The French Sambre 26th to 29th August 2021 This is a nice short blog, especially in comparison to some of my recent ramblings. We had three nights and the best part of four days on this stretch of the 2021 voyage. Bienvenue en France! We left Erquelinnes on a blue and sunny morning, crossing theContinue reading “Carry on up the Sambre!”
Tag Archives: Piper boats
Late summer in Belgium part 3
Down the Belgian Sambre with some Haut Escaut, and Canals Nimy-Blaton-Ath, de Centre and Brussels – Charleroi August 15th to 26th 2021 We left Antoing and friends Mieke and Frans, setting off up the Haut Escaut towards the two big locks at Péronnes; these still ring alarm bells in the mind of the Captain asContinue reading “Late summer in Belgium part 3”
Late Summer in Belgium – part 2
The voyage to meet Mieke and Frans Canal Bossuit-Kortrijk, L’Escaut and Canal de L’Espierres 5 – 14 August 2021 (Think I have included far too many photos! Apologies, but hope you enjoy them) Here we go at last! After 9 months of Covid- delay in the UK, and then quarantine in Kortrijk when we returnedContinue reading “Late Summer in Belgium – part 2”
Late summer in Belgium part 1
July 28 to August 5th 2021 If you have been following the Calliope blog you will know that we were stuck in the UK well past our normal April return to the boat, and when the usual cruising season begins. At first we more concerned about the Brexit effect than anything Covid related, wondering howContinue reading “Late summer in Belgium part 1”
The long Covid winter
Well it is now nine months and six days since we left our lovely Calliope secured for the winter in Kortrijk on the river Leie. We had expected it to be for six months and nine days, not the other way round! However the various twists and turns of Covid-19 have made it difficult toContinue reading “The long Covid winter”
Hull maintenance in Zelzate
29th September – 23rd October 2020 As we left the marina at Spanjeveer dawn was breaking on a lovely late September day. We were on our way to have the hull pressure washed and repainted – part of the five yearly maintenance programme. The Moervaart was glorious in the early light, and we shared theContinue reading “Hull maintenance in Zelzate”
Late August in the region of Antwerp
Canals Bocholt-Herentals, Dessel-Turnhout-Schoten, Albert, Nete (and river Beneden-Nete) and Leuven-Dijle 18th to 31st August 2020 It was a Tuesday when we left the Blauwe Kai area in Limburg region and moved into the Antwerp province. The latter had been having a bit of a coronavirus spike, especially in Antwerp itself, but we felt safe isolatedContinue reading “Late August in the region of Antwerp”
Voyaging on through Eastern Limburg
Albertkanaal (a little), Kanaal Briegden-Neerharen, some of Zuidwillemsvaart and Kanaal Borcholt-Herentals, plus Kanaal de Beverlo 8th to 17th August 2020 Up we came through Visé lock and back onto the Albert Kanaal, with El Perro Negro not far behind. It was a boiling hot day – well up to 36C – and part of aContinue reading “Voyaging on through Eastern Limburg”
Lower Reaches of the Meuse (or Maas) in Belgium ….
… with a little bit of the Albert Canal, and the two tiny canals of Monsin and Haccourt-Visé 28th July – 7th August 2020 We were back on the Meuse after a year and a month. Last time we came downstream from France and turned off at Namur. This time we popped out of theContinue reading “Lower Reaches of the Meuse (or Maas) in Belgium ….”
From Blaton to Namur; a journey of 3 canals
22 – 27 July 2020 Canals Nimy-Blaton-Peronne, du Centre, and Brussels-Charleroi As we left the Ath-Blaton Canal at Blaton and joined the Nimy-Blaton-Peronnes our hearts sank a little; we were leaving a narrow-gauge rural canal for the width of the commercial , industrial, super highway canal system again. But we needn’t have worried, al leastContinue reading “From Blaton to Namur; a journey of 3 canals”
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