Episode 02: Learning to pilot a Dutch Barge on a narrow canal
Captain Maria
Much is required to legally operate a large Dutch PENICHE on the canals of France. We circumnavigated the earth with less than is required to navigate these 4 foot deep ditches.
We had already taken the Royal Yacht Assn Radio license, Step 1. Now we found a great retired British couple in Castelnaudary near Toulouse to give us required step one barge lessons on the ancient and beautiful Canal du Midi in the south.
Its a tight SQUEEZE
Our Dulcinea is LONGER than THIS !
Here is the license from the touluse British School pre-Brexit. This is now void !!~
And here is the LICENSE we received much later after re-ttaking the test in anti-Brexit French !
L'Extension Grande Plaisance (EGP)
This will supercede the British license