The idea of the hose with the ball "pump" at one end is just brilliant! I bought one, it will be so much easier when we have to transfer gas from a jug to the tank when we are not safely docked in an harbor. I was not aware this kind of accessory was existing. Thank you so much for the tip Aladino, and you both have a safe trip to the North... so far from the Mediterranean sea I see every day!
Maya, if you ever get tired of boat life, I’m sure you would be snapped up by some major tv company to narrate, possibly a wildlife documentary. Long live Sir David Attenborough, but he can’t live forever, with your clear soothing and beautiful voice, you’d make a lovely replacement. With Aladino’s immense skill at boat renovation and maintenance, and your singing, guitar, violin and beautiful voice and the joint abilities at filming, drone footage and editing. I think you two can achieve just about anything, such a talented couple, I really love, watching, learning and look forward to every Friday. Take care and enjoy the rest of your journey “North Through The Continent”
I like that the skipper emerged from the cabin and knew instantly they were in the wrong canal and later confirmed by the electronic navigation. Love riding along on your magic carpet, bon voyage
Wow! This is a truly amazing combination of beauty, serenity, and inspiration - all while being helpful and informational! I can't wait to enjoy your other videos now!! Commence binge!! :)
In the ‘60 I made strip on a sailboat with 2 friends from the Netherlands to Sëte in France. We passed the river le Doubs, the Saône, the Rhône to Beaucaire. And I can vividly remember the countless number of locks. Sometimes in the middle of a small town. Looked at by a group of people asked where we came from and where we were going to. Also i remember the sometimes strange places where the French authorities placed directing you to a lock. We nearly tumbled down a waterfall beside a lock. And the scenery along theccanals I will never forget. Enjoy pour trip. I will follow it now!
I just found your channel yesterday and I so needed the soothing sounds of your voice, the beauty of your surroundings and the excitement of seeing life on the rivers as you two are sharing with all of us. You're such a sweet intelligent couple. You're just the medicine I needed. I am so very happy to have found you. Please be safe and enjoy your travels.
I made this trip to Hamburg with my 28 sailboat about 34 years ago. Before that I sailed the Mediterranean for two years. I also found the trip on the canals beautiful and better than the Mediterranean. When I watch your beautiful video, old memories come flooding back. Many thanks and always a handbroad water under the keel
I have enjoyed each of the North Through the Continent videos, some of the best "sailing" videos I have ever seen. Fabulous narration, music, informative and beautiful. This series really is unique.
Thanks for yet another well documented and informative episode...It's obvious why some of the lock operators only stand and stare, they are no doubt mesmerised by your exquisite beauty :)
I actually watch the story mostly because of the tone of your voice :) I mean, don't get me wrong, your adventure is catching, the videos are wonderfull... but the VOICE, man, soooo calm....
I will join the chorus of fans who look forward every Friday to your videos. I find them meditative and lyrical. Thanks so much for helping us navigate through the pandemic.
Hello, I would like to thank you very much for the beautiful videos! Each is like a little getaway! Especially in times of Corona, a gift to see you both in your adventures. I sail a little myself and know one problem or another. Thank you for the work you do with the videos to show me/us that. PS you should speak audio books - a very pleasant voice! Have a nice time - greetings from Germany! Peter
This couple has done a great job of explaining how to utilize the locks.Two comments, the canals and locks predate steam transportation so their age is probably at least 200 years old and in the case of the Midi canal, 300 years old. While it is not recommended, I have been known to run the rope thru the ladder when the bollard was out of reach but I would never ever think about climbing those steel pipe ladders.
Very nice. I would have never thought of taking a sailing vessel through canal ways. Indeed, I knew very little about Europe's canal systems at all! A pretty excellent way to see the continent.
When you get into the Netherlands, we travelled on a motorboat from Aalst to Amsterdam which took 5 days, a most enjoyable eye opening experience, beautiful, Wim
Very well done Maya. Informative. Lovely images. Great music but handled very tastefully. I really look forward to your weekly visit. Keep up the good work. And, I am impressed by the increase in Patreons. You guys do good.
You have inspired me to investigate boating through France’s canals as a future adventure. I have boated through Ontario’s Trent Severn waterway and locks as well as the Rideau system and locks. The idea of automated locks and canals hundreds of years old is so thrilling to me! Thank you for explaining the practicalities of such an adventure. It makes my dream seem more possible.
awsome>> i have traveled the Eire canal several times delivering boats to Florida from the Great lakes my best memories are camping cooking for the crew on a fire tied to a dock waiting for the next day adventure>> out of 200 blogs i watch you are in the top 5 thank you
Dear Maya, I have your Music on my selection, when I am in the mood. Lov' watching your travel and commentary through my old country, about all the things I always have taken for granted. I escaped and lived my live in the antipodes, but I have come to reassess and appreciate what is good about the French way. Thank you for you both for that....
