September 2018

This time we stopped at Ecluse Escatalens where there is a lovely LONG mooring with grassy sides, no cyclists and hardly any walkers, so very peaceful. That was until the farmer on the opposite bank started up his water pump, drawing water from the canal, to spray his fields. It is rumoured that the VNF are planning to supply two electricity and water points at this mooring, which is sorely needed. As there is no water easily available between Montech and Toulouse.So we decided to move on up to Montech. It was home from home Philip, Eric and Lisa, Junior, Bob, Cary and later joined by Sally and Glenn, also Nicolas and Sally sadly saying goodby to their boat and heading off back to Zimbawbe. We also met new faces Dee and Andrew, and Malcolm and Jane(?). Nigel and Tricia, plus Steve and Jo cruised passed, so we're all heading for our winter hibernation.

We stopped a couple of nights at Dieupentale hoping to dine at the port restaurant, but it was closed for 'Conges' maritail or otherwise!

When we moved on upstream to St.Jory we were greeted at dusk by the sight of little while moth like insects swarming in their thousands around the street lights. Not sure what it is possibly White Ermine, but each morning there are hundreds lying dead all over our boat. If they are washed off immediately in the dew all traces disappear, but if left it takes scrubbing to remove their sticky bodies.

Not snow nor rice, but heaps of dead moths!

 Arousing welcome awaited us when we reached the Port de l'Embrouchure the junction of the Canal de Garonne and Canal du Midi where we stopped for lunch. There was a jazz band with singers playing in the park. Very Seurat!

Narrow bridge on the left is end of C.d.Garonne, right goes to ecluse de Garonne and down onto the river, and central is the one we take along the C.d.Midi.

So on 11th September we entered the dry-dock for the third, and hopefully final time, to have an hours work of metal work done to the hull. Unfortunately when we were positioned over the sleepers of the dock floor, no-one in charge was watching as the water drained away, and our 50tons of boat settled down onto our rudder. Not a good idea! It was pulled completely from the bearings and bent rather badly!

There's a bow thruster under that forest of weeds!

So the water level was raised again in the dock and we moved even further forward. Sadly this meant non of the ladders, nor gang-planks we had onboard reached the side walls. We had to climb up and down our extending metal ladder. But it was too much of a struggle to carry Tashi up and down, so much to her disgust her doggy 'hoist' was unearthed and fitted each time she needed to go out. We could either hold the handle and carry her up and down, which was a bit difficult with her now weighing 16Kgs. So we opted to put a rope through the handle and lower or raise her up and down. She was very unsure about the whole procedure, but needs must.

 So on 12th, Ni's birthday we arrived safely back into the marina.

25th. Autumn has definitely arrived. I know because it's also 4 changes of clothes a day. I've never got the art of layering apparently. It was only 11C first thing this morning and felt really cold with a light north westerly wind blowing. Jacket needed to walk Tashi first thing, and socks onboard. Slippers seemed a step too far, like admitting it was cold! During the day it got back up to 32C so stripping off time, then piling it all back on in the evening! Nice to have cool nights for sleeping though.

We were delayed in Toulouse until the end of the month because Ni flew to the Uk for Auntie Gwen's funeral. It's a good omen for Ni's hopes of living until he's 100yrs old, as Gwen lived until she was 104yrs old!

August 2018

We travelled as far as Golfech, and after the drama of replacing our inverter and battery, decided to return towards Castelnaudary. We were feed up with the drips from the plane trees causing horrible brown, sticky spots all over the boat, when we were trying to clean it prior to painting the topsides!

As Ni stepped ashore to cast-off the ropes he saw this snake in the water trying to swallow this poor unfortunate fish.  We left them to it!

We stopped overnight at Moissac and caught up with acquaintances old and new. The weekend of 10th -12th was Boat Rally time on the river Tarn. I 'hitched' a ride with Jacque and his wife, on their pretty little Dutch Tjalk Aramis. David and Louisa were also there to give help to Jacque through the descending locks should he need it, as his wrist was still in plaster. We went for a little trip up the Tarn before we joined all the other boats already moored on the quayside. Despite the threatening clouds, the long awaited rain didnt arrive that night. It very unkindly waited until Sunday when the Grand Fete on the promenade, featuring bands and food stalls had to be cancelled due to the approaching storm!!!

David walking back to the wheelhouse, to check progress on our cup of tea.

Tracing what we thought was a leaking washing machine turned out to be much worse. It was a problem with the frontstem post. So we called into the boat yard at Castelsarrasin for help, and after lifting our front, they the only remedy was welding over the outside, which, for various reasons, wasnt possible for them to do. After an extremely HOT afternoon sitting in the blazing sun, and with the application of some water silicone gel, and heaps of quick setting cement, we now head back to Toulouse dry dock!

So, in the meantime we spend our time moored in the peaceful little village of Saint Porquier, between Castelsarrasin and Montec, while we alternate between cleaning the horrible brown spots of the hull, and just relaxing and enjoy the solitude and view!

Despite being so remote, we've had plenty of visitors: Cary and her two whippets, Nigel (B) minus Alfie, Jo and Steve on their boat Somewhere with their two Maltese terriers, and Jane and Dell with no dogs, in their boat Amethyst, who very kindly shared a bottle of champagne with us.