The lovely thing about boating is the freedom to change your plans. This came into effect in a small way today. We were all set to head from Argens-Minervois to Paraza for lunch, however as we arrived there, it was clear everything was shut and all the moorings were in the process of being refurbished. We kept motoring on round the corner to Ventenac-en-Minervois which was perfect for a lunch based around mussels, a busy restaurant, a cat wandering around the trees above (well, it fell on our table the moment we got up to leave) and a smartly dressed old chap whom we chatted with in the pale sunshine.
The reason for the busy restaurant was, I assume, a combination of Paraza being closed and also some kind of event in the village about historical life on the canal and in the château (leaflet below). This may have been amazing, but we were happy to get 2YO napping and proceed to Le Somail.
Le Somail is a real find. It’s a base for Nicols (probably the smallest of the hire firms, after Le Boat and Locaboat, but their boats look to be the best maintained, IMHO). I already knew Le Somail had a quasi-legendary second-hand bookshop called Trouve Tout Livre, but it really is very cool, real fantasy novel stuff.
I could have spent hours (and hundreds of euros) in there, but managed to restrain myself. (A few more Maigrets for my mum, a bande dessinée for 5YO, a policier for Aurélie and an old volume of La Fontaine’s Fables.)
Le Somail also boasted not one but three open bar/restaurants which we availed ourselves of with great pleasure.
The weather is sunny and windy – great drying weather. The last lock was at Argens, so we have 2-3 days of zero lock action before we get to Béziers (which has the 7 chamber Fonserannes monster lock cluster). So easy running through Capestang and Colombiers, which will make a nice break. Another advantage of going this way – going down is easier with two (I say, titter ye not, ooh, you are awful etc) but it also means the hard stuff is behind us too.
Timsformational 