Canal latéral à la Garonne

Tuesday 6th May 2014

It was time to make tracks today, but not before we had paid our site fees and said, “Goodbye” to the staff who have been so friendly, kind and helpful...it has made all the difference to our stay, we have felt SO welcome.

[caption id="attachment_465" align="aligncenter" width="640"] He told me he was just going to pay the bill..Lovely staff at Campeole Navarosse[/caption]

So after a last blog post...in the laundry...we set off. First things first....fill Bluebelle with fuel and fill our fridge with goodies...now we were off.

Our target today is to reach the Canal latéral à la Garonne and hopefully to have a cycle along it.

We have been driving through an area that is heavily wooded...a National Park....and the views have become a little predictable. It’s noticeable that we both long for the far reaching and open views of the countryside. Gradually we started to see many more open fields and a lot less pine trees....a real treat.

During the morning we discovered that the fridge didn’t seem to be working...disaster. This was one piece of equipment that we really don’t want to have to do without. After much deliberation about the problem, we decided to stop for lunch and take a look under the bonnet. This, to our horror, is what we found...

[caption id="attachment_466" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Melted fuses..eeeek![/caption]

A few quick calls to home and our minds were put to rest...we weren’t going to catch fire and loose our beloved Bluebelle...phew...and the fridge was working yet again...bigger phew!

Our trusty Tom Tom was set for Langon where the canal begins/ends..into the Garonne river. We are constantly amazed by the river, it is so vast and running so fast. It runs almost parallel to the canal and at times almost touches it. Simon was so excited to see the canal as it’s somewhere he’s always wanted to go. This is lock house number 53...

[caption id="attachment_468" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Lock house 53[/caption]

the last before the river. We were amazed to see the depth guage on the building...seeming to suggest that at various times in the past the river/canal have reached huge heights…13m above the lock height.

[caption id="attachment_469" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The lock, looking towards the Garonne river[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_470" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Depth gauge[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_472" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Where the canal meets the river[/caption]

Having sat in Bluebelle for a long while, we were keen to unload the bikes and head off up the canal...it is absolutely beautiful..as you can see.

We managed to cycle as far as Fontet before turning back to the van. We think we covered about 20km in all....don’t be too impressed...it’s all flat along the canal path!

Our next stop was at a little port called Meilhan where there are several canal boats moored alongside...a majority of them being lived on by friendly English folk! We picked a spot under a Plane tree and camped for the night.

[caption id="attachment_477" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Under the Plane tree[/caption]

 

Wednesday 7th May 2014

 

It was a long night last night...for some reason neither of us slept well...however, we woke to beautiful sunshine and the anticipation of a day on the bikes cycling yet more of the canal. Behind the port office there is a small campsite that is not open until June, but upon meeting Michael, the port manager this morning, we have been allowed in and have decided to stay there tonight too....this gives us a base to come back to...hot showers and toilets...and it’s so lovely and all for 6 Euros!

[caption id="attachment_478" align="aligncenter" width="640"] New campsite[/caption]

In a nutshell, today we cycled about 50kms...yes, you can be impressed...we are! We started at our campsite and rode all the way to Damazan and then on a further 6km to Aguillon from where we caught a train...bikes and all...to La Reole. It was then another 10km ride home. So without too much chatter from me, we thought we’d just show you our day in pictures...

[caption id="attachment_479" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Setting off…[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_480" align="aligncenter" width="640"] First lock of the day[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_494" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Beautiful plane trees…reminded us of our visit to Sagria Familia[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_495" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Just stunning[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_496" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Damazan[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_491" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Lunch…the bar was closed but the owner served us beer and let us eat our picnic here[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_489" align="aligncenter" width="602"] Red squirrel[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_485" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Beautiful villages[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_487" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Where the canal and Garonne almost touch[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_486" align="aligncenter" width="427"] More locks[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_482" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Coffee break[/caption]





[caption id="attachment_497" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The railway station[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_498" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Bikes had to be hung up on the train[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_499" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Our train[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_500" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Bridge over the Garonne at La Reole[/caption]

We are now sat outside the port office, writing this blog, searching the internet for where to go next and listening to the most amazing frog noises we have ever heard!..I wish we could record it for you!!!