|
At the first lock we were given instructions on how to work the self operated locks. We caught up with the boat which had left such fumes in the tunnel so we shared the work of the locks. They sent two crew ahead to prepare the next lock for entry while we operated the gates of the lock we were in. We reached lock 7 by canal closing time. We agreed to leave at 0600 next morning to reach lock 13 by 0900 as it was Wednesday and there was restricted operation of the canal 0900-1400. We decided to sleep in as they were noisy as well as putting out clouds of fumes.
0730 saw us up just a bit late. The stink-boat was gone. We were held up by a couple of barges coming the other way and did not reach the rendezvous till 0950. The stink-boat was waiting. Each one of the bloody crew commented on our late arrival including the wee nyaff in the white hat. We had more than enough of them that day. At every lock there was an argument. “Hold that rope.” “Let it loose.” “You’re doing it wrong.” We took down our red ensign and put up a different national flag for each lock. By the end of the day we were thoroughly sick of them and as we had two days in hand to get to Dijon we stayed in bed till 0900 on Thursday to let them get away.
|
