tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2814660679964177682024-02-07T04:42:10.805-05:00Desert Star PDQ 36Desert Star is a 1996 PDQ 36 Owned by Eric and Bonnie.DesertStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17702677768913767233noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-86294587874532418532019-09-23T10:01:00.001-04:002019-09-23T10:05:15.051-04:00Not keeping the Blog up-to-date<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So I left the Blog behind and moved mostly the YouTube and Facebook for tracking events. I probably should have kept this page up, and at least provided links.<br />
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That said, here are links to the places I tend to post our travels and events.<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjJhncUaIV-z-u_7hap8dug/videos" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjJhncUaIV-z-u_7hap8dug/videos" target="_blank">My YouTube Channel</a><br />
Being that I got so deeply into video, I have mostly posted our adventures on YouTube. The biggest adventure has been our <a href="https://youtu.be/ZDgKP8NicVI" target="_blank">21 days we spent in South Africa</a>. Current and future Boat videos will be on this page as well.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-IvJCymDJxAgFnLNMWASMg/videos?view_as=subscriber" target="_blank">High Water Media</a>'s YouTube Channel<br />
About a year ago, Julien Jacques and I started a Video Production company. We got some nice contracts ranging from Food Expositions to Boat Delivery videos. Things related to PR for our company are posted on the link above.<br />
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<a href="https://annapolismarineservices.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Annapolis Marine Services</a><br />
Jonathan and I started a Marine Services company this year. This is our website. We will eventually have some PR videos on this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6TI20-6n61qFEyHGb4MGdg/videos?view_as=subscriber" target="_blank">YouTube Channel</a>. Our most famous customer so far has been <a href="https://distantshores.ca/" target="_blank">Distant Shores</a> III. Pretty impressive for a 6 month old company.<br />
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I'm still President of the <a href="https://www.oysterharbor.org/" target="_blank">Oyster Harbor Community</a>. Its a great place to live. The community is rich in history and great people.<br />
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I recently joined the Board of <a href="https://chartingcareers.org/" target="_blank">Charting Careers</a>. A non-profit that helps 'at risk' kids overcome the obstacles to success.<br />
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Somewhere in there I still do <a href="http://www.simtec.net/" target="_blank">IT work</a>, Bonnie has her Amazon 3rd party seller business for <a href="https://ardentideas.squarespace.com/" target="_blank">bath and kitchen products</a>, I still judge <a href="https://firstinmaryland.org/" target="_blank">FIRST Robotics events</a>, teach STEM classes when I can, and I hope to have my Captains License in a couple weeks, so that I can deliver sailboats periodically.<br />
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Somewhere in there are also five grown kids and a granddaughter. <b>I am somewhat good at posting events on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ericdepstein" target="_blank">my Facebook page</a>.</b> <b>But</b> <b>I'll add to this page periodically as I remember to</b>.<br />
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So that's life currently. A bit busy, but oh so much fun!<br />
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Thanks for reading and following along.<br />
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Happy first day of Autumn,<br />
Eric</div>
Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-30564016177642403162016-10-16T00:13:00.002-04:002016-10-16T00:13:49.049-04:00Our Community Commercial<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We haven't posted anything in a while, as there has not been much in the way of adventures. I've taught some STEM classes, worked, and continued to be President of our Community.<br />
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Bonnie's business is going very well and she is enjoying its growth. Bonnie is also still working on the house remodeling and applying her artistic skills to it.<br />
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As part of the Intern work I set up for the community, I thought a project to create a commercial for the community would help build a bigger sense of community, as well has help Realtors' represent what Oyster Harbor has going for it.<br />
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Here is a draft of the commercial so far. <br />
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I recently started doing IT Security work on a contract for the Census. Its a huge project and I am excited about it. But it will take away from sailing time and our adventures will have to wait a bit longer.<br />
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But there is a good bit of vacation, so I hope to have some short trips to share.<br />
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Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-13970041894546584622015-12-21T11:19:00.002-05:002015-12-21T11:19:24.140-05:00Happy Holidays 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Since I didn't create a single post this year, I thought I would create a Holiday Card to summarize this year's fun and events, as well as wish everyone a very Happy Holiday Season.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the cat was sick of winter</td></tr>
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While the very cold weather of early 2015 kept the pets close to the fireplace, I helped a friend bring his newly purchased Nordhavn 40 up the ICW. Certainly we were heading the wrong direction for warmth, which I reminded him of often.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moving the first Nordhavn 40 farther North</td></tr>
