Boat trip on the Rhein-Rhone Canal, Spring 2012

Harbour in Basel

Ready for the great adventure

Departing Basel

Kembs, the first and only lock we used on the Rhein.

Floating bollards are a great help

Lock emptying

Free to exit

Might is right here

Entering the lock at Kembs - Niffer, on the Rhein-Rhone canal. About 230 Metres altitude.

From here we are rising all the time till we reach Valdieu. Total of about 115 Meters

Lock Filling

Gates opening

Rhein - Rhone canal between Niffer and Mulhouse

Will it fit?

Tight fit!

Approaching the harbour at Mulhouse

Harbour Mulhouse

Town hall Mulhouse

Cathedral Mulhouse

Departing Mulhouse

Entering an empty lock

Lock filled

Date - 1877

From Mulhouse westwards the canals are considerally smaller

Nature flourishes in the quiet surroundings

Note the bicycle track on the left of the photo. These were once the mule paths for pulling barges.

No stress

No sesickness on these waters

There were various types of opening bridges

and prolific bird life.

Lunch break.

Lock Filling. Note the turbulence.

I think this is Zillisheim

A rather old lock

Approaching Dannemarie,

where the harbourmaster was waiting for us.

A beautifully kept floating holiday home, 92 years old.

A canal bridge crossing a small stream

Details of the bridge etc., in French.

Crossing the canal bridge

Approaching the chain of locks rising from Retzwiller to Valdieu-Lutran

A tight fit!

The chain raises the canal about 40 metres in 12 closely spaced locks.

Looking back down the chain of locks

Stinking company. This fellow always left his old diesel running, in case he couldn't start it.

Looking down from Valdieu

A satellite view of the lock chain from Google Earth, 10 locks shown.

Valdieu, the highest part of the Rhein- Rhone canal, about 345m elevation

A popular spot.

A really beautiful area.

Overnight berth at Montreux-Chateau.

Elisabeth ready for all weather!

Sign on the European cycling route No. 6

Another type of opening brige.

Ready to pass.

This is our lock attendant passing on the way to prepare the next lock, having just closed the bridge again.

An industrial area.

The small canal going straight ahead was to go to Belfort, but it was never finished.

We turned left to cross another bridge. We are now operating the locks ourselves, using a remote control.

Green means we may now enter the lock after crosing the bridge.

Crossing the bridge.

A few spectators on the bike route.

Ready to enter.

The blue rod closes the lock gate and automatically opens the bottom gate when the lock has emptied.

We have been going down hill since Montreux-Chateau

Preparing the next lock

Change of steerman (or woman).

Red and Green means the lock is being prepared for us.

Flying boat taking off!

Ground effect!

Elisabeth trying her hand at operating the lock.

Our final harbour, Montbéliard

Our route on the chart plotter. The square is Basel, then the crosses are our stops at Mulhouse,

Dannemarie and Montreux-Chateau and the Boat is at Montbéliard

Castle at Montbéliard

The lion of Belfort

The citadelle at Belfort

Two bells at Belfort

The lion again

Part of the Citadelle. It was unfortunately closed.

Farewell dinner aboard.

Back at Basel to pick up our car.