Tuesday 22nd July
Rain returned on Monday and we stayed in Naix-les-Forges another day and this morning we moved 5km to Treveray. The main road through the town was very busy with juggernauts, we assumed it was a shortcut to somewhere and were glad the canal was on the other side of town. Later we heard that it was diverted motorway traffic coming through Treveray because of a crash on the N4. Apparently some lorries went through Naix, crossing the canal bridge by the moorings. It is a small bridge so with juggernauts approaching from each side there was quite a jam.

Treveray

Wednesday 23nd July
Today we arrived at Damange-aux-Eaux at the top of la Marne au Rhin (ouest). We had problems with only 2 of the 9 locks and the VNF were very prompt in dealing with them. Tomorrow we go through the 5km Mauvages Tunnel. In the past all boats were towed through by an electric tug (because of poor ventilation), now you go under your own power accompanied by a VNF man on an electric bicycle; only two boats at a time (because of poor ventilation!). We arranged to go through with a Danish cruiser at 9am tomorrow.

Damange aux Eaux

Thursday 24th July
We left our mooring as soon as the lock opened, shortly before 9am. However, we were beaten to the tunnel entrance by 2 German boats who had moored the other side of the lock yesterday evening and we had to wait until 11am; arrangements with the VNF are always very flexible! It was an easy passage through the tunnel, as we came out we were applauded and by a group of sightseers. We travelled a further 7km and 7 locks to Sauvoy and moored for the night. At the last lock we passed an Australian boat that had been stuck for a week because of engine problems.

Mauvages Tunnel

Sightseers at the exit 

Sauvoy

Checking the weed hatch

Saturday 26th July
Yesterday we travelled in company with the Danish to the picturesque town of Void, arriving in time for lunch. We walked to the Restaurant Cugnot where we found Oliver (the stranded Australian) he was very pleased to talk to someone in English. He seems to have been adopted by the town, joining in birthday parties and being driven around by the mayoress who had taken a shine to him. (Oliver is over 70yrs old). He was expecting the mechanic to arrive in the afternoon and was in an optimistic mood. It was at Void in the 18th century  that NJ Cugnot, an artillery officer, built the “Fardier” a steam powered wagon considered to be the ancestor of the motorcar. We met a group of cyclists from Gateshead who were on a charity bike ride to the Italian lakes.
Today D. met Oliver in town, the engine was fixed but the is battery dead and he was waiting for the mayoress to drive him to Toul to by a new one.

Mooring at Void

Views of Void

Sunset at Void

Bikers from Gateshead

N J Cugnot's "Fardier"

Fresh water jellyfish

Monday 28th July
There are no locks between Void and the junction with the canal de Meuse 7Km away so we left at 8am to be at the first lock on the Meuse when it opened at 9.00am. A lockkeeper arrived at the first lock the same time as us. He told us the next 3 locks are in a poor state of repair and leak water overnight. The locks would not work properly until he had refilled the canal. This delayed our progress but we still reached Commercy by midday. The mooring is next to the velodrome and there was a cycling event taking place. D. went to watch the motorised pacing event using the Derny motorbike as a pacer for each cyclist.
Today we walked round Commercy, the home of the madaleine cake made famous by Marcel Proust.

Crossing the Meuse

3 bridges

Joining the river Meuse

Mooring at Commercy

Chateau Stanislas Commercy

Commercy

Home of the Madeleine cake

Derny racing

Photo finish

Wednesday 30th July
Very wet (again!) yesterday, we do not like boating in the rain instead we went by train to Toul. It took less than 20 minutes, by boat it would be 2 days. We visited the local sights and had lunch at the Restaurant le Commerce that was established in 1895 and “conserver son esprit Belle Epoque” with murals dating from the period.
Just before nine this morning the moorings were visited by two pompiers in a small motorboat. They came to say the next lock would be closed for an hour or so because of an accident. They did not elaborate on what the accident and we not planning on moving anyway, in fact L was still in bed reading.

Toul