The Valley of Green Mornings

We are so happy to be back on the canal after some terrifying river experiences. Leaving the port at Bordeaux was the worst, the current was so strong, even on the slack tide that we had waited for, that we had enormous difficulty getting off the floating pontoon. The tides wer really high, up to 9 metres, and it was incredibly noisy at night. However Bordeaux was well worth visiting and we all enjoyed doing the things we wanted to.

We eventually got through the deep locks off the river and back onto the canal system and are moored in Buzet again in a different part of the port, very pretty and relaxed. Siobhan and I had a relaxed cycle ride along the banks this morning after the market in Le Mas-d’Agenais where we bought breakfast and beautiful fresh goat cheese and pigs trotters terrine for lunch. The canal is lined with plane trees and is very shady.

The day before yesterday we stopped in Meilham and did a huge amount of washing and got it all dry in a few hours. We had a long lunch in a restaurant overlooking the river (vegetable soup in little brown bowls decorated with animal heads) and later on walked to an ancient fountain up a hill. There are huge fish in the canal that like eating stale bread and I also saw a snake swimming so I won’t be getting in the water here. We have found good supplies of fruit and vegetables along the way and some charming old churches.