The Locks on the Canal

We’ve spent the last 2 days plodding down the canal on the boat. It’s been very relaxing and lots of fun doing the locks. Some facts : The lock system construction lasted from 1666 to 1681, during the reign of Louis XIV. The Canal du Midi is one of the oldest canals of Europe still in operation. The Canal du Midi was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Pierre-Paul Riquet, designer of the Canal du Midi died in October 1680 shortly before its completion.

The locks are electric and manned by a lock keeper who controls the opening and closing of the locks. Basically we pull up and wait for the go ahead, we always have to have someone aside to rope the boat to the bollards (usually Mick or Ken) when the gate opens we cruise in, Leisa and I throw the ropes ashore to be wrapped and we keep the boat from moving. The gates close behind us and the water drains out so the boat lowers until the water is level with the canal in front of us, once the gates open, we unrope and cruise through picking up the shore person down the way. Sometimes we can do this every 300 meters or so and we’ve had a few runs on 4000 meters between. We think we’ve done about 30 so far. 

At each lock is the lock keepers house where they live and have a small office to the side. Some are just ordinary and others are beautifully maintained. Occasionally there will be a shop attached usually run by the lock keepers spouse.   

Our first night at Peyruque Lock the lovely lock keepers wife took our order for bread and croissants for the next day and delivered them to us in the morning. She also made chocolate & citrus tarts, we’d bought chocolate for dessert then the next morning as we were leaving she surprised us with citrus that she’d baked that morning, they were so lovely and fresh they had to go in our fridge to set. They were a yummy afternoon treat.

Most of the lock keepers are friendly and are amused by our Australian flags plastered over the boat. I think they also quite like our boat skills, we watched a couple of boats come in and out of the locks sideways with lots of shouting going on, we have a great system and it’s working well. 

Last night we parked along side the canal, little did we know 5 mins boating to the next lock was a restaurant! We stopped in there to have a morning coffee and met some other Australians who were WALKING the canal!! We were impressed and also wondered why?? Lots of people cycle the canal and it would be beautiful to do so but walking... 🤷‍♀️

This morning at around 7 am a boat came past us and used spikes to rope up to the edge of the canal and a couple of young guys jumped on push bikes, gave us a wave and pedaled off. As we were getting ready to leave we noticed their boat had come adrift and was smack bang sideways in the middle of the canal. Mick and Ken did some boat maneuvering to get it right and Ken hammered the pegs in tight, maybe too tight as we’re parked up and they haven’t passed us, they may still be trying to untie the boat. 

We’re now in the port at Carcassonne and plan to spend 2 or 3 nights here. We’re hooked up to shore power and have lots to do nearby. I imagine after 2 days we’ll happily be back cruising down the canal.