Overnight there was quite heavy rain but it eased off by the time we got up, although low cloud was still covering the hilltops. We managed to unmoor the boat and set off without getting wet and continued cruising along the canal. Although it is wet and grey, it was supposed to be 23 degrees, with it 16 at that point. We continued on from our overnight stop just east of Argeliers, through into Capestang. We moored over lunch and went for a walk into the village and into the cathedral there with beautiful stained glass windows. Along the way towards Beziers, we saw the French canal management people grubbing out the bases and roots of condemned plane trees. The trees that have been affected by disease are marked and cut down and the roots dug ... read more

This morning we set out about 9:15am to get to the next lock as it opened but unfortunately the lock keeper was doing something else and then boats came from the other direction so he raised their side first and we had to wait for them to come up. This took a good hour or so and we came into the next town of Homps about 11am. We needed to refuel but the port was full so we had to wait until a spot became available (i.e. another boat left) so we could back in and plug into the electricity and refill our water and fuel tanks. After walking around the town for a while, we ended up at a café by the canal where we had lunch. Benny and I both had a Croque Madame ... read more

This morning we cruised from our mooring through 2 locks into the town of Trebes. It had a beautiful bridge over the canal that had flower pots hanging from the grillework. Joe had been stung by a wasp in Bram and had badly swollen eyes so we walked into the village to find a doctor and then a chemist to get some prescription lotion and tablets for him. Lunch was at a restaurant beside the marina complex. After a long lunch, Benny, Ann & Joe went shopping whilst I headed back to the boat. When they returned, we set off but ended up in a queue 2.5 hours long to get through the series of 3 locks leading out of the town. Luckily, we were in the last group that went through before the lock closed, ... read more

After breakfast we set off and were overtaken by 2 boats, which we followed through a series of locks every half a km or so. These locks could fit 3 boats in it so we all went in together. We got to the la Peyruque lock at 12pm and only 2 could fit at a time so the 2 in front of us went ahead. By this point it was 12:15 and the locks shut between 12:30 and 1:30 for lunch so the lock keeper came along and told us to tie up and he’d be back after his lunch. Consequently, our lunch stop was just before the la Peyruque lock. The lock keeper didn’t open the lock until 2pm, so that slowed us down and after going through the lock, we cruised along and enjoyed ... read more

After a late continental breakfast of a croissant, we walked to the medieval city - Carcassone Cite Medievale. It is only a 5 minute walk around the corner so our hotel is in a prime location. It was a beautiful day and quite hot at 29 degrees - a big difference to the 16 or so of late in England. The hilltop site is in the south of France and was protected originally by a Gallo-Roman wall. It was occupied later by the Visigoths, Saracens and Franks in turn. Rebuilt in medieval times by the Cathar family the Trencavels (1100s), was taken by Simon de Montfort in a Cathar Crusade in 1209 and later given to Louis IX. The fortress became a royal estate and defended the border between France and Aragon. In the 19th century, ... read more