On the way to Belgium

After our visit to Tournai we set off along the Canal towards Namur, where we are to meet family members. These canals have practical but unromantic names; first the Canal from Peronnes to Nimy then the Canal du Centre, turning into the Canal from Charleroi to Brussels. These canals were built to take large tonnage vessels- minimum 1350 tonnes. There are not many locks, but each of them rises or falls a long way, usually around 7 metres. Many of the boats that use them occupy all the space within the chamber which can leave pleasure boats like us waiting a long time for a turn or to fit in with a smaller commercial, because commercial boats have priority. We were very fortunate  at the start of our trip to just fit into the lock with the first boat in line. There was not a centimetre to spare and we had to keep our lines very tight to avoid touching our companion. Behind us by the time we left the lock were three barges which would have fully occupied the space. The last of them would not have gone through for another three hours.

New Canal du Centre

The countryside along the canals is mainly rural, dotted with large ports where the barges load- with containers, sand and gravel, scrap metal, grain and so on. Each year in Belgium 40 million tonnes a year moves on the canals and rivers. Also along the canal there are many industrial buildings taking advantage of the proximity to transport. At one stage a huge conveyor crossed the canal and then travelled alongside it for 2 kilometres. At another we passed within a working steel works which is built next to, over and around the canal!

Through the middle of the steel factory
We had the good fortune to travel (us and the boat) in a giant ascenseur which really is an engineering marvel. This "device" has two independent "bath tubs", each holding 6,000,000litres of water and the device lifts these "tubs" over 73metres from the canal at the bottom of the hill to the continuation of the same canal at the top of the hill.

 The huge Strepy boat lift. See the 6 million litre "tub" halfway down!

After a delay of 90minutes (during which we had lunch), we entered one of the large tanks. These are 125metres x 12.5metres x 4metres. The tanks are held within a 120metre high building by 144 cables per tank. These huge cables are individually monitored and adjusted to equalise the strain. Then they pass over huge pulleys and run to 1,000tonne concrete blocks which descend while the tanks rise. There are 8 blocks of concrete for each tank and we were able to watch them going down as we ascended. The noise in the device is quite loud and similar to a jet plane taking off (but not as loud). We were able to get out of the boat and admire the views as we ascended at 20cm per second.

When we came out of the tank, we passed high over a valley because they built a viaduct after the ascenseur for about a kilometre. It was very incrongruous to overtake a shepherd and his goats making their way across the viaduct. It was a neat shortcut from one hill, across the valley far below, to the hill on the other side. We said hello to him and he agred it was an agreeable photograph.

Another amazing sight was a special flood gate which is closed every night and also when there are bad floods. It is very futuristic and we were glad to find it open to us.

The goats....

and the shepherd.....

 high above the town and roads

 The futuristic Guard Lock