From Weedon to Carcassonne Over the Festive Period

Already feeling at home in France...... but first.....

We had a lovely evening with Jill, Alan, Ben and Cumin and Coriander, the cats. It seems such a long time ago!!!  The next morning we left Lower Shuckburgh fairly sharpish, with Mike's knee still bothering him, and headed for Braunston. There we picked up some bits and bobs from Midland Chandlers then headed into the marina for a pump out. And what a pump out!!! You put the token in, but you can keep going as long as you want, til you switch it off!!! It meant we could give the tank a really good swish out prior to Jim trying to get the gauge to work ;) As we went into the bottom lock, another boat appeared behind us - woohoo - someone to lock share with :) It was a mother and son, Myrtle and Murray, on Myrtle's boat, Seycoya (hope that's spelled correctly) heading to Blisworth to spend Christmas with family. Murray was young and fit and we were up the Braunston flight in no time, through the tunnel and heading to Norton junction.  At the junction we stopped for lunch and Seycoya took water.  We decided to continue down the Buckby flight as we still had an hour or two daylight left and were working the locks well together as a pair.  Despite the new gates on three of the locks, they are still the shittiest, heaviest gates to operate. Clearly the last boats going down thought so too as they hadn't bothered shutting them behind them so double work for me and Murray :(
We reached the bottom in darkness and moored up.  Myrtle and Murray continued on to Weedon, but we were knackered.  It was lovely locking with them and I hope we meet up again. This was now 22nd December and I decided it was time to put up the Christmas decorations!

For the shortest duration ever - they were taken down again 7 days later before we left for France!

In the morning we treated ourselves to breakfast at the Whilton Marina cafe and headed down to Weedon.  It was a nice winter's day and we felt like we were, 'Driving Home for Christmas'..... We got moored up and ready to head to Daventry to do our food shop for Christmas.  Barry, from NB Owzat was just leaving and kindly offered to drive us, even though he lives in the other direction - what a lovely man :)
We stocked up at Waitrose and the butcher's and then had a call from Jim.  Half an hour later we were sitting in the pub with him for a quick pint.  Five hours later we staggered up the road, got a taxi back to the boat and poured ourselves into bed.......
Christmas Eve was a fairly subdued affair.
On Christmas Day, Santa had found us!!!! 

Santa brought Quaintrelle a new tiller pin :)

We basically ate and drank our way through the next couple of days, not doing much or seeing anyone until 28th, when Ali, Jim's partner, popped over for a cuppa, then Jim and then later that day Angela and Darren arrived - and the drinking started all over again.  Drinks on board, curry up the road in Weedon, then a nightcap in the pub - a splendid evening and great to catch up with the lovely Ange and meet Darren.

Quaintrelle's winter mooring at Weedon, where she'll get some repairs done while we're in France.

Weedon is a busy little boatyard with a mixture of liveaboards and storage.

This is Steve's beautiful trad boat - he has recently moved to Weedon to take over the workshop there next to Jim's.

The 29th saw us finishing our packing and sorting out with Jim what's to be done when we're away.  We've never felt so disorganised and unplanned for a trip.......
We left Quaintrelle at 7am on 30th and headed by taxi to Leamington Spa to pick up our train to Gatwick.  All travel went to plan and at 5pm we were met at Toulouse by Jason, our landlord for the next couple of months.

Nous arrivons a Carcassonne!!

We live just over this bridge, with the Medieval Cite at the end of our street. 

We arrived in glorious blue skies with a big sun in it, but since then, the weather's been rather British :(  
Wednesday evening was spent settling in (i.e. buying some supplies from the local grocer then getting pissed at the local wine/truffle bar - just round the corner, handy....).
Thursday our first guests arrived, Pete and Jane, to spend New Year with us.  We walked around the old town of Carcassonne in the afternoon and stocked up with food and wine at a local supermarket.  The big excitement however was finding the Canal du Midi!!!

The lock at Port of Carcassonne - nice to see something familiar... ;) At the very end of the line of boats on the right you can just make out a cream wide-beam, Xenia.  She has spent the last 18 months travelling through France having been dropped in from the UK at Belgium.  We've made contact with her owners and will meet up with them to pick their brains!!

Canal du Midi approaching the lock at Carcassonne - with the now apparently obligatory big wheel at Christmas ;)

Mike cooked that evening and we enjoyed a fair share of wine to bring in 2016. The next day we cleared the cobwebs with a walk round the Medieval Cite.

Near the church in the Cite

The Cite gate by night, where Mike finds some friends....

Followed by the obligatory game of charades, when Mike decides that John Gielgud doesn't have a look in.....

On the 2nd, having not had enough wine in the last 72 hours, we decided to go to a winery.  We decided on the Domaine Chateau Auzias; it was open and it was nearby.  We called a local taxi firm, but they were busy, so gave us another number to try.  Fate kicked in and we got the loveliest taxi driver, Christof, who chatted away, took Mike's email address and later sent us his recommendations for restaurants and places to go - what a great guy:)

Mmmmmmmm......wine......

Entrance to the winery.

Red Wine vat.

Once you've tasted, you can buy!!

The visit was really interesting not least because the guide spoke French and Spanish but no English.  She was fantastic though, spoke very slowly, and had her own game of charades trying to explain things to us.  She was incredibly patient and very, very funny :) It was good as it made us try to understand/speak more French!!
On the 3rd we decided on a long walk to shift some of the calories piled on in the last couple of days, so we crossed the city and picked up the canal and headed east.  By the time we got home we'd walked 12K!!

Ecleuse St Jean - closed for repairs over the winter....

Bridge at the Ecleuse St Jean

A Winding Hole!!!!  In the UK a winding hole (turning point) wouldn't command such excitement or a photo - but THIS IS FRANCE!!!! :) :) :) 

Jane, Pete and Mike on the Aqueduct over the Fresquel river.

The Aqueduct taking you to the staircase lock.

Fresquel Locks

Jane and Pete left us on Monday morning and we began our research with another walk around the town, where we found a second hand shop we can buy a couple of bikes, and along the canal where we had a look at the boat Xenia, moored at the port.  There didn't seem to be anyone home, but we found their blog when we got home and have made contact with them via that.  The next day was spent in bed as I've come down with a terrible hacking cough, accompanied by aches and pains, and today is a chill day too.  I think I've partied too hard over the last month..... :(  I am on day four of 'no booze', Mike managed two, but clearly nursing me yesterday took its toll and he resorted to a glass of wine in the evening.
I hope you've all had a fun-filled Christmas and that 2016 brings all your dreams and wishes true xxx