When passing anglers, you must reduce
speed, so as to avoid as far as possible
creating a backwash against the bank.
Stay alert and watch out for their
fishing lines.You will find that,
if you adopt this approach, good
humour will prevail along the river
bank!
It is often possible to go swimming
at all stages of your itinerary.
There are numerous lakes, rivers
and canals where swimming is permitted.
So bring along your bathing togs – you
will need them anyway for getting
that suntan on deck ! Ask for information
about swimming at your point of
embarkation.
All Locaboat bases have car parks
that are enclosed and/or covered.You
will be asked to pay a parking fee
for this facility at your point of
embarkation.
The transfer can be done by Taxi
or by having your car ferried for
holidays being taken on the Canal
du Midi. See prices in the Locaboat
Manual or in the infobases space
on the Web site.
You can stock up with fresh supplies
in practically any village along
the banks of the canal or river.
Consult your guide map. It will
tell you exactly where you will
find a butcher, a baker, a fishmonger
or a grocer. Some lock keepers
will occasionally sell eggs and
poultry, vegetables and wine at
very reasonable prices. On the
day of departure for your cruise,
take advantage of your car when
making bulky purchases. Locaboat
can also organize, on your behalf,
the initial provision of fresh
supplies.
Certainly you can! Exploring a region
in your Pénichette means
setting off on your boating holiday
and having complete freedom to
call a halt at any time. In addition
to the numerous harbours with amenities
that are dotted along the waterways,
you can moor your Pénichette
virtually anywhere – except
where there are "No Mooring" signs,
or if you are on a bend or in a
narrow passage, under a bridge,
in a lock or near a stretch of
reeds. But you are perfectly at
liberty to tarry where you will
in the very midst of nature, using
the two mooring poles and mallet
with which your Pénichette
is equipped, or even to drop anchor
on one of the many lakes in Germany.
Are harbor
Harbours with amenities can be found
just about everywhere along the
waterways. Some of them make no
charge but others, which may often
provide water and electricity,
will ask for payment of a mooring
fee in return for these facilities.
You
will often find that you are not
very far away from a beauty spot,
complete with tourist facilities
such as a hostel, a restaurant or
even a hotel, if that is what you
are looking for. Your guide map will
tell you all you need to know about
the interesting and unusual sights
of the area you intend visiting,
and your conversations with lock
keepers or locals will also serve
to point you in the right direction
for hostels and restaurants. The
great advantage of a boating holiday
on a Pénichette is that you
can view the countryside from a different
perspective, as the water carries
you along, and you can stop anywhere
you like to prepare the midday or
evening meal.
Strictly speaking, there is no "best
time of year" for an inland
waterway cruise on a Pénichette
Each season has its own particular
attractions, and the countryside
adjoining rivers and canals can always
be seen to best advantage.
The region and the time of year that
you have selected for your holiday
will naturally determine the kind
of weather you can expect. But,
whatever the weather, life on board
a Pénichette is always an
enriching experience. And, whatever
the weather, you should always
bear in mind that humidity is a
constant factor in life afloat.You
will be well advised to bring some
woollen garments with you - irrespective
of the region and the season you
have chosen for your cruise.
No matter how long or short a holiday
you plan, there is a Pénichette
cruise to meet your needs. Some
itineraries are designed for a
weekend, others for a short week
or longer. Depending on the itinerary
that you select, you can set off
on a cruise lasting one week or
ten to eleven days or two weeks,
while, for the more adventurous,
there are cruises lasting three
weeks!
With our fleet of 400 Pénichettes
and 28 points of departure in France,
Holland, Germany, Italy and Ireland,
Locaboat can offer you a wide range
of routes and regions from which
to choose - all just waiting to be
explored from a new perspective.
Those who enthuse about lush green
scenery and fishing will be in their
element in Ireland and Germany, those
who are keen on culture will revel
in our French, Dutch and Italian
itineraries, while those for whom
no holiday is a holiday without the
sun will be overjoyed at the abundant
choice of routes on offer in the
Canal du Midi. Have a browse through
our brochure or take a look at the
detailed itineraries on our Internet
website and you will soon get some
ideas about where you would like
to go.
