An interesting read, a show I’d like to see, and in the “just call it what it is” department…
I’ve lost track of how many locks we’ve navigated through in the French canal system but the word hundreds should suffice. In my opinion, the very best way to see France is from the canal system. Canals are all kinds of cool.
One of the reasons we bought the Islander is that it would allow us to transit the Panama Canal as it has a 27HP engine. Otherwise, we’d have gone with a minimal propulsion system more to my liking.
On the other hand, the Panama Canal is not the same sort of experience as the European canal system is, but it does get you from point A to point B in a hurry. Throw in the current idiocy surrounding the Panama Canal and, all of a sudden, cruising the east coast of South America starts looking a lot more attractive.
Even better, an easier way to get to South America is to sail to Europe via the Azores visit some folks in France then sail the trades to the Cape Verdes and over to Brazil. What can I say but it is a possible plan. Then again, we might just take off in what ever direction makes sense when we’re ready to leave the Caribbean…
Getting thru the canal these days is a pretty expensive undertaking (unless you’re a US warship….). I’ve met a couple of shoestringers who sailed to the Rio dulce, sold the boat, traveled overland to the sea of Cortez and got brought another boat there….
Another good argument for not having too much tied up in the boat….