43:19.9N 3:02.5E

 

4 June – went further than expected – worth persisting

 

Depart Homps 0950 (after diesel/food shop)

Arrive Capestang 1730 26nm, 4 locks

SUN, so got dressed into shorts and tshirt. Inconvenient high cloud PM

 

Lovely n still, so for the first morning since leaving Exmouth (now over a month ago) did NOT don thermal vest and fleece. At last. Locks to ourselves again. Did 4th lock at 1150. The next 54km are lock free. The Midi meanders round some tight turns to keep on the same contour till the 7 lock decent at Bezier. One bridge engraved 1684 – what a surveying feat to make it all fit together. Planned to stop earlier, but all a bit grotty so kept going. Did go alongside at Port la Robine but quoted rip off prices, so said “non” and motored on, and on, but another excellent shout. The finale was the bridge at Capestang at 1725 hrs, reputed to be the lowest on the entire canal.  D’fly’s gantry had been designed and build by Leon to get under (someone has put detailed dimensions on the internet – thank goodness they seem to be accurate). Even with radar reflector upwards we safely passed under. (Our reflector air height 310cm – the bridge is 330, and 295cm  at 3m width – gantry is 270, tho our stern is up a bit as loads of anchor chain in bows.) There are stories of boats getting stuck and recruiting customers from adjacent restaurant to “come on board” – can’t just let the tyres down! V helpful HM, and a giant washing mc (takes 2kilos), so we did 2kilos worth. Beer in cockpit  as sun set. This is more like it. Hung some washing on guardrails for night – no dew and dry by morning. Wow.