4th November
4th November
One of our favourite `easy’ drinks has always been Buzet, so we headed straight for the Halte Nautique at Buzet as soon as we left Fontet. I went to explore this very tiny village which gives its name to so many bottles of wine! Meanwhile, Paul was fishing - he has been catching these really ugly cat fish, and today he caught one that weighed in at about 3 pounds. He also caught a 5 pound carp which was much more exciting.
Whilst mooching about I happened to chat with a girl in the tour boat office - she casually mentioned that the locks all stop working after the 3rd November…and it was the 2nd!! We knew all about the `chomages’ which is when parts of the canal are closed, emptied and serviced; but had never heard anything to suggest that the locks would stop operating. Hmmm….
Paul was able to ring the office, and in his best French, find out that yes, the lock would stop operating automatically, but that they could be opened for us if we rang the office at 3p.m. every day to say where we were going. So we had to leave Buzet sooner than we planned and head on quickly towards Toulouse.
Today, the light pattern at the locks was different, but we were surprised to find that they still worked automatically. We were even more surprised to find out that they closed between 12.30 and 1.30 for lunch…but they’re automatic!!???
We came across a lock operator at one place - we were sure he would be surprised to see us, give us some explanation of the system…instead he showed me the handful of mushrooms he had just picked and told me that he was going to use them to make an omelette…a very surreal moment. We left feeling even more confused!
But, at precisely 3p.m. [so very English] Paul made his appointed phone call. They said we were now out of their area and the arrangement was no longer valid and that probably things were different…what!!!
We then met the lock operator from Moissac - he knew nothing at all about lock closures and could foresee no problem in us plodding along on our own sweet way.
Confusion reigns! We are moored in Moissac; plan to stay here for a few days; but lets see what tomorrow brings.
One of our favourite `easy’ drinks has always been Buzet, so we headed straight for the Halte Nautique at Buzet as soon as we left Fontet. I went to explore this very tiny village which gives its name to so many bottles of wine! Meanwhile, Paul was fishing - he has been catching these really ugly cat fish, and today he caught one that weighed in at about 3 pounds. He also caught a 5 pound carp which was much more exciting.
Whilst mooching about I happened to chat with a girl in the tour boat office - she casually mentioned that the locks all stop working after the 3rd November…and it was the 2nd!! We knew all about the `chomages’ which is when parts of the canal are closed, emptied and serviced; but had never heard anything to suggest that the locks would stop operating. Hmmm….
Paul was able to ring the office, and in his best French, find out that yes, the lock would stop operating automatically, but that they could be opened for us if we rang the office at 3p.m. every day to say where we were going. So we had to leave Buzet sooner than we planned and head on quickly towards Toulouse.
Today, the light pattern at the locks was different, but we were surprised to find that they still worked automatically. We were even more surprised to find out that they closed between 12.30 and 1.30 for lunch…but they’re automatic!!???
We came across a lock operator at one place - we were sure he would be surprised to see us, give us some explanation of the system…instead he showed me the handful of mushrooms he had just picked and told me that he was going to use them to make an omelette…a very surreal moment. We left feeling even more confused!
But, at precisely 3p.m. [so very English] Paul made his appointed phone call. They said we were now out of their area and the arrangement was no longer valid and that probably things were different…what!!!
We then met the lock operator from Moissac - he knew nothing at all about lock closures and could foresee no problem in us plodding along on our own sweet way.
Confusion reigns! We are moored in Moissac; plan to stay here for a few days; but lets see what tomorrow brings.
posted by Sue at 6:26 AM
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