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Here is a 21 minute video of the trip. It might be a bit long to follow, but you can fast forward though some it to get the idea<br />
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Mckensie celebrated her first birthday. Everyone came to Annapolis and Bonnie baked an incredible cake.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mckensie got the top piece to play with</td></tr>
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The winter continued to keep a strong hold on the area. But I did get the drone up for some fun photos and videos.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port Annapolis Marina</td></tr>
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Flying over Port Annapolis</div>
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Fishing Creek Flyover</div>
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Oyster Creek and Chesapeake Bay Flyover</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric and John Grunsfeld</td></tr>
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This winter I got to see John Grunsfeld at the Cosmos Club. He was speaking at the 25th Anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope lecture at the Philosophical Society of Washington.<br />
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They publish the videos of their lectures at <a href="http://www.pswscience.org/">www.pswscience.org</a>. I am still a Member at Large volunteering and advising on IT matters and their website.<br />
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Spring finally did come and we launched the boat and began warm weather activities. One of our residents scheduled a Waterman for Day trip for our community and a group of young people and adults got to work nets and learn more about the Bay.<br />
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I volunteered over the summer on the safety boat for two classic sailboats that take people out on Wednesday nights to experience old time 'sandbagger' sailboats.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working the safety boat</td></tr>
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We got out for a couple weekends on the boat. Once weekend, returning from St. Michael's, we even had a beautiful run up the Miles River with the Spinnaker up.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our eclectic spinnaker </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picnic on the trampoline</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">400 clams ready for steaming in Cape Charles</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing Thomas Point light just after sunset</td></tr>
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2015 had us at two weddings of good friends. One was at the Sagamore in upstate New York and the other was in Virginia at a winery. Bonnie made the cake as the wedding gift for the one in Virginia.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonnie's cake creation at Steven and Meagan's wedding</td></tr>
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Bonnie built an outdoor kitchen over the summer. It turned out really nice and makes summer cookouts a blast.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Building an outdoor kitchen</td></tr>
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My mom, Ian, Tyler and I joined my brother and his family for a trip to Nassau for Thanksgiving. We did a few dives and some great sight seeing. My GoPro got a nice workout.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom, Tyler, Carl, and Eric</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler, Eric, Carl and Elena</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa, Kyle and Carl</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breezes was a decent resort, albeit the food was just okay</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We certainly ate a lot of conch out in Nassau</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/njVK3QgmHzaZL6WcziH0-VmWunXEBzefhhM7MoqBuSTeeWyCj3kWj84JVGaHiZbeBq_KCQ=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/njVK3QgmHzaZL6WcziH0-VmWunXEBzefhhM7MoqBuSTeeWyCj3kWj84JVGaHiZbeBq_KCQ=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even did a Rum tasting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/AYSwPUzg2tlXdIsabOWNZOXRmStb2XvwAfgHXgpRxjG2Fz0rmli3KRi4S6fCmhzs7ZgV8Q=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/AYSwPUzg2tlXdIsabOWNZOXRmStb2XvwAfgHXgpRxjG2Fz0rmli3KRi4S6fCmhzs7ZgV8Q=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Queen's Staircase</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We hired a taxi and got a five hour tour of Nassau. The driver was a great guy and we enjoyed his humor and insight.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/dlLWOFvW7dLluDSvOwAokyRgeldgBg2bkTBbHI4sQo4oVcFTDUH712MUCNYLygltvXDATA=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/dlLWOFvW7dLluDSvOwAokyRgeldgBg2bkTBbHI4sQo4oVcFTDUH712MUCNYLygltvXDATA=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kyle, Ian, Eric, Mom and Carl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The diving was really great. The winds and waves were high but it was warm and clear in the water.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/NC3XkMKLhLS6ut3LZWr0mm6MSWz8q7FbWd2H0z_OEnO1EV7mMALqKP31gU7gzOFQQS_tlA=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/NC3XkMKLhLS6ut3LZWr0mm6MSWz8q7FbWd2H0z_OEnO1EV7mMALqKP31gU7gzOFQQS_tlA=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greetings from the Bahamas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/NT8TWfvLGiimyt5QUL3L1T1EtEanEMO7pmxuWlqoC0QirFh76VbgkS5szgGYyRIS_qVJ9A=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/NT8TWfvLGiimyt5QUL3L1T1EtEanEMO7pmxuWlqoC0QirFh76VbgkS5szgGYyRIS_qVJ9A=s400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric enjoying the Shark dive</td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/2tmZYhNzksxCR1sWbDzvCuCYw6GazTPbJCSYsX78xuNATDj0-Ag79EgxGKzEwjPRCA1rkg=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/2tmZYhNzksxCR1sWbDzvCuCYw6GazTPbJCSYsX78xuNATDj0-Ag79EgxGKzEwjPRCA1rkg=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding the sharks</td></tr>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/N04TNnY1zs4/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N04TNnY1zs4?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A not too well edited video from the wreck and shark dives</div>
