Port-Lauragais - Castelnaudary 27 April

Our trip today is taking us over the watershed between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, 189 m. We go through the automatic lock, L'Ocean without a hitch. This is the highest point of the canal. We are reminded of the other watershed we passed through in  Europe, two years ago on the Main-Danube canal.

The entrance to ecluse L'ocean

Leslie pulling LB all the way to the top.

189,06 meter above sea level, a plaque at ecluse L'Ocean.

The Jefferson plaque at the ecluse L'Ocean was put up 220 years after the Revolution. Jefferson was the US ambassador to France 1785-1789, and was a great lover of France and all things French. He travelled all over France and promoted in the US, French architecture and culture. As a humanitarian he shared the values of Liberty. With his friend Lafayette he played a key role in writing the French constitution and the human rights declaration 1789.

This was an octaganal basin just past L'Ocean. For several years this served as a settling basin for watered coming from the Black Mountains and an extra reservoir for the canal. Unfortunately it silted up soon after the canal was built and a new canal was built to bypass it.

The notice telling us that this is the watershed.

At the other end of the watershed is the ecluse Mediterranee. After this we travel downstream towards the Mediterrean.

Lunch time, locks closed for an hour. We try some delicious tinned sardines. While waiting or the lock to open a little love scene is played before our eyes. In Carl's eyes this was the ultimate evidence of wild fiery passionate French love affairs. 

First came the man in a grey silvery Peugot and parked it behind the ecluse building. Then came a red little Renault driven by a woman and parked next to it. It only took one second before the man and women were lost to the rest of the world. His hands were all over her body and she had more hands than he could ask for. Soon they realised that they were not alone and attempted an almost sober walk into to woods. 

Arrived in Castelnaudary at about 2 pm. Our fenders were attacked by this swan. The two men who helped us with mooring said that the swan attacks anything white, especially big fenders.  I have just seen it chasing a rowing boat with white oars.

Our neighbour on the barge, Lost in France, moving his boat to the other side of the canal.

What is Cassoulet?

It comes in big earthenware pot........

...and it fills you with flavours of homemade food and love.....

This is the most famous dish in this area. We had cassolet a week ago in Trebes, but this is the real thing. Delivered to our boat in this earthenware dish, duck and sausage and white beans.

While eating our famous dish of cassolet, we heard a loud noise right outside. A car had driven into a barrier right next to the boat. We saw the woman driver (not the red car from this afternoon) reversing away and thought nothing more about it untill another bash disturbed our cassolet enjoyment. We looked up and believe it or not she bashed into the same pole for the third time. Out of concern for our boat, Carl jumped out of the boat to try to redirect her, which he managed to do and off she sped. Either she had too much cassolet or too much wine.

The scene of the crime!