Canal du Midi

[Time Out]

Giving the Canal du Midi a go this week for a change. Hired a lovely Linssen 30 sturdy for 3 of us.

From Capestang to Castelnaudry over 7 days. 52 manned ! Locks in total.

Will let you know how I get on. Very much looking forward to it although full on Thames weather last night … even had to double up on lines !

 

[ChromeDome]

Looking forward to your report.

I did Canal du Nivernais a few years ago (rented a Nicols 1100 for 2 couples + 1 teenager) and have to say that in comparison to Berlin, Friesland, the Thames and our home waters (Denmark), the area scored lower. Lowest, actually.

 

[Bouba]

The Canal Du Midi is fabulous....unfortunately, because of a disease of the plane trees, so many have been cutdown that a lot of the canal has lost its charm...

 

[Time Out]

Well the first day and a half was pleasant. Not too different to the upper Thames and the lock keepers were mostly on side although water restrictions are limiting single use.

However now I’m in HOMPs after picking up something round the prop and busting the drive.

Typical! It’s not as if it’s a French Holiday or a Sunday ….

It sounds terminal so not sure what next steps are ! It was all going so well. Didn’t see anything and didn’t hit the bottom.

Oh well …

 

[colhel]

Hope you get going again soon as I'm looking forward to the trip report

 

[Time Out]

The Canal Du Midi is fabulous....unfortunately, because of a disease of the plane trees, so many have been cutdown that a lot of the canal has lost its charm...

I agree. , we started at the base Capestang and for many miles it was open. That said they have planted a new tree very 15 feet for miles on end as well as restored all paths. We saw more cycle tourists than boats ! Just past Somail now and the trees are back !

 

[Time Out]

Hope you get going again soon as I'm looking forward to the trip report

Engineer visited boat and said he would rather not go in ! Can’t blame him. He took it out and performed some hard manoeuvres which I could have done but didn’t want to risk it. Confirmed as large ‘Le boat’ umbrella which they seem to lose daily ! It’s still there as it sounds like a 1970s washing machine but they are keen for us to continue!

I did write up a decent report so far but came back to
It and it had gone ! So will wait until my return.

It’s exactly as expected, very much like the upper Thames but with more scenic villages and locks. That said not as many as I thought but still enough for supplies and decent local produce and food. And of course wine.

Haven’t quite got the full heatwave but it’s as hot as hell inside at night with plenty of things trying to eat you.

I’ve scratched an itch and very much enjoying it but I am not sure I would do it again in a hurry. Perhaps when retired.

The boat does help enormously, I chose the Linssen especially from France Afloat as I am familiar with it and I could not face taking one of those large plastic tubs that are so common here ! Stiff breeze today playing havoc with most of them !

 

[Time Out]

At the final destination tonight. Castlenaudary home of the famous Cassoulet which I shall be having tonight.

Will write up a more detailed report in time but my thoughts remain the same.

I am glad I did it.

I’m glad I hired a solid Dutch steel boat ( Linssen) and not a plastic soap dish. Not knocking them as virtually every other boat was one but they look impossible to handle and not very comfortable! We were in convoy with one today the skipper was a very experienced boat owner but it simply did not have enough powers to deal with conditions today. Proper bumper boats !

I would choose another stretch / part of the country, south was too hot and not as many stopping places as I would have liked. Yes I should have researched more !

We have had a electric and water most stops and the facilities have been first class.

All locks were mannned running to a strict 0900-1200. 1300-1900. That said one keeper offered to lock us through at lunch as we had distance to cover.

All very friendly. Some very ‘traditional’ telling you exactly what to do. No ladders, they can’t help you and you need to ‘announce’ your arrival and have someone take your ropes. Absolutely no issue whatsoever.

Snacked on board most lunches and had some fabulous local cuisine every night.

Only a few bottles of wine too !!

 

[Bouba]

At the final destination tonight. Castlenaudary home of the famous Cassoulet which I shall be having tonight.

Will write up a more detailed report in time but my thoughts remain the same.

I am glad I did it.

I’m glad I hired a solid Dutch steel boat ( Linssen) and not a plastic soap dish. Not knocking them as virtually every other boat was one but they look impossible to handle and not very comfortable! We were in convoy with one today the skipper was a very experienced boat owner but it simply did not have enough powers to deal with conditions today. Proper bumper boats !

I would choose another stretch / part of the country, south was too hot and not as many stopping places as I would have liked. Yes I should have researched more !

We have had a electric and water most stops and the facilities have been first class.

All locks were mannned running to a strict 0900-1200. 1300-1900. That said one keeper offered to lock us through at lunch as we had distance to cover.

