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Exploring Europe – mostly on our barge 'Catharina Elisabeth'
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Author: Helm and Crew

We've always loved the idea of France. We knew next to nothing about boats, cruising and mechanics. So, ten years ago, we bought a 99 year-old-barge and are now amongst the most fortunate people on Earth - living for months on end cruising the European waterways.
—  By Helm and CrewNovember 14, 2016

Distractions and Calendars

If you have arrived here for instructions on how to use the DBA Calendar, then you can CLICK HERE and skip our ramblings on life and barges and go straight to that stuff. No, sadly, this is not an update on our cruising through Belgium this…
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—  By Helm and CrewOctober 10, 2016

The Historic Canal du Centre: 30/7 – 31/7

Mons to La Louvière The next part of our plan was to experience the historic boat lifts on the old/historic Canal du Centre. For Ian, this was probably his most highly anticipated section of the entire three-month cruise. The combination of scenic territory, small waterway…
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—  By Helm and CrewSeptember 22, 2016

Into the War Zone: 26/7 – 29/7

Ath to Mons Lock Practice After a couple of days at Ath we set off on the pleasant and quiet Blaton-Ath Canal southwards to a stretch of some 19 locks: first nine rising (each about 3 m) and then ten descending. We were about to…
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—  By Helm and CrewSeptember 4, 2016

The Land of the Giants: 23/7 – 26/7

Geraardsbergen to Ath The best laid plans…. Having spent the past three nights in Geraardsbergen snug between two small lifting bridges we arranged for the one in front to be opened for us at 9.00 am so we could enter the lock which was just…
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  • Barging (174)
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"Coincidence: You weren't paying attention to the other half of what was going on."

Chad C. Mulligan | The Hipcrime Vocab

  1. Avatar photo
    Ian on Downstream on the Rhône (23/06 – 29/06/25)March 6, 2026

    Oops, just realised you were simply reporting Hennie Ha doesn't have a bow thruster, not that it's broken. We found…

  2. Avatar photo
    Ian on Downstream on the Rhône (23/06 – 29/06/25)March 5, 2026

    Good Timing Val, your comment arrived just as Lisette published her blog on Avignon. Bow thrusters are such temperamental things…

  3. Val on Downstream on the Rhône (23/06 – 29/06/25)March 5, 2026

    What a trip, Ian and Lisette. That wind sounds wicked. I’m not sure we would fare too well with Hennie…

  4. Avatar photo
    Ian on Lyon (20/06 – 22/06)February 23, 2026

    Our (very much delayed) pleasure Gina.

Categories

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