Locking Through the Canal du Midi
by Pat Middleton, c 1999 
Photos © Richard L. Middleton and MAY NOT be used in any way without the written permission of the photographer.

This is the very short version.

For the full review of riding with the ROSA on the Canal du Midi, click here!

I am delighted to share with greatriver.com readers our experience of cruising the 300-year old Canal du Midi, between Toulouse, France and the medieval walled city of Carcasonne. The photos below are thumbnails. Click on each for a larger version of the photo.

Enjoy!!   ~  Pat

1)  Our 100-year old Dutch Clipper, the ROSA was our First Class hotel on the beautiful and historic Canal du Midi, Toulouse, France to Carcasonne! Although the ROSA could sleep eight passengers comfortably in 4 staterooms, our cruise included 6 passengers and 3 crew.

This fishermen called me back from a stroll to get a picture of him with the ROSA.

 

2) Dining was superb on board the boat.             
    We were presented with three Luscious meals served with local specialties, wine, salad, cheeses, desserts, and, before each lunch and dinner, aperitifs.

3)    "Locking Through" occurred constantly during the day. On one day, we went through 18 locks, including a Quadruple!  The locks on the Canal du Midi are egg-shaped for strength--using a design created by Leonardo da Vinci. Houseboaters were kept busy hauling on ropes and hand-winding the sluices and gates. We watched with great interest as Bernard and Michel did all the manual labor :-)

4) JUMPING LOCKS is something all Mississippi River boaters can relate to. One of our major decisions during the day was to decide whether we would ride, walk, or bike to the next lock.

5)   Shore trips added to the fun of each day. Here we visited a small vineyard. Bill, Laura, and our pilot, Michel.

6) We met Stefan walking beside the Canal on his way to Compestello in Spain. We had learned that pilgrims wore either a Scallop shell (Spain), Palm frond (Jerusulem), or Key (Rome) on their mantles. When you meet a pilgrim, offer him food and shelter.

7) 

Olive market in Toulouse near Saint-Serrin Cathedral.