WIND, LOCK-INS, STRIKES AND NOW BIG BARGES AND GANTRIES

Progress has been slow recently due to many incidents by nature and others. First it was the high winds in Douai. Then we were trapped in a lock on the Scarpe Superior as the gates closed and then failed to open. This was followed by a change of route due to the strikes (now over).

Today a new delay. We were told by the lock keeper there was a delay at the next lock. We thought it's 12 noon must be lunch time. We arrived at the next lock to find boats moored all over the place. On investigation a large modern commercial barge had been exiting the lock and for reasons unknown had his crane partially raised. This caught on the bridge/gantry over the lock and pulled it down onto the barge taking out the radar, satellite communications, bending the crane and lots of other equipment + squashing the batelier's (boatman's) nice new Audi A7! Ouch!

The attached barge and gantry

No problem really just a 4 hour delay whilst a crane was hired and the offending gantry removed from the barge. Lots of money! Even the lock keeper said 'Impressive isn't it!'

Whilst the rest of the gantry was leaning over the lock at a precarious angle it was decided by the many people involved that the lock should open as there were now many large commercial barges and a plaisance (ourselves) virtually blocking the canal.