Botswana 'survival' September 2002
Elzas (part 3: The end....)

Wednesday we have to pass 15 locks. It is cold weather but a clear sky. We are with 2 other boats and all goes well , until we enter the 14th lock..... 

It is the second last lock that day. Rose gives the rope to the lockkeeper, gets it back and steps down on the deck. The next second she lies down, totally dazed! We still don't know what happened. Her ankle hurts and the lockkeeper asks if he should warn a doctor. After a few moments we agree.

The doctor will meet us near the next lock. It is about 5 kilometer to that lock. When we get there we see a large van which looks like an ambulance. It has the sign 'Sapeur Pompier' on it what means 'fire brigade'. So we think it is not for us (we expected an older man in a renault 5 and some bandages) Well, it is for us! In France the fire brigide is also responsible for the first aid. So in no time four strong fireman jump onto the boat and within minutes we are sitting in an ambulance (including siren and lights) and are going to the hospital of Sarrebourg. 
They don't speak english or german, we don't speak french. But they are very helpful and trying to cross the language barrier. In the hospital we have to go to the X-ray . The heelbone appears to be broken. After that we go to the plaster room . Rose receives her treatment and they arrange a taxi for us. At 18:30 we are back with painkillers, crutches and 15 thrombosis hypodermics.
Next day we go back to Lutzelbourg. It is the last day of our holiday, so the accident was well planned! Henk is steering most of the time. Only when we enter a lock or the boat lift Rose takes over  so Henk can handle the ropes. Luckily we practised both in steering the boat so that's no problem at all.
The following day we drive back to the Netherlands. The five week mini-sabbatical is over. We are somewhat jealous at Maurice and Chris who are still on holiday.........