Back in Toulouse again. This time we were kept entertained by the pompiers at their quay side head quarters. They had hired a photographer to come and take photographs, presumably for publicity purposes. First they tried to launch their dingy to demonstrate rescue skills on the canals. Luckily it wasn't an emergency as the trailer release mechanism jammed and it took quite a while before the dingy was in the water. Then the photographer was raised from the back of a fire tenden which had an extending ladder, other pompiers went onto the passerelle and fixed ladders in place, then the'shoot' began.
There is always something interesting going on in Toulouse. The weekend hosted two trade fairs, one for antiques, which was selling both the weird and the wonderful objects. The other was a ceramics fair where there was a variety of things for sale from the very finest china to huge outdoor displays.
Statue behind the ceramics displays.
This being October there was also a fun run in support of Breast Cancer awareness, and we encountered people, of all ages, dressed in pink, with pink wigs and decorated faces.
A visit to the natural history museum and botanical gardens was an interesting place to go. Though sadly at this time of the year many plants in the gardens were dormant.
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| Red beans, like I've never seen before. |
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| Unknown plant. |
There was also a beautiful red squirrel hopping about, reddish brown with almost a black tail, but when I reached for my camera he disappeared into the tree tops.
Its beginning to feel like winter has arrived now with nights getting darker earlier at 7.30pm and not getting properly light in the mornings until 9.am. The overnight temperatures also plunge with the lowest being down to 7.5C one morning, but luckily most days are still warm and sunny. We have had our heating boiler serviced, and filled up with fuel, so all we have to do now is get to our winter port of Castelnaudary.
We had planned to leave Toulouse on 14th October, but Ni hurt his back so our departure was delayed until 16th when we were lucky enough to again get the mooring against a wall at Montgiscard. We decided to stay two nights to help Ni recover, and I got busy with cleaning fluid to get rid of tree sap that had spattered brown spots all over our cream roof tops!!!
Two days later we headed off to Negra, and this time got into a mooring space on the Locaboat pontoon, so had water and electricity. As the weather was good it gave me a chance to catch up with the washing. It was so peaceful here now the tourist season has ended.
and we enjoyed the autumn colours
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| Sun rise at Negra |
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| Negra autumn trees |
As the weather forecast foretold of storms and high winds, we decided to make a dash for Castelnaudary, just stopping for the night at the Lock Laurens.
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| Sunset at Laurens |
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| Last mooring of the season at Laurens |
So finally we arrive at Castelnaudary. We are SO glad to have arrived safely. Other boaters have succumbed to illness, injury, and had problems with their boats, some serious, others minor. So it's a great relief to be here safe and sound, and be welcomed by the lovely Capitaine, Odile!
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| Gesina's home for the next five months. |
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| Soldiers of the French Foreign Legion on the canal bankside at Castelnaudary. |
As with many place along the Canal du Midi, originally called the Royal Canal of Languedoc, Castelnaudary is a town with a savage historical past. In 1355, during the Hundred Years' War, the town was burnt down by the Black Prince, son of King Edward III (blame the English again). The beginning of the 17th century saw an uprising against the King's rule and in 1632 a fierce battle took place at the foot of the town. The inventor of the canal, Pierre-Paul Riquet, transformed Castelnaudary into an important port thanks to the building of the Grand Bassin, with its 1.75 acres of space allowing mooring for many trading ships. The industry that benefitted from this facility were wood-drying shops, rope-makers, dry docks and carpenters. Drinking troughs were also provided for the cattle. Nowadays the town relies more on tourists, boaters and its famous dish of Cassoulet.
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| Boschplaat being towed into port by Somewhere. |
Our first Meet and Greet at the pub L'Indus
Sunday afternoon saw a Party in the Park. This was to celebrate the 1st birthday of
Bodi (short for Bodicea, a Spanish Water Dog).
Yeti, and
Tashi, both Tibetan terriers,
Haggis, spaniel/poodle cross, and
Delilah standard poodle, all attended. Party Dogs:-
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| Delilah |
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| Bodi |
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| Haggis |
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| Yeti |
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| Tashi, the old Lady! |