All very friendly. Some very ‘traditional’ telling you exactly what to do. No ladders, they can’t help you and you need to ‘announce’ your arrival and have someone take your ropes. Absolutely no issue whatsoever.

Snacked on board most lunches and had some fabulous local cuisine every night.

Only a few bottles of wine too !!

The GRP hire boats handle really well..with a little practice. Many have hydraulic bow thruster...low power engine but large prop and rudder...so respond really well to prop steering..in fact they go great in reverse and can be threaded through any obstruction. A great party trick is to reverse up to a stone embankment and leave the boat in gear and it will pin itself to side of the canal by its stern..allowing you to get on an off or refuel all without tying up.
The problem is that it takes a bit of boating theory and practice....most of what the instructors tells a hiree in their twenty minute session goes over their head and they drive them like a car...but many, very quickly ‘get it’ and manœuvre with confidence and ease

 

[Time Out]

I’m gonna be controversial here and say ‘some’ might. There were so many different shapes and sizes from traditional barge type arrangements to full on blocks of flats. The latter were pretty hopeless. Prob half the ones we followed were boat owners of some description. Some knew the technique but simply did not have the power available or bow thrusters big enough to handle the breeze.

My Linssen of course handled like dream and if I’m honest I barely used the bow thruster. But that’s down to the skipper

Although that was dependent on where the remains of the umbrella decided where it would sit on the shaft each morning. It’s still on it !

A cracking week though and off to Nice tomorrow to join family and friends. Providing their flights arrive …

 

[ChromeDome]

Sounds good - and you learned something too
There are so many Youtube vids, look up some from Friesland if you want to kill time and see what the Netherlands can be.

E.g. city of Lemmer

 

[Skiron]

Giving the Canal du Midi a go this week for a change. Hired a lovely Linssen 30 sturdy for 3 of us.

From Capestang to Castelnaudry over 7 days. 52 manned ! Locks in total.

Will let you know how I get on. Very much looking forward to it although full on Thames weather last night … even had to double up on lines !

Who did you hire from? I'm finding it difficult to source a Linssen on the Canal du Midi.
Thanks
Steve

 

[Time Out]

Who did you hire from? I'm finding it difficult to source a Linssen on the Canal du Midi.
Thanks
Steve

I used France Afloat. They have a few places to start stop. We were far South

Canal boating holidays in France

 

[[199490]]

Been three times.
Le Somail to Beziers and back in an English style narrowboat for a week
Argens to Toulouse and back with Locaboat (2 weeks)
Homps to Port Cassafieres with a venture out onto Etang du Thau with Le Boat
Enjoyed all three immensely and am really looking forward to taking my own boat there next year or the year after (depending on where our fancy takes us on hitting the med.

 

[[199490]]

The GRP hire boats handle really well..with a little practice. Many have hydraulic bow thruster...low power engine but large prop and rudder...so respond really well to prop steering..in fact they go great in reverse and can be threaded through any obstruction. A great party trick is to reverse up to a stone embankment and leave the boat in gear and it will pin itself to side of the canal by its stern..allowing you to get on an off or refuel all without tying up.
The problem is that it takes a bit of boating theory and practice....most of what the instructors tells a hiree in their twenty minute session goes over their head and they drive them like a car...but many, very quickly ‘get it’ and manœuvre with confidence and ease

The newest boats have bow and stern. We had a LeBoat Horizon last year and it was it that convinced me I could solo fairly easily. Absolute doddle to drive.
Biggest problem is dodging the Germans in the giant 12 berth boats.

 

[Bouba]

The newest boats have bow and stern. We had a LeBoat Horizon last year and it was it that convinced me I could solo fairly easily. Absolute doddle to drive.
Biggest problem is dodging the Germans in the giant 12 berth boats.

LeBoats biggest offering used to be completely electric propulsion…is it still ?

 

[[199490]]

LeBoats biggest offering used to be completely electric propulsion…is it still ?

Don’t think so, electric thrusters but diesel prop drives

 

[Time Out]

We had a Linssen 30 for two adults and a child. Doddle to drive ( but I did used to sell them !) and plenty of room BUT not as roomy as a purpose built plastic fantastic le boat.

BUT is was insanely hot without aircon.

 

[Bouba]

Doing the canals around the Camargue is a real experience…the while horses coming to talk to you on the fly bridge when tied up….tying up on the canal and walking two minutes to go swimming in the Mediterranean….fish up to six feet long….so many fish it looked like we could walk across the canal…constant banging on the hull by the fish….giant capybara