Friday 16th August
Canal people get terribly excited about unusual, they would say “challenging” features such as the Falkirk wheel in Scotland or going down the Severn.
Today, excitement upon excitement, we did two such challenges. First the Malpas tunnel which I mentioned previously was dug in secret in a week to hoodwink 17th Century Health and Safety.
There is not enough room for boats to pass but no traffic lights, you just peer down the tunnel, honk your hooter (a phrase the French have difficulty with) and then go for it.
The second excitement we were the centre of attention with hundreds of tourists flocking to see us. The seven lock staircase just before Beziers is certainly impressive but with so many people watching you do hope you won't hit the sides of the lock too hard.
The locks were part of the original 1666 design and have been in operation for 340 years. In the 1980's someone thought of a better way, a big machine to the carry the boats down, it only lasted a few years and is now a rusting hulk whilst we cruise down the original locks.
The boats were held in a cradle under the machine which then rolled up or down the concrete track shown right.
We are now moored close to the centre of Beziers were a festival is taking place this weekend so we will be out on the tiles tonight.