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ROUTE |
COMMENTS |
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Narbonne
I
Salleles d'Aude
| Engine hours |
Locks |
Kilometres |
| 3 |
4 |
11 | |
Salleles d'Aude:
Quay
No electricity
No water
Essential shops
No charge
Basically meant as an overnight stop, Salleles d'Aude offers shade, and a cluster of shops about 100 metres from the quays.
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Salleles d'Aude
I
Le Somail
|
Engine hours |
Locks |
Kilometres |
|
3.25 |
5 |
7 |
|
Le Somail:
 Small quay and canal-banksLittle electricity
Little water
Essential shops
No charge
The portion of the port with electricity and water is a Nichols' base at the moment, and there seems to be a VNF ruling that plaisanciers' boats may not use facilities rented by Nichols. Nice place, but quite restricted access if you need electricity.
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Le Somail
I
Argens en Minervois
|
Engine hours |
Locks |
Kilometres |
|
2.5 |
1 |
14 | |
Argens en Minervois:
Large marina, finger pontoons
Electricity
Water
Essential shops
Fee paying port
This is a Locaboat base. Space for visitors, except on change-over days in high season. Kind capitainerie, and a welcoming restaurant in the marina complex.
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Argens en Minervois
I
La Redorte
|
Engine hours |
Locks |
Kilometres |
|
3.5 |
6 |
12 | |
La Redorte:
Long quay
Scarce electricity
Scarce water
Shops after about 1 kilometre
Jetons to pay for water and electricity, no mooring charge
The quay is fine, and there's a pleasant restaurant on it, but .... jetons have to be purchased from the restaurant, and each 1 Euro jeton gives you just 30 minutes of water and electricity.
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La Redorte
I
Trebes
|
Engine hours |
Locks |
Kilometres |
|
6.5 |
13 |
22 |
|
Trebes:
Quay
Partial electricity
Partial water
Nearby shops
Free in the part with no facilities
The port of Trebes was completely full when we arrived, so we moored beyond the main section of the port, where there are no facilities. An extensive colony of water rats inhabit this part!
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Trebes
I
Carcassonne
|
Engine hours |
Locks |
Kilometres |
|
4 |
5 |
13 | |
Carcassonne:
Quay, mostly with stern-in moorings
Electricity
Water
All shops
Fee paying port
Luckily, we were assigned a portion of the quay where we could moor alongside. Carcassonne is clearly a major tourist attraction, so the port, as well as the city, is very busy. Reservations in high season are probably a good idea.
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Carcassone
I
Bram
|
Engine hours |
Locks |
Kilometres |
|
5 |
5 |
24 | |
Bram:
Canal bank, some loose wooden stakes
No electricity
No water
Shops after a 30 minute walk each way
This is another Nichols base, and again has apparently agreed with VNF to not accept plaisanciers' boats in their port. There was plenty of free space when we visited, but we were rejected by quite hostile staff. A stop to pass by, if at all possible.
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Bram
I
Castelnaudary
|
Engine hours |
Locks |
Kilometres |
|
6 |
18 |
17 | |
Castelnaudary:
Long quays
Electricity
Water
Variety of nearby shops
Fee paying port
We stayed here for a couple of weeks. Apart from the excellent amenities, the capitainerie is very well equipped, scrupulously clean, well run, and very welcoming and helpful. Our thanks, especially to Odile, for a delightful stay.
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Castelnaudary
I
Port Lauragais
|
Engine hours |
Locks |
Kilometres |
|
4.5 |
9 |
15 |
|
Port Lauragais:
Quays
Electricity
Water
Essential shops after 2 kms, but restaurants and souvenir shops on-site
Fee paying port
This is a motorway rest area/port, set in a pleasant park. Busy with motorists during the day, very peaceful at night. Another exceptionally competent and friendly capitainerie. Kudos to Lionel.
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Port Lauragais
I
Donneville
|
Engine hours |
Locks |
Kilometres |
|
7 |
12 |
27 |
|
Near Donneville
No facilities
A simple overnight stop tied up on the bank under some welcome shade trees.
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Donneville
I
Toulouse (St. Sauveur)
|
Engine hours |
Locks |
Kilometres |
|
3.5 |
2 |
17 |
|
Toulouse Port St Sauveur:
Quays and pontoons
Electricity
Water
All shops
Fee paying port
As to be expected in a large metropolis, Toulouse provides for all needs. Port St Sauveur is indeed in the centre of the city, managed very well and very comfortably by a kind team of ladies at the Capitainerie. Outside the gated port, the best nearby feature for us is the series of linked gardens within 200 metres, which provide serenity and shade from the summer heat. We liked it - we stayed here for a month!
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Toulouse (St. Sauveur)
I
Ecluse d'Embalons
|
Engine hours |
Locks |
Kilometres |
|
6.5 |
12 |
29 | |
Near Ecluse d'Embalons:
Today saw us reach the end of the Canal du Midi, and turn onto the Canal Latéral à la Garonne. We stopped for the night, tied up on the bank under some pleasant trees.
No facilities, just another peaceful spot in the countryside. |
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Ecluse d'Embalons
I
Lacourt St. Pierre
|
Engine hours |
Locks |
Kilometres |
|
3.25 |
1 |
23 | |
Lacourt St. Pierre:
Short quay
Electricity
Water
One small shop
Fee paying port
Lacourt St. Pierre is up the embranchement leading to Montauban, just before the first lock. Water in the embranchement is shallow - about 1m. 10; dredging is underway, but we scraped the bottom all the way along. The quay is long enough for 3 or 4 boats, the village is small and peaceful, and the mooring fees are modest. Bread is available from the one shop, otherwise it's a bicycle ride of a couple of kilometers to the nearest supermarket in Montech. We'll look forward to returning there.
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Lacourt St. Pierre
I
Castelsarrasin
|
Engine hours |
Locks |
Kilometres |
|
4 |
7 |
17 | |
Castelsarrasin:
Quay
Electricity
Water
All shops
Fee paying port
At first glance, Castelsarrasin can seem a bit austere, but not so. All facilities are close to the port, and the weekly market is huge. The pleasant capitainerie doubles as the tourist office. Plenty of ducks to feed, though we have learned recently that this practice is being officially discouraged. This tends to be a bit more of a multi-national mooring than other nearby ports; which suits us well.
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Castelsarrasin
I
Moissac
|
Engine hours |
Locks |
Kilometres |
|
3 |
7 |
8 | |
Moissac:
Quays
Electricity
Water
All shops
Fee paying port
Moissac is a pleasant town, with all essential facilities close to the port de plaisance. There's a delightful street full of shops displaying all sorts of local arts and crafts, and of course there's a famous abbey with its cloister.
Best thing about Moissac though, for us, is the capitainerie. Iain and Kaz are a wonderfully hospitable and helpful team who made our stay a delight, even in the constant 'springtime' rains. Thanks to both, and we look forward to a second hivernage with them later this year.
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