Homps 1 May

Up and ready to go to the first lock. But the people from the our neighbouring boat, who are piggybacking on our electric connection, told as that all locks are closed on 1 May. 1 May? How are we supposed to know it is the 1 May? Everyday is an afterwork Friday for us. So another day in Homps is quite ok with us. Relax, take a walk, vacuum (Carl), or read a book.

Took a walk to the next village Olonzac in the hope of finding something open, but everything is closed on this Sunday, which is even 1 May. Morning walk for Leslie, Carl resting.

Leaving Lellebelle in Homps to take a 5 km walk to the next village

We came to Argens-Minervois and hoped to find a watering hole or something...

At L'Par wine cellar we tried our luck to buy some local product. 

We met Caterine and Jean who not only run the L'Par winery in Minervois-Argens but also a little B&B. They were very hospitable and we tasted their wines and had a lot of good talk. They told that at restaurants the norm was that you get a glass for the wine and another for the water. If not the restaurant was run by uneducateded people. (Seems like we have been to lots of restaurants run by morons.)

Jean was going to deliver some wine to Homps so after tasting Carl decided to buy a case for LelleBelles stock.  

Across the canal is a house that Leslie figured could be an object for Canal Midi living. With a view like this why not. The place is quite run down but when we got there it looked like someone stole Leslie's idea and renovation work was already in progress.  

There is a lake "Lac Jouarre" not far away from Homps. The wind is blowing gale and straight in our face but Carl is determined to see what it is all about. The picture is not telling how cold and windy it is but we never reached the lake and Carl felt like livingstone knowing he was so close but not knowing where he was and what he missed out on. The lake is apparently quite big and good for sailing and other lake activities. We walked close to some quite impressive housing developments and more in early stages of building. Port Minervois is one of them if anyone is interested.

This beautiful black cloud has being hanging over us all day!