6th - 9th August 2018. On along the river Sambre through Namur and industrial Charleroi further into Belgium. Down, then up, the inclined Plane at Ronquieres, then down the Strépy-Thieu lift.

On leaving Namur, we are immediately in an industrial area, but not for too long. However, the river Sambre is lined with sloping concrete banks for kilometre after kilometre.

This is one of the very few villages to be seen along this stretch.

Charleroi is built in the middle of all the industry.

This goes on for a long way.

We are seeing quite a lot of commercial traffic. When empty, like this barge, they always look more imposing.

The tall tower ahead marks the Ronquieres inclined plane. We have yet to discover why there is such a tall tower here.

We were straight in to the caisson to descend this amazing structure. There are two of these floating boxes, but only one is in use at the moment.

To go back up the plane, The Puzzler was allowed to share with Amigo, a large barge from Holland. It is a good thing that we are narrow, to fit into that space!

It seems strange to be sitting there, doing nothing, while we are moved up the hillside.

Half way up. We are ready for a quick getaway at the top!

There is a visitor centre within the building, with an excellent video presentation about the lives of the bargees. However, our only access to it from our mooring above the lift, was through the workings on the other half of the lift, as directed by a workman.

Who is worried about health and safety? We declined going up to the 9th floor for the view though!

Returning back to the junction, we continued on the Canal du Centre to reach the Strépy-Thieu lift.

Here we are in the lift, with our entry door visible up above us.

At the bottom, having descended 73 metres!

The whole tower of the lift looks very impressive from here, as we sail away.

As we exit the Strépy lift, to our left can be seen one of the Historic boat lifts. The Historic Canal du Centre, with four boat lifts, is now a World Heritage site, with the two canals running almost parallel to each other.