And finally…the end of the Canal du Midi

Wednesday 21st May

[caption id="attachment_855" align="aligncenter" width="640"] A muddy stop for the night…poor Bluebelle[/caption]

We awoke to a very windy day today at the port where the Canal du Midi empties out into the Etang d’Thau.

[caption id="attachment_856" align="aligncenter" width="427"] A bit windy!!![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_857" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Who's leaning against who?[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_858" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Where it all ends![/caption]

Coffee at a cool bar in Marseillan was followed by a quick drive through Sete. This is obviously a huge bustling place...the meeting of canals, sea and rivers but we didn’t stop this time. Maybe we will pass through again on a boat one day...who knows?!





[caption id="attachment_859" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Marseillan port[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_863" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Sete[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_862" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The Med in all it's glory![/caption]

Deciding that we really didn’t want to cycle the canal here, we made for Agde where we parked on the quay, had lunch and then set off on the tow path for Beziers. The initial track was really horrid...muddy, bumpy and wet ...we almost turned around and headed back, but we persevered and eventually, we were cycling on tarmac...probably the best path we have had the whole way along the canal. We were disappointed with the canal and surroundings today....it seemed overgrown and unkempt, like nobody cared for it. The canal has been beautiful in many places, but there are obviously big issues of funding and the lock keepers feel undervalued within their role.

We arrived at the station just in time to hop onto a train bound for Agde.

[caption id="attachment_864" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Have bike, will travel[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_866" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The round lock at Agde[/caption]

Chatting about our plans for the next few days we have decided to head to Spain but via the mountains...for a change of scene. Our journey there will take us almost past Narbonne again so we decided to head back to Salleles d’Aude for a meal at the restaurant we were at last weekend...unfortunately, it was closed when we arrived, but we found a pizzeria around the corner that was open. the pizzas were fantastic, but HUGE...even BT, who has a big appetite, couldn’t finish his so...pizza for lunch tomorrow too!!