Week 13
Saturday 20 October 2007
After a lazy day set off to find out what time the rugby final was on and where we might be able to watch it. Found a little bar with a wide screen TV only about 10 French people and us in there luckily the French were cheering for England so we were ok! Shame about the score but it was a good game.
Sunday 21 October 2007
Wind up again so decided to stay put for another day. Had a wander round the local market. Saw some signs for a bull fight that afternoon so went to take a look it was 20 euros each to get so we didnt go in but we could see some of it from the gateway. First the matadors came in in all their finery and paraded round the ring then a chap was doing what looked like some sort of dance on a horse and then in came the first bull. All was going ok until the matador started spearing him in the shoulder at which point Christine refused to watch any more and we left. We had read that the Carmargue matadors did not spear the bulls, they had to remove rosettes from the bulls horns this was obviously not a traditional Carmargue bull fight!! Later joined the English couple on the barge next door for a game of cards and some wine . it was a very late night!
Monday 22 October 2007
Said goodbye to our English friends and set off on the Canal du Rhone. It was a quiet day on the canal, a bit windy but not too bad. Along the way we saw Carmargue horses, bulls and kingfishers. Traveled about 25km and arrived in Aigues Mortes (the City of Dead Waters) but could not moor up near the town centre as the water at the canal sides was too shallow, after trying various places we had to moor almost under a bridge as the water was deeper.
Tuesday 23 October 2007
Happy Birthday to Meghan
Cycled into Aigues Mortes which is a walled city (a bit like Rhodes). Nice place but a bit touristy. There was a wonderful biscuit/chocolate shop with biscuits in almost every flavour you could imagine. They also had a range of chocolates which were made to look exactly like olives strange but they tasted really nice!! Tried to find out about wintering the boat here but the Port de Plaisance and the 2 boat yards were both closed. Cycled on to Grau du Roi, the next town along and on the way saw an etang full of flamingoes which was an amazing sight. Also saw the enormous salt stores along the canal bank. Grand du Roi is lovely fishing town with a quayside full of little shops and restaurants a little bit like Weymouth and it was here we had our first sight of the Mediterranean which was really exciting a great sense of achievement .. we had made it!!! It was a lovely hot sunny day so we bought some food and had a picnic on the beach and watched the sailing boats out at sea .. perfect day for it. Went for a paddle but due to the recent cold winds the water was pretty cold! Asked here about wintering the boat but unfortunately everywhere was full. Cycled on again to Port Carmargue to find out about wintering but alas no, everywhere was either full or could not keep the boat on the dry land for as long as we needed things are not looking good!! On the way back to the boat through Grau du Roi the fishing boats were coming in and there were hundreds and hundreds of seagulls circling around above them. Saw a lady who appeared to be going along the canal side with cat food feeding all the stray cats. By the time we got back to the boat that night it was dark.
Wednesday 24 October 2007
Set off along the Canal du Rhone a Sete and saw a motor cruiser from Poole. The chap gave us a few ideas of where to ask to winter the boat. Grande Motte was the next place along to find out about wintering but the only mooring place along the canal side was inaccessible due to some drainage works going on so we carried on. Stopped at Perols and asked about wintering but no, everywhere full . oh dear! On to Pavalas les Flots and moored up for the night. Walked into the town, again on the Mediterranean coast, and asked at the enormous marina about wintering the boat FULL! Starting to get a bit worried now!
Thursday 25 October 2007
Happy Birthday to Megan and Yvonne
Went to get fuel and tried the last marina in Pavalas which had been shut yesterday .. the lady was not sure if they had room but gave us the prices which were pretty extortionate and told us to phone the next day. Set off and again saw lots of flamingoes and Carmargue horses along the way. Arrived in Frontignan and moored up as they have a large marina as does Sete, the last place on this canal! Cycled to Sete about 6 km an enormous fishing port the fishing boats were huge. Nice town, again with lots of touristy shops and fish restaurants all along the quayside. Went straight to the marina they have room for us in the water, which appeared to have no security, but nowhere on dry land doh! At least it is an option although a little pricey. It rained quite heavily during the night.
Friday 26 October 2007
Awoke to rain and it rained and rained all day the worst day we have had no let up all day. The funniest thing happened, Darryl was on deck getting one of the jerry cans to fill with water but as it was raining he had his hood up on his sweatshirt. A guy from a Swiss boat in front of us came and asked him, in quite an aggressive manner, what he thought he was doing Darryl looked at him and then the guy realised he was not a thug stealing from the boat, he actually owned it!!! Nice of him to be keeping an eye out for us though. Walked to Frontignan marina to find out about wintering and got drenched. Guess what no room at the inn! However, the very nice young man in the marina office called Port St Louis for us, where we had read they have lots of room to dry dock boats and . hurrah they have room and we are booked and at a reasonable price. Thanks goodness for that. We will make our way there at the beginning of December. This will mean back tracking along the canal we have just come along and going down another stretch of the Rhone. Ordered some bits for the boat from a boat shop .. they wont be in til Tuesday but we are in no hurry now, we can just relax here and enjoy ourselves only downside is the moorings are right next to the TGV railway line!
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