Downhill to Bordeaux

 It is now all downhill to Bordeaux.

The canal du midi is picturesque with plane trees along both sides. Some of the tress have a virus & are being cut down.

There were vineyards in the fields until Homps.---10 days after leaving Agde.  The small villages along the way all had wine sales of the local wines. Most of them sold wine on tap. We could take along a container to get filled for a minimal price. Now in the fields there are young sunflower plants, cereal crops & sweet potatoes, growing.

We have had a variety of weather. Hot sunny days & cool days. Now we are having a thunderstorm & rain.

All the locks, which are an oval shape, have been uphill but oday we reached the summit-----------the parting of the waters between the 2 seas. The Mediterranean & the Atlantic. Now it will be downhill locks which are much easier.

In 1663 Pierre paul Riquet, a salt tax collector, travelled to Versailles & was able to convince the finance minister & Louis X1V of the value of his project to build a canal joining the 2 seas.

The digging began in 1666. The canal was filled with water in 1681 & has operated without interruption since then. Most of the original constructions are still present. There are many little humpback bridges, built on a shoe string at a time when Riquet had no more money.

Today we visited an obelisk erected by Riquet's descendants in the mid 19th century which commemorates his incredible achievment. He died 6 months before the canal was opened.

A plane tree ringbarked, ready to be removed.

Cezannes, parked for the night beside a humbacked bridge.

Grapes growing beside the canal.

looking over the bow, where we are parked for tonight.

The parting of the waters.

The Obelisk dedicated to Mon. Riquet.

In Castelnaudary

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castelnaudary

Carcassonne

We had a big day yesterday& have arrived at Carcasonne, where it is very warm, early this morning, to do some shopping. 
Cezanne is parked under some plane trees which helps to keep us a little cooler. 
A few days ago we had a little experience with the 'bumper boats'... when a hire boat came into a lock behind us & forgot that it had to stop!!!!!!!!! Barry had his rope around the bollard, then the cleet on the boat & I had temporarily tied the stern rope on. Cezanne was hit with such force that Barry says his arms were almost pulled out of their sockets. Our bicycles were tied at the stern but moved forwards & the stainles steel railing at the stern has a slight bend in it!
On the canal du midi, until we get to Toulouse, the locks are all an oval shape & are more difficult to tie up in, than straight sided locks. They were built like this during the 17th C, for extra strength & take 3 or 4 boats.

We are looking forward to the canal after Toulouse, which everyone tells us is much nicer. Not many private boat owners like this section.

Beziers and 7 lock staircase at Fonserannes

28/5/12

We travelled through Beziers then to the staircase of 7 locks which was no problem, from there it was about 50 km until the next lock. We have being tying up bankside with no charges Stopped for water which we had to pay €4. The weather has been good , a little wind , with temps. 28-30 cooling at night to about 18 There are a lot of hire boats on this part of the canal , when one sees the number stil lin the bases one realises what it will be like in the high season. We are told after Toulouse we will run out of them-  (the hire boats around here are commonly known as "Bumperboats" as they have a reputation for lack of control...)

 

7 lock staircase at Fonserannes near Beziers.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fonserannes_Lock 
or U-tube video of Fonserannes Lock staircase
link here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHFKfKLseUw&feature=related

Short tunnel at Malpas,Beziers

aquaduct taking the canal over the Orb at Beziers

old disused incline plane that used to carry boats up this slope

same old incline plane

 

Arrived back to the boat for 2012 season.

 

After some cleaning and polishing work to the hull of cezanne on thursday, she is now back in the water.

Grau d Agde is a very nice place but le jarden, where our boat was is very dusty & sandy, so with the wind we were always having problems with it. 

We are now back in Agde and parked along the banks of the midi. canal d midi

There is quite a cool wind today, but usually by midday the sun has been shining & we are in shorts & T shirt. 

 Agde on world map

Almost on the Med!

1st Oct 2011.

Today we travelled by TGV from Agde to CDG airport, Paris, & depart for NZ tomorrow.

Agde - Lindsay's visit 250

Agde - Lindsay's visit 274

Agde - Lindsay's visit 282

Agde - Lindsay's visit 283

On the Canal Du Midi

The Canal du Midi, approaching the round lock at Agde; note the tow path along the Canal near the Mediterranean

locks on the Midi

At present we are parked under plane trees which line the midi.

They were planted when the canal was built, are big & old & provide shade which is very welcome.

We have cycled to the beach again today. 1 hr each way, so now we are having a relaxing time before a visit from Lindsay.

We get back to Agde, tomorrow.

The weather has an Autumn feel now.

Lindsay is coming to stay for 3 days, so will do a bit of sightseeing in the area.

The boat comes out of the water Monday, but we can still sleep on it etc, so it will be a bit like camping.