A boating holiday on a Pénichette
is always an unforgettable experience,
whether shared with a partner, as
a family or with friends. Children
will quickly find their feet, happily
take their place at the helm and
retain unique and lasting memories
of their time on board. Good humour
will quickly be established between
friends, whose enjoyment of the varied
activities on board will fulfil all
expectations.
Cruising on a Pénichette doesn't
mean that you have to shut yourself
up in your cabin – far from
it ! As you cruise along the waterways,
you will be captivated by the passing
scenery, experiencing a sense of
space and freedom second to none
! Moored at the quayside, you will
experience the supreme contentment
of being comfortably ensconced in
your saloon, sitting down to a good
meal and looking out at the river
bank as on your own back garden...
Cruising on a Pénichette doesn't
mean that you have to shut yourself
up in your cabin – far from
it ! As you cruise along the waterways,
you will be captivated by the passing
scenery, experiencing a sense of
space and freedom second to none
! Moored at the quayside, you will
experience the supreme contentment
of being comfortably ensconced in
your saloon, sitting down to a good
meal and looking out at the river
bank as on your own back garden...
Owners
of dogs and other domestic pets are
welcome to bring them on
board our Pénichettes (2 maximum),
but it is important to also bring
with you any items, such as a blanket
or basket, that your pet will require
for its comfort during the cruise,
as these cannot be provided at the
base or on board. For safety reasons,
please ensure that pets are kept
under control, particularly when
the boat is passing through a lock,
and they should not be allowed to
sleep on the duvets!
You
are kindly requested to keep your
dog with you on a lead while
at the base prior to embarkation,
but once on board it may be given
its freedom. Please note that if
you wish to bring your pet on board
that you will be asked to pay a standard
fee of 20 € per animal at your
point of embarkation, irrespective
of the duration of your cruise.
Don't delay...Pénichettes
are much in demand and it is best
to book early. You should contact
our Central Booking Office or your
Travel Agent without delay, to make
enquiries, find out what if your
preference is available. Whatever
cruise and region you choose, we
will endeavour to satisfy your requirements
with a friendly and efficient service.
Yes, and passing through a lock will
be a highlight of your cruise!
You can always chat to the lock
keeper and you can sometimes buy
produce that will be a speciality
of the region or you can simply
take advantage of this pause on
your cruise to absorb the local
atmosphere and get to know your
fellow boating enthusiasts.
Yes, most of the time. There are
five types of lock in all: a manually
operated lock with keeper (the
most common type); an electrically
operated lock with keeper; and
an automated lock with keeper (a
type frequently found on major
rivers in particular). There are
also two other types of lock without
a keeper. A manually operated lock
without keeper will be found especially
on certain canals and rivers which
are little used. You and your crew
will have to negotiate this lock,
whose dimensions are small, but
you will be rewarded for your efforts
with one of your happiest holiday
memories! The automated lock without
keeper is often of medium size
and can sometimes be found on canals
with light commercial traffic.
The technician will give you explanatory
details of the control system for
this at your point of embarkation.
Locks are "open for business" every
day as a rule, but on certain public
holidays they may be shut. For full
details of relevant When are locks "open
for business "?
Locks are "open for business" every
day as a rule, but on certain public
holidays they may be shut. For full
details of relevant days and times,
all you have to do is consult the
guide map relating to your waterway
itinerary or visit our Internet website
under the heading "To Remember".days
and times, all you have to do is
consult the
guide map relating to your waterway
itinerary or visit our Internet website
under the heading "To Remember".
No, there is nothing to pay for passing
through a lock. In Ireland, a plastic
card on sale at the base will cover
you for all services at locks and
harbours. In Holland, certain lifting
bridges and locks are subject to
a modest toll.
No!
Pénichettes – whichever
model you choose for your cruise – are
all equipped with a number of safety
features. There is ease of movement
at all times on board, thanks to
the wide sidedecks, which are protected
by guardrails, and the sun decks,
which are extensive and secure. In
addition, life jackets are provided
for children.
In Ireland and
Germany, you will pass through some
of the finest fishing
reserves in the world. Here, in exceptional
natural surroundings, you will find
a wide variety of fish. You can pick
up your dinghy at the base and will
have no difficulty in selecting your
bait, your lines and suitable places
to fish.
