Fram's Voyages
Canal Route River Meuse
4 June 2010
N 50 27.462 E 04 51.873
Namur, Belgium
Distance travelled 16.2 NM (30.1 Km)
2 locks
Time travelled: 3 hrs 32 min (actual travel time 5hrs 33 min
Temperature: 27C
Woke up to a gloriously sunny day, not a cloud in the sky and very light wind. After breakfast
we put on our walking shoes and walked the 2 km into the town of Huy and climbed up to the
citadel. Built in 1818 after the battle of Waterloo, on the site of a former medieval fortress,
it was to be part of Belgium's defense ring of 23 citadels and strongholds called the Belgian
Barrier. The objective was to protect Belgium from both the French and the Dutch. Unfortunately
or maybe fortunately, Huy Citadel was never to see real action. It was used as a prison by the
Germans during both WW1 and WWII. Now it houses a huge exhibition on the Belgian resistance
and the concentration camps. We were able to walk all through the place and it is huge. Up on top
there are gardens and a fantastic panorama view of the Meuse Valley. We finished off our visit by
a stroll through the town center which is very quaint. Stopped at a patisserie, boulangerie and
fruit/vegetable shop and bought hams, cheeses, baguette and strawberries. Back on the boat,
we cast our lines and said good-bye to Huy and prepared for the 2 locks and 30 km that would
give us passage to Namur. The locks were huge so all went well, there was plenty of space for
everyone. We locked with 2 other pleasure boats; one from Holland and one from Belgium. Our
travel up the Meuse is the most beautiful we have seen yet on our travels. At times, the sides of
the river Meuse which are slate rock, rise up a hundred meters attesting to a much bigger river
than we travel down now. Otherwise it is green and lush with forests and wild flowers. We have
seen more variations of ducks and geese than we ever see in Sweden. And they are everywhere.
Even over the rumble of the barge engines, we can hear birds of all sorts chirping. Pretty soon we
are going to have to buy a bird book and find out what they all are...
Arrived at the Jambe marina in Namur at 17.30. Namur has a citadel too, even bigger than Huy and
a medieval town. The marina we are in is just underneath the citadel, giving us a super view. The sun
was still high after we secured all lines and paid our harbour fee of 11 euro, so we donned our running
clothes and went for a run up to the citadel and followed one of their trails. It was incredibly
beautiful up there with fabulous views. The oldest human evidence in Namur dates back to 7.500BC.
As it is right at the cross roads of the Sambre and Meuse rivers it has always been an attractive
trade center. Through the ages Namur has prospered and in 1421 the first part of the citadel was
built by the Comte de Namur. Eventually it too became part of the Belgian Barrier. Many of the
buildings in the town are built with the slate rock that is in such abundance here.
5 June 2010
Namur - Anseremme
N50 14.359 E04 53.658
30.2 km
7 locks
Harbor fee 10 Euro
Today was a beautiful sunny day, 30C. No barges so locks went smoothly and quickly. We travelled with 2 other pleasure boats. We are finally meeting other boaters. I went online at Namur harbor and talked to daughters Caroline and Kimberly.
6 June 2010
Anseremme - Halt Fluviale, France
N49 58.721 E04 41.358
47.4 km
11 locks
Another lovely sunny day though not quite as warm as yesterday. Skies clouded over and some squalls passed by with thunder and lightning. Sun came out again after 15 min. We entered France at 13.00. We tried to dock at Fumay but hit bottom so decided to continue on to Revin. Locks closed mid-way so tied up to the canal bank.