Floating in Fluff!

Thursday 8th May 2014

 

It’s a month today that we left home. Where has the time gone?? We have travelled so many miles, met many people and seen and visited lots of amazing places. A month from today Billy will be returning home for a few weeks and BT will be at work in Mallorca. We  seem to loose track of time and days. We are incredibly content, relaxed and happy.

Coffee this morning was shared with Lauren, Eric and Will...all from the USA, travelling together until this evening when Lauren returns home to Nimes and the boys continue on their way cycling along the canal.

[caption id="attachment_526" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Lauren, Eric and Will[/caption]

It was great to meet you guys...remember, if you are ever in the UK come and visit!

Time to pack up camp and move on now. The canal that we are cycling along goes all the way to Toulouse...we are not expecting to cycle all the way, but will try to cover as much as we can. Our first real stopping point today was to be Agen. We followed the canal as much as we could in Bluebelle, and on arriving at Aiguillon (where we caught the train yesterday) again today, we realised that the town is also situated right on the banks of the river Lot.

[caption id="attachment_528" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Lock and warehousing at the river Lot[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_532" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The weir on the river Lot at Aiguillon[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_531" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Road bridge over the Lot[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_529" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Lock along the Lot[/caption]

It seems a much quieter, more peaceful river than the Garonne, which, every time we have seen it is flowing and swirling in a such a hurried rushed way...no wonder the canal was built instead! There is also a lock by the river here.... and a huge weir.

You really won’t believe the amount of fluff in the air today...we have decided to call it National Fluff day today....

[caption id="attachment_533" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Fluff!!![/caption]

the trees...anyone know which kind?... are just exploding with fluff. At times its been as though we have been driving through a snow storm as the stuff swirls about us in huge clouds....more fairies than we’ve ever seen in any one time!

[caption id="attachment_534" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Looks like snow[/caption]

We reached Agen and headed for the aqueduct which carries the canal over the river Garonne.

[caption id="attachment_536" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Aqueduct at Agen[/caption]

It was built in 1823 and has 23 arches...I have to say, it was beautiful...we sat and ate our lunch watching boats and people make their way across the bridge. The out of town side had a very calm park like feel...many families picnicking, willow trees overhanging the canal and golden irises growing from the banks.

[caption id="attachment_545" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Lunch by the lock[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_539" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Agen[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_541" align="aligncenter" width="427"] A view across to Agen from the aqueduct[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_537" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Looking along the aqueduct towards Agen[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_540" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Happy BT[/caption]

The town itself was busy, we found a street cafe and had smoothies before moving on...

[caption id="attachment_542" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Flower market in Agen[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_543" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Scrumptious![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_544" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Fun street in Agen[/caption]

cycling back over the aqueduct and back to Bluebelle.

Auvillars was our next stop...we almost drove straight through thinking there was nothing to see...fortunately, we decided to stop and take a mooch around...what a beautiful village. It is named as one of France’s most attractive places.













[caption id="attachment_552" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Beautiful old wooden buildings[/caption]

Today is a national holiday...this is so evident everywhere you go as it is so quiet. The shops actually shut and families spend time together, eating, walking and just generally taking time to be together.









Auvillars seems deserted apart from a few couples enjoying a drink on the veranda of a hotel... It is set high up above the river Garonne...these are the views over the river from the village.





[caption id="attachment_555" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The Garonne from above[/caption]

By now, it was getting on in the evening so we decided that on our way to the next town on  canal ...Moissac we would find somewhere to stop for the night. We ended up in a spot by the canal, sandwiched between the railway line....and the nuclear power station!!!

[caption id="attachment_561" align="aligncenter" width="640"] By the canal….[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_562" align="aligncenter" width="640"] …and the trains[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_563" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Sunset…..[/caption]

Not every ones idea of an idyllic place, but, despite the infrequent trains, it was a great place to be. We shared the space with a lovely couple...Irene and Yannick...thank you so much for letting us stay with you... The sound of frogs croaking is all that can be heard now...and there is still fluff floating silently by.....