Three commercial barges were waiting to come upstream as we entered to go down. The lock emptied okay but the gates failed to open. We were stuck in the lock with the commercial skippers vocalising their frustration on the VHF radio. Luckily we did not understand their French. Again we called up VNF control and asked for help, no "tout de suite” this time. While we waited for help to arrive the skipper of the first up coming barge climbed onto the lock gate and gave it a hefty kick, it opened!  We moored just down stream of the lock, it took an hour for the “traffic jam” to clear.

Stuck in the lock

Sorting the ropes out after mooring in Chauny

On Friday evening we and a South African couple from a neighbouring barge took part in the Chauny Bastille Day parade. A band leads veterans, local dignitaries and the fire brigade around town stopping to salutes at various war memorials. We joined the few local residents who ventured out in the rain and followed the parade. A low key and disorganised event enjoyed by all. The local police chief was in his element, directing everyone and calling for a one min silence in front of the war memorial which lasted 30 secs (maybe). The kids livened up the event by throwing firecrackers. It ended in front of the town hall where there was to be dancing in the square and fireworks at midnight. Wind and rain stopped all that.

Sunday July 15th we moved all of 200 yards across the canal to pick up water then back across to the same mooring. We were visited by a very nice New Zealand couple (now resident in UK) who are considering having a Dutch barge built by Pipers. They have had a cruiser on the French canals but now want something a bit more comfortable that they can live on all year round. Tomorrow we leave Chauny and head towards Reims.