Waterloo Lego

 After two weeks of cruising South, we have reached our rally rendezvous at Theiu, Belgium.

We leave the land of windmills

Because of a collapsed road bridge in Belgium, our track has taken us westwards through Zeeland,  so for a while we joined the lower reaches of the Rhine river (or Rijn in Zeeland) almost 1000 Kms from the upper navigable limit in Basle where we took Antiope back in 2017. Over the years we have now completed the entire navigable length of this great river

We join the wide Rhine (Rijn) river on our way South.

Almost 1000 Kms from Basle, and 35 kms to the sea.

We share the Hansweert lock with a regatta fleet.

We could have continued our voyage down the Rhine and out to sea and into Belgium at Zeebrugge, but chose to take the short cut cut across Zuid Beverland to the Schelde at Hansweert. With the benefit of the incoming tide, we sweep up inland as far as Dendermonde and lock into the Belgian waterways. 

 

On the tidal Schelde, we pass the old town of Antwerp

We enter Belgian waters at Dendermonde lock. 

Taking a day out from passage making and ahead of schedule, we took the train to visit the Waterloo battle ground. We had passed close by on our way north three years earlier but then had no time to spare. 

The cast iron Lion atop the Waterloo memorial mound

roars defiantly at France.

Our visit coincided with the 210th year anniversary of the battle. There representing the English side were members of the Lancashire regiment that origanally fought alongside Wellington, and were carrying their regimental colours.

 Lancashire regimental colour bearers.  

It is 227 steps to the top, 

We took advantage of an exellent guided tour of the museum with an authentic looking French infantry soldier, with Napoleon's viewpoint of the battle

Our guide looking the part, 

behind him the battlefield.

Wheatfields now cover the battle site  

It was sobering to walk through the gently rolling acres of ripening wheatfields where an estimated 50,000 were killed or injured as a result of a battle that lasted less than 12 hours.

The Hougoumont farm played a critical role in the battle, and is preserved as part of the Museum.

This Chestnut tree, still scarred with shot, survived the battle 

Somewhat bizarre, but within the Museum was also a vast temporary 'Lego' exibition. It was included in our entry ticket.

Lego portraits of Napoleon and Wellington.

Among the many display cabinets was this Lego battle scene  

Life size French soldier entirely in Lego  

We continued our passage Southwards along the Dender and Blaton-Ath canals to our redezvous with the Dutch Barge Association rally at Thieu. 

A tranquil stretch Dender and Blaton-Ath waterway 

It has been a dozen years since we last cruised this delightful waterway

Annie, on bow line duty! 

 

Just one of the four historic lifts at Thieu.

We take Antiope up this lift ! Watch this space.

Cheers Charles and Annie