Sarreguemines - Saarbrücken - Grosbliederstroff /Kleinblittersdorf 15 June

Never a dull moment on a boat, always be prepared for the unexpected. All ready at 8.30 to go through the first lock on our way to Saarbrucken, but got stopped 7 km before Saarbrucken at the Güdingen lock, the first lock in Germany. No information on when it will open again, depends on the water level, so we went upstream again a few km to Grosbliederstroff/Kleinblittersdorf, French and German towns on either side of the Saar River.

Lock number 28 in Sarreguemines. Still thinking that we will reach Mosel in two days!

A cheeky goose came to wish us luck, or maybe bad luck!

Just in front of a us tiny boat from Holland with an older couple, hardly any shelter on the boat, but happy as larks. 

But before we left we just had to visit the Boulangerie that had the almond biscuits that Carl just cannot resist. He has been looking for them in every Boulangerie since Valence, on the Rhone.

Arrived at the Gudingen lock, and welcomed by the geese.

But no, the water is too high, maybe tomorrow.

So what to do? Go upstream back to Sarreguemines ( good idea according to Leslie) or find a place to hook up for the night, Carl, as the captain, makes the decision. So we are moored on a little jetty in Grosbliederstroff.

Three people in a boat we have met along the way also decided to stay here untill the lock reopens. They are Erika, Erik and Tassemo (?) from the lake Constans. They live in Germany but apparently three countries border on the lake Constans, Germany, Switzerland and Austria

.

And this is where we stay untill the lock opens, sans electricity, water and bathroom.

The jetty is also used by the children from the Canoe club. Talkative, friendly kids having lots of fun in the canal. 

And found an Indian bean tree in the village, just like our tree in Birgittavägen. Ah, homesick?

There is a bridge over the river Saar with Germany on one bank and France on the other.

Waiting for the water level to sink. The sun has come out again, in any case for a few hours.

The German side of the Saar.

The French side of the Saar.

Welcome painted on the bridge, right in the middle.

Met with Erika, Erik and Tassemo for an aperitif before dinner in Kleinbittersdorf. Tassemo originally comes from this area which he calls Saarland. Saarland, Alsace and Luxenbourg have during the years belonged to France, Germany or independent. Lots of talk about potatoes. We have heard of so many ways to cook potatoes, in detail, and so many different names for potatoes. Here everyone speaks German and French.  For someone like me who speaks a little German and less French, it is confusing to switch languages. Just when I was starting to understand some French and put together a simple sentence, we are speaking German again! It takes a few minutes to reconstruct a sentence, with my poor overworked brain busily trying to find the words in the right language. 

Now we are so waiting for good news tomorrow, will the water level sink or do we stay here another day, OR do we return to Sarreguemines ?