aussie3

Has anyone taken on these trips by boats thru the locks. We would like to try in October . Would love info.

blackduff

I haven't taken this trip but some other poster recently said it was tough for just two people, especially older people. Doing the physical effort to open and close the gates is a big job.

Maybe you would like better to rent a bike and follow along on the Canal du Midi. It's lovely and it's riding downward towards the Med. It's about five days taking a relaxed ride and there's lots of things to see and do. You could even take a bit of time and help some boater change the lock gates.

Blackduff

ira

Hi A,

Have you bareboated on a canal before?

Are you reasonably fit?

SuzieC

4 people would be OK, I think, as long as one can catch the ladder "on the move" as it were, scamper up the latter to grab the lines thrown at them from the barge, when you find yourself in a lock when the water is low and the boat has to rise to the next level..

JandaO

We used the crownblueline. My friend Tom experienced male boater, so he was able to go up and down the ladders. He could hop on and off the boat to the dock. I agree that 2 people would be the minimum unless you are experienced.

Regarding the locks (pick a route with the fewest), just go slow and take your time. Alot of the time there were other people there and was able to help Tom. Julie and I didnt have to help then. When I helped, it wasnt that difficult to tie the ropes, ect..

SuzieC

I didn't grow up "boating"...but I became darned good as the "hold the line Sue..." then as your raise or lower, depending, letting it out or gathering it in...
We did CrownBlue as well. 14 Americans, 2 boats, the "Classiques".
The kitchen on them was bigger than the one in my apartment!
We choose the Cote d'or, Burgundy area. Love the wine and food.
I'd do it again, maybe now with some of those amongst the 14 I mentioned, <GRIN> but I surely would do it again.
Most of us in that 14 were in our 50's

aussie3

Woops maybe we should look at a bigger boat with more people so we are still speaking. Being the female with the slight experience maybe I will be doing a little more than relaxing
Thanks so much for info everyone.
I am on internet trying some of the sites

ira

Hi Aussie,

Bareboating the canals of Europe is terrific,.... if you are a boat person.

I would not suggest doing this for beginners.

You have to handle lines. You have to anchor at times. You have to like being in cramped quarters for long periods.

aussie3

Well!!!!! Ut seems like it might be better going on a bigger boat and letting the crew not including me do the work. Have you are favourite area?

SuzieC

I don't know Ira...at the same time we got our boats, 4 women, German Schoolteachers, got on their boat and admitted not one of them knew anything about bots...they were given about a 1 hour lesson...
the captain of our boat suggested that they follow us for a couple of hours until they got their sea-legs (as it were) and off they went!! We did see them about 4 days later, tanned, healthy full of laughter, having a great time.
It is not THAT hard...

ira

Hi SC,

Aussie was, I thought, talking about 2 people (at least one with no experience) doing a canal tour.

Four people, even with little experience, can handle a boat, with a little help from kind strangers.

>We did see them about 4 days later, tanned, healthy full of laughter, having a great time. <

What did the boat look like?



Ducking for cover

Michael

WE did it in two boats. Only one person of the 12 of us had done any boating. By the end of the first day, we all could steer the boat in a fairly straight line. As for the locks, it requires no boat experience, just common sense. Our experience on the Burgundy canal is that the lower gate of the lock is usually kept open when no boats are going through. That meant that going upstream was more efficient than going downstream, and that counts when you go through 50 locks in 6 days.

aussie3

I think 4 women may have worked well. I have 10 school friends who have meet each year for 21 years. We have the whole pecking order worked out Our 60th birthdays come in 2 years and we are all saving for a big trip/
Thanks for all the info on boating the "odd couple " are going to give it a try/ As we will have been scootering around Italy we hope to still be in ne piece!!!!