As
for France, there is no shortage
there of rivers well stocked with
fish, such as the Somme, the Saône,
the Seille. N.B. In order to fish,
you will have to obtain a licence
and this can be bought on the spot.
With Locaboat, you will have the
opportunity to hire bicycles and
bring them on board with you. This
will add considerably to the enjoyment
of your cruise. Locaboat have a
fleet of over 900 bicycles to suit
all requirements, and we recommend
at least two bikes per boat. It
is advisable to reserve them in
advance direct from your point
of embarkation. Use our Internet
website for this. We have bicycles
suitable for children, and standard
adult bikes fitted with baby-carriers
and shopping baskets.
Yes of course. You are not obliged
to hire Locaboats ones.
There is always a place provided
on your Pénichette for parking
your bicycles on the deck.
Absolutely. The waterways are often
flanked by towpaths that are very
suitable for cycle rides. It's
an ideal way to explore and discover
the natural heritage of the surrounding
area - not to mention the pleasure
of shopping expeditions to towns
and villages that are never far
from the waterways!
Cruising on a Pénichette doesn't
mean that you have to limit your
horizon to the canal or river bank
! Frequently, you will only have
to travel a few hundred yards on
foot or by bicycle, or perhaps take
a taxi, to discover a well-known
beauty spot, a mediaeval village,
an old Roman church or a fine cellar
that it would be a shame to miss.Your
guide map will tell you all you need
to know about the interesting and
unusual features of the area that
you intend visiting.
A Pénichette cruise
frequently provides opportunities to
meet other
people and make new acquaintances.
When negotiating a lock, for instance,
you will usually find yourself in
the company of other boating enthusiasts.
But you will also be drawn into contact
with people from the area that you
are passing through.
Often, a word or two of conversation
and a smile are all it takes to establish
an excellent rapport with good-humoured
and friendly locals. Make the first
move, even if you are cruising abroad
and don't speak the language of the
country very well.
You
certainly have a wide choice! Locaboat
can offer you 150 itineraries – it's
up to you to decide on the one best
suited to your requirements and preferences
as regards region, length of holiday,
day of departure, type of cruise.
And whether to opt for a one way
or a return trip.
Whatever cruise you finally choose,
you will undoubtedly have the pleasure
of viewing nature from a new angle
and may expect to make a few surprising
discoveries.
During your cruise, you are free
to moor your Pénichette wherever
you like, provided of course that
mooring is permitted in the place
that you have chosen. However, you
will be expected to honour the terms
of your hiring agreement and must
therefore return your Pénichette
to the place, and at the time, originally
stipulated.
Our Staff are there to help you.
Any special points about your cruise,
and exact details of how to go through
locks will be explained in full.
If you haven't previously got a "carte
guide" waterways guide, you
can buy one . You'll be given the
on-board information file which is
both instruction manual and local
reference folder.
With a Pénichette, no matter
what model you select, everything
has been done to ensure your comfort
on board. Special features include
a spacious saloon, comfortable bunks,
hot water and the pleasure of a good
shower – all the more enjoyable,
as the water can be topped up easily
at a nearby village or lock. On board
your boat, space is necessarily limited,
but the saloon is always given priority,
for this will virtually be your "living
room" on a cruising holiday.
The cabins are modest in size but
have excellent storage capacity.
In fact, this is one of Pénichette's
trump cards. In addition to the normal
sanitary facilities, you will usually
find a washbasin in each cabin. Most
of the beds on board are generously
proportioned. And, what's more, all
Pénichettes come equipped
with full bedding, including sheets,
pillows and duvets. When you take
a cruise on a Pénichette ,
you will feel at home right away!
All Pénichettes are fitted
with heating systems. Some work on
gas for warm-air heating and others
on diesel oil for central heating.
You will find on board all the appropriate
crockery and culinary equipment that
you will require for the preparation
of anything from an intimate dinner
to meals on deck, in the harbour
or in the countryside. Standard facilities
include worktop, cooker, fridge and
sink, as well as pots and pans and
a sufficient quantity of crockery
to cater for the maximum number of
passengers accommodated on board.
Similarly, the bedding supplied with
each boat, including sheets, pillows
and duvets, is appropriate to the
number of passengers carried.
