We pay the VNF €580 (or about $825 Canadian) for a one-year ‘vignette’ that allows Aleau to travel throughout France.
The VNF, Voies Navigables de France, is responsible for most of the more than 8,000 kilometres of inland waterways in France. That’s close to 100 canals – and 1,800 locks. All of which must be maintained. Our vignette helps pay for that work. Sometimes, very expensive work.
This the first lock on the Canal de Bourgogne. It’s in St. Jean-de-Losne and we have passed through it many times. This shot was taken last summer.
The VNF decided some work was needed. This is what it looked like late yesterday afternoon. No sign we’d be able to pass through any time soon.
In an earlier chapter, I mentioned that lunch hour is sacrosanct in France. From noon to 2pm everything stops. Even parking meters. But when work resumes, it really resumes. The ‘Protestant Work Ethic’ doesn’t come close to the French work ethic.
I don’t know how they did it, but this is how the St. Jean-de-Losne lock looked early this afternoon – less than 24 hours after the shots above.
To say I was impressed would be an understatement. As for the euros we give the VNF every year – it is money well spent.