(#12) All that other good stuff
The bow thruster decided not to work, once again on John's watch, so we pull into shore and make the call. The tech arrives and is about to exchange switches once again. No, no we say that was already done. Ok, ok meet me at my base tomorrow and I will be waiting to fix the problem. Yah right and we've seen pigs fly too. To our surprise the technician, Patrice, was true to his word, as we pulled in he was moving towards our boat with a new switch and finished in less than 10 minutes. We had a much longer wait to fill the water tank. We also were able to get clean linens, towels, a bike lock, hot showers and so on. We walked across a bridge a found a "cave" (wine cellar or store), tried some varietals and bought a few kegs at 12.50 euros for 5 litres per keg. Pretty decent wine to boot. Then we strolled down the street to sample at a different 'cave' where we blew the bank account and bought a few bottles of wine for 20 euros. Such thirsty work we had to stop for a reprieve by the canal before returning to the boat were we had freshly baked pizzas John & Deb had just purchased and sampled our newly purchased vintage kegs.
As we travelled towards the turn off for Narbonne we pulled to shore many times. Sometimes being successful in finding a town or winery as posted on the canal and many times not successful but so what we are on holidays. One time we walked into a town for lunch and some provisions where finding the restaurant after a circuitous route laid out by signs we are informed the restaurant is just closing as lunch time is finished. Out comes the chef, so Deb with mastery of the language (she taught French Immersion) relates our situation to which we are informed that if we all have the same dish he will make us lunch. Magnificent meal, French cooking at its best and the desserts were heavenly, I think the 'addition' (what the French of the area refer to as the bill) was less than 70 Euros for the entire crew.
Another time we pull over to a church turned 'cave', tried a few samples after which Pave' swallowed a fly, I don't know why I think she'll die. As she is in the throws of the dry heaves the proprietor is announcing "Don't do anything here or you will have to clean it up", over and over again. Also in only the manner French can administer he espouses the virtues of fatty French food over fatty North American food. Foie Gras vs Wendy's, up yours with a rubber hose Frenchie. Fortunately the canal is a very short distance from the front door where we think the fly is left to its own demise. So after a cleansing of the palate for Pave' we push off again. We did buy some wine but the only good thing about it is the reusable glass stopper. Their barrel wine was much better and they sold that in 5 L plastic kegs with a spigot for about 10 Euro.
The scene of the fly's soon to come demise
At another stop advertising a family winery, we are entertained by an older gentleman who says his children are sadistic as they make him do the sales. I don't think he was worse for the wear in spite of the sadism of his children as he travelled the world from comfort of the tasting table in the shade of the trees around the estate. There wasn't any wine actually produced there although one of the son's was considering to begin making organic wines. I ended up in the dog house because when going ashore I said "I going to try some wine" but interpreted as "I'm going to tie the line".
One aspect of our travels was the absolute absence of people in any town before 15:00 Hr that we were certain the places were deserted. Even cars and trucks were far and few between. As well every place had there own timetable for opening and closing of businesses.
Is anybody out there?
We arrived at one of the locks during the lunch 'hour' so we walked about the area and were entertained by a collection of animated metal sculptures which upon closer inspection proved to be on a slightly sexual bent. They were also motion activated which provided a more intense perspective of that particular inclination.
Pay close attention to the white one in the back behind the head being slapped
A few items for sale
The number of low bridges we passed under or through, depending on your point of view, were innumerable or at least it seemed that they were. During the initial shakedown cruise I am certain that I know what it feels like to be a pinball. First the bow shoots off in one direction after careening with an abutment causing the stern and or midships to flow towards the other abutment while you frantically spin the wheel to reduced the for certain following rendezvous of some part of the boat with another immovable object. The procedure got more refined, so much so, that it was damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead, spin the wheel, use the bow thruster (maybe) and hopefully we come through unscathed. Oh yes, don't look behind you no matter how much headroom you think you have coming up for the next bridge. There were a couple of unintended head scrapes or at least brushes of the top of the hat.
One not so low
One more common in clearance
As we make the turn, into the Canal de la Robine we come to another lock and drift up to the gates, sounds like we have everything under control doesn't it. Well these upcoming sets of locks are manually operated and time for another blog.
As we travelled towards the turn off for Narbonne we pulled to shore many times. Sometimes being successful in finding a town or winery as posted on the canal and many times not successful but so what we are on holidays. One time we walked into a town for lunch and some provisions where finding the restaurant after a circuitous route laid out by signs we are informed the restaurant is just closing as lunch time is finished. Out comes the chef, so Deb with mastery of the language (she taught French Immersion) relates our situation to which we are informed that if we all have the same dish he will make us lunch. Magnificent meal, French cooking at its best and the desserts were heavenly, I think the 'addition' (what the French of the area refer to as the bill) was less than 70 Euros for the entire crew.
Another time we pull over to a church turned 'cave', tried a few samples after which Pave' swallowed a fly, I don't know why I think she'll die. As she is in the throws of the dry heaves the proprietor is announcing "Don't do anything here or you will have to clean it up", over and over again. Also in only the manner French can administer he espouses the virtues of fatty French food over fatty North American food. Foie Gras vs Wendy's, up yours with a rubber hose Frenchie. Fortunately the canal is a very short distance from the front door where we think the fly is left to its own demise. So after a cleansing of the palate for Pave' we push off again. We did buy some wine but the only good thing about it is the reusable glass stopper. Their barrel wine was much better and they sold that in 5 L plastic kegs with a spigot for about 10 Euro.
The scene of the fly's soon to come demise
At another stop advertising a family winery, we are entertained by an older gentleman who says his children are sadistic as they make him do the sales. I don't think he was worse for the wear in spite of the sadism of his children as he travelled the world from comfort of the tasting table in the shade of the trees around the estate. There wasn't any wine actually produced there although one of the son's was considering to begin making organic wines. I ended up in the dog house because when going ashore I said "I going to try some wine" but interpreted as "I'm going to tie the line".
One aspect of our travels was the absolute absence of people in any town before 15:00 Hr that we were certain the places were deserted. Even cars and trucks were far and few between. As well every place had there own timetable for opening and closing of businesses.
Is anybody out there?
We arrived at one of the locks during the lunch 'hour' so we walked about the area and were entertained by a collection of animated metal sculptures which upon closer inspection proved to be on a slightly sexual bent. They were also motion activated which provided a more intense perspective of that particular inclination.
Pay close attention to the white one in the back behind the head being slapped
A few items for sale
The number of low bridges we passed under or through, depending on your point of view, were innumerable or at least it seemed that they were. During the initial shakedown cruise I am certain that I know what it feels like to be a pinball. First the bow shoots off in one direction after careening with an abutment causing the stern and or midships to flow towards the other abutment while you frantically spin the wheel to reduced the for certain following rendezvous of some part of the boat with another immovable object. The procedure got more refined, so much so, that it was damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead, spin the wheel, use the bow thruster (maybe) and hopefully we come through unscathed. Oh yes, don't look behind you no matter how much headroom you think you have coming up for the next bridge. There were a couple of unintended head scrapes or at least brushes of the top of the hat.
One not so low
One more common in clearance
As we make the turn, into the Canal de la Robine we come to another lock and drift up to the gates, sounds like we have everything under control doesn't it. Well these upcoming sets of locks are manually operated and time for another blog.
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