We spent the morning today cruising the Main-Danube Canal. The Canal runs from Bamberg to Kelheim, Germany , contains 16 locks, and is 106 miles long. The Canal has the highest locks in Europe, 122 bridges that cross it, 4 aqua ducts crossing roads, and is only 4 meters deep. Its original purpose was to cross the European watershed which is 406 meters above sea level. Now 43% of the ships on the Canal are passenger ships. The Canal was completed in 1992.
The lock shown below is 81 feet high with the locks being controlled from control stations. The water level changes at 5.3 feet per minute taking 15-18 minutes to go up or down. The gate is 30 feet high and weighs 75 tons. Only two 50-horsepower motors raise the gate. Since the gate for this lock raises up instead of opening like a gate, everyone was headed downstairs to avoid getting wet as we passed through.
The Canal is closed twice a year for maintenance to be cleaned and serviced.
The last photo shows the wheel house completely collapsed to go under the low clearance ahead.
The lock shown below is 81 feet high with the locks being controlled from control stations. The water level changes at 5.3 feet per minute taking 15-18 minutes to go up or down. The gate is 30 feet high and weighs 75 tons. Only two 50-horsepower motors raise the gate. Since the gate for this lock raises up instead of opening like a gate, everyone was headed downstairs to avoid getting wet as we passed through.
The Canal is closed twice a year for maintenance to be cleaned and serviced.
The last photo shows the wheel house completely collapsed to go under the low clearance ahead.
We reached Nurnberg after lunch and and enjoyed a city tour partly by coach and partly walking. Nurnberg's Old Town suffered extensive damage during WWII, however, much of it has been restored. The trials for Nazi war criminals was held here. The city is know for its gingerbread, or Lebkuchen so we were sure to buy some at the market square.
One must remain flexible on a river cruise! The ship dropped us off in Roth to begin our city tour of Nurnberg while it proceeded through the locks. Unfortunately, one of the pumps on one of the locks was broken which took longer for the lock to fill and empty. While we were all waiting at the bus stop in Nurnberg at 6 PM, Marc and two other staff members arrived and told us the ship had not arrived and that he'd arranged for us to have a little snack. So we all went to a little Biergarten just around the corner for sausage and brochen. Marc said the positive side was that we would be able to take pictures of our ship as it approached!
We got to the dock before the ship, and some of the men bummed a beer off the bus driver. No, the driver does not drink while he's on the job! But Germans, especially in Bavaria, are always prepared!
I love the last picture! It shows the dining room staff waving to us as the ship pulled up to the dock. They'd been waiting on us for dinner for over an hour!
We got to the dock before the ship, and some of the men bummed a beer off the bus driver. No, the driver does not drink while he's on the job! But Germans, especially in Bavaria, are always prepared!
I love the last picture! It shows the dining room staff waving to us as the ship pulled up to the dock. They'd been waiting on us for dinner for over an hour!
RSS Feed
