Carcassonne Winter

Jan 12

The past month seems to have been a solid round of excessive everything, but with a few of the liveaboards departing for Christmas a tadge quieter than usual.   First it was our Anniversary, back to our cellar restaurant to celebrate 34 years of marital bliss, we must start to spread our foodie wings - a good Thai restaurant is next up.

Then Angie's birthday, Peter was going to cook a birthday cake but keeping anything a surprise on a barge is impossible (and he couldn't afford the candles).).

Then it was on to Christmas - the weather was fantastic as you can see from these photos.

As usual, Christmas Dinner was on the 24th, a bit strange as it was only the second time in 30 plus years we haven't had at least one of the children with us. Angie displayed her usual skill, but we were flagging after the Christmas pud. Luckily one of Angie's stocking fillers was a a course of Pilates sessions.

Full of good intentions we decided that New Year's eve would be quietly spent with a Scrabble board and bottle of champagne, but we were invited out for a couple of drinks at the Irish pub with the residual bargees. Somehow, that turned into celebrating the French New year there (though Peter didn't enhance the Entente Cordiale when he declined to kiss a stroppy french male) and then celebrating the English New Year on Kotare - at 3am after solving the problems of the world we all fell into our respective beds.

The onset of 2012 (12 weeks to the cruising season) removed Peter's dilatory attitude to boat maint - so the engines have been serviced and he is busy working his way through the 'to do' list. He is saving a couple of the difficult jobs for Colin (Linda) to provide assistance/advice. The first boat movement since the end of October as two plaisanciers travelled westwards. Peter has also been in gardening mode, planting up all the bulbs for next Spring.  It has been so mild that all our Geranium tubs are still thriving, with a solitary marigold still flowering. Gardening deprivation is one of the minus points about a barge life, somehow Farmville on Facebook isn't quite the same.

Climbing onto the scales for the first time in 2012 meant Peter went a bit pale (as did the scales) but he will be able to diet in solitary splendour (maybe) as Angie is off to England for 10 days soon for a round of medical checks to see if her knees can be rejuvenated. As it is Epiphany - Angie is busy taking down the Christmas decorations and next up are the external LED lights.

Carcassonne + +

Dec 11

The first chance I have had to sit at the PC since mid November so this will be a long entry!  Firstly, favourite daughter visited us in Carcassonne at the end of November (to brief us on 'correct' behaviour at her Wedding). Nikki and Angie explored the Cité and we found a nice restaurant (in a cellar) recommended by the locals.

Cité - Nikki

Blue must be this year's colour

Then it was off to UK for the wedding.  Colin from 'Linda' kindly dogsat Kes for us (and they both survived).  It was a 12 hour drive but Peter wanted to bring back about half a tonne of boat essentials so Easyjet wasn't an option.  After the usual med checks and Xmas shopping in and around Oxford, we moved down to Bristol for pre-wedding get-togethers/parties.

The weather for the Wedding was good and all went well - the Bride and Bride's Mother looked beautiful and Peter didn't stumble either up the aisle or in his speech.

Proud father

Angie posing

A Happy Pair

A happy Mother

The trip back turned into a 14 hour Marathon with bad weather, Parisian traffic jams and a very full car (250 kg of batteries at least kept us firmly on the road).

Whilst in the Party mood,  we hosted the first Xmas drinks party for all the liveaboards soon after getting back. The weather was fantastic so we could have had a BBQ had we wanted. As it was, the vin chaud and mince pies went down well, especially with the French. After a noon start we were flagging by mid evening but with all the wine and food consumed, fortunately we were able to collapse before midnight.

Carcassonne is in full Christmas mode and the light decorations are fantastic.

Even the barges are doing their bit.

In between pub 'socials' Peter has to build up his strength, finances and inspiration for Angie's birthday, then our Anniversary.  Christmas may be spent passed out on the sofa catching up on sleep! Or perhaps sunbathing - it is bright sun today and 23 degC (in the sun) - quite impressive for mid December.

A Happy Xmas and Best Wishes for 2012 to everyone.

Winter - Settling In

Nov 11

A quick addition to the blog before the pre Christmas chaos commences.

We settled into Carcassonne quite quickly, having visited last century and again this Summer en passant. No good Supermarches within easy walking distance, but otherwise all the usual mod cons. A good mix of 'liveaboards' - two French barges, one Irish, two Kiwis (including us) and the rest English (if you include the Northerners).

Carcassonne Bassin

On the first pleasant day everyone assembled for a noontime 'Wintering' party and a good time was had by all - ending on Sirius (Nigel and Tricia) late that evening.  Peter managed to 'inhale' enough sausage rolls to kill any incipient hangover and is now looking forward to a Xmas BBQ - maybe.

Stephanie the Port Capitaine has all the usual vices
 so fits in well

Angie has found herself a French tutor - a bit more intense than last Winter's tutor - so much homework will be in order!  In the interim there was time for a little sight seeing.

Cite Ancienne

Which brings us up to today - Poppies to the fore we attended the Remembrance Day parade next to the Port.

Remembrance Parade

Our daughter visits next weekend and then it is her Wedding in Bristol at the end of the month - the next time we look up it will be Christmas.

Moissac to Carcassonne

Oct 11

With the running repairs done to the generator we moved off from Moissac, but only after taking advantage of the 'winter' gathering, fuelled by the best fish and chips for years (almost worth wintering there just for that).  A short run that day, then into Castelsarrasin for the weekend rugby (no disasters so far). The ports are filling up with wintering boats so moorings are getting harder.  Kes is enjoying roaming old haunts.

Vicious barge dog

The trip into Montech was a bit misty to start (visibility 50m) but that cleared later.

Montech mill pond (overflow moorings)

We keep on planning a visit to Montauban but defer it - maybe next year if we stay south.

Montauban turn off

At Lamothe (Dieupentale) we moored up with another Sagar ('Laura' with Keith and Terry) - a nice sunset.

Lamothe

We are climbing and the semi-automatic ecluses necessitate using the pontoons well before the lock so Peter can activate them (and run to the next ecluse when they are close - hard to believe) - Kes thinks it is wonderful!  Angie doesn't approve of the outflows at the ecluse entrances that throw her off course.

L'Hers is a nice overnight spot but no mod cons.

L'Hers aqueduct and ecluse

Another nice sunset

The double red kiss of death (and no mooring)

The domestic batteries we inherited in 2009 are dying rapidly so 'green bank' moorings mean no TV or computer and early to bed, so we were pleased to get into Toulouse for another rugby weekend (guess who is doing the mooring planning). Peter made a horlicks of turning from the Garonne into the Midi entrance - notice the mud.

The Emboucherie - eenie meanie minie......damnit take the middle entrance

Toulouse Gare Centrale from the canal

St Sauveur

Angie spent two days looking for a wedding outfit for daughters wedding (anyone with a spare €900 - Angie needs it). Peter watched rugby for a change - well it is much better than clothes shopping! Then off east again.

Toulouse Dry Dock (next year)

Toulouse Port Sud

Angie was getting her hand in with the oval Midi ecluses again - deeper than we remember.

Negra was a new stop for us - a nice little canal chapel.

Then through to Castelnaudary for the rugby final - result (just) - now to collect all my winnings from the non believers.  Moored next to 'Jane Louise' (Bob and Sue) who have a 'mini Sagar' - a nice layout. Once again we managed to join the Winter party/BBQ which started at 11am and finished ........

Then Winter did arrive - a howling gale for two days which led to a good 'chop' on the Grand Bassin.

We then sprinted towards Carcassonne before the forecast winds started again. The bowthruster packed up (probably picked up a branch) just another item for the winter maintenance. Angie exhibited her usual sang froid and skill getting us into our tight winter mooring against the wind and thus the end of the 2011 cruising season - 2000 km a little less than last year though it doesn't seem it.

Carcassonne Entrance

Return to Moissac

Oct 11

Returning over the same route can be boring, but at least you know the best mooring spots. After a couple of days we ended back at Le Mas with Ken and Rhonda on 'Somewhere'.  A barbecue on the waterfront and more rugby.  Ken was busy painting and polishing as 'Somewhere' is on the market, so Peter took all the roof vents off and did some remedial painting in preparation for painting the main roof.

L'Mas de Agenais

Another wash house

Kes enjoyed walks along the Garonne - a fairly impressive river, though glad we aren't trying to navigate it given the shingle shoals. Early nights for Peter as rising at 5am for the rugby is slowing him down.

La Garonne

Back to Buzet where we managed to get an overnight mooring - a bit self help but advised by Alex off Riccall.  The generator had sprung an exhaust leak (and the generator water pump bearing was weeping) so we needed mains electricity to keep everything functioning OK. Into Serignac where all the orchardists are harvesting fruit - fresh apples so Peter is in heaven.

Peter stripped most of the soundproofing off the generator and spent the rest of the day searching for the exhaust leak to no avail - cleaning the engine room is something to look forward to come the long winter days. Into Agen where we moored on the canal side with no facilities so early to bed.

Agen Bassin

We had decided to stop at Valence d'Agen for a few days to paint the cabin and wheelhouse roofs as the mooring has electricity/water and no overhanging trees.  All went to plan with Peter doing the waterblasting/ degreasing on Day 1, but then the Autumn weather struck so painting was deferred for three days.

Almost finished

Painting or sunbathing?

Off to Malause, a nice little rural mooring, heavily underused given it has elec and water at minor cost.  Peter disconnected all the batteries to do a voltage check and 8 hours later confirmed that one of the six had partially expired  (one of the new ones, but warranty claims are difficult from darkest Languedoc).  Perhaps one of the children might give us one for Xmas - ha!!

Malause

Ken of 'Somewhere' had recommended Iain (Noble Marine) at Moissac for running repairs so we moved our Generator in that direction.

Moissac swing bridge

Peter and Iain pottered around the engine room for a day getting dirty and eventually found the exhaust leak where a junction on the final water separator had burnt through (in a difficult dark high spot of course).  Angie fell in love with a local hairdresser who cut her hair with Gallic flair (pity they can only play rugby when there is a Z in the month). While waiting for the new exhaust/pump parts, Peter fitted a new gas hob which had been tucked away in the back cabin for a year (gas connection by Iain) - Angie is now operating on all four burners and has promised steak and chips for Dinner - to be continued ......