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| . This is the view from the pilothouse of the Amarok/Accord (with windshield folded down) cruising up the wild Baïse. |
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À BORD d'ACCORD
July 2011 - Page 5
Cruising on the Baïse
At the lock just before Valence-sur-Baïse, one of the lock
keepers pulled up a plant from his garden and handed it to
us for our flower-box. We're not sure what it is, but
we're watering it dutifully - we'll see what develops!
keepers pulled up a plant from his garden and handed it to
us for our flower-box. We're not sure what it is, but
we're watering it dutifully - we'll see what develops!
16 July - 11:00 AM - Dep: Condom - fair, 78°
. 1:15 PM - Arr: Valence-sur-Baïse
We made it w/o incident to the
headwaters of the Baïse. Another day
of scenic cruising on this lovely river.
. 1:15 PM - Arr: Valence-sur-Baïse
We made it w/o incident to the
headwaters of the Baïse. Another day
of scenic cruising on this lovely river.
The last lock before arriving at Valence-sur-Baïse.
The port of Valence-sur-Baïse. End of the navigable
section of the river in the background. We were glad
there was enough space to turn around up here!
section of the river in the background. We were glad
there was enough space to turn around up here!
These old buildings in the center of the hill-top town of Valence-sur-Baïse house all the
necessities: a restaurant-bar (Le Massalet), a market (Casino), and a bakery (Patisserie Pécabin).
necessities: a restaurant-bar (Le Massalet), a market (Casino), and a bakery (Patisserie Pécabin).
The view from one of the entrances into the
walled town of Valence-sur-Baïse.
walled town of Valence-sur-Baïse.
Like many of the towns along this river, Valence-sur-Baïse is
perched on a hill. A steep path leads down to the river port.
perched on a hill. A steep path leads down to the river port.
17 July - 12 noon - Dep: Valence-sur-Baïse
2:15 PM - Arr: Condom
2:15 PM - Arr: Condom
Sections of the canalized Baïse are absurdly
narrow, it's hard to believe you can take a 55-ft,
30-ton boat through here. But we did!
narrow, it's hard to believe you can take a 55-ft,
30-ton boat through here. But we did!
Back in Condom. Our yellow boat appears to glow this time of day.
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In Moncrabeau, our boat caught passing under the bridge.
18 July - 12:45 PM - Dep: Condom
3:00 PM - Arr:
Moncrabeau
19 July - 12 noon - Dep: Monrabeau
(our usual early departure)
3:15 PM - Arr: Nérac
One of our favorite towns,
Boeuf Bourginion at La Cheminee
20 July - 12:30 PM - Dep: Nérac
2:10 PM - psg. Lavardac
2:45 PM - Arr: Vianne
interesting walled town
dating back to Roman times.
3:00 PM - Arr:
Moncrabeau
19 July - 12 noon - Dep: Monrabeau
(our usual early departure)
3:15 PM - Arr: Nérac
One of our favorite towns,
Boeuf Bourginion at La Cheminee
20 July - 12:30 PM - Dep: Nérac
2:10 PM - psg. Lavardac
2:45 PM - Arr: Vianne
interesting walled town
dating back to Roman times.
Watching the charter boats is an amusing pass-time here. This boat made a pass at
the dock, dropped off a girl with a rope, then drifted downstream into the trees. As
you can see, the girl is still holding the line, although there's a perfectly good bollard
in front of her. The driver of the boat is now in back fending off trees with a boat hook!
the dock, dropped off a girl with a rope, then drifted downstream into the trees. As
you can see, the girl is still holding the line, although there's a perfectly good bollard
in front of her. The driver of the boat is now in back fending off trees with a boat hook!
.
In Nérac - Nancy making friends with a cat.
Nancy doing her job - in the rain, no less! Actually, going down
the Baïse was very easy - we hardly even needed one line.
the Baïse was very easy - we hardly even needed one line.
The sun peeked through just before sunset (9:30 PM) in Nérac.
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Cruise the Baïse aboard the PRINCE HENRY!
Ancient grafitti! This wolf-like creature is carved on the
11th century church in Vianne. It may be close to 1000
years old - at least that's what they tell the tourists!
11th century church in Vianne. It may be close to 1000
years old - at least that's what they tell the tourists!
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More flowers - in the town of Vianne on the Baïse.
21 July - 11:30 AM - Dep: Vianne
12:45 PM - Buzet-sur-Baïse, back up
double lock into Canal de Garonne,
headed west - thru Damazan
3:45 PM - Arr: Lagruère, tied up at
Relais Nautique de Lagruère
12:45 PM - Buzet-sur-Baïse, back up
double lock into Canal de Garonne,
headed west - thru Damazan
3:45 PM - Arr: Lagruère, tied up at
Relais Nautique de Lagruère
Back on the Canal de Garonne, headed west. A very pretty stretch.
Those plane trees must be over 200 years old!
Those plane trees must be over 200 years old!
We had this lovely spot all to ourselves in Lagruère.
22 July - 9:00 AM - Dep. Lagruère
9:30 AM - Arr: Le Mas-d'Agenais
tied up at PdP behind Somewhere, a very
pretty 65-ft luxmotor replica owned by
New Zeelander's Ken & Rhonda Blakie.
Walked into town for fresh bread.
In the PM, we rode our bikes along the
towpath 7 km to the next town,
Pont des Sables - at milepost 164.
9:30 AM - Arr: Le Mas-d'Agenais
tied up at PdP behind Somewhere, a very
pretty 65-ft luxmotor replica owned by
New Zeelander's Ken & Rhonda Blakie.
Walked into town for fresh bread.
In the PM, we rode our bikes along the
towpath 7 km to the next town,
Pont des Sables - at milepost 164.
Nancy buying some alimentation in Le Mas-d'Agenais.
New Zeeland luxmotor Somewhere in Le Mas-d'Agenais.
Hard to imagine a better bike ride than this! There is a well-
maintained bike path running the full length of the Garonne
and Midi Canals - from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean.
maintained bike path running the full length of the Garonne
and Midi Canals - from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean.
You see a lot of people fishing here, but you seldom see
any actual fish - particularly in this murky water.
any actual fish - particularly in this murky water.
23 July - time to turn around and start heading back
towards Moissac, our home base.
11:45 AM - Dep Le Mas-d'Agenais
1:00 PM - passing Villeton
3:00 PM - Arr: Buzet-sur-Baïse
tied on bank across fr charter base,
next to some banana trees!
towards Moissac, our home base.
11:45 AM - Dep Le Mas-d'Agenais
1:00 PM - passing Villeton
3:00 PM - Arr: Buzet-sur-Baïse
tied on bank across fr charter base,
next to some banana trees!
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Saw these flowers along the street as we walked into Le Mas-
d'Angenais to buy fresh bread this morning. It's hard to believe
those sunflowers can grow out what appears to be solid pavement!
d'Angenais to buy fresh bread this morning. It's hard to believe
those sunflowers can grow out what appears to be solid pavement!
We were surprised to see banana trees here!
Didn't see any bananas growing on them though.
Didn't see any bananas growing on them though.
Nancy put these together - partly from flowers
she picked along the canal bank.
she picked along the canal bank.
Only one more week until we turn the Accord over to
the next partners, Dick & Carol Tuschick. We expect
to meet them back in Moissac. Hard to believe our
month has gone by so fast!
the next partners, Dick & Carol Tuschick. We expect
to meet them back in Moissac. Hard to believe our
month has gone by so fast!
24 July - 11:00 AM - Dep Buzet-sur-Baïse
11:45 AM - cross Baïse viaduct
3:00 PM - Arr: Sérignac-sur-Garonne
tied on wall, free elect & H2O
11:45 AM - cross Baïse viaduct
3:00 PM - Arr: Sérignac-sur-Garonne
tied on wall, free elect & H2O
This pretty boat was tied under "our tree" (see Pg 3) in
Sérignac-sur-Garonne. Formerly a hire boat, the (French)
owner repainted it in these bright colors - which he proudly
told me he spent 2 months laying out on his computer!
(If you click on the photo, you'll see his two dogs at left.)
Sérignac-sur-Garonne. Formerly a hire boat, the (French)
owner repainted it in these bright colors - which he proudly
told me he spent 2 months laying out on his computer!
(If you click on the photo, you'll see his two dogs at left.)
Note: About our name... When we bought the
boat, her name was Amarok. Our partnership
voted to change the name to Accord. However,
we have yet to paint out the old name and paint in
the new one. (Any "photos" you may have seen
with ACCORD have been Photoshopped!)
boat, her name was Amarok. Our partnership
voted to change the name to Accord. However,
we have yet to paint out the old name and paint in
the new one. (Any "photos" you may have seen
with ACCORD have been Photoshopped!)
| . To see a MAP of the . Navigable Waterways of FRANCE . and a Map of Our Route, Click Here |