Sorry about that interruption...

At last update, we were still in Paris and about to head to the South of France for our 'barge' trip down the Canal Du Midi.  All of that happened......and it was wonderful.....but we were essentially without cyber-connection for that whole time.  A little disconcerting for me, as I am addicted to cyber-connectivity.  And then I intended to update the blog as soon as we got home.....but all of those "welcome home calamities" began immediately.
On Friday (Oct-5) we boarded a train in Paris and traveled to Castlenaudery.....a beautiful little town where we would get the boat.

On Saturday, after our operation briefing, some test driving in the Grande Basin, we set uot on our journey down the canal.

Over the course of the week, we would navigate through about 40 locks on the canal.  Our first encounter out of Castlenaudery was the largest, a 4 compartment lock.

Traveling through the countryside on the canal was wonderful.  The speed limit is about 5 mph.....so with the bikes we had rented, you can ride or walk along the path by the canal.  Boats tie up anywhere and everywhere along the canal.....for a walk into a village for shopping....eating....or wine tasting.  One evening, a restaurant owner drove her car to the canal to pick us up and haul us to here restaurant for dinner.

The food, the wine and the company were superb.  We had a wonderful trip.....saw so many sights and did so many interesting things.  Always great to travel, and always great to return home.