<br />
Winter has been easy so far this December. We hope it stays that way. This winter we plan on doing more house projects (Bonnie built a new master bedroom closet while I was SCUBA diving), and hopefully get a ski trip and/or more travelling in.<br />
<br />
We wish all of our friends and family Happy Holidays, and a joyful, safe and prosperous New Year.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/FAUzB_ci7veYAF59uZVajHary1_cm3kpx4IVm3PzcPHG9D47Ts4LXxHoXzsgRjVogJ4YaA=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/FAUzB_ci7veYAF59uZVajHary1_cm3kpx4IVm3PzcPHG9D47Ts4LXxHoXzsgRjVogJ4YaA=s400" width="526" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Happy Holidays from Bonnie and Eric</b></span></td></tr>
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Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-91999364682548665172014-09-28T16:58:00.001-04:002014-09-28T17:01:27.114-04:00Summer of the Drone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As we really aren't able to get out to much this summer and fall, as our old dog Tyson is moving even slower, and house projects seem to eclipse every weekend, I went out and bought a drone. Well, two actually...<br />
<br />
My brother sold me an old one of his, and when I went to get is programmed for a new remote, I ended up buying a bigger and better drone. <br />
<br />
So when I can, I get some video from it and do some minor editing.<br />
<br />
It didn't take me long to get fairly good at it, and it s a lot of fun. Albeit, I like the aspect of gaining more ways to use the GoPro, then actually have a radio control quad copter. My radio control years passed in the mid to late 1970s.<br />
<br />
Here is the video compiled from my first flights.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/lnUk6o0FH24?list=UUjJhncUaIV-z-u_7hap8dug" width="854"></iframe>
<br />
I had noticed a lot of gulls at our beach and thought I'd check them out, and see how they react to the drone. I did some great dives on them, but they did not seem very impressed.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ti25Zmi-Fxg?list=UUjJhncUaIV-z-u_7hap8dug" width="854"></iframe>
<br />
The Hunter Sailing Association has a crab feast on a neighboring creek and I took the opportunity to get a bit of video.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/fm0f_2VLkjQ?list=UUjJhncUaIV-z-u_7hap8dug" width="854"></iframe>
<br />
This video is of our creek, and a passing cruising boat owned by a nice guy named Gary. He was visiting someone in our community as they head south for the winter.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QlrcA7OMgP8?list=UUjJhncUaIV-z-u_7hap8dug" width="854"></iframe>
<br />
I'll add more as I edit the video. Most of wha seemed awesome in the first days of flying it, now seem fairly dull.<br />
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<br />
<br /></div>
Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-78592540201317382802014-07-01T10:19:00.001-04:002014-07-01T10:19:49.695-04:00Selling the little A-Frame<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Our renters bought a house and we decided its time to try and sell the A-Frame. Its an adorable place and Bonnie just redid the kitchen.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/XdV10Hqs1dg" width="854"></iframe>
<br />
So if you know someone looking for a house in Annapolis...<br />
<br />
Here is a link to more info:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cbmove.com/property/details/1251181/MLS-AA8329445/1328-Fishing-Creek-Road-Annapolis-MD-21403.aspx" target="_blank">CBMove</a><br />
<a href="http://fishingcreek.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">House info</a><br />
<br />
One more house to go, and we are off to living on the boat. Yay!</div>
Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-57753193530409363332014-04-07T09:26:00.002-04:002014-04-07T09:26:52.305-04:00A week of fun and relaxation in Nassau<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After this extra long and extra cold winter, it was really great to get away for a while.<br />
<br />
We flew to Nassau to help our friend move his boat from Nassau to Marsh Harbor. Not that the crew needed any help, but it was a great excuse.<br />
<br />
The weather was not favorable, with lots of wind predicted for the entire week. So we decided to stay in Nassau. Tokkie thought it would be fun to move the boat to the marina at Atlantis. So we did a short lap around Paradise Island and got a great slip at Atlantis. <br />
<br />
Bonnie and I had never been there, so for us it was to be lots of fun. <br />
<br />
Before we moved the boat, we went to Potter's Cay and had fresh Conch. Our friends Kevin and Karen on M/V Avalon told us about Tall Boy's Conch Stand, and said he had the best conch. He was also the first stall to serve prepared conch about 17 years ago. The area was originally know as a market where you could buy fresh conch or vegetables. <br />
<br />
Here is a video he has.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/KQIIU-5npT8" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
Our friend Kevin told us we needed to eat the Crystalline. We asked Tall Boy for some, and he gave us four pieces.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxLtAaXt3uqEHGgUxI0d044Jq3U_Qi-WKZbPnBN1-3c5d82wVRKbQ_h-P_-rTTOuCgszdqlGTEb2DNwWFXcGN8seQNSCRhX0_DLnUT3pByYiy7ETv0N_aqjH7wz-NdWgShe9Uv0UEdGo/s1600/GOPR0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxLtAaXt3uqEHGgUxI0d044Jq3U_Qi-WKZbPnBN1-3c5d82wVRKbQ_h-P_-rTTOuCgszdqlGTEb2DNwWFXcGN8seQNSCRhX0_DLnUT3pByYiy7ETv0N_aqjH7wz-NdWgShe9Uv0UEdGo/s1600/GOPR0102.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonnie eating the Crystalline</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I looked it up to see what it really was. Here is the link, and a short summary below. http://www.mda.cinvestav.mx/biblioteca/strombus/QueenConch_eng/o-glosario_in.htm<br />
<br />