In the UK we have a name for the audience that likes to watch boaters going though canal locks. We call them "gongoozlers" The Wikipedia description describes them very well: "A gongoozler is a person who enjoys watching activity on the canals of the United Kingdom. The term is also used more generally to describe those who harbour an interest in canals and canal life, but do not actively participate". Love your videos. Keep safe.
In addition to the great travelog, this was very informative! An absolute must to know! I see the VNF doesn't manage the canals all THAT well if the bushes blocking the sign haven't been trimmed in a long time!
I have binge watched all your episodes having just discovered your channel, you are an amazing beautiful couple & very inspiring, my Uncle keeps his boat moored in Marans which is a lovely place.
Greeetings Magic Carpet from Motoryacht Moonshadow. Left NL back in 2017 and headed through Belgium, through the Ardennes, then down the Marne to Paris, up the Seine over the Loing and Briare canals to the the Canal lateral a la Loire and Centre to the Saone and down the Rhone to the Med. Decided to head back north again and have now been bumming it around the Burgundy waterways since, not really knowing where to go next. Been enjoying your vids, very true to French waterways life.
I love to folow your story's . Its like if you make the journey yourself . Keep on de good work . Looking forward to it every friday . Thank a lot for sharing
Also at that time the current on the Rhone was very strong with 5kn and we could see in the evening sometimes, where we started in the morning. The locks were all operated by a lock master and were free of charge. I think it took me two months to get to Hamburg and it was one of my most beautiful trips. Wonderful video, thank you very much.
Another outstanding episode, thank you guys. I love the entry with the moving Titel and also the titles in between. The best however is your tutorial about navigating the french canals! How to look for and check the sensor on the lock, is a very valuable hint. My best wishes & greetings from sunny Alberta!
Nice video with useful info, especially about the sensor,I have traveled up the Rhone in a small sailboat myself and going "up" in those huge locks is a bit scary if they fill them really fast.
👍👌👏 again and as always. Not much more to say than: excellent! Thanks a lot for making teaching recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck and health.
Thank you thank you thank you you have a great future in front of you your present is fantastic please keep up the good narration and beautiful scenery it does an old dude good thank you
Hi Maya and Aladino. Very much enjoying your travels and now I have a word for you which is used in the UK to describe anyone who enjoys watching the activity on the vast canal network of Britain but doesn't actively participate. The word is 'gongoozler'. I immediately remembered this word when you mentioned the spectators at the locks in France, just as in Britain. Perhaps you could turn this word international !
Nice video! Really helpful! I just bought a Vindö 40 in Sweden and might attempt to cruise the french waterways too! You guys really inspired me! Maybe we will cross each other soon on our journeys!
Hello. You talk about depth, but what about beam and height above water line? I saw a lot of narrow locks and low bridges during theses months. One day I want to live in a boat too, and want to be able to visit this amazing place. I searched this in the internet, but couldn't find any good information. Thank you!
A “lock audience”. Wife and I trailered our various boats for years. We found some of the absolutely best entertainment was sitting at a boat ramp, drinking a glass of wine, and watching the trailer boaters. We called it “Ra,p Follies”.. Lock audiences just want some comedy. We really like your videos
My wife loved the water but was adamant that she did not want to own a boat, so for her water fix we would pack a picnic and drive to the local reservoir boat ramp. While watching people launch or retrieve their boat I would often make up fictitious funny stories to match the action. Occasionally my wife would burst out in loud laughter which sometimes got us disapproving looks from the boaters. But it was a fun time we had together and cost us nearly nothing.
Have you ever watched “Alex French Guy Cooking”? That would be such an amazing mashup of two epic RU-vid channels if you guys ever got the chance to meet up with him.
Having watched your videos, I’d never do it in a sailboat. And I’d definitely want a weed less prop and shallow draft boat. Possibly something solar powered with a gas backup generator or something like that.
Great episode! Must be pretty tricky turning your full keel boat around in the narrow canals! Agree the hose with a siphon ball valve is the way to go. But in a pinch, a dinghy air pressure pump and a rag can also be easily used to momentarily pressurize a jerry can to start a siphon in any hose that's handy. However, for many cruising grounds, it's still advisable to siphon diesel through a good filtering funnel instead of siphoning directly into the tank. So I've had this idea that in a few years, when hopefully travel is open again, with a bicycle and guitarlele in tow, I would attempt to hitchhike across Europe on private canal boats. Do you think an experienced river runner, sailor and traveler that's not in a hurry would find that possible?
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