The Canal du Midi connects the Mediterrean with the Atlantic. It is a working canal, but not as originally intended. Instead of transporting for wine and grain it transports tourists. All the clever bits of engineering still function. The locks, bridges and tunnels still operate. There is even a clever bit of engineering that closes and the canal and places a metal river bed to carry flood waters of one on the rivers across the canal.
We have 5 days cycling the Canal du Midi. It is cyclist heaven. Flat tow path, no cars, tail wind, shade from the endless line of plane trees and moral superiority as smugly pass tourist lazing on their expensive canal boats. There seems to be a french law that requires all boat crews to wear bikinis and lie in the sun on the deck. It makes you wonder what they do on a cloudy day, if there were ever any. It is only the roots of the adjacent pLane trees that seem to emerge from nowhere when waving a cheerful bonjour to the boaters that disrupts the ride.
Starting at Sete on the Mediterraen coast we cycle a liesurely 40 kilomtres each day. Unfortunately all this healthy exercise is completely deteated by the french food. Carcassonne is the end of the ridetrip but a long way from the Atlantic. Carcassonne is famous for having the best preserved fortress city in the world.
We have 5 days cycling the Canal du Midi. It is cyclist heaven. Flat tow path, no cars, tail wind, shade from the endless line of plane trees and moral superiority as smugly pass tourist lazing on their expensive canal boats. There seems to be a french law that requires all boat crews to wear bikinis and lie in the sun on the deck. It makes you wonder what they do on a cloudy day, if there were ever any. It is only the roots of the adjacent pLane trees that seem to emerge from nowhere when waving a cheerful bonjour to the boaters that disrupts the ride.
Starting at Sete on the Mediterraen coast we cycle a liesurely 40 kilomtres each day. Unfortunately all this healthy exercise is completely deteated by the french food. Carcassonne is the end of the ridetrip but a long way from the Atlantic. Carcassonne is famous for having the best preserved fortress city in the world.
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