Locks on the Rhone

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gosh

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We are planning to go from St Jean de Losne to Canal du Midi next month. Can anyone tell me if it is possible to 'book ahead' on the Rhone locks or is this service reserved for commercials. Are there any stops on the Rhone we should try to avoid?

Thanks
 
It's not really necessary to book ahead . . why were you thinking you might do that? The locks are big (gigantic, some) but very smooth and easy, with sliding bollards.
Spots to avoid - well we wouldn't miss stopping in Lyon (a nice place), but wouldn't fancy leaving our boat unattended too long on a town quay, or overnight.
Spots not to be missed - Montmerle, Vivers, Roche de Glun - they're on our website, see http://www.tagweb.co.uk/grehan/_journey3-saone-rhone.html
 
we did it last year and no need to book ahead, indeed they were the most professional lock keepers on the whole trip. don't let the size of the locks worry you, they were also the easiest to handle. When you get to the bollene lock have a sandwich and cup of tea ready, its big and seems to take forever to drop. real cool.
Best places to stay....anywhere....by far the best bit of our journey.
Will ou be taking the canal rhone de sete to get to the etang and over to the midi, if so don't turn of the rhone at the junction go and spend a couple of days in the next town, Arles, i think. Only a mile or so down and well worth it.
The latter end of rhone du sete is a bit naff, full of bumper boats and we were very restricted on draft (1.7).
Otherwise, apart from Paris, the Soane/Rhone is fantastic.
Enjoy.
regards
Roy
O and Grehans site is well worth a read...helped us along.
 
Agree with all Grehan and Ropy say. Also Grehan's web site and places he has suggested.
remember in the Rhone locks it is obligitory to wear Life Jackets. Don't waste breathe trying to argue on this issue, there is a very good reason. Also the commercial vessels have priority into the lock, so if one is behind you as you approach the lock give way.
 
Yes, the locks are big enough to really <u>want</u> to have a lifejacket on! . . . and normally speaking, commercial peniches etc. will always be locked in first - so there's no point trying to overtake one any much distance before the lock. Better to be at or near the back most times, anyway.
 
You MUST stop in Tournon and take the steam train. great place great people not to bad food in cafès good bakery(s) (if not aboard)just inside the wall good bar as well different atmosphere outside?Not bad just "outside" great place great town great mooreing

Where to avoid umm?No where on the Rhone providing your safely tied up that applies to the pontoon just becouse your tied up well dosent mean the pontoon wont set off down river!

To avoid: The Baltic check your position carfully
 
Tournon

M. Trouville - agree with all you say . . except "great mooring".
When we were there (2004) the 'harbour' was both shallow and pretty small (tight to get in and out of). Lots of exposed concrete bits and quite an amount of wash (rocking and rolling) from peniches and croisieres rounding the bend above the town.
Wasn't exactly 'a problem' but wouldn't rate "great" in our book (much better elsewhere on the two rivers).
Have we missed something? Have things changed?

BTW We liked all three Ts - Tournus, Trevoux and Tournon. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Tournon

It was great because the 4 days i was there it was free!!

The person that collects the money was at the tourist office where they told me he wasent collecting as it was off season,mid may i think? Made the piles, wash etc worth it!!

Being narrow id dident loose much varnish!Its still very narrow to get in and i did "bump" as i was washed along

There was an English princess there they were a bit worried about the wash,although in may theres less traffic,i told him if he left before monday midday 2 pm ish he wouldent have to pay,he looked at me as if i was something that had just washed up & told me that was the wrong attitude that he would pay!

I went back to pass the good news on to the person that would be collecting he did come along a bit earlier he wished me a good journey,no question of paying,i saw him talking to the mobo he dident seem to be taking any money though

Nice people there lots of tourists as well!!

Ive never stopped at Trevoux?whats it like??
 
Re: Tournon

I agree re. Tornon - Too narrow but also quite shallow.
Other ports of interest
Saone
Macon - Both city centre and marina ( bit far from shops) both are good safe stops.
Montmerle - Excellent. Very simiar to Trevoux
Rhone
Givors - Do not stop here very shallow - less than a metre just off pontoon. Also pontoons locked due to very high crime rate.
Les Roches de Condrieu - Nice Mrina & Fuel
La Roche de Glun - in entrance to river - again excellent - Free with water and free electric. Just on outskirts of small village.
Valance - Not in city - Noisy & Dirty
Valence Marina - OK
Roqumaure - Free on wall, but said to be dangerous in high winds
Avignon - Now only on wall as pontoons not replaced since washed away in flood.
Arles - Electric & Water - currently free as no one calls for mooring fees.

Should anyone need current info, the above was accurate last week but contact me if you need anything more.
 
Re: Tournon

One other point re locks. You must always call ahead by VHF before entering. If you do this in French (even poorly pronounced and grammatised) you seem to get much better and faster service. Other than that agree with all the points raised by the above contributors. A truly great trip.....

Good luck

Chas
 
Lyon - You will need to hang a right onto the Saone for a peaceful stay. I found a good spot to tie up just before (coming down the Saone to the Rhone). Pt Kitchener-Marchand, at about pk 2½ dominated by the Fouvière basilica, you suffer a bit from wash during the day, but the nights are peaceful (ignoring the rats out on their evening foraging along the quay)! Fresh water can be had from a tap inset in the wall on the opposite bank of the river. An adapter is necessary, in the form of a length of 2” plastic hose, as I think the tap was intended for a fire hoses!

Just past Lyon there is (used to be) a fuel barge on the starboard side. I filled up several containers of Red (for my cooker) /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Re: Tournon

[ QUOTE ]
I never found this.
The lock controllers radio ahead to say what traffic is on its way and they can see you coming.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I agree, no need to use VHF at all. We found, on the smaller canals, a cold beer or glass of vino was really appreciated (as was our diabolical efforts at speaking French!!) and ALWAYS found the next lock prepared for us.

We actually heard one lock-keeper radio ahead basically saying we were 'OK'!!
 
Re: Tournon

On the bigger locks we radio'd ahead, coversation like this...

Wife...Bonjour Ms Lock keeper, parlez vous Inglesi?

Lock Keeper.... non...Parlez Vous Francais?

Wife.....pardon non but can we come thro your lock please?

Lock Keeper....Mais Oui, advancee

Had me rolling over in the cokpit but worked everytime.

On the smaller canals, a cool beer, had all the locks ready for us as we aproached.
Really nice people, the remaining french could learn a lot from them :-)
Regards
Roy
 
When you travel along the Canal Du Rhone a Sete you will come upon cross channels from the Etangs to the sea.They are prone to strong cross currents and some are governed by red lights.I found that if I got a good speed up I was able to get through them.

Have a good trip - wish I was back there! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
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