New experiences

As we moved up the Trollhätte canal, the landscape changed and became quite scenic. Lots of trees on the hills along the canal and red-painted summer cabins everywhere.

Then we arrived at the Trollhätte lock set. This is a set of four locks, the first three directly interconnected (i.e. you move from one lock chamber straight into the next one) and the fourth one just 100 m further. Each step lifts you 8m, so at the end you are 32m higher! Quite something, our first stepped lock. Each chamber is 90 by 14 m, so that relatively big cargo ships can also go up the river.
Here is one entering the first step:

This is from Onbekommerd in the second step, looking back:

All this comes at a cost, the lock fees are just over €100!
After the locks you get to the town of Trollhätte. We decided to stay here for a few nights as there are some interesting things to see. One is the Los waterfall, which is now diverted to a hydro electric power station but is rumoured to be 'switched' to the old course on Sunday at 3pm. That's tomorrow. But it could also be only on Saturdays. No-one knows for sure, we'll have to find out tomorrow. In addition to that, we - as users of the lock - are a main attraction: lots of people come and watch the proceedings. There is more, we'll report tomorrow.
Another first occurred when we tied up today: the Swedes use a system where you tie the front of the boat to the jetty and the back to a floating mooring (the Dutch word is 'hekboei'). We knew about this and prepared for it by acquiring a special hook last year in a marina in Germany.
Here is the result:

It is very easy and is the most used system in Sweden so we'll use it often in the weeks to come.

Location:Trollhätte