June 24 Carcassonne to Beziers

The weather has been perfect, as long as one remembers to put on enough sunscreen, everywhere. I always miss somewhere, and …

Fonserannes staircase lock looking upwards from our trip in September.

The canal is very quiet: I only see 3 or 4 boats moving in a day. On the trip down the big staircase locks at Fonserranes, just outside Beziers, I was the only boat moving, despite there being only 2 times a day in each direction, and the trip through all 7 locks took only 28 minutes. sometimes, however, the Covid issue invades even this wonderful experience, and Beziers port was full of barges (not moving) and making any attempt to stop again here was not possible.

The locks each have their own charm- sometimes enhanced by the lockkeepers. The lock at Aguille is especially memorable, with  the sculptures made of recycled bits of metal and wood, with some of them animated.

the Pyrenees mountains in the distance with vast vineyards in the foreground

and finally, a quiet, gorgeous sunset to end another great day, steps from a Mediterranean beach

And then there is the wonderful countryside. Fields of ripening grain, fields of grapes everywhere, and the canal itself. The tall rows of plane trees are dying from a disease, and are being cut down and burned in huge pits. A losing cause, I’m afraid, and there are skeletons of many of these dead trees. However, where there are trees, there is very welcome shade. VNF (France’s waterways authority) are making a very concerted effort to replant trees along the banks, and in a few years (20?), these new trees will be able to provide that shade.