Niderviller 7 June

We have been getting information from well meaning people here in Niderviller about the situation with the locks en route to Nancy. It seems as if the locks to Nancy will be closed for a month. We are looking for alternative routes, but first we have to meet up with Alex and John in Nancy. I suppose we will have to go by train?

Took a walk to the nearest VNF to try to get some more information, but they were closed. Took a photo of the port in Niderviller instead.

The young couple, Philippa and Dane, in the boat behind us were from South Africa. After a bit of detective work it turned out that my sister, Chloe, was Philippas teacher in Grade one! What a small world.

Found the bus that goes to the next town, Sarrebourgh and actually got a free ride with an earlier bus which was not a scheduled bus. Very friendly bus driver who picked us up. Told us that he had been a tour bus driver in Norway and Austria.  Dropped us off at the station with instructions on how to find the town's new shopping centre, Le Clerc, where you can find a very reasonably priced buffet.

We thanked him and set off into the town.

It was very hot and sticky in Sarrebourg so we decided to find a lunch restaurant. Had a wonderful meal at l'ami Fritz, which was full of lunch guests.

We notice that most of the shops had these decorations outside and wondered why.

Asked at the tourist office and it turns out that an artist offered to make these decorations and the shop owner agreed.

We are really very impressed with the people working at the tourist office where ever we have been. Always extremely helpful, friendly and knowledgable. Even in the smallest towns.

The church in Sarrebourg has a stained glass window designed by Chagall. The church is closed on Mondays so we only saw the outside. But we will try to visit again tomorrow.

Found that the bakery is actual open on Tuesday mornings and even the Tabac opened up so we could sort of stock up.

Bailey Bridge.

The Bailey bridges from WW2 were invented by sir Donald Bailey, civil engineer in the Brittish  war office. The mecano like construction was used to replace bridges that had been destroyed by the withdrawing Germans. 

The Baily bridge at Niderviller was installed in 1944 to cross the Marne- Rhine canal and was in use untill 2008 when it was replaced by a concrete bridge. 

Three sections of the Baily bridge were saved and are placed over a small stream in the Niderviller village as a memory of the Baily bridge engineering construction. 

Each section measures four steps long and three steps wide. (Carl measured) The sections are joined by simple bolts and a type of vice grip. 

According to the information the Baily bridges played an important role in maintaining the logistic flow of men and material so vital for a successful war effort.