The Mighty Meuse

Namur is an impressive sight but only because it sits on the confluence of the Sambre and the Meuse, one of Europe's great rivers.  As we passed the last bridges over the narrow Sambre, we emerged onto a great vista with a wide river and an impressive citadel above us.  Turn left, downstream and we head 344 km to Rotterdam where we joined this mighty river last year just before it flows into the North Sea.  In the Netherlands, it's known as the Maas and we cruised it all the way to Maastricht then.  But our plan was to turn right and head upstream almost as far as you can into France.  That's another 319 km.

We had other thoughts in mind.  We were expectant grand-parents and we needed to get ready to leave the boat and drive to the UK when called.  It was early but we always like to be prepared.  Our car was way back on the other side of the country and a 2 train journey via Brussels was needed to collect it.  We also had stuff to fix as you always do on a boat.  A new fluorescent tube for the engine room became a whole new fitting.  We needed new batteries for the bow thruster and that needed a very particular specification.  There was a battery specialist in town and some careful prep was needed before negotiations.  Fun fact: bow thruster is propulseur d'étrave and Cold Cranking Amps is Ampères de démarrage à froid!  They were helpful but a lot more expensive than the quote I'd had from a UK supplier.  And I had plans to visit the UK . . .

We like to walk and the Idiot Retriever likes it too.  There was lovely walking along the river and up the citadel.  This all helps to keep the impact of the beer under control.

Namur and the Meuse carries reminders of the violent history of Belgium in the 20th century.  Many street names and memorials record events that mixed warring armies with a terrified population much as we had learned in the Memorial Museum in Mons.  The Meuse became an important barrier in both world wars and a plinth just above our moorings recorded the remarkable achievement of US Army engineers who, in 1945, built a bridge across this wide river in just 5 hours.  There was lots to see and do, and our week raced by.
Location: Namur, Belgium

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