Friday August 17, Moissac

Summer evening on the Canal du Garonne

We really enjoyed chatting with our German “neighbours” last night, both Peter and Ula spoke very good English and it is one thing we do miss is being able to have conversations with fellow campers. French campers are always very friendly, but apart from a few bonjours and au revoir’s, it is not possible to have a chat.
Had planned a bike ride this morning before moving on, but a thunderstorm and more threatening rain put paid to that. We had planned to drive directly to Moissac but after talking to several people, they suggested a stop in Gaillac, a really nice place and small wine growing region. We passed so many fields of sunflowers, most of which were drying off but there seemed to be some later plantings which were still looking good.
Some days, nothing seems to go right. After stopping at a supermarket in Graulhet for a much needed restock we headed to Gailliac but soon found there was a detour down a very minor road which caused a few hair-raising moments with little French cars driving very fast and cutting corners. The driver was heard to mutter some rather foul language! Thought we would stop in town at a parking place beside the river, but on further checking online as we were driving found out that it wasn’t suitable for big vehicles, so found a safe place to stop and had a rethink …. and some lunch. We ended up taking the option of continuing onto Moissac, bypassing Gaillac, to a campsite I had found beside the river, with lots of bike trails along the Garonne Canal. It was quite strange as we had left behind the real old French village feel and were passing through more modern towns. The architecture had changed to what seemed a more Spanish influence with terracotta plaster rendered houses with tile roof’s and walled gardens.
Crossed the bridge into Moissac and followed Jilly’s instructions to a “T”, until she wanted us to head down a one-way,  street the wrong way! Kept driving and finally found a supermarket carpark where we stopped and had another look at the map, turned around and found a much better entry to the camp … Jilly was silenced! And a great camp, at €8 a night with all services free including electric, in between the Tarn River and the Canal du Garonne. Set ourselves up then went for a walk down the canal, passed the lock and onto where a large number of canal boats were moored. Spoke to Michael, an English guy in a really nice 8-year-old English built traditional Dutch design canal boat which he has lived on for the past 4 years along with his dog. The Capitinairre, or as we would call a harbour master, heard us talking. Jim is English but could tell us about a young kiwi couple restoring and living on a canal boat. They weren’t home but will try and catch up with them at a later stage. Hopefully will get the bikes out and go for a ride tomorrow!!

A small dash of sunflowers

The canal at Moissac

An abandoned grain store on the canal

Englishman Michael, enjoying life on his canal boat.

Evening on the Tarn River