Already done a journal entry for this so a copy and paste
Gruissan and the wind defeated us. The van was rocking all night for the wrong reasons.
Ventusky indicated tomorrow just as bad, BBC said fresh breeze (my a$$)
So inland was the order of the day with research done on previous visitors (that includes you chaser ) and le Somail was our first port (sic) of call. Lenny HB having been here previously. Appears v pleasant. Right on the canal. Follow local signage not your satnav. But wind still blowing so moved on up canal.
Did not want the displeasure of Carcasonne so chose the first free aire beyond that which is le port de Sèlaga about 5 or 6 spots. Nothing here apart from the occasional boat and disappointed motorhome owner as it's full. And much as I want to move over and really squeeze un ami in. It ain't going to happen.
So a 12 Kms cycle into Castenaudary along a canal with no wind. What could go wrong? (35 Kms later...)
Well the first 2.5 Kms were a quagmire. Moods were teetering on the brink at this stage.
Then .....the classic, what you think of, canal du midi arrived with beautiful lock, patient boaters and tree lined avenue de l'eau in sunshine (ISH) and no wind with a semi reasonable cycle path all the way to Castelnaudary.
Got a fantastic map from office du tourisme and advised to see the moulin de vent where beautiful long views all over.
Cycling back we drank our own grimbergen by an ecluse rather than tourist tax 3.80 EACH for a pression at a cafe on the canal.
Whilst reading the literature we noted that there was another site to see just a little bit up from our aire. It is the highest point of the canal du midi where a water basin fills up the escaped ecluse water which can can go left to the Med or right to the Atlantic.
Fascinating stuff we thought so we cycled towards and eventually found this obelisk (harder than you think) and the gates were closed, but as you have read this so far, you might as well join in the disappointment !
The basin was far more interesting.
If you have seen other entries, I got a lovely smile and wave off my new German fancy lady last night.
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Gruissan and the wind defeated us. The van was rocking all night for the wrong reasons.
Ventusky indicated tomorrow just as bad, BBC said fresh breeze (my a$$)
So inland was the order of the day with research done on previous visitors (that includes you chaser ) and le Somail was our first port (sic) of call. Lenny HB having been here previously. Appears v pleasant. Right on the canal. Follow local signage not your satnav. But wind still blowing so moved on up canal.
Did not want the displeasure of Carcasonne so chose the first free aire beyond that which is le port de Sèlaga about 5 or 6 spots. Nothing here apart from the occasional boat and disappointed motorhome owner as it's full. And much as I want to move over and really squeeze un ami in. It ain't going to happen.
So a 12 Kms cycle into Castenaudary along a canal with no wind. What could go wrong? (35 Kms later...)
Well the first 2.5 Kms were a quagmire. Moods were teetering on the brink at this stage.
Then .....the classic, what you think of, canal du midi arrived with beautiful lock, patient boaters and tree lined avenue de l'eau in sunshine (ISH) and no wind with a semi reasonable cycle path all the way to Castelnaudary.
Got a fantastic map from office du tourisme and advised to see the moulin de vent where beautiful long views all over.
Cycling back we drank our own grimbergen by an ecluse rather than tourist tax 3.80 EACH for a pression at a cafe on the canal.
Whilst reading the literature we noted that there was another site to see just a little bit up from our aire. It is the highest point of the canal du midi where a water basin fills up the escaped ecluse water which can can go left to the Med or right to the Atlantic.
Fascinating stuff we thought so we cycled towards and eventually found this obelisk (harder than you think) and the gates were closed, but as you have read this so far, you might as well join in the disappointment !
The basin was far more interesting.
If you have seen other entries, I got a lovely smile and wave off my new German fancy lady last night.
Report Edit Delete
