A few weeks ago, we brought you part one of Donald and Marjorie Walker’s story of their cruise from the South of France northward to The Netherlands via the canals, rivers and lakes of the waterway system. This is one of the world’s most elaborate and scenic inland cruising areas with the shores dotted with vineyards, castles and picturesque towns.
In Part two, the Walkers leave France and cross into Luxemburg, where they have to transit dozens of locks to move through the hilly countryside. They also have to accommodate both the large river barges this section of the canal system was built for and the riverboat cruise ships.
As is often the case in summertime cruising, marina slips were hard to find and sometimes far apart. Forewarned by a friend familiar with this stretch of the canal system, they made reservations well in advance and did not have to wait with other cruisers for a berth to come open. This precaution ensured that they were securely moored every night and they had plenty of time to explore the villages and vineyards nearby.
