Le canal near Hochfelden
Fri 27 Jul 2012The
Les Canalous boat charter company base is here. In peak season a boat for 4 people is about 2k euros for a week. They charge $EU 7 per engine hour for fuel and expect you to clean the boat when you return or else you are charged about $EU 100 for cleaning. There is deposit to
be paid or pay $EU 80 for insurance against deposit.
... and that is about the total price.
There are a range of boats to choose from and from what I could see there are old and new boats in the fleet. The one I stepped onto had 4 cabins and 2 showers to accommodate up to 10 people. It was one of the older boats in the fleet.
Adjacent was a nice new boat that was good for a family of 4, in an upstairs pilot house config with cabins down in the bow and stern. Looked very well optimised for cruising canals and their calm waters.... Even the high pilot house appears a designed thing - if you consider the outlook from the upper decks in a high position enables you to see over the walls of the canal to the countryside beyond. Nice idea.
I asked about going for a dip. Swimming in the canals is against the rules, but everyone does. The toilets pump to the canal so that might be part of the reason... though that is supposed to finish by 2015. Even still, I saw people jump in the water within 15 mins of asking the question.
They give briefing on operating the boat and operating the loches also. Some people hire bikes to take along also. Seems thats about it and little can go wrong. Famous last words I think, as it is an adventure into the countryside in an aquatic way. This would suit the sailors who DO like some overland adventure and happy to integrate the two.
The locals ARE friendly.
iPan photo of the canal** Its not complete, the cloudless day confused the stitching software.
Les Canalous website
