AubrysInFrance: Canal du Midi

We arose early the next morning, breakfasted at the hotel at 7AM, and set off down the canal. The first 50 or so kilometers were paved with asphalt, with much of the route shaded by large trees. Because of a math error, we all thought we needed to do 90km the first day, so we tried to maintain a good pace. Plus, rain was forecast in the afternoon. We found a grocery store and bought a few items for lunch so we could save both time and money.

Gerard, Tom, and Roger - Ready to Leave Hotel in Toulouse

Leaving Toulouse - Down the Canal

Leaving Toulouse - Looking Back Towards Gerard & Roger

Leaving Toulouse - Looking Back Towards Tom

Lock House with Typical Plaque with Distance to Next Lock

David at Lock House

Roger, Gerard, Tom

We realized early in the afternoon that we had a shorter distance to cover, so that took some pressure off. With rain predicted for the late afternoon, we pushed on hoping to avoid getting wet.

End of the Pavement

I was in the lead as we neared our stop for the night. We had chosen Castelnaudary because it is renowned as the home of Cassoulet, a bean, sausage, and duck confit stew that we were eager to try.

I stopped just outside of town, at about 3:30 and waited for the rest of the crew to arrive. The wind began to gust strongly, and it became obvious that rain was on the way. I dug out my plastic poncho and put it on, as the others arrived and also donned rain gear. As we started into town the rain began to fall in sheets. Unfortunately, we turned the wrong way and had to go back about 100 meters, but soon arrived at the hotel. 68km for the day.

Water was running in rivers down the street, and anything not covered was soon soaked. For me, that meant from mid-thigh down. I discovered that my saddlebacks are not waterproof, I had my spare clothes in a plastic bag, so no serious damage was done.

We got the bikes stored in a hotel across the street [whose basement was soon flooded, and pumped out], checked into the hotel, went up to our rooms, and dried out as best we could. We then sat in the upstairs lobby and enjoyed beers and glasses of wine, brought to us by our charming serveuse. [There is something utterly charming about a pleasant attractive French woman who brings drinks, and when profusely thanked, responds in French, ‘avec plaisir’.]

David and Glass of Wine

After a suitable period, we retired to the dining room, where Tom, Gerard, and Roger enjoyed cassoulet from a large bowl in the middle of the table, while I allowed myself to be tempted by beef tenderloin with Bordelaise sauce, perfectly prepared and presented. I sampled the cassoulet and found it excellent, an opinion shared by the rest of the group. I ordered a bottle of the wine I had had before dinner, a local red blend called Corbieres. A really great wine that turned out to be one specifically recommended for Cassoulet, and also went very well with the tenderloin. For dessert I had a fabulous take on profiteroles, with a separate pot of chocolate, and decorated with red berry coulis.