We got up very early again this morning and were disappointed that the weather was still damp, chilly and cloudy. A neighboring boat asked David about the upcoming lock, which was right at the edge of the marina. We'd seen it the day before and it was a bigger and slightly harder lock to operate than we'd seen before. We went in first and we shared locks with that boat for the next several hours. At one of the locks they were selling jams and honey on the honor system! David bought a jar of peach jam!
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| Inside the Saverne lock, with another boat |
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| Inside the Saverne lock |
We traveled to Lutzelbourg, where we stopped for a while around 11:30. There was a crystal shop and the man who owns it makes all the crystal right there! Then we found a little patisserie and had quiches, and then we were back on the boat again!
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| Serge Wurm, the crystal maker |
We went through more locks until the afternoon when we got to the Arzviller Lift. This is a giant boat lift that takes several boats up at a time, replacing 17 locks. This large "tub" carries the boats over 146 feet uphill! This was one of the main reasons we wanted to take this trip!
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| Approaching the boat lift |
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| Entering the boat lift |
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| Pulling into the boat lift |
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| Riding up (this and next three pictures) |
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| Exiting the lift at the top |
Minutes after the boat lift, we entered the first of two tunnels. This first one was over a mile and a half long, and pitch black in some places. The second one was just a few minutes after the first one, but it was only about a quarter of a mile long.
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| Entering the first tunnel |
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| Looking back at the tunnel |
Then we traveled through a pretty, woodsy area until we reached Niderviller, where we pulled into a marina for the night. Deena and I took long, hot showers and then David walked into town. About an hour later we headed into town as well, and found David. We visited the Faience porcelain factory store and looked around but didn't buy anything. Then we bought tomorrow's baguette at the patisserie, and headed back to the boat. We all had some wine and sat around talking. We went to the local restaurant at about 7 and had a nice dinner. Then we came back and David and I did some laundry at the marina. David fell asleep while the laundry was still going and Deena and I chatted till it was done.
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| Porcelain store we visited |
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| My dinner |
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| Deena's dinner |
