An Interesting Year
Diary of a first mate

The “Wild Goose” had been wintered in Capestang, spent some of the summer at Castelnaudary and was moored at Castelsarrasin for the following winter.

That year, the “Wild Goose” covered 1300 km and we dealt with 469 locks, as we explored the north and then came south. Our travels this year have covered roughly 250 km and 69 locks, pausing much more often. Every lock has been a different experience, including those operated brilliantly by friendly, efficient lock keepers, those where a mid stream pole has to be turned clockwise and those of Toulouse which were quite unique, an unforgettable experience.

However, as often happens, we have found it has been the little things, some might say, the trivialities of life, that have made our journey worthwhile.

I saw my first live hoopoo (a bird) at La Somail, which also boasts a barge as a floating supermarket! A red squirrel was watched for some time near Beziers, definitely a rare sight in England nowadays.

Having seen several old lavoirs in Burgundy last year, we have seen more along the Midi. These wash houses, frequently linked to the canals, are eighteenth and nineteenth century buildings built for general hygiene and cleanliness, and we even saw one lady still doing her weekly washing canal side!

Observing a coypu swimming is now a regular occurrence, seeing young ones at Castelnaudary and adults at Castelsarrasin, for example.

We remember blackberrying in the English countryside as youngsters. In this region of France, plums are abundant in late summer. They have been collected and bottled, ready for winter. Some of them need quite a lot of sugar!

Everywhere we have met friendly people. An American couple who were going home even emptied their boat of all consumables into ours, a great gesture for international relationships.

There were the endless fields of sunflowers in the summer, but most were protected by deep ditches, as well as nettles, so that close up photography became an unfulfilled dream. I even lost a pair of gloves trying to get into one field!

Until we found the knack of correct assembly, our folding bikes were a source of much laughter, as the saddles insisted on sinking while we cycled along! Being helpless with laughter maybe OK on the fairly peaceful tow paths but we felt it was definitely not to be recommended for busy roads. Now we chuckle at the memory of our first rides in quiet places!

We also acquired the knack of turning those midstream poles which activate automatic locks. This is not as simple as it sounds, as the helmsman needs to steer accurately and steadily so that the pole can be grasped and turned in the right direction by the member of the crew who is balancing erect on the moving boat. Failure to do so, means that the lock will not work and further boating manoeuvres must be taken. I am pleased to say that we were successful every time – good luck and good judgement must have been with us on those days.

There have been many peaceful moments too when we could gaze at the ever changing patterns of the water, the ubiquitous reflections and the frequently sparkling waters of early morning and late evening; so my camera has been pretty busy.

Evenings are definitely cool down, or relaxing, times when we can talk to each other, watch a DVD or even play traditional board games. Mind you, even Ludo can become strategic and almost warlike when an overwhelming desire to win develops. Catching up with reading and even doing some needlecraft have also been fitted in, between pleasant canal side strolls.

We are now resting at Castelsarrasin for this winter, giving us time to recharge our personal batteries and to ensure that “The Goose” is ready for next year’s adventures when we travel onwards, west of Agen.

The boatyard people at Castelsarrasin are included in our list of friendly people. Even here there are moments of hilarity, as well as frustration as neither their English nor our French are as perfect as we would wish. However, with miming, drawing and a few familiar words, we all cope pretty well.

We have seen so much while travelling the canals and also while moored at so many vastly different places, that we can only look forward to next year with pleasure. Do come and share our world. You will be most welcome.