<strong style="background-color: white; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">CRYSTALLINE STYLE</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small; text-align: justify;">. Strombid Conchs as well as other Mollusks possess a gelatinous translucent rod, some 10 cms long, that may protrude from the visceral mass during cleaning procedure. In most Caribbean countries, this gelatinous rod is considered as aphrodisiac. In fact, it is the crystalline style which is an element of the digestive tract, secreted by the style sac which is an expansion of the stomach. It contains only digestive enzymes which are progressively dissolved in the stomach and takes part to the digestive process.</span><br />
<br />
The boat move was event-less and very pleasant.<br />
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<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/5_vv8lxhQmg/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/5_vv8lxhQmg&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/5_vv8lxhQmg&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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I love to snorkel, and have jumped in the water in some strange places. Nassau harbor is actually very clear, but littered with junk. I took video from the dock and from snorkeling in the harbor. The compiled results are in the YouTube video below.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/l7CNYoNlReo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br />
I still have to compile the water park, Atlantis, and Dolphin photos and video. They'll be in the next post(s)<br />
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Thanks again to our friends Tokkie and Gail for having us on board for a week, and showing us such a great time.<br />
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<br /></div>
Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-18687278446091692172014-03-31T10:07:00.001-04:002014-03-31T10:07:14.999-04:00Arriving in Nassau<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We escaped the unending winter in Annapolis to help our friends move their Nordhavn to from Nassua to Marsh Harbor. Not that they needed help, but we decided it was a good excuse.<br />
<br />
The weather was not cooperating, so we decided to stay put in Nassau and enjoy the sights. <br />
<br />
We got in the on Friday. It was a quick and easy flight.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HJtDsBGSiYw" width="640"></iframe>
A test video made on a Chromebook with web based editing software. It seemed to work.</div>
Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-8359582290359171202013-12-22T12:49:00.002-05:002013-12-22T12:49:48.168-05:00Best wishes for 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I for one, will be glad to see 2013 go. Although the year had a few wonderful events, such as a few weeks in France, it was mostly a year of withering projects, dwindling profits, doing a lot of what I didn't want to do and not nearly enough of what I wanted to.<br />
<br />
From Sequestration, and the government shutdown, to a hit and run by a drunk driver and totaling my pickup, its been a year to mostly let pass.<br />
<br />
But being the eternal optimist, I have big hopes for 2014. Hope its a great year for us and for all of you!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWj-KCiMIaZaXiGi2-kjksxahyphenhyphennPjtcQFuOAyNGOur-annXVakW0610s1RmbAaoY55OpEm5ZDAzNyiLR0C44Yc-b1QDAvWhCuXvHtUe7-6iitWot5YGw9ccDvuEyXRYpx_o2m06D8cOlE/s1600/holiday+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWj-KCiMIaZaXiGi2-kjksxahyphenhyphennPjtcQFuOAyNGOur-annXVakW0610s1RmbAaoY55OpEm5ZDAzNyiLR0C44Yc-b1QDAvWhCuXvHtUe7-6iitWot5YGw9ccDvuEyXRYpx_o2m06D8cOlE/s640/holiday+2013.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!</div>
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Your friends,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Eric and Bonnie</div>
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Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-42350138390366145052013-10-28T21:17:00.000-04:002013-10-28T21:17:35.897-04:002013 Close out and Thoughts for 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Not much has happened this summer from a sailing perspective. We only took day trips on the boat as Bonnie's dog is having severe hip problems in old age and we are hesitant to leave him at a kennel (aka doggie spa). Also the business is way off, with the CR and Sequestration driving project profits into the dirt. So much for the semi-retired life - at least for now.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnL5h9iyLv3Gncay3pV-EYI_kXO6ixuwCgnKPLyJC-2w4Oybmf2hJ_pjYQDaqqFSSa5-oDc56G7S2NBleUpqAljCTxkNbnrxTTGqMEy-YZ9R24lkxigt_ZrAQp9Iw8aouZpnvOjGv1_Rc/s1600/pdq+36+line+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnL5h9iyLv3Gncay3pV-EYI_kXO6ixuwCgnKPLyJC-2w4Oybmf2hJ_pjYQDaqqFSSa5-oDc56G7S2NBleUpqAljCTxkNbnrxTTGqMEy-YZ9R24lkxigt_ZrAQp9Iw8aouZpnvOjGv1_Rc/s320/pdq+36+line+art.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
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<br />
When last we left the boating project list, we had one new engine and one on its last legs. I was hesitant to buy replace the old one, as it was still working and we had no plans for summer adventures.<br />
<br />
We planned to replace it this winter, and by coincidence, Honda has come out with an extra long shaft sailboat outboard that is 15 hp. Compared to our 9.9's the difference is huge. It not really speed that would increase, as the hull speed is limited due to the length and hull type. But it gives us much more power when going against a current or wind. We can't use regular outboards on the boat, as the shaft length, transmission gear ratio, and prop size don't work for big boats. They are meant for the small, light , planning hulls of little boats.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGS1whMhAAVXhBXiGnj0tiNWe0clbKL5xE5DE0BdGQKT6Ce6T9wHgD5pIYyU9tl55SvNtv8tbM0QVn5b8NcfUoSck_JuOmcddu2KjPp460uSNB-TihfRdiYVoCEan6EaYHGKycoQyUCys/s1600/honda15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGS1whMhAAVXhBXiGnj0tiNWe0clbKL5xE5DE0BdGQKT6Ce6T9wHgD5pIYyU9tl55SvNtv8tbM0QVn5b8NcfUoSck_JuOmcddu2KjPp460uSNB-TihfRdiYVoCEan6EaYHGKycoQyUCys/s1600/honda15.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potential new engine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Of course, we already have one new engine, so I will need to decide if its worth selling it or trading it in, or just giving up on the idea and staying with the proven Yamahas.<br />
