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| resilients:belgian_canals [2013-01-31 05:49] – created alkan | resilients:belgian_canals [2020-06-06 11:58] (current) – old revision restored (2013-02-13 22:27) nik |
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| === The Belgian Canals === | ==== The Belgian Canals ==== |
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| By Tim Boykett | By Tim Boykett |
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| The Belgian canal trip was envisaged as an exploration of northwestern Europe's waterways, overwhelmingly subject to human planning and control historically up to the present day. Originally routed along the northern part of Belgium along the border with the Netherlands, we decided to avoid this area owing to the extreme industrialisation and dangers present there. Instead we departed on the Sambre river, just within the French border. On our boating expeditions both in Australia and on the Danube we had originally planned to cross either state or country borders, but in each case this had proved impossible. So here at least we crossed one border -- the unmarked one between France and Belgium. | The Belgian canal trip was envisaged as an exploration of northwestern Europe's waterways, overwhelmingly subject to human planning and control historically up to the present day. Originally routed along the northern part of Belgium along the border with the Netherlands, we decided to avoid this area owing to the extreme industrialisation and dangers present there. Instead we departed on the Sambre river, just within the French border. On our boating expeditions both in Australia and on the Danube we had originally planned to cross either state or country borders, but in each case this had proved impossible. So here at least we crossed one border -- the unmarked one between France and Belgium. |
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| | <html><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/foam/8442845187/" title="BE_FoggyStart by _foam, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8351/8442845187_46c3387b7e_c.jpg" width="800" height="534" alt="BE_FoggyStart"></a></html> |
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| Joined from the outset by Marthe van Dessel and assisted by Markus Luger, we got the Subak set up with mast lowered for the low bridges. The industrial wastelands of Wallonia and northern France were our scenery for the next ten days of the journey -- starting with the collapsing factory walls on the border, drunken unemployed workers, and drifting rubbish. | Joined from the outset by Marthe van Dessel and assisted by Markus Luger, we got the Subak set up with mast lowered for the low bridges. The industrial wastelands of Wallonia and northern France were our scenery for the next ten days of the journey -- starting with the collapsing factory walls on the border, drunken unemployed workers, and drifting rubbish. |
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| We encountered drunken youths encouraging us to “suck my cock” in multiple languages. We saw operating factories amidst vast industrial wastelands. A church in a converted barge. Shallows in the canals bubbled with decomposing organic waste or chemical poisons -- we weren't sure which. Well-wishers on bicycles delivered us coffee, we were shown old boat yards, and we heard stories, anecdotes, impressions, hopes and fears about the future of the waterways. A fellow waved us down to give us a copy of a newspaper in which an article about us had appeared; drivers hooted horns; cyclists waved; and we won't forget the image of a red-headed kid standing on a car seat peering down at us through the window. | We encountered drunken youths encouraging us to “suck my cock” in multiple languages. We saw operating factories amidst vast industrial wastelands. A church in a converted barge. Shallows in the canals bubbled with decomposing organic waste or chemical poisons -- we weren't sure which. Well-wishers on bicycles delivered us coffee, we were shown old boat yards, and we heard stories, anecdotes, impressions, hopes and fears about the future of the waterways. A fellow waved us down to give us a copy of a newspaper in which an article about us had appeared; drivers hooted horns; cyclists waved; and we won't forget the image of a red-headed kid standing on a car seat peering down at us through the window. |
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| | <html><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/foam/8429363896/" title="MiMelo_CoCMap2 by _foam, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8513/8429363896_5648d528a7_c.jpg" width="779" height="800" alt="MiMelo_CoCMap2"></a></html> |
alkan