(#14) Leaving Narbonne

The next day we are going to head out but we hear the first lock to travel through is under repairs so we had to the market for provisions. Returning to the boat we hear that the locks still being worked on, OK we will go after lunch to a spot where we can monitor any boat movement. A sumptuous meal of couscous Royal cooked by the mother of the owner and served piping hot. There just about nothing they could or would do to ensure we enjoyed our meal. They moved people from tables so we could have 6 chairs together, then they moved a couple of smokers as far away as possible and where the breeze was blowing away from us. Sliding out of our chairs with over stuffed tummies we amble back to the boat, thankfully only about 30 M away and downhill mostly.

The market

So civilized, a bar in the market where you can get a quick bite and a drink

Lunch, it was delicious

A wee refreshment

We must first complete a U-turn so we are headed in the correct direction which is accomplished without any incident. We fortunately were located directly across the canal from the "Well Marked Button" to push that will allow us to enter the lock without encountering a boat coming the opposite way causing us to back up if passage by was not feasible. There is a smaller boat waiting to travel out as well, we notice they have pushed the button as we cast off and we pull in behind them as a boat comes down the canal and ties up almost in the same spot we just vacated. We all wait for the light to change and wait, when what the hell another boat comes from the lock. Not to be dissuaded by this I march up tot the control panel push the button and do not get the desired response which is a change in the traffic lights. I 'politely' push the contact button for the lock keeper and "politely ask" WTF is going on when we see 3 boats come down and there is no change in the lights even when we pushed the all important button at different times for over an hour. OH, it seems that "ze booton must be pooshed" just as the oncoming boat clears the bridge just ahead of us. Oh did I push that button now which produce the coveted green light.

This is the bridge the boat must clear before pushing the button. It is very difficult to see and I don't know if you can expand the picture but the black spot above the wall on the right side is the edge of the traffic lights that we waited unmercifully for to change. Did I mention that it was stinking hot with no shade or breeze.

The canal through Narbonne

As we were going up the canal now it meant that the procedure was quite different in the locks and some were quite significant in the elevation change. Plus the smaller boat had difficulties maneuvering in the lock so I got on board one time to assist and ended up taking a massive gash out of my thumb. It was a long way up and my first attempt was useless so next time I really put my back into it without noticing the extended cover over the front windscreen, somewhat like those 1950's vehicle that looked as if they had a coloured croupier visor over the wind screen. That attempt failed also as my hand stopped mid swing. The 'skipper' was an admitted novice and was so grateful for the assistance he had opened a "cold" beer for us but I was already back on board our boat when he informed me of his generosity. Remember what I had said about travelling in a pack well this was not the best pack to travel in. So when we got tot the same area that we had stopped at coming down we pulled over and staked the boat. I don't think I explained the staking process prior so anyways there are 2 substantial metal pegs just under a metre long with a pointed end that you pound into the bank with a sledge hammer and then secure the mooring lines around them at which time the gang plank can be dropped onto the bank for easier ingress and egress of the boat. We also pulled over hoping the other boat would continue on and we would have a less stressful travel day went we set off again.

the little boat we were "locked' in with