<br />
I have yet to measure the engine compartment to see if it can actually fit. I'll also need to change wiring harnesses and throttle cable positions. So the jury is still out...<br />
<br />
I was reading a great article in <a href="http://www.goodoldboat.com/" target="_blank">Good Old Boat</a> magazine about D/L and SA/D ratios. It reminded me that; 1) weight is critical on a catamaran, and 2) our catamaran has varied in weight by as much as 3500 pounds depending on what we are doing with it.<br />
<br />
Here is a chart I made up of the variations in these ratios based on our weight.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoAEqv8aKcVP44vH4ioYx8KtuK_5enRxWy4PktK9j9clx2BdWC2L6Z6AuAGRD3z74BxVDieK6OyjbZ4b5Mtpqha5RLlGoHHowRA45FwS8MiZJ_MG80shmhqe6F3nrS8M5biwtYUdyF1U/s1600/SAD+and+DL.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoAEqv8aKcVP44vH4ioYx8KtuK_5enRxWy4PktK9j9clx2BdWC2L6Z6AuAGRD3z74BxVDieK6OyjbZ4b5Mtpqha5RLlGoHHowRA45FwS8MiZJ_MG80shmhqe6F3nrS8M5biwtYUdyF1U/s640/SAD+and+DL.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Variations in D/L and SA/D Ratios for our PDQ 36</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For those of you who are boaters, you know these numbers and have possibly purchased your boat based in part on them. For PDQ 36s the advertised empty weight, no engines, no nothing, just the hull is 8800 lbs. Of course that is not the number that will hit the water.<br />
<br />
When we purchased the boat, the weight on the lift was 10,500 lbs. Not too heavy for the boat type. I know many mono-hull owners with 36 foot boats that have hull weights at least double or 2.5 times our weight.<br />
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Once we got all our spare parts and basic stuff on the boat, the weight went up to 11,500 and by the end of the third season we collected enough stuff (full fridge, freezer, water leaking into water-tight compartments, etc.) to add another 1000 lbs.<br />
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Last November when we prepped to go south, and I watched the waterline disappear beneath the Bay, we were a whopping 14,000 lbs. Jeez. But we sure didn't starve. A friend of ours with a PDQ 36 in the Bahamas said they were 15,000 lbs one year when they hauled it out to paint the bottom. It was fully loaded with their 'normal' cruising gear.<br />
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We certainly see performance differences above12,000 lbs. She gets to be quite a dog. Another reason bigger outboards would be a nice addition.<br />
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For a comparison to the ratios of other types of boats, a light boat typically has a D/L of 200, and a heavy boat a D/L of 350 to 400. So we are still light on that scale. <br />
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A Gemini 35 has a D/L of 133. Of course that is the advertised ratio, and probably not at its cruising weight. So we are a bit better than they are. But their SA/D is 21.6 which is a lot better than ours. That might be because they have a bow sprit and a taller mast. The Tom Cat has "cruising" D/L of 108 and SA/D of 19.5. Its shorter than our boat, but has outboards and is very light. It does have significantly less sail area than us.<br />
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Here is some real humor - the advertised rations for a Fountaine Pajot, Mahe 36, is D/L 104, SA/D 25.3. I have no idea how they got those numbers, as the Mahe 36 has a huge Bridge deck that must weight hundreds, of not a couple thousand pounds more than our bridge deck (and theirs has a full kitchen in it too). Then add two large diesel engines. They say the total weight is 11,500 lbs. I think they forgot part of the boat. I certainly am not seeing that D/L as accurate. And they have the SA/D of a very fast racing boat, with a mast 13 feet taller than ours. Hmmm, 13 feet more mast is a huge amount of weight and pressure up pretty high for a short catamaran. <br />
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We will haul the boat at the end of October and see how the winter goes for dogs, kids (oh yeah, we are going to be grandparents in late Feb/early March), and for the business. Hopefully next year will allow us more adventure time.<br />
<br />
That said, I do plan to go somewhere this winter that has clear blue water and white sand beaches. So stay tuned.<br />
<br /></div>
Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-52850270682929718452013-08-09T20:11:00.001-04:002013-08-09T20:22:44.614-04:00Cape Charles Clam Slam 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We went down to Cape Charles by car this past weekend so that Bonnie could sell her solar lights at the Cape Charles Clam Slam.<br />
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She and Dora had a booth in a great location, and the activities were fun for me as well.<br />
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Calm Slam compiled videos of the Parade </div>
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and Smith Island Skiff races.</div>
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The fun of small towns is their ability to 'stop and smell the roses' on the days events occur in town. Everyone is happy as the people can walk to the events, the businesses are racking in cash, and there is a lot of entertainment on a scale that does not overwhelm the town.<br />
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While Bonnie was setting up the booth, I took a trip to the barrier islands to collect specific shells that she and Dora wanted. The islands are some of my favorite places, as there are few, if any people, and nature is at its best.<br />
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I came upon a group of sharks feeding in the shallows behind some breakers. They looked like dark moving spots in the water. I came upon one and scared it away before realizing I needed to get some video.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Big Bull Shark in Shallows</div>
