The captain and his apprenticeWe have time to take a jaunt in a southerly direction, leaving the Canal du Midi to travel to Narbonne via the Canal de Jonction (5 km) and the Canal de la Robine (9 km). We will travel through 7 locks on the first canal and two locks on the second. These locks are automatic and are operated by a member of the crew who presses a button on land to signal which direction the boat is traveling. The appropriate locks open, the boat enters and ties up, and another button is pushed to signal the locks to empty of water and, at the appropriate height, to open the lower lock gates. Since the 7 locks on the first canal are only about 650 meters apart, Agnes biked ahead and operated the locks from shore, while Maureen walked the towpath.
The controls are in the metal box on the left.
Nice view of the oval design of the lock as as our boat prepares to enter.
The last lock on the Canal de Jonction, the deepest one we have experienced, was located at the village of Salleles-de-Aude. We will soon approach the River Aude, turning left to connect with the Canal de la Robine. The cyclist crew member had a tough time finding a crossing over the river, and after numerous tries ending in dead ends in grape fields, carefully biked over the railroad bridge. Following the captain's admonition of "Always ready, always safe", the railroad bridge was judged to be safe for passage on a bike without interfering with trains and their cargo. Quickly crossed, no trains in sight, Agnes returned to the comfort of the canal's towpath.
Big wine chateau outside of Narbonne, where the steel tanks are filled with wine from the estate.
Entering the last lock before Narbonne:
Heading for our mooring, along the canal in Narbonne.
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