Spanish Holiday

Jul 12

After mooring in Carcassonne, the next day we left the kids to babysit Kes and headed towards Spain.

Kes was stressed at our departure.

We headed down through the Pyrenees stopping at a little Spa village for morning tea (and to let Peter recover from Angie's driving).

Then up to Chateau Peyrepertuse, a Cathar castle last visited in the 90's (Peter had forgotten the climb up or might have bailed out).

A late lunch (assorted chicken and duck brochettes) in Millas, then it was on into Spain.  Peter had found a converted 13C Rectory in the hills outside Girona. Small (5 bedrooms), very beautiful, friendly helpful staff with whom we conversed in a mixture of French, English and our four words of Spanish. A swim and a cold beer or three, then a good Catalan meal..

We spent the next day in Barcelona - standard sightseeing - though Angie couldn't find anything to buy?

Barcelona Cathedral

Palau de Musica (Opera House)

Gaudi cathedral - under wraps

Getting out of Barcelona was a bit fraught, but the GPS proved its worth (only delivered us into an rundown housing estate once - when we missed a turn). Back to the Hotel for beer and an excellent Dinner and then the next day more sightseeing in Girona. But first into a small Industrial Estate to find Angie a little cast iron teapot (as used in the Hotel) - it must be love!

Girona waterfront

Girona cathedral - very tall and massive

Then it was a gentle drive back to Carcassonne where Jackie fed us a large Chinese meal, which was lovely but judging by our waistlines unneeded.  Kes didn't look too stressed.

A spoilt dog!

The next day we used the hire car to stock up with food and drink - then delivered Chris and Jackie to the Airport - before collapsing for a few hours. Next up Bastille Day.

Family Holiday

Jun 12

Chris and Jackie flew into Carcassonne and trained to Narbonne.  We found a central mooring but it was a tadge dusty/noisy as the centre is being renovated (Angie negotiated a 50% discount to Peter's surprise).

A lot of routine sightseeing followed and some shopping by the junior crew as all the Shop Sales were on.

Narbonne centre

Narbonne Cathedral

Bishops Palace

'Hullo sailor'

On the Monday we had planned a trip back to the coast but it was gusting up to 80 km/hr so we squatted for a further day.  The run North the next day was also windy, La Capitaine did a great job of the central ecluse (despite the weir) but then, much to her chagrin, managed to to hit both sides of a later lock entrance - the photo was impounded on the spot.

Narbonne central ecluse

Once the Via Domitia (and still built on)

We usually replenish any fenders damaged during the cruising season from those accidentally discarded by hire boats, but times had been lean in 2012 (the thought of buying some made Peter feel faint). However, the additional crew changed our luck and we picked up three good ones in a few days (now back in surplus).

We pottered off north to the River Aude junction which has an interesting weir and a silted up entrance to the Canal de Jonction.

River  l'Aude

Kes decided to elicit some attention by stepping on some broken glass, so some nursing and a sacrifice of Angie's oldest socks.

Gailhousty ecluse is quite impressive with large buildings and is now deep, as the second ecluse is used as a dry dock.

Tinpan (an old acquaintance) being made 'new' again

Our first stop on the Midi was Le Somail - busy as always, so after more ice creams (primary sustenance for the crew) we pushed on

Peter in Antipodean mode - it's hot, damned hot!

At Le Somail we met up with Jeremy Clarkson who had a Le Boat and we crossed paths/moorings several times over the next few days - his boat handling was OK, mooring selection poor and next time he berates cyclists - Chris has blackmailing photos!

It is stressful - but someone has to do it!

Angie was a bit distressed when a seagull took a young duckling and battered it to death on the rocks for dinner. We were encountering a lot of very late ducklings - not sure if they are 2nd attempt or confused ducks.

Kes and close friend (aka Jackie)

It was quite hot so we got both basking turtles and patches of sunflowers.

Given the number of Hire boats we were lucky with both ecluses and moorings - though we tried to do short runs mooring up in time for lunch each day. At Paraza we had an impromptu BBQ (no that isn't the towpath).

Paraza

At Trebes the crew took us out to Dinner in a converted Moulin at the ecluse.

'Garcon - mon vin s'il vous plait!'

The food at last - I was starving!

Then Carcassonne - where Chris and Jackie nursed Kes while we went for a short break in Spain (our first proper holiday for 3 years).

to Port la Nouvelle

Jun 12

We were heading east to meet up with son and daughter in law in Narbonne so we were refreshing our knowledge of stops last seen in Jul 11.

At Trebes we met a French couple on 'Lizard' who followed us on and off (with donkey) to the Canal Nouvelle/Jonction.

Alternative motive power

Overflow near La Redorte

Argens de Minervois

Through Argens de Minervois where we have yet to stop  - it is always swamped with boats. Then to Puicheric a nice little green bank mooring. The town has a medieval church and Chateau remains - the latter destroyed by the Black Prince of course.

Puicheric church

Then it was into the Canal Jonction/de la Robine aka Embrancement to Narbonne - all new territory.

Near Port la Robine

 At Salleles we met up with Merlot (Paul and Kathy) who were in good form. Then we slipped straight through Narbonne, with the Canal shallowing fast, to Mandaric Ecluse for the night. An early start as we were woken by a plane practising his aerobatic turns overhead.

Alarm clock

Old sailing barge - Mandaric

Then it was down through the rice paddies and salt pans to the coast at Port La Nouvelle, where we walked for a few km in the burning sun so Angie could see the beach. Really it was an excuse to find a local café serving cold beer (grand s'il vous plait).

Port La Nouvelle

Plage - Port La Nouvelle

Then back to Narbonne, watched en route by the Spanish cattle herds on the banks.