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It took a bit before he/she got startled enough from the boat to move. I am guessing it was about 6 feet and was a Bull Shark by the profile. Also the beach had a few dead Bull sharks washed up (probably from fishermen killing them).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGfGvhQLcM3MNsfh3WdwvyihrlgJqodIoZ-l6s_ZDbzh4z0QuUbXtsB4MLQIM1hgVQ_mL5viaUoTHyadT-IQuN1yux2JKiPLaQxKlOC0LMnGXxlMWwYxEPxjuSnJ2WRwaHUMYpr5_eOY/s1600/IMG_2346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGfGvhQLcM3MNsfh3WdwvyihrlgJqodIoZ-l6s_ZDbzh4z0QuUbXtsB4MLQIM1hgVQ_mL5viaUoTHyadT-IQuN1yux2JKiPLaQxKlOC0LMnGXxlMWwYxEPxjuSnJ2WRwaHUMYpr5_eOY/s400/IMG_2346.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dink on the beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The typical beach there.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqRWUL7t_kAolaVm40gNsZ7BWyCRzWO4aqYaYGIk84kGZmZRtZcJMjFppONRaK2vuCR4fBYM7Lr-eNiONdy5j7chRtXx_tzO3KiiGAXQwvl4q8wi01XQsgbIYto-gphB-9cqVqloJHBo/s1600/IMG_2349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqRWUL7t_kAolaVm40gNsZ7BWyCRzWO4aqYaYGIk84kGZmZRtZcJMjFppONRaK2vuCR4fBYM7Lr-eNiONdy5j7chRtXx_tzO3KiiGAXQwvl4q8wi01XQsgbIYto-gphB-9cqVqloJHBo/s640/IMG_2349.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was one other person on my beach!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjim9IHnk8a4PrpPwxE7MfhRWLEUWzjA23Mb4tf3vGRKY4cYyiG06yqLwaTjZaaZcOhU7zBxY9Q27XDd4lXuuv6hEQbmfdG7B9woIJwZTfzJ4QDvcx94lCo3fDSrnD2-QeFN6nB2yDpzt0/s1600/IMG_2350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjim9IHnk8a4PrpPwxE7MfhRWLEUWzjA23Mb4tf3vGRKY4cYyiG06yqLwaTjZaaZcOhU7zBxY9Q27XDd4lXuuv6hEQbmfdG7B9woIJwZTfzJ4QDvcx94lCo3fDSrnD2-QeFN6nB2yDpzt0/s640/IMG_2350.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View towards the dunes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6bmjJPC8SRLGohpj1ZgXjnOx7kgn_lnpsNtmQgoG7MG-ctNKKPZIvAlQyKaqi4yJbKbs_yBANGbV5naspBhUZJrPPkvOH3CF-88HcHBf3xC8lrbPuAKd0d1EAkOqYqQjRU2jVwZN5gw/s1600/IMG_2353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6bmjJPC8SRLGohpj1ZgXjnOx7kgn_lnpsNtmQgoG7MG-ctNKKPZIvAlQyKaqi4yJbKbs_yBANGbV5naspBhUZJrPPkvOH3CF-88HcHBf3xC8lrbPuAKd0d1EAkOqYqQjRU2jVwZN5gw/s400/IMG_2353.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me on the beach.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Incoming tide moving fast across the sand bar.</div>
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I did some fishing on the dink, and at the town pier. Got a Rock Fish almost to the pier, but he got off with half my lure. An older lady about 20 feet from me caught him about 30 minutes later. He was 28.5 inches.<br />
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Oh well, at least I did not have to clean it.<br />
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The drive was pleasant and we came home with three dozen soft shell crabs and lots of pears and other fruit Bonnie and Dora got. Guess I'll be eating soft shells for a while.</div>
Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-5527827534920698362013-07-17T13:37:00.001-04:002013-07-17T18:06:00.990-04:00Ten days on the Canal du Midi in France<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Ten days on the Canal du Midi in France</i></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnTmFvXNN2EgSVPJ8RlJYSfSTXuovZEwvvOe1Ig5oKcrLnvbKsW_mumsDA2cMrszfVyyQiwwd-UPmrM7t0mNkpTQ0zpA065DQy4kKzBzE3_CelGleUQiyttf4Y3PIxKLm98UgD8lTpwA/s1600/IMG_2084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnTmFvXNN2EgSVPJ8RlJYSfSTXuovZEwvvOe1Ig5oKcrLnvbKsW_mumsDA2cMrszfVyyQiwwd-UPmrM7t0mNkpTQ0zpA065DQy4kKzBzE3_CelGleUQiyttf4Y3PIxKLm98UgD8lTpwA/s640/IMG_2084.JPG" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></td></tr>
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From June 12th to the 22nd, Bonnie, I, and a group of friends traveled from Castelnaudary to Cassafieres Harbor, a distance of about 142 km, or an hour and a half drive by car. In a boat on the canal du Midi it took 10 days. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPe-pCSyiYd-kAxXDrC8xjEsn6ny71anFnFWBD9RxRIQIHP6XMqG1XUxlUCKwKwild1WOQv7X-3YP-jKrMVzLUr6sVk8ePkhmYw1JuBLFg2M_-6GfyU5vLQGI6oKjIFxapSw4fO6ESjQ/s1600/Overview+of+trip2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPe-pCSyiYd-kAxXDrC8xjEsn6ny71anFnFWBD9RxRIQIHP6XMqG1XUxlUCKwKwild1WOQv7X-3YP-jKrMVzLUr6sVk8ePkhmYw1JuBLFg2M_-6GfyU5vLQGI6oKjIFxapSw4fO6ESjQ/s640/Overview+of+trip2.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our location in France</td></tr>
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The blue circle shows our location in France and the direction (east, southeast) that we traveled for the 10 days.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUy1H7_INU5t39Tu7lI9G3P7BNDE6bK5cDYgcEmU8xyzXE7zJyinamFPDNUHrPdcfglKn0Qu08KksO0cJTetyZ4unZCuDAqXeeG1uuq9ZCSQf8hZOn92f-BkaIrkfcckrX4FUuONHvLU/s1600/Overview+of+trip.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUy1H7_INU5t39Tu7lI9G3P7BNDE6bK5cDYgcEmU8xyzXE7zJyinamFPDNUHrPdcfglKn0Qu08KksO0cJTetyZ4unZCuDAqXeeG1uuq9ZCSQf8hZOn92f-BkaIrkfcckrX4FUuONHvLU/s640/Overview+of+trip.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High level route view</td></tr>
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We rented a 50 foot canal boat from LeBoat, along with friends who had rented three other smaller boats, and we had a wonderful time exploring rural and historic portions of southern France.<br />
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Much of the canal we traversed was built in late 1600s and early 1700s. Its famous in the U.S as Thomas Jefferson visited the canal to adopt it's design fro the C&O canal and others in the U.S.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbOYrwqLj6stdIdTRgFwWSXLCgigQoVLnD4-6DSmx48BJ4MXS08Rj1EG2CXajFIFxI5PtPCvJUJbxaZu_453d9wvxm7WRfXCGQUiHuxYWFqf5u6_JuP2WD4Lvp9mwbj27TgzurqdvyCo/s1600/IMG_2080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbOYrwqLj6stdIdTRgFwWSXLCgigQoVLnD4-6DSmx48BJ4MXS08Rj1EG2CXajFIFxI5PtPCvJUJbxaZu_453d9wvxm7WRfXCGQUiHuxYWFqf5u6_JuP2WD4Lvp9mwbj27TgzurqdvyCo/s640/IMG_2080.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thomas Jefferson was here.</td></tr>
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Here is a quick history of the Canal du Midi and good link to a longer article<br />
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The system was a masterpiece of both hydraulic and structural engineering, and took 12,000 laborers to build. The first stone was laid in 1667 and it was opened officially as the Canal Royal de Languedoc on May 15, 1681 – just months after the design, Riquet died.<br />
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Its main aim was to transport wheat, wine and textiles, primarily heavy cloth from Nîmes and silk.<br />
Riquet's dream of reaching the Atlantic only came two centuries later, when his canal was linked to the Canal du Garonne.<br />
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The Canal Royal was renamed the Canal du Midi during the Revolution, and by 1856 it carried 111,000 metric tonnes of cargo and a million passengers a year.<br />
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But commerce dried up almost overnight the following year after the Bordeaux to Sète railway line was opened.<br />
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The canal had a renaissance in the early 1990s, thanks in no small part to British barge tourists who fell in love with its combination of beauty, nature and engineering prowess – and the thousands of planes, cypresses plus the odd umbrella pine and chestnut lining its banks.<br />
It has 91 écluses (locks) which serve to ascend and descend a total of 620ft. It has 328 structures, including bridges, dams and a tunnel.<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_du_Midi">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_du_Midi</a><br />
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We'll attempt to give you a day-by-day account of the trip, and some summaries and other information as well.<br />
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The video below is most of the 142 km compressed into 10 minutes. You may need some Dramamine for the experience. You'll notice a lot of locks and low bridges.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"> 10 days in 10 Minutes.</span> </div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
June 12 - Arriving in Castelnaudary and beginning the Boat Trip</h3>
We got off the train and to our delight, Mark and Joelle were waiting on the platform for us. Their hotel was a short walk away and Mark and Joelle let us use their shower.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_MSLa4UVluIivtVTwjnvLE4J3Ws5kWaMcape28-FvK1kJUa4ICvooS6PPUBXS9fvkjG1sweyra5qZgP05pUTxiYMjMbN9QTzK6JZ6p8VcFDbYmxkMGaNG9isPjzMWcfpQfi5WbRIoWA/s1600/IMG_1695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_MSLa4UVluIivtVTwjnvLE4J3Ws5kWaMcape28-FvK1kJUa4ICvooS6PPUBXS9fvkjG1sweyra5qZgP05pUTxiYMjMbN9QTzK6JZ6p8VcFDbYmxkMGaNG9isPjzMWcfpQfi5WbRIoWA/s320/IMG_1695.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hotel du Canal, Castelnaudary</td></tr>
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The stress of getting there was over - at least for us. Mark and Joelle's friends, along with their children were stuck in Vienna also due to the Frnech Air Traffic Controller strike. They had a rough time getting here. It caused quite a bit of stress and logistics effort, but they finally arrived that afternoon. They were exhausted.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWWRFwEc_ODsIM9EvmyoSWyBH6yBR6Kc8prlJXd1yDqX4V3WMMOqjBuSAqCtHa_fibWrT2JNGXWdFOLaaNflNwUyatafbyFBYiX0sDkZUKO59QprsrbKC5EQxti6DpZXdoQFvxT66ON0/s1600/IMG_1703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWWRFwEc_ODsIM9EvmyoSWyBH6yBR6Kc8prlJXd1yDqX4V3WMMOqjBuSAqCtHa_fibWrT2JNGXWdFOLaaNflNwUyatafbyFBYiX0sDkZUKO59QprsrbKC5EQxti6DpZXdoQFvxT66ON0/s320/IMG_1703.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our late comers finally arrive - and were exhausted</td></tr>
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We had a nice breakfast at the hotel with everyone and then walked to the Le Boat base. We checked in early and loaded the boat. When we made the charter they said there was no early check-in available. which meant we would not be able to leave and begin the journey until about 4pm. When we got there, we found they really didn't care, and we were aboard by 11:30am. But as it looked like Mark and Joelle's friends' flight got off, we waited until they arrived and got them settled. Then we all got going about 3:30pm.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpq2PlnP37KpgEwN81JYa31BW1kseOd8eoiGcb_QW3iSNh4ZcM0XwCesE6l7vya_zGWGVvfpefrg3hLRBXwflmdi6wP22gq0rTUx5xtR0045GBJ6CKGUog0z6lv4WCFyi3WLQf5Y1vdYg/s1600/GOPR0151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpq2PlnP37KpgEwN81JYa31BW1kseOd8eoiGcb_QW3iSNh4ZcM0XwCesE6l7vya_zGWGVvfpefrg3hLRBXwflmdi6wP22gq0rTUx5xtR0045GBJ6CKGUog0z6lv4WCFyi3WLQf5Y1vdYg/s320/GOPR0151.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Pondering Pizza for lunch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While waiting, we walked around the area, had pizza, and watched the operation of the first locks we would encounter. We did a practice run with the boat and were not thrilled by the 'fly by wire' aspect of the boat. It had a pod in the stern and large bow thruster. There were two sets of controls, one was a wheel and throttle and bow thruster, and the other a joy stick. Below deck there was a second helm station. The switching between wheel and joy stick had a delay of about 15 seconds or more. And in some cases in switching, if failed and neither option worked. This presented a problem or two for us on the trip.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xgjEt8FE5EGpccBeer9aUVtSQqIiEXB2tgR8R97rwCdfSS-1BAnSCGdx9tTzsVAQKy75Kc-XDVneaPWetGtwD4yileKWeq_Mgku0zt8SYZ6zpQ_kJ_x1qRtGwe3ybuaOOsIPrh9A7Xc/s1600/GOPR0112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xgjEt8FE5EGpccBeer9aUVtSQqIiEXB2tgR8R97rwCdfSS-1BAnSCGdx9tTzsVAQKy75Kc-XDVneaPWetGtwD4yileKWeq_Mgku0zt8SYZ6zpQ_kJ_x1qRtGwe3ybuaOOsIPrh9A7Xc/s320/GOPR0112.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning the boat's control systems</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The pod system on the boat, meant that there is no rudder. This is very foreign to sail boat people and the loos of steerage when slowing, and the inability to maneuver at slow speeds took a lot to get used to.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPLew8C6eYPQ-eaGKw5efM86WKGLvcWoRY-kFxl7Z5gjPUqVqmHOxFmNc-y7ivhS3I4KVVzP4616iTZ6s3NdoU-l4Ry6rDyE4Kj8OHRWE400XXZEVMu8oZPD4g9fY3hnlRSmnBcizpUQ/s1600/IMG_1767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPLew8C6eYPQ-eaGKw5efM86WKGLvcWoRY-kFxl7Z5gjPUqVqmHOxFmNc-y7ivhS3I4KVVzP4616iTZ6s3NdoU-l4Ry6rDyE4Kj8OHRWE400XXZEVMu8oZPD4g9fY3hnlRSmnBcizpUQ/s320/IMG_1767.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Yanmar 75, with an electronic governor so we could not exceed 6.5 mph.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As we were prepping the boat, we realized that the water pump was not shutting off. The maintenance guy came on board, then another. They figured out it was the pressure regulator and adjusted it. We were good to go.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeeHfccU2dr6k7ar8P7iqit45dWG6B5Pm_1cIKYk6QGXP82SMDdzgEBgxVglstQAo5KkWl09tohagZr3VhmIsrxkJEze3ZOmjhXvuj1lD_nWiZK-DJwRu2EpzisLMlo7Z_66RwY6aWkM/s1600/GOPR0115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeeHfccU2dr6k7ar8P7iqit45dWG6B5Pm_1cIKYk6QGXP82SMDdzgEBgxVglstQAo5KkWl09tohagZr3VhmIsrxkJEze3ZOmjhXvuj1lD_nWiZK-DJwRu2EpzisLMlo7Z_66RwY6aWkM/s320/GOPR0115.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water pump and pressure tank under Galley floor.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We headed out at 3:30pm and experienced our first lock transit. It was a large four lock operation. We were all a bit nervous about it, but it went very smoothly. At each lock, we all came on deck to handle lines, and took 20 or more photos each. By day three, we had a couple people on deck, took only a few photos, and even had a lock keeper yell at us as we were too lazy to throw lines onto the ballards.<br />
<br />
On the first day, we had the four lock set, then a half mile to a two lock set, then another half mile to a three lock set. The three lock set had a jammed door on the bottom lock. We sat idling for forty minutes while the lock keeper fought with it. I got an inadvertent crash course in the joy stick and by the end of the forty minutes had it mastered. The lock keeper gestured to us to see of we could push the lock door open with the bow of the boat. We tried, but had not luck moving it. It was partially open and we were able to squeeze through it. We radioed Mark and Joelle, who were on their friends' boat, trying to get them acclimated as they had little boating experience.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HjbnzP45b4l-QAoXaULpwqrnwTI1eAfhUKJ2byJB_zUAGhfFoLa5wGzSetVhIKXFU8plLQk_eYgwtgvAQHHKMP2OA9F0ryqXPN3z6mOSiT_qmf4eAZ5tjUz7r0rIyMZOP9sOi-cOYvY/s1600/IMG_1698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HjbnzP45b4l-QAoXaULpwqrnwTI1eAfhUKJ2byJB_zUAGhfFoLa5wGzSetVhIKXFU8plLQk_eYgwtgvAQHHKMP2OA9F0ryqXPN3z6mOSiT_qmf4eAZ5tjUz7r0rIyMZOP9sOi-cOYvY/s320/IMG_1698.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first lock set was comprised of four locks. Nothing like intimidating us in the first hour.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We did not want to get too far ahead of them, as they were sleeping on our boat, and all their gear was with us. We got through another lock, and pulled to the side for the night. Mark and Joelle were stuck on the other side of the triple lock as the door would not be fixed until the morning. They borrowed bikes from their friends and rode the mile or so to us.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9r924qDKAoK52Oq1y-X5p2pz4WNv0KKuUKwlkOih8k_IaX_bnYMaN4UA7Na5JdwFO4_YjkwyMnqKupvgu-LirL4MrR7K8HdTKIsuw1TnX8jg81z5d1Um129mkZTy8SMTuTA08sKzqkDE/s1600/IMG_1717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9r924qDKAoK52Oq1y-X5p2pz4WNv0KKuUKwlkOih8k_IaX_bnYMaN4UA7Na5JdwFO4_YjkwyMnqKupvgu-LirL4MrR7K8HdTKIsuw1TnX8jg81z5d1Um129mkZTy8SMTuTA08sKzqkDE/s320/IMG_1717.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tied up on the side of the canal the first night, waiting for Mark and Joelle, and preparing dinner.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had a nice pasta dinner on board and talked about all the excitement of the day. We all crashed about 10pm.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
June 13 - Our first full day</h3>
We were up about 7:30am. Bonnie made her perfect cappachinno - she had carried the espresso maker from our boat in her baggage. Mark brought a manual frother with him, and the espresso and frothed milk were perfect. Mark took the bike back to the Le Boat base to get the proper code for the MiFi on their friends' boat. Then he joined them and waited for the lock to be repaired.<br />
<br />
We were off about 9am and the first lock was under a half mile ahead. The day was full of locks, beautiful scenery, with trees on both sides of the canal. This wine region is called Languedoc named from the language the local people had. There are multiple sub-regions.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4v7EJWqXMraX-P0cfk_uF6Zd8AvJBiSu3mmL653rb9O9vkqlGcuFDW0bO5si0JdwG0TlonIGdODsK7RagQCgbtGZhYUWFWknPy383OxKhNxqc5gbgB7rEccvr1ZASkzjgzi-1RHDWev0/s1600/GOPR0129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4v7EJWqXMraX-P0cfk_uF6Zd8AvJBiSu3mmL653rb9O9vkqlGcuFDW0bO5si0JdwG0TlonIGdODsK7RagQCgbtGZhYUWFWknPy383OxKhNxqc5gbgB7rEccvr1ZASkzjgzi-1RHDWev0/s320/GOPR0129.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike at the helm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgaL9uDmN91ie0zOFIw4heRpZfWBu1gdMJac6g_mWDLG75vfn-zTz1XMIraNOhSB9EuiHnxrUxVHr2qApx_4lI2fs2adGWg6TVh90w4bDhwjdN0E2ZqRRcd87bfv8DSt2K7Tn4HzxQ90/s1600/IMG_1726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgaL9uDmN91ie0zOFIw4heRpZfWBu1gdMJac6g_mWDLG75vfn-zTz1XMIraNOhSB9EuiHnxrUxVHr2qApx_4lI2fs2adGWg6TVh90w4bDhwjdN0E2ZqRRcd87bfv8DSt2K7Tn4HzxQ90/s320/IMG_1726.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A glimpse of the Pyrenees Mountains.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j7Lsw4Dq4g03u1r2vprTbQfVz4Ld_I7W2_iyAl4BG4kRYejWbZ_ZQRaxOmKZkTb8sn-UBEJZHCA9rp8KGi1W0leFwLgsq9y10C8cGsTuqpyy3ezNc6UuWpXHqQfn0KHYLKjGyNCLYxE/s1600/IMG_1727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j7Lsw4Dq4g03u1r2vprTbQfVz4Ld_I7W2_iyAl4BG4kRYejWbZ_ZQRaxOmKZkTb8sn-UBEJZHCA9rp8KGi1W0leFwLgsq9y10C8cGsTuqpyy3ezNc6UuWpXHqQfn0KHYLKjGyNCLYxE/s320/IMG_1727.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls checking out the wine and craft store that the lock keeper has.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeNkE7Ine-6lu_uYpWFpsWyXb_bxkqdwm9fAYZ0CRnCQQ54uRipU6utwEp4nWskh_eKFTmc3I4oot9e6HZPLrdKxF4YdTuRc06dgeeba7BlFkWtacvrbPaL04cYe_UkrZYdVZi9X6dG