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Canal du Midi 27 May 2016


1058 : 1158
<p>[Posted before the trip:] This...

[Posted before the trip:] This is a place-holder for the maps of the section of the Canal du Midi we hope to explore on our narrowboat. This is the Western section of the “Long Pond”. This week on the water started out as the primary goal of this adventure, but as our itinerary developed, it bacame one of the major focii. We know what wonders to expect in Barcelona (although it looks like it will be raining while we're there) ...but we haven't the slightest notion what the canal time will be like. We hope: wonderful.

1201 : 1071

Up early, and feeling some pressure, we retrieved our car, bought apples in the barely open market, and headed east through Agde, around Beziers, past the Foncérranes Staircase (more on that later) and then across vineyards into the Aude departement and to the center of Narbonne. No problem buying gas, and so we were early, and had time to go looking for a little breakfast.


1059 : 1155
. The Grand Bief Long Pond) is 54 kilometers between the locks at Argens and the six-lock staircase at Foncérannes.</p>

This is the Eastern section. The Grand Bief Long Pond) is 54 kilometers between the locks at Argens and the six-lock staircase at Foncérannes.

1202 : 1066

1203 : 1064

Our outfitter, Emily, had agreed to pick us up and take us to our boat at Le Somail. “I'll find you,” she said ...and, with a little help, she did. A delightful young Mum from Warwickshire, where her Da builds the narrow boats, she and her husband Tony took over the French operation, and are raising two bilingual children “with Southern French accents and Northern English ones.” She gave us a short tour of the boat, and a short shakedown cruise. It's a rudder boat, not a wheel, and so it steers “counter” – you push right to go left. It makes sense once you're doing it. I got a grip on the steering right away, negotiated a couple of bridges, a three point turn, and then back to a landing. Rochelle had to jump off the boat with the rope to moor, and found that challenging the first time, but she'll get it.

We are on strictly managed electricity, and connecting to the 'Net is very slow and intermittent, too ...so my transmissions will be abbreviated, at least for now. We expect to shop a little in Le Somail, and then cruise a bit east later in the afternoon if it's not too windy.

1204 : 1062

We lunched in Le Somail, at a lovely restaurant called l'O à la bouche-- we're in Languedoc, and some of the langue is Occitan.

1205 : 1060
<p>Salade Vert, Toast, grilled veggies and egg, roasted veggies with beef, deconstructed Tarte Tatin</p>

Salade Vert, Toast, grilled veggies and egg, roasted veggies with beef, deconstructed Tarte Tatin

1206 : 1040
<p>"By popular request (Hello, Sienna!)" : inside the boat</p>

"By popular request (Hello, Sienna!)" : inside the boat

1207 : 1038
.php?dt=160529#plan">(Plan of the boat is here.)</a></p>

(Plan of the boat is here.)

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