Oct 20, 2009 - Millau

Our toute today was to Millau, a place recommended by a friend, who said that the viaduct there was the biggest in the world. ... After obtaining crunchy bread a canard pate we set off to do a 130 km scenic tour north of Millau, stopping to picninc on the way. ... We didnt get back to Millau until 7pm so went straight to a restaurant for abottle of red wine, soup, salmon, and unexpectdly I ended up eating , for the first time in my life, lamb sweetbreads cooked in garlic, oil and parsley- delicious. ...

Sep 15, 2009 - Toulouse, France

We decided to enter France through Toulouse on a cheap EasyJet ticket, stay a couple of nights and then move on to southern France. ... So we bought the air tickets and, voila!, found there were no hotels rooms available in Toulouse for the two nights we planned to stay there. ... just simple bad travel karma: we would not have imagined that we would have a problem finding a room in Toulouse! We did find one for the night we arrived, so we had a bed and internet access to organise the next stop, which turned out to be Bordeaux, rather than southern France. ... We left Toulouse 16 hours after arriving, without seeing any sights or taking a single photo. ...

Sep 6, 2009 - Bareges

Off around 9 and got about two minutes down the road when we were stopped at a roundabout to let a cycle pelaton come through.Off around 9 and got about two minutes down the road when we were stopped at a roundabout to let a cycle pelaton come through....

Sep 5, 2009 - On the road to St Beat.

The peugeot 308S has a slide roof, large boot area and although manual is just right for four people.The peugeot 308S has a slide roof, large boot area and although manual is just right for four people....

Sep 4, 2009 - Valence sur Baise.

Left Condom, after checking out the market- cheeses, figs, fish, fruit and wine, and we could have bought horse meat.Left Condom, after checking out the market- cheeses, figs, fish, fruit and wine, and we could have bought horse meat....

Sep 3, 2009 - Condom.

Cruised away the next morning and after several locks we decided to go for a ride, joined by two of the other crew. Lost Brian at one point so ended up cycling all the way to Moncrebeau, not that far but bloody hot! By the time we eventually caught up with the boats and Brian it was after 3 and we were starving- uttermost on my mind was water, and lots of it! At last we moored at Condom- a name that causes most westerners a giggle. ... Dinner was a treat- Wayne had found a chacuterie (butcher9 who convinced him to buy some saugages- quute large, and they seemed to be crumbed- supposedly tres bon, so in the oevn they went while we had a few roses and made a salad.Cruised away the next morning and after several locks we decided to go for a ride, joined by two of the other crew. Lost Brian at one point so ended up cycling all the way to Moncrebeau, not that far but bloody hot! By the time we eventually caught up with the boats and Brian it was after 3 and we were starving- uttermost on my mind was water, and lots of it! At last we moored at Condom- a name that causes most westerners a giggle. ... Dinner was a treat- Wayne had found a chacuterie (butcher9 who convinced him to buy some saugages- quute large, and they seemed to be crumbed- supposedly tres bon, so in the oevn they went while we had a few roses and made a salad....

Aug 28, 2009 - Agen to Valence Surbaise.

Another late meal up on deck- it´s too hot to eat before 9.Another late meal up on deck- it´s too hot to eat before 9....

Aug 27, 2009 - Mossaic

Many fields of sunflowers again, and on our cycle back yesterday >I had my third feed of blackberries- yum. A very hhot day followed, no breeze, as we left Moissac and began our return descent to Agen. ... Coming down thru the lock is quicker and easier- no turbulence, plus we are experts now! Made a stop at Valence dÁgen to check out the village properly, and made a stop for a beer at a cafe.Many fields of sunflowers again, and on our cycle back yesterday >I had my third feed of blackberries- yum. A very hhot day followed, no breeze, as we left Moissac and began our return descent to Agen. ... Coming down thru the lock is quicker and easier- no turbulence, plus we are experts now! Made a stop at Valence dÁgen to check out the village properly, and made a stop for a beer at a cafe....

Aug 26, 2009 - Beautiful South West France

Bonjour mais amis! While the other 9 travellers laze on the boats drinking local vino and bierres, good old Ken has been despatched to update th journal!! We are all well here, absolutely no health or travel hassels at all. Then on to Valence d'Agen and today to Moissac. ... All this on the La Garrone Canal.Bonjour mais amis! While the other 9 travellers laze on the boats drinking local vino and bierres, good old Ken has been despatched to update th journal!! We are all well here, absolutely no health or travel hassels at all. Then on to Valence d'Agen and today to Moissac. ... All this on the La Garrone Canal....

Aug 24, 2009 - Agen

Our train left Paris at 0810 for a 4 hr ride down to Agen where we are to pick up our Locabot and meet up with the rest of our team. ... Wandered around Agen, visited a 12th century church- beautiful paintings throughout, found the super marche for our supplies and the Locabout depot for the next morning. ... We had planned to cross to the Lot river but it was too dry so ended up heading south from Agen and we spent the first night moored along a treeñlined part of the canal. ... We have found out that the Lot river is too low so we have come south of Agen for a few days before going into the baise river. ...

Jul 15, 2009 - Avis Ambush

At the Avis Depot The manager had managed to find someone in Avis Paris who could speak English to inform me that teh Police were looking for me since I was seen driving away from the accident and my tags were taken -- I informed her that i did drive away but only after looking for the vehicle owner and putting my details under the wiper -- this was standard practise in US and UK.At the Avis Depot The manager had managed to find someone in Avis Paris who could speak English to inform me that teh Police were looking for me since I was seen driving away from the accident and my tags were taken -- I informed her that i did drive away but only after looking for the vehicle owner and putting my details under the wiper -- this was standard practise in US and UK....

Jul 14, 2009 - Last day of vacation & Police Chase

We had an early start to get Jim to Pau for his flight back -- I had been so tired for teh last few days that I couldn't decide where to go after dropping Jim off -- I was in a part of teh Country that I knew and had seen and I knew the van had to be returned the next morning to Toulouse -- So I began driving aimlessly around looking for inspiration -- I decided to go to Oloron St Marie I place I used to go to regularly with a woman I thought I knew -- I even found the house which we rented and could see Christian working in the Garden -- I decided to just keep driving since to start a conversation would just bring more questions than answers I kept pulling over to find a place to catch a few zzzz but although i was tired I couldn't sleep. ... So I drove slowly up the Autoroute to a Aire that I knew and arrived there mid afternoon -- Although I had not accomplished much that day I was bushed -- I knew this rest stop was 20 mins from teh depot and it had all teh cleaning / toilet dumping / quiet overnight aspects that I needed.We had an early start to get Jim to Pau for his flight back -- I had been so tired for teh last few days that I couldn't decide where to go after dropping Jim off -- I was in a part of teh Country that I knew and had seen and I knew the van had to be returned the next morning to Toulouse -- So I began driving aimlessly around looking for inspiration -- I decided to go to Oloron St Marie I place I used to go to regularly with a woman I thought I knew -- I even found the house which we rented and could see Christian working in the Garden -- I decided to just keep driving since to start a conversation would just bring more questions than answers I kept pulling over to find a place to catch a few zzzz but although i was tired I couldn't sleep. ... So I drove slowly up the Autoroute to a Aire that I knew and arrived there mid afternoon -- Although I had not accomplished much that day I was bushed -- I knew this rest stop was 20 mins from teh depot and it had all teh cleaning / toilet dumping / quiet overnight aspects that I needed....