Day 8 - first full day on the boat.

Left Trebes about 10 with a very short instruction on how to drive our rather large 11.5m, rather new boat. Arrived at the first lock and had no time to think about it as they were waiting for us to drive straight in as they can fit 3 boats in a lock at the same time as long as they are not 3 of the REALLY large ones.

Helping hands came from others just to get us through number 1 lock, then we were on our own for lock 2 and 3. These locks are all joined together so there is no stopping for a rest it is go, go, go with ropes flying everywhere. So much to think about.

   The back of our first lock experience.

   We made it to the other side and pulled over to get ourselves together. OMG just the two of us, this is going to be a challenge.

   Cruising along the canal.

Our first experience of stopping for a quick look around was at a sleepy, and I mean SLEEPY, little town called Marie where we rode our bikes around and lunch back on the boat, lucky we bought those supplies. Nothing opened on a Sunday just like it was back in Maitland when I was a kid, 50 years ago. OMG how long ago?

   Had to wait till 1.30 for the lock keeper to open up the lock. Locks open at 9 - 12.30 and then from 1.30 to 7 in the evening. That is our boat on the back left of the picture. In the middle month of summer they are open all day.

Not too far down the canal and the next triple lock was approaching.

    We are getting much better at this boating stuff and other boats are commenting - 'is it only the two of you' and they are pretty impressed. This lock slowed us up big time as there were three boats already waiting when we arrived and there were boats on the other side coming down the canal also waiting. In total we were here for 2 hours.

   Lock filling up and our boat in background waiting.

    We are getting very clever even having time to take a quick pic. Sometimes I have to be on the top of the lock with the ropes to walk through to the next lock with the rope while Mez drives through and then when we are on the last of the locks in a double or triple lock then I stay on the boat otherwise I will be left behind.

   Water level going down.

    Moving out of the lock into the canal. Everyone still asking 'only the two of you?'

   For a fair bit of the day we were behind a boat with 4 English people on board and they were a bit of a punish as they were always stuffing up when getting into the locks and this meant a lot more sudden manovering from us to compensate for them. They made us look like experts. Nice people though.

    Very much a wine producing area, beautiful countryside.

   The day went from one lock to the next, to the next very low bridge. You have to duck down very low when going underneath them otherwise you will be knocked overboard. Very exhausting day but lots of fun, getting better and better at this canal adventure.

    Arrived at La Redorte around 7pm found a spot along the canal and poured our first glass of wine for the day. Wow what a big one. Got the last booking at the little restaurant on the left in the above pic. Thought we would get to bed early but you never seem to go to bed early as the sun doesn't set till 9.40 and it is still very light even after it does. 

BIG DAY