Day Ten: Sunday, October 12th On the Canal du Midi

Church bells ringing this morning at 08:00. Lots of gun shots early in the morning so it must be hunting season? We are greeted by another sunny blue sky day. Kind of chilly though. The routine for the other three is to heat up water for a cup of tea. Canal water perfectly flat as no real breeze this early. Shortly after leaving we notice there is a busy flea market in the village so we pull over, moor the boat and get out to join the locals. Lana bought some vintage ash trays to take home. 


Lady making my delicious crepe with nutella for 3Euro. 




Lana loved these--vintage frosted glass dessert bowls. But she couldn't figure out a way to get then back home safely. I see an Ebay purchase happening when we get home LOL. 




Lock keeper giving me more directions with the rope. Hold on! Notice my gloves. You need to gloves whether on the boat holding lines or being me up top.



Pat's selfie of the four of us with Captain Al pretending to steer the boat. 



Always pretty on the canal especially with the trees lining the canal. I had some time improving my steering of the boat while our skipper took a rest. We only saw two other boats on our way to Trèbes. There is only one lock today and that is the three consecutive locks at Trèbes. One boat in front of us inside the lock.



We are quickly into Trèbes Le Boat hub. Only one spot left though here and Al navigates us in reverse to moor at their dock. Very warm at around 22 degrees. There is a market across the canal so off we go. Lana buys some sausages for dinner on the boat tonight. There is no wine merchant here. We appear to have enough supplies on board for lunch and dinner on the boat. We buy a baguette in the market and I find a nice Rosé (2024 Demoiselles from Corbieres) for 8.50Euro and a bottle of sparkling water. A Pain du Chocolate for 1.30Euro to eat on the train tomorrow. We lunch up top with the cover up to avoid the sun. Finished lunch around 13:30.

We mostly lazed around the boat. Pat and Al went for a walk and Lana and I took the bicycles upstream about five kms each way. Still sunny and hot. The trail along the canal was fun and lots of shade. Mostly flat and right beside the canal. 


Wow, these local Rosés are so pinkish. and Pat finally gets to have a decent cup of coffee as now coffee maker other than a french press on the boat. 



Al explaining the finer points of navigating our Le Boat on the canal. ha ha 



Last dinner on the boat! Another great meal on the boat. 20 degrees at 18:45! Wash dishes and decide we need to super clean the boat, otherwise, Le Boat charges more than 100Euro to clean the boat. Lots of hot water in the boat. 


Al and I decide to head to Les Vignes de Bacchus across the canal for some drinks. Large screen tv inside the bar. We sat at the counter. Ordered some wine and I purchased a 2024 Ollieux Romanis from Corbieres at 14Euro (white wine). Al had a Grenache. When we return to our boat the Germans are partying on the dock next to the boats. Playing loud German music and getting pretty high from the wine they were drinking. We finished our crib tournament with the men as champs. Around 20:00 Al heads outside to ask our German neighbours to turn off their music although they are still speaking loud. Oh well, they are enjoying themselves. 

Tomorrow Lana and I need to get up early to get to the local bus stop for the trip into Carcassonne to catch our direct train to Lyon. These seven days have passed very quickly! The consensus is the Le Boat experience was fun for everyone. Very laid back mostly except for the first day when we were on a mission to get as far downstream as possible. Lots of local wine, food, culture, adventures and scenery.  Total steps for today = 4,700. 

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