SIZE MATTERS

Well it does when going through the Souterrain de Riqueval (Riqueval Tunnel) at 5.670km long it's the longest canal tunnel in France. As it's so long you are not allowed to use your engine (exhaust fumes) so they tow you with an electric tow boat pulling itself through the tunnel along a chain, known as a warping tug. As it only goes twice a day in each direction you line up to for a towed convoy and biggest goes first. Size matters. They can tow up to 30 péniche's at a time, quite a convoy.

When we decided to go through there were only 2 other smaller boats so we went first. You have to have 30 metre ropes to go between the individual boats. Starting off is very difficult as we were more slippery through the water than the tug held to a chain, so we were gaining on the tow boat. Unfortunately this caused the tow rope to go under Soraya and it got stuck on the bottom rib which is rough. This stopped the convoy! Lots of glum expressions and shrugging of shoulders from the tug drivers. Talk about calling out a plongeur (diver). I thought I'll sort this out myself, quarter of an hour later with a crow bar and the barge pole (yes we do have one) I managed to free the offending ropes, smiles all round.

The tunnel itself is arch shaped, little wider or taller than Soraya so steering without power on the end of a snaking rope for ~ 2 hours in a sporadically light tunnel was exhausting. Managed to get through without a scrape. Lucky. After half an hour breather we got to Souterrain de Lesdins. A mere 1.098km and under our own power. Easy.

The stylish electric tug