Well, after a day of locks, we at last arrived in Castelnaudary. Thanks to an afternoon of rain which is adding a chill to the air, exploration has been postponed.   Some spiel and pics have been placed on: keeping up is quite a difficult task!!!!!!! Click the link below.   www.gratisaustralis.com/?page_id=2676    

Narrow streets and alleyways with the aged doors of buildings at times exhibiting dates denoting their age, it was a town worth wandering through. The buildings themselves were a mix of sepia tones and brightly coloured. Intricately designed wrought iron gates led into an old manor house that was undergoing renovations, and well worn the steps of […]

With high moisture levels in the air, the droplets from a misty fog fell upon the earth this morning, thereby creating a cooler commencement to the day. What a relief, after the burning heat of yesterday. First lock – another round and we had the hang of things – what a beautiful setting. Doors in shades […]

    We arrive in Castelnaudary tomorrow,

Time against us since a train station had to be within reach for Jamie who was soon to depart, Montisgard was passed by until next time, as a hard half day motor pushed us ever closer to Castelnaudary. This was the day we were introduced to the round locks. No currents on the outside, but […]

  With our new fenders not due to arrive at the Port Technique Chandlery until mid – morning, it was a relaxing start to the day. No locks for some distance, an easy commencement to life upon the canal for Jamie who had arrived two days prior. It was only a short distance, but there […]

Click the link below to see some of the pics:   www.gratisaustralis.com/?page_id=2676

The day commenced with an early visit to the Victor Hugo Market. What a difference! All stores were open and mouth watering delicacies enticed the taste buds. Fresh vegies of all shapes, sizes and colours. The famous Toulouse sausage, still made according to the original recipe – free of wheat and nitrates, what a boon! Fish […]

As with the towns visited to date, Toulouse had that mix of old and new. Buildings no longer cared for rot and decay as, like ancient sentinels, they cracked and crumbled whilst mouldy odours wafted lazily upon air currents from their darkened cellars to tickle the noses of passers – by. A few rare jewels […]

After much frustration with the internet, the spiels and images for the 24th and 25th July are now online. Castelsarrasin is now being worked upon. Click the link below and scroll down to the date you wish to read. www.gratisaustralis.com/?page_id=2676   Yesterday was spent ambling. No photos this day, for we just wanted to enjoy. […]

Grey, rain, thunder and cold here in Toulouse: about 20 degrees. Out looking at bikes. The pic is one of the sites we came across when heading to St Jory.  

Click on the link below to view. www.gratisaustralis.com/?page_id=2676  

In a trip to the Victor Hugo Market in Toulouse today. besides meat, fruit and veg this is what we discovered: sorbets of all sorts and in all sizes and beautifully packaged. So cold, the delicacy had yet to start melting 30 minutes later. It was as delicious as it looked: in fact the best sorbet we’ve […]

A visit to the Victor Hugo Market this day provided us with sorbet from heaven. Beautifully presented, expensive, but what manna!!!!! Disappointingly, much of the market was closed.

We arrived in the Canal du Midi and Toulouse Sunday afternoon after yet another interesting bout with the locks. This is a pic of the last lock though which we motored.

The first of its kind, the aesthetics of the architecture and landscape that make it so unique, Canal du Midi is world heritage listed. Envisioned by Pierre Paul Riquet in 1662 this 240km long canal is the largest of its type and links the Atlantic to the Mediterranean Sea. Constructed between 1667 and 1681 (with […]

An early start on a bright sunlit morning, knowing what we’d learnt about the water actions after observing the lock/water flow design St Jory last night the first lock was a breeze. St Jory lock water flow. St Jory lock Put it all together and it looks like this: Lock walls were encased in green ferns, […]

Arrived in Grisolles: moorings all taken and bank shallow. On we moved………..  

  An interesting day’s motor to Montech: click on the link below.   www.gratisaustralis.com/?page_id=327  

With only one lock, the process of which went smoothly, the day passed most pleasurably. As a result of all available moorings being used at Grisolles and the canal bank far too shallow for Big G, our expected anchorage for the night didn’t eventuate. Through the next lock and we found a pleasant mooring spot […]