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A shady tie-up in scenic downtown Sallèles-d'Aude on the Canal de Jonction - enroute to Narbonne.
Aboard the AMAROK
August 2012 - Page 2
Sallèles-d'Aude
Mon Aug 20 - 10:15 AM dep Argens-Minervois
11:30 AM - Ventenac-en-Minervois
12:15 PM - Le Somail - stopped for lunch
2:00 PM - Port La Robine - 250 L diesel fuel
2:45 PM - turned into Canal de Jonction
4:15 PM - Arr: Sallèles-d'Aude
Today: 13.5 mi - 5 locks - 4.6 eng hrs
11:30 AM - Ventenac-en-Minervois
12:15 PM - Le Somail - stopped for lunch
2:00 PM - Port La Robine - 250 L diesel fuel
2:45 PM - turned into Canal de Jonction
4:15 PM - Arr: Sallèles-d'Aude
Today: 13.5 mi - 5 locks - 4.6 eng hrs
Goslings on the bank in Sallèles-d'Aude.
Belle trying to keep a friendly dog from jumping aboard.
.
Aug 21 - 10:30 AM dep Sallèles-d'Aude tie-up
10:40 AM - Dean fell off boat into canal!!!
11:15 AM - continued on through lock
11:45 AM - X'd the Aude, enter Canal de la Robine
12:30 PM - stopped for lunch, w friendly dog!
2:15 PM - Arr: Narbonne - quai-side tie-up
Today: 7.4 mi - 3 locks - 2.9 eng hrs
10:40 AM - Dean fell off boat into canal!!!
11:15 AM - continued on through lock
11:45 AM - X'd the Aude, enter Canal de la Robine
12:30 PM - stopped for lunch, w friendly dog!
2:15 PM - Arr: Narbonne - quai-side tie-up
Today: 7.4 mi - 3 locks - 2.9 eng hrs
Dean in the canal! Fortunately rescued
with only minor scrapes and brusies.
with only minor scrapes and brusies.
Aug 22 - stayed in Narbonne...
Walked into town, celebrated Belle's 86th Birthday
with lunch at an outdoor restaurant. Checked out
the Cathederal and the underground Roman ruins -
very COOL on this warm, sunny day. Temps have
been in the 90's every day since we arrived last week.
Walked into town, celebrated Belle's 86th Birthday
with lunch at an outdoor restaurant. Checked out
the Cathederal and the underground Roman ruins -
very COOL on this warm, sunny day. Temps have
been in the 90's every day since we arrived last week.
Aug 23 - 10:45 AM - Dep Narbonne - headed back up the
Canal de la Robine, across the River Aude into the
Canal de Jonction.
1:00 PM - Stopped for lunch in Sallèles-d'Aude
3:30 PM - Rejoined Canal du Midi at Port La Robine
4:30 PM - Arr: Argeliers - pretty shady bank tie-up
Mini golf and pony rides here.
Today: 12 mi - 8 locks - 4.7 eng hrs
Canal de la Robine, across the River Aude into the
Canal de Jonction.
1:00 PM - Stopped for lunch in Sallèles-d'Aude
3:30 PM - Rejoined Canal du Midi at Port La Robine
4:30 PM - Arr: Argeliers - pretty shady bank tie-up
Mini golf and pony rides here.
Today: 12 mi - 8 locks - 4.7 eng hrs
The very low bridge in Narbonne. We stopped,
and turned around, just before we got here.
and turned around, just before we got here.
Narbonne streets are no place for a motor-home!
(Mouseover picture to see the other end.)
(Mouseover picture to see the other end.)
Postcard from NARBONNE... Belle & Dean along the Canal de la Robine.
Celebrating Belle's 86th birthday at an outdoor Café in Narbonne.
Sunset through the trees in Argeliers.
Sunset dinner aboard in Argeliers.
The lock from the River Aude back up in the Canal de Jonction.
There's a place here to dry-dock a barge by closing the gates.
There's a place here to dry-dock a barge by closing the gates.
