Canal du Midi > Days #5, 6 & 7…back to Homps, Carcassane and La Redorte

Everyone is up bright and early with Bob so keen to go he wants to start before it is even full light. In any event, cups of coffee in hand and our cold weather gear on, about 7 C, we are off. Today we want to run all the way back to Homps…..so we should be behind the wheel 6-7 hours. we will also need to get through 2 double and 2 single locks. At the first of the locks we post up to wait our turn and Annie sets off to investigate how others are doing. On her return we learn we need to change our mooring line strategy …..we are now going upstream so the lock fills rather than empties….hmmm time to think this through ….so we have to either throw the lines up about fifteen feet or stay out of the boat with the ropes…Option #2 is agreed on.

Bob bringing Caprice in:

Annie on the lines…

……and the water rushes in:

No worries, we are on fire and passing through the locks like veritable pros. Lunch is on the go as Caprice is being run at full throttle……by 4:30 PM we are snug in the boat basin at Homps….

The ladies shower and Bob and I grab the car and race off to secure supplies:

Tonite, we will dine on blanquette de veaux, gallete de patates and a nice salad followed by some amandine tarts and of course washed down with a plentiful supply of white and red wine:

After which the boys retire to the after deck for well deserved Gin & Tonics.

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October 6th

A very windy night with ropes pulling on the boat. Up and at ’em, cloudy day but with an uplifting forecast of sun and mid 20’s C. We leave the Caprice and opt for the Clio to get to Carcassanne, about a 45 minute drive. Got there just as the sun put in an appearance and we set out to explore what really is a wonderful heritage site……touristy but neat nevertheless…

Not a great meal, but not so bad either, quite pleasant to see boats and ducks go by. Then it is back to the boat…..

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October 7th

A sunny day but windy again….. we decide to do a day trip in the boat past a little village called La Redorte …..it is a pretty cruise and we pass through a lock quite smoothly and end up below a double lock, stopping to gawk at other boats……much more fun looking at other people’s faux pas, haha! Each lock which has a lock keeper also sells various items …..

Then another stop in La Redorte for bread and pastries and of course the local wine co-op, before returning to Homps.

Back at the Le Boat basin we start packing our stuff and a final supper on the boat….simple meal tonite. In true maritime fashion we had fish soup, a hearty cassoulette, tons of baguettes and wine to toast the end of this cruising adventure !!!