Saturday January 7th 2006, we finally leave Weil after having been here for 3 months. The hospitality we encountered was incredible and so it was not easy to leave, but the prospect to escape winter and to head down South to our permanent mooring in Beaucaire.

At this time of the year the only route open leads down the Rhine to Strasbourg, using the Canal de la Marne au Rhin to Nancy then down South using the Canal des Vosges, the Sâone and the Rhône and then the Canal du Rhône a Sête back to Beaucaire. So we prepared for a few weeks cruise.

What about winter and ice? I called the VNF and was told all clear.