Aug 24 - 11 AM - Dep Argeliers - after bread & mkt run
1 PM - Arr: Capestang - stopped for lunch
(passed though low bridge with no problem)
3:15 PM - Arr: Poilhès - shady bank tie-up
Nancy cooked Ragout de Lapin (Rabbit Stew)
Weather finally turning cooler after 8 hot days.
Today: 13.5 mi - 0 locks - 3.2 eng hr
1 PM - Arr: Capestang - stopped for lunch
(passed though low bridge with no problem)
3:15 PM - Arr: Poilhès - shady bank tie-up
Nancy cooked Ragout de Lapin (Rabbit Stew)
Weather finally turning cooler after 8 hot days.
Today: 13.5 mi - 0 locks - 3.2 eng hr
Aug 25 - 10:45 AM - Dep Poilhès - 11:20 - thru Tunnel
11:30 AM - Columbiers - stopped for lunch
1:30 PM - started down Fonserannes locks
3:30 PM - docked in Béziers, but decided to
move on... 4:30 PM - Arr: Villeneuve-les-Béziers
Shady wall tie-up, nice spot
Dinner at exc restaurant, Western Music Festival in
progress! Today: 12.6 mi - 9 locks - 4.5 eng hrs
11:30 AM - Columbiers - stopped for lunch
1:30 PM - started down Fonserannes locks
3:30 PM - docked in Béziers, but decided to
move on... 4:30 PM - Arr: Villeneuve-les-Béziers
Shady wall tie-up, nice spot
Dinner at exc restaurant, Western Music Festival in
progress! Today: 12.6 mi - 9 locks - 4.5 eng hrs
Going under the notoriously low bridge at Capestang.
A Locaboat Penichette coming through the Capestang Bridge.
View from the top of the Capestang Bridge. We celebrated a successful passage by stopping for lunch!
(On the left, two British Euroclassic cruisers like the ones we almost bought before settling on Amarok.)
(On the left, two British Euroclassic cruisers like the ones we almost bought before settling on Amarok.)
It's sad to see the plane trees dying from an infectious fungus.
(I read online that this disease was brought to Europe during
WW2 by America GI's who carried wooden lunch boxes!)
(I read online that this disease was brought to Europe during
WW2 by America GI's who carried wooden lunch boxes!)
Our tie-up at the Port-du-Plaisance in Poilhès, our next stop along the Canal du Midi from Capestang.
Cuisinaire Nancy serving Ragout de Lapin (Rabbit Stew) to our
guests. Meanwhile, Belle is happily checking her pics of the day.
guests. Meanwhile, Belle is happily checking her pics of the day.
Heading through the Malpas Tunnel on the Canal du Midi.
(Mouse-over for another photo looking back the other side.)
(Mouse-over for another photo looking back the other side.)
Mouse-over...
Dean tapping a giant wooden wine cast in Columbiers.
A tight squeeze when you meet a hotel barge on the Midi.
"Bumper Boats" blocking the Canal du Midi! The first boat
is attemping to moor to the bank. The second boat waited
until the last moment to turn away and hit the back of the
first boat. (We waited patiently until it was over to pass.)
is attemping to moor to the bank. The second boat waited
until the last moment to turn away and hit the back of the
first boat. (We waited patiently until it was over to pass.)
The Canal Bridge over the River Orb - built in 1695!
Villeneuve-les-Béziers was the end of the line for
Nancy's parents. Despite the falling-into-the-canal
episode, they seemed to have had a great time. It was
their first trip to France - and perhaps their last! (They
are 86 and 88.)
The log of AMAROK, along with more photos of Belle
& Dean, continues on August 2012 - Page 3.
Nancy's parents. Despite the falling-into-the-canal
episode, they seemed to have had a great time. It was
their first trip to France - and perhaps their last! (They
are 86 and 88.)
The log of AMAROK, along with more photos of Belle
& Dean, continues on August 2012 - Page 3.
Sallèles-d'Aude to Béziers