Sunday 9th June Mulhouse to Kembs

Apologies readers.......there was a problem with the blog and it seems that I have jumped the gun and published about the start of our day.  So........to continue!
Eventually, the damaged boat was reversed out of the lock and tied off on the side - then the Pompiers’ divers went in to inspect the damage.  However we were not allowed to manoeuvre until the divers were out of the water, so we still had to wait.  Eventually we locked down at 12.20 p.m. just in time to beat the lunch break.  As it was the final lock on this system, we had to fill in some paperwork before descending.   It was a guillotine gated one and as the gate started to lift it pushed the boat back quite strongly, making it difficult for Crew to hold on to her line - Skip took to the wheel to stop us backing into Henk!
We had worked out that we would arrive in Kembs around one o’clock, thereby missing the forecast rain - however we are now at least two hours behind and of course, it started to spit!  Hey ho......the best made plans of mice and men!
A few kilometres from the lock we came across a large kayak rally.  They had put out red and white buoys in narrow lanes for the racing and it made navigating difficult as they were set just about the width of Aphrodite.  We had just breathed a sigh of relief having come to the end of the lanes when we heard a big bang- it seemed we had hit one of the buoys (submerged we think) and a red one was stuck under our bathing platform!  An interesting day - am thinking that we shouldn’t have set off this morning!!
 To reach Kemp’s port, we had to branch off the canal and enter a narrow canal, the Huningue for about 2 kilometres.  We had trouble getting into a berth as we had a depth and current problem - a perfect end to a perfect cruising day!!!!  Absolutely everything seemed to be going wrong!
We got settled in a hurry, just after 2.30 p.m. as it was now raining harder - then another quick late lunch.
The Capitaine came over around six o’clock and gave us the info about the in port peniche restaurant.  Unfortunately it was under new management and will be closed until August - is it Friday 13th again???
The weather forecast says to expect rain on and off for the next three days, so our departure date is, as yet, unknown.  The swans, ducks and coots are loving this wet weather however.
Crew rustled up a corned beef hash, courtesy of Mary Berry - a store cupboard supper - and a quiet evening with DVDs

20 km 1 lock 4 1/2 hours