to Buzet

A pleasant start to the cruising season - shorts and sandals donned - farewell to the other winterer's and off to Castelnaudary where we arrived in time to see the last Plane tree in the bassin felled - a sign of worse to come.  I doubt the replacements, that will be planted in November, will be fully grown in my children's lifetime.

Castelnaudary

The last Plane tree

A bleak basin

 A quick reversal of plans, given that Castelnaudary was windy even with the trees - so the 2012/13 Winter will be in Carcassonne again - sorry Odile.

Peter had his 66th birthday with Kes commiserating.  Time for a unisex hairdresser and a dye job.

We pottered off to Le Segala, but the stone quai had collapsed overwinter so we pushed on - the water levels seemed a bit low at the top of the Midi but we scraped over the watershed OK.

Parting of the Waters

Feeder channel

 Next it was Villesquelande where Angie enjoyed the last of the good weather for a fortnight.

Then it was a quiet traipse past old haunts

Villepinte sunset

At Gardouch we met up with Settima, a Moody 35 yacht, who was bravely trying to get to Bordeaux with a tirant d'eau of 1.4m (as is the Midi in theory) - so we found ourselves acting as a mobile quai until Toulouse as they couldn't moor to the sides - at least it provided an excuse for some ales en route.

Montgiscard

We were going to get our bottom panted in May at VNF Toulouse, but have deferred it to a DIY at Agde next year, Angie needs the exercise and is the right height to do the keelplate.

VNF dock Toulouse

The weather had altered for the worse so the fleeces and waterproofs were unpacked - at one stage we were hit by a serious hailstorm - massive hailstones and Peter feared for his new solar panels.

Serignac provided the usual free electricity and water so we stayed two days while the weather abated - very pretty in the midst of the orchards but Kes wasn't amused the first day by the bird (aka dog) scaring guns .

Then into Buzet where we are hoping to drop down onto the River Baise. Whilst waiting for the wind and rain to drop, Peter baked gingerbread and Angie found an old Mill building she thought would do up well (over Peter's dead body)!

Carcassonne Spring

Mar 12

And typical Spring weather it is, with a few days of sun - then showers.  Angie came back from England with a bad cold which meant Kes had to continue with Peter's limited dog walking stamina - but that doubled when the fair weather dog walkers from 'Linda' joined in. The canal and town edged into tourist mode on 1 March and we had our first early season plaisanciers through. First a job lot of paint leftovers:

Then the ugliest boat for a while (though very quiet given its electric propulsion)

In a really warm spell we decided on an 'end of Winter' BBQ - which as usual started early and finished late.

Peter was feeling virtuous after changing the antifreeze in the main engine in January but, when he went to sort out a minor leak in one of the header tank feeds, found a nut had dropped off into the tank - so out it all came again - then on re-assembling/refilling a washer dropped in - all out again - and not a swear word heard.  It is not possible to drain anything on the engine without some liquid going into the bilge, so he is now an expert in cleaning that as well! His final piecé de resistance was fitting additional solar panels, where he found the 12V panels were running at 20V so a quick unplanned change from series to parallel wiring. They are doing a great job of charging the batteries so fingers crossed they keep it up for the season.

Back to more cultural activities - the town is waking from hibernation with the pavement cafes springing to life., beggars on the corners and lost looking tourists asking for boat rides. A local town guide offered a trip to the bargees around the 'nouvelle ville' (as opposed to the ancienne Cité) in preparation for his real tourist work - some interesting spots - especially tucked away in courtyards.  In general, the French don't maintain or present their old buildings to a UK standard though.

Lots of old remnants built in

Still keeping good time

Derelict underground chapel - lots of potential but needs updating!

The English speaking contingent plus Stephanie

Another possible winter bolthole for Angie?

After seeing this model, Peter suggested Angie started collecting matchsticks for a potential hobby (for her) building models next Winter.

Cité

With all the shootings around Toulouse, Angie now locks the wheelhouse doors with the onset of dusk (when she remembers) but overall we have been impressed by the peaceful nature of our mooring given we are only 200m from the main Gare.

The seasonal sport of watching hire boats attempting to moor up (with a crew of thousands) has started. A nice Dutch sailing barge joined us to add a bit of class.

and a lovely little Pilot Cutter

Our son has just been on holiday in Abu Dhabi/Hong Kong and the photos have triggered the wanderlust - we are planning another year in the South but we can sense a few 'off barge' trips later in the year.

Our neighbours on Sirius decided to have the stern gear checked 'Yes the propeller is in situ'.

Our last week in Carcassonne was beautiful sun. Angie farewelled her French and Pilates courses and a couple of impromptu gatherings on the quai side meant trips to the local pizzeria for takeaways (who wants to cook after lots of vin rouge) note the Pizzeria gave the ladies a glass of wine each whilst waiting and a pleasant bottle on the house to take with them (only in France).

Then it was off westwards - only one day earlier than planned. Only a 3 hour run (to make sure nothing was going to drop off - Angie extracted us well - beautiful day and only Kes a bit down in the mouth.

Carcassonne - Arctic Weather

Mar 12

2012 started off just as we had anticipated with good weather for the whole of January.  But Angie came back from the UK cursing the medical profession which had decided that she couldn't have knee ops till she was 70 and/or in a wheelchair.

Peter enjoyed the various parties on the French barges celebrating La Fete des Rois (Epiphany) while Angie was away in the UK, but managed to get the token making him 'King' every time - hopefully this makes him lucky for the year rather than the scapegoat. Lots of rugby and the warm weather was great - but then February suddenly turned Arctic for a few weeks - much to our surprise - on the Midi!!

First the snow.

Then the ice.

The central heating decided not to play, so Angie disappeared off by train to Bonn for a boozy week with her family, while Peter and his technical advisor (Colin on 'Linda') sorted it. A little shopping and a little sightseeing in the gaps.

Beuel - Bonn

The fun spot was trying to get a new SFR internet contract running, despite having a French Bank account and a letter from the Capitainerie agreeing our address it took four visits, five bits of paper (a new one each visit, two phone calls and a fax to HQ to get it running.

However, by Leap Day the weather was beautiful again - so Peter went boating.

Angie caught up with the housework.

Kes pushed off his bed

and lots of dogwalking - this is on the side of the Canal du Midi showing Plane trees marked to be felled due to fungal infection (note the ringbarking)

Peter rashly stated that all the maintenance was done - which was promptly followed by a plumbing leak from the guest toilet - now hopefully sorted. Angie departs for the England again next week to have her vision enhanced (well she is the helmswoman) which will let Peter watch the last of the Six Nations in peace. Only 4 weeks to the cruising season = life is wonderful.

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.