Author Archives: Ed Mortimer

I really want to thank all those who have made my boating experience a special one: firstly, to Pat and Kerry, who have been with me, beside me and behind me since the dream took shape; secondly to Nick and … Continue reading →

Well, the end of my era. I have sold the boat, and am preparing for a return to Canuckland. The marina at Hattem has been exceptional in providing the support, exposure, and everything needed for a very quick sale of … Continue reading →

Wow. time certainly moves on. I am now into the Netherlands, and have made some important decisions. Travelling through Belgium, I mad ‘fast tracks’ because of Covid issues. No contact with the shore people, except at at a distance, and … Continue reading →

The end of a chapter in my journey. I left France today, and entered Belgium. France has been wonderful, exciting, interesting, enjoyable, and altogether a good experience- but it is time to move along. The St. Quentin canal has been … Continue reading →

After travelling up the Oise river, I am in the historic city of Compiègne. I am moored just upstream of a lock, and do have a significant amount of movement of the boat due to the wakes of passing ships, … Continue reading →

After making the trek trough Paris, I am reflecting on the less cultural and more nautical aspects of the journey. The Seine is a heavily used industrial waterway, supplying the huge metropolis of Paris with a great deal of the … Continue reading →

After departing the Canal du Loing, I entered the Seine River. As the Saone and Rhone (see previous descriptions) the river is an entirely different nautical experience than a canal. Current, locks that are humungous compared to the canals (water … Continue reading →

The last of the freycinet gauge canals for a while (38m x 5.0m). It has been an hot but delightful journey through these canals. There is so little traffic (Covid has all but eliminated any trip boats, and all of … Continue reading →

The 4 canals that make up this route from the Rhone to the Seine (Canal du Centre, Canal Lateral de la Loire, Briare Canal, and Canal du Loing), have the much shorter sections of the Briare and Loing at the … Continue reading →

The Canal Lateral de la Loire follows the Loire river, which, at times, has plenty of water (a torrent) for navigation, but by midsummer, is a maze of small lagoons, huge sandbars and a nightmare for navigation. The French realized … Continue reading →