September 8, 2022 Today’s post will be what might be called a day on the Canal du Midi.

We stayed in a marina last night with shore power, a short distance downstream was the first lock. Being so close to the town it draws a crowd to watch the boats go through the locks. The lockkeeper is in the foreground.

It was a triple lock, here we as passing from the first lock into the second lock.

Watching to make sure there is clearance to the side.

The lockkeeper had boats going in opposite directions in the center lock at the same time.

A small boat in our lock makes it much easier for us.

The lockkeeper did a masterful job of move boats through locks in two directions at once, plus she was very personable speaking good English.

Relaxing on the canal while checking the route.

It was day we received news of the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II.

Hippie boat

Big Boat a comin’.

It’s wasn’t just big, it was very, very big.

We pulled over to the side as far as we could to give it room to pass. We were told by a lockkeeper it was 38 meters long. That is 125 feet for the 4.23 percent of the global population that still uses feet as a form of measurement.

Lunch time means relaxation and comradery.

After lunch, what else but more locks.

We pass very close to the sides of the locks as we exit them.

A pink elephant on the canal?

A lockkeeper with an artistic sense of humor.

Something bring a smile to all manner of canal travelers.

Everywhere you look there is something.

Smile?

Lockkeeper self portrait?

As the song so aptly puts it – a peaceful easy feelin’ – is what I get when I see her.

We never know what might be around the next bend

Every town seems to have a winery.

We are now starting be in the sections of the canal that have the most traffic.

There also seems to be more large boats to be seen.

Close up of a lock gate.

Interesting structure up ahead.

Built in the late 1600’s it is a water overflow to carry excess water out of the canal and into the nearby Aude River. Atop the arches is the towpath where whatever was pulling the barges on the canal could pass atop the overflow structure.

Absolute serenity.

The dead and dying trees behind the recently planted trees that be taking their place.

Another large boat.

Guess what is for dinner tonight.

A great way to end the day. Of course it is France, so the better restaurants don’t open until 7:00 pm, but the wait is worth it.

It was as good as it looks, with the usual super thin crust that makes the pizzas over here so much better than the thick crusts so common in the states.

The moon rises over the church steeple as I took this photo over the bow of the boat

September 7, 2022 A gallery of some of the boats we saw on the canal today. Click on image to enlarge.

September 7, 2022 A short travel day on the canal to Trèbes. The bad part was I had Moules et Frites for dinner and didn’t take a photo, not good as that was one of the foods I had really been waiting for.

This is why we are on the canal again, 10 years after our first trip on it.

Very, very low bridges today

When the word “duck” rings out it does not mean to look for a bird on the water. With the older bridges arch shaped, when you are at the sides it can be very low that you must go.

Through another one with head still on neck.

We sure have pretty deckhands onboard our boat.

We stopped along the canal, drove stakes into the bank and tied up, then put up the canopy and ate lunch. It is Life in the slow lane.

A dead plane tree waiting to be cut down.

They are working had to cut and burn the dead and dying trees, then plant new trees to return the canal to tree lined glory.

A well maintained bike trail followed canal today and it was well used.

A drive-up laundromat in the parking lot of supermarket we walked to. It was 1.4 kilometers each way and the two grocery bags I carried back with wine, cheese and fruits in them seemed to get heavier with each step, though once a wine bottle was opened, the pain quickly went away.