France to Belgium by Boat - day 26

After recovering from our unplanned adventure. We cycled up to the locks (in the pouring rain to initially sort out internet - now don't start me there!)

Breathe

So, we stopped at the first lock and it appeared to be in working order. The lock-keeper understood my shamefully scant french and confirmed that all the locks were fine!

We left the next day.

Yay! Belgium here we come!

Puttering through Dunkerque

There were a few twists and turns. (They weren't noted on our charts, but our friends on board MV Silk Purse had warned us of them.) That's the great thing about being part of a fantastic Facebook Group called Women on Barges (and any other boats too!)

This lock didn't look like it had been used in a while! We were supposed to nose up to the wall and find a piece of string to pull - however, it opened automatically.

Press here for Belgium! Beam me up Scottie! lol!

The last part of our France journey.

Welcome to Flanders! We are now in Belgium.

Taken across the paddocks - see the map below to gain context on how close we are to the sea. From 1914 to 1918 Flanders Fields was a major battle theatre in the First World War. A million soldiers from more than 50 different countries were wounded, missing or killed in action here. Entire cities and villages were destroyed, their population on the run. Ypres and Passchendaele became worldwide symbols for the senselessness of war. Today, the peaceful region still bears witness to this history in monuments, museums, cemeteries and the countless individual stories that link it with the world.

This is where we were when we took the shot above (red circle).

Heading for Veurne

It's here we checked in and you can see our course in green. Hairpins on canals!

There are plenty of lift bridges here.

On the Lokanaal the lift-bridge operator told us about this spot for the night. Perfect!

Almost half way between Veurne and Diksmuide where we will spend the winter.

Will we see Diksmuide tomorrow?