Since the French canal system has all but dried up in the hottest summer in recorded history we have taken to the rivers. After a few days enjoying the big city of Lyon we headed south to play with the big boys.
The photo below shows the where the Saône joins and becomes the Rhône. This happens at the southern edge of Lyon.
Almost immediately we entered our first big lock on the Rhône. These locks are 190 meters (> 600 feet) long and typically 30-40 feet deep.
Surprisingly these locks are not more difficult to transit since they are equipped with floating cleats that move with the water level.
And why are these locks so big you may wonder? Because of these big boys.
Here’s a couple of big guys passing just outside the lock (while we wait).
But we are not the smallest boats transiting the locks. These two fellows locked together….
And after 7 days on the Rhone we entered out deepest lock yet – 74 feet. And that is 9 down and 2 to go to get to Avignon.
Our Adventures 