Friday, March 23, 2012

Canal du midi

Hi all



just thought I would give some info I wish I had known before I did this trip. We have just completed 7 days self cruise with crown blue line, started from Beziers to Castelnoudry.



What they DON%26#39;T tell you;



you need to cruise 6hrs per day to complete in required time, doesn%26#39;t leave much time for sightseeing.



Locks are only open at certain times and if you miss them or it is crowded it can throw your time frame way out.



It is almost impossible for 2 people to do alone if travelling upstream, the lock walls are high and you cannot depend on people at the top to assist. You really need a minimum of 3 people 4 is better, if going upstream, even then you work hard at every lock and there is 56 of them! If not for 2 boats of six helping us from day 3 to end we would not have made it.





It would be possible but difficult for 2 travelling downstream again 3 would be easier.





Don%26#39;t bother hiring bikes if only 2 of you, not enough time to get off and enjoy unless you take about 10 days.





Make sure your boat has a power cord and outlet otherwise you will have to run it when mored to keep batteries charged.





Boats do not supply dish wash liquid or sponges etc.





Beware of thieves, we had our umbrella stolen at 2am when mored at side of canal.





The canal itself is beautiful and well worth doing, my advice go with 6 people get a big boat, share the tasks, take 10 days and enjoy.



cheers






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Thanks so much for your post. You answered some questions for me. Hm, do you think going downstream might have made it easier for the two of you? Our group of 4 adults is considering the CB Castelnaudary - Port Cassafieres route next May and I have been wondering how many sites we%26#39;d have to bypass to make it on time.




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Hi thannaroo





Glad my post was helpful





Yes I think we could have done it with 2 downstream it would still have been hardwork but much easier than upstream.





4 is a good number if going downstream you will NOT need to have someone run 50 yards to top of the lock to catch the rope.





downstream you all stay onboard, drive into the lock someone steps off the boat hooks ropes round poles steps back on 1 person at front on rope, 1 at back on rope, 1 steering 1 passing the champagne all very civilised. lowering the water level is also a much gentler process than raising.



going upsteam the water rushing into the lock throws the boat around and you need strength to hang onto the ropes also can end up with rope burns so take advantage of the gloves.





re time; downstream boats have right of way into the locks so they tend to make better time, other people noted 7 days with 4 people was adequate and this would give you a day in castlenaudry A MUST SEE for me I would have prefered a bit longer so as to explore the region along the canal. if you have 4 people hire a couple of bikes you will not need 1 each





try to get the biggest boat you can afford so as not so cramped we had 2 showers/toilets just for the 2 of us this meant we could nominate 1 shower/toilet as a shower only, meant we did not have to keep drying toilet, floor and shelf after every shower




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Hi Djuma, Have just read your very helpful review of your barge trip on the Canal du Midi in July 2007. 4 of us from Perth WA have booked to do a self cruise on the Canal in September this year (2008). We are seniors but two are very experienced sailors, at present in the Med. after sailing their yacht from the Fremantle Sailing Club. We are flying over to meet them, spend a week on the yacht and then 2 weeks barging. It would be great to talk with you as we all live in Perth (Fremantle actually). Can we phone you and have a chat. Our no. is 93398748.



Hope to hear from you. Cheers Jan and Keith Middleton




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Hello - Just reading your story on the Canal Du Midi. We have just returned from 2 weeks on Canal Du Midi from Carnon to Homps - taking in Narbonne %26amp; Carcassonne. Absolutely fantastic. However there were 5 of us. We all had our tasks to do.





Skipper



Cook



Ropes



Etc. and we had it down to a fine art. The scenery is to die for. Our boat was with France Passion and they supplied everything except our food %26amp; fuel. All dishwashing liquid, salt pepper linen etc. was there and waiting for us.





We previously did the Canal de Nirvenais in 2006, so we were prepared. We shopped for supplies in Montpelier the morning of boarding.





Everyone was so friendly, especially South Africans, Kiwis, Germans.





Hope you enjoy!!!!




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