44:24.6N 0:13.3E

 

24 May – Enchanting tranquillity of the canal

 

Depart Castetes waiting pontoon 1010

Arrive Les Mas D`Agenais municipal halte 1820 24nm, 10 locks

Sunny, cool and April showers all day. Heavy rain from 2000.

 

Phoned lockkeeper (well, Bridget did). Wanted to set off 0900 before the effect of the “flood” wore off – even tho just 300m to go it would be a battle. Lockkeeper adamant we could not leave waiting pontoon till a couple of boats had locked out. Even tho they are on duty from 0900 did not happen till 1000. Last bit of bank huggin to lock in at 10.20. Pilot says it is a deep lock – it wasn’t due to the raised river level. Locked in with another Brit who had just steamed up mid channel with loads of smoke from overworked motor. Struggle thro first basin with loads of weed. Keel full up (2ft draft) and rudder up too, but still had to keep reversing to shed it. Crawled thro. Must be as no recent traffic. Problem disappeared after next couple of locks. Rendezvous with hungry Job. Eclusier assisted with first couple of locks, thereafter self service. There’s a dangly pole suspended from a wire across the canal about 100m short of each lock. Give it a 1/4 turn and the traffic lights show registered and either the gates open (if lock already empty) or there is a flood of water (as the lock drains) and then the gates open and in you go. Have to watch side currents from overflow culverts, and all sorts of eddies on the approach. Drop off crew as enter (or if miss it they have to climb slippery ladder in the lock), hurl bow and stern lines “up” to crew who makes fast on bollards etc, crew presses start button, surge of water in lock and up you go reigning in lines as they get shorter to  keep D’fly against lock wall and prevent overhanging mast hitting lock wall. Quickly found best to lead bow line back to nearide genny winch and stern line to other  genny winch, all controlled by skip. Left motor on and put in gear and steered to give a blast fwd or astn to keep Dfly alongside wall - considerable turbulance as lock fills. These locks are straight (Midi will be oval). Awesome rows of Plane trees either side planted every 10m many many years ago, and the birds are singing away. Another world. Bridges teem to mostly be the same precast concrete design– not so pretty.Keep going all day. Arrive the “Community stop for passing boats” at L M D`A. Debit card machine to get jettons for elect and showers. Shower and dash to village – but all closed. Apparently there is a Rembrandt in the church – no wonder it was locked up. We are now east of Greenwich.