Just downstream of the lock at Marpent, the last under French control, we stopped at the well equipped halte nautique in the centre of Jeumont, which also happens to be right next door to a Lidl supermarket for ease of loading up. We took our last opportunity to stock up on French wine before making our way across the border into Belgium. There is no real evidence of a border crossing except for the Yacht Club des Frontieres where we were afforded a friendly welcome. Our Geocart maps of the Belgian waterways had indicated diesel here but it was not to be.

Ecluse de Solre sur Sambre is the first on the Belgian side of the border, and we stopped here to complete registration formalities. After much form filling and computer work, involving questions about our length of stay and next destination, we were charged the grand sum of €1,05 for our week's visit. At Ecluse Lobbes we decided to fill up with water which turned out to cost €3 - so that's how they make the waterways pay.

We were tempted by the mooring quay at Abbaye d'Aulne, surrounded by inviting looking bars and restaurants and a popular spot for riverside gongoozlers who were out in force on this fine evening. However, we opted instead for the security and electricity of the Yacht Club at Landelies 2km further downstream. Although the club moorings were full we were invited to raft alongside an unoccupied boat. Unfortunately this scenic spot between wooded cliffs is a black spot for both mobile phone and satellite TV reception!

Cruising Statistics

Distance: 22 nm

Total to date: 1821 nm

Avg Speed: 5 knots

Duration: 4:15 hours

Diesel: 40 litres (est)

Mooring: €10

Electricity: Free

Locks

Marpent

Solre sur Sambre

La Buissiere

Fontaine-Valmont

Lobbes

Thuin

Grand Courant

Trou D'Aulne

Abbaye D'Aulne

Min headroom: 3.7m

Min draught: 2.2m (~1.5m in lock exits)

Charts

Navicarte 24

Navicarte 23

Geocart 2