Some weird and wonderful things passed us by as we sat in Moissac!
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| A dog trailer! |
Even the port Capitaine looks amazed. But it's a thought - spares tool store, wardrobe? The mind positively boggles!
Sad to go, having met many friends, and made new ones, but finally we leave Moissac, passing through the swing bridge, which is very low at 1.6M. This catches out many late arrivals at night, as they dont realise it shuts at 7pm. So they have to moor at an old quay out of town.
We had a very gentle cruise on another hot day, stopping at Pommevic for a night or two.
It wasnt a good idea to stop at Valence d'Agen during August as the port was being used as a stage set for their annual historic tableau complete with fireworks and canon fire! But their security took a very relaxed view of passers-by during the day time, and allowed us to moor while we did some shopping, and cyclists to pass through the stage set, even with children sitting at tables and chairs of the set. It was a very elaborate stage set, and obviously grown over the years. Now looking very professional and authentic. The seating on the opposite side of the canal holds seats for about 1500 people. Quite a spectacle.
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| Valence d'Agen |
Our next mooring was the ideal for us, and what we dreamed of. Behind us was a lake with a good walking surface right around the 1Km circumference. The only boats moored here were flying British red ensigns!
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| La Magistere |
This was a dog's paradise. We saw one Newfoundland, and the boat
Anna had three Bearded collies! Don't fancy grooming those, especially as the Beardies kept swimming in the canal/lake! A lovely quiet mooring with space for motor homes and parking for walkers.
Our guide book tells us that Agen is the head city of the Lot-et-Garonne department, alway important in the Aquitaine region. Previously it marked the boundary between the lands owned by the King of France and King of England. Now it is more famous for its prunes and rugby team. For sale in the local shops are prunes macerated in alcohol, covered in chocolate or filled with a delicious stuffing!
At Agen we preferred the shade of the trees before the entrance to the main port, where it was in the full sun.
Even so the night time temperatures dont drop much and so more sleepless nights are in store for us. But then we can always relax the next day!
Yet another place we hope to explore more fully as we pass back up the canal, as it was just too hot to wander around the town for long.
Our next stop was Serignac-sur Garonne.
What a surprise we were in for in this little village. The church has a twisted spire, the wooden support of which has burnt down several times. The last time the villagers wanted to just have a normal spire rebuilt, but a society was formed to rebuild again with the twist.
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| Detail showing the spire construction. |
To be on the safe side we booked ahead for a mooring at Buzet-sur-Baise. We thought being so famous for its wine since the Middle Ages, the village would be more impressive, but in fact, it is more of a hamlet with just one grocers and two restaurants. Still it was a pleasant mooring and a popular stop over for a tour of the wine co-operative. Here we met family who visited for the week, and we moved down to Damazan, enjoying their night market, which is held every Tuesday during August.
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| Food stalls encircled the market place. |
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| Street vendors roamed, while a band played for dancing. |
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| And imrpessive first impression. |
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| Tiny streets, and beamed houses. |
Our next stop was at Villeton where the only mooring available to us meant that a French fisherman had to move away. He was not a happy chappy! Our friends, Sally and Charles, were also moored there and joined us for dinner.
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| Smiles all round! |
There was a lake nearby where Ni, Andy and Marina went to cool off and enjoy the water sport for the day.
Our next stop had arriving at Lagruere just in time for lunch at the quayside restaurant.
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| Unfortunately no shade, and hottest at 42.5C!!! |
Behind the quay there was a charming park waiting to be explored entitled "The Journey of Senses". A very gentle, quiet little place.
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| Senses to be awakened, touch, scent, listen ...... |
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| The Philosophers wall. |
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| Detail. |
One side The Park had a walk through the trees, with a fresh water stream, and on the other homes for insects, ponds for aquatic creatures, herb gardens, vegetables, flowers, an observatory hide to watch the wildlife, and illusory images just before you found yourself back into the 'real' world of the tree plantation. This beautiful project was created and maintained by the local village school. I couldnt resist 'helping' by going back to our boat for scissors and string, to tie up the bent tomato stalks! Hope they dont mind.
Le Mas-d'Argenais was the next port of call with its Romanesque church of St. Vincent in the middle of the town, which houses a crucifixion painting by Rembrandt.
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| Recently cleaned pristine outer walls of the church. |
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| Old market place. |
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| Gateway to fortified town, not quite sure what the giant sized axe is for, unless its felling giants! |
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| Mas d'Argenais mooring |
We had thought to stop at Meilhan for the next night, but on being told a pop concert was being held at the port decided to green bank a bit further on.
