Is it difficult navigating the 22 locks between Le Mas D%26#39;Agenais and Condom?
How long does it take approximately for each lock?
As there are ladies undertaking this trip, does it require people to have a lot of strength?
We are concerned this make take up most of our day
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There are many factors determining the time in which it takes to pass through a lock. There can be lines of boats waiting to pass, both going upstream as well as down. Most locks in France are now hydraulically operated but the older system of manually opening and closing the doors as well as the water inlet vanes can add time to the overall process. Locks in tandem (two or more sequential locks) can be passed through as group much faster than passing the same number placed placed at a distance from one another.
If you are spending a week on a canal segment with 22 locks overall, 3 locks a day is not a great number. I have passed through segments requiring passage of 7-8 locks a day, along the Nivernais Canal for example. 8 locks every day are a lot and a lot of work.
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Hello to You Sarastro Dallas Texas!
Thank you for your feedback concerning travelling through the French Lock System. Sounds like 3 a day is not too bad. As you say 8 per day is hard work.
Once again thank you!
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Hi Gerry
I can%26#39;t comment on the locks between Mas-d%26#39;Agenais and Buzet, but La Baise from Buzet to Condom has automatic locks. You will be given a magnetic or chip card. There is a card reader on the quay of each lock that initiates the lock operation. If the lock is closed when you approach, you will need to put someone ashore to walk ahead to initiate the lock opening. Also, if you are travelling upstream, you should probably put someone ashore as it is usually easier than climbing the slippery ladder in the lock wall. Once you have motored into the lock, throw the line(s) to the person on the quay to pass once around the bollard and hand back to the crew on board. The card is used again to start the next cycle either filling or emptying the lock then opening the exit gates. If you are travelling downstream, once the emptying cycle has commenced, the crew member on the quay should get back on board before the boat drops down. There is an emergency stop lever in the lock wall if there is a problem, so ensure that it can be reached from the boat.
It isn%26#39;t necessary to strain to hold the boat steady in the lock, although you will see this frequently. It is better for the helmsman to hold the boat steady using the engine. It only requires the occassional forward/reverse nudge to hold position in the lock.
My wife and I are in our 60%26#39;s and we manage with just the two of us, even manual locks. She does the climbing and winding. I take a single line from the bow around the side of the boat to the helm. In a lock, the line is put around a bollard and I can hold both ends of the loop to pull in or feed out as the boat lifts or drops.
As you mention %26quot;ladies%26quot; plural, you should have no problems. La Baise is a fairly quiet stretch of water, with very little traffic. Typically a lock will average about 15mins to navigate, less if the gate is open and more if it is closed.
Although there are no lock keepers on this stretch of water, the locks operate only between fixed hours, 9am to 6pm I think.
We have rented canal boats in 5 different parts of France, and this is our favourite stretch of water. It is very serene, foresty with a few very good villages en route.
Have a relaxing trip.
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Hi gerry
La Baise has many beautiful villages - Nerac, Lavardac, Moncrabeau, and Condom of course.
I have uploaded a few of the many photos from la Baise. If you have any trouble viewing them, let me know and I%26#39;ll figure out some other way of getting them to you.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wigwam35/LaBaise#
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