Tugboat Needed!

We decided to leave the Lot river yesterday. When you go back on the Garonne River, the flow is quite strong, so a small tug gives you a bit of a hand. They let us into the lock, lowered us down to river level and opened the lock doors... and then told us we were too big for their little tug and they would have to get another one, so we couldn't leave until tomorrow. They closed the lock doors, we were raised up and Peter backed out of the lock, gently turned around in the small canal and we headed back to the previous port. In the afternoon, a larger tug pulled alongside and said they would get us out in the morning.

This morning, we repeated the exercise of going into the lock, lowered to river level, and then the big tug hooked us up with a small 'pusher tug' hovering from side to side. Out into the river our little 'boat caravan' went. All quite interesting. We had no problems, but we couldn't have gone through the narrows and the shallows without the tug pulling us and Peter on full power.

Now we are back in a quieter river called 'The Baise' and we are headed for the town of, wait for it, Condom.

More Prunes

I can't believe it has been so long since my last blog!! Time does get away when it doesn't matter what time it is!!

Visited a Prune factory. Laughed at a 'Medicinal Tin' of Prunes that claimed 'Makes purging a pleasure'

Went off the canal, onto the Garonne River, then into the Lot River through a series of locks and canals. But the Garonne is fast flowing and shallow, so you need to follow a Pilot Boat through the channels. We were fine, but the small boat in front us ran into much bother... grounded twice, ended up on the shore line twice, and had 3 goes at getting into the lock. It just reminds me how good Peter is in steering our 35 tonne barge.

In Agen, the prune capitol of France!

We left Moissac about 4 days ago, and now we are parked in the town of Agen. Peter is about to hop on the train and go back to pick up our car. On the way to Agen, we parked a few days in the small village of Pommevic and yet again, discovered a delightful restaurant. The parking spot is quiet and totally shaded by trees... pitch black at night with out a sound other than the gentle church bells on the hour, every hour.

Jackie Clough has joined us on the barge.

Jackie has worked for Peter and I for the past 25 or more years. She is our personal assistant and the one who looks after our 'stuff' when we are away. It is wonderful for us to have her as a guest on the barge for 2 weeks. She has always worked very diligently, and when we retired, she took on another job but still is our 'anchor' in Australia. But with elderly, frail parents, a full time job, and looking after our things, she is in need of a break... and what better way than to be on the barge... sitting and slowly watching the beautiful countryside go by. (Right this moment, however, she is asleep on the living room sofa!) But this is a much deserved rest.

On the move again...

We are preparing the barge to leave our winter port tomorrow and move on down the canal towards Bordeaux. Our next stop is in the port of Moissac, which is about a 2 hour trip on the barge, 8km by bicycle. We are keen to get moving again.