We set off from Brugge with Carol and Rocky on La Tulipe and before long we’d forgotten what it’s like to be in port. Our first stop was the beautiful city of Gent where in perfect spring weather there was lots to see and do. Sofie and Thomas joined us for supper in their home city; lovely to meet up again.


Beautiful Gent

Chris gets the short measure

Our route took us downstream from Gent towards Antwerp on the River Schelde, turning south at Dendermonde on the River Dender.


Tied up together at Dendermonde

We saw spring blossom everywhere and lots of ducklings. The river becomes prettier and less industrial and we stopped for a few days at Aalst where the local traditional giants were out for the weekend, this time for the wedding of Goliath. This marks the start of the tourist season.


Eating again!


Spring blossom on the River Dender


Giants’ wedding at Aalst


…and general tomfoolery

We stopped at Lessines to see again the lovely old hospital there, the best we’ve seen, it tops the one at Brugge. This town is also the birthplace of Rene Magritte though the only evidence is a street named after him. Most of his art is displayed in Brussels. At Ath we were now in the French part of Belgium and here the very helpful lock keeper Olivier helped Rocky to get some new batteries. A few days here relaxing was well worthwhile, good restaurants, the local Gouyasse beer enjoyed in the beautiful town square. The Blaton Ath canal starts here, one of the prettiest waterways in Belgium, formerly silted up, now navigable for draft up to a metre. The locks and lifting bridges are manually operated and a helpful team travel along with you.

Rafted at Ath

We stopped at La Deuze where we again visited the extraordinary pub…..a step back in time, very quaint, lots of memorabilia. An eyeopener for Rocky who was expecting a range of gins.


Blaton-Ath Canal

From here we completed the steep and heavily locked last section to Blaton, ten locks in two hours, very efficiently managed from an enthusiastic team. Eventually we tied up at Pommereoul, an old favourite, for some maintenance, painting and for Chris, programming tasks and new batteries for Nils and Torild (seems to be a springtime thing). Sally and Mike (part-time bargees also put in an appearance.


Five of us at Pommeroeul – our own mini rally


Three men in charge of food

[editor's note. Actually, two men in charge, Mike (holding drink) inspecting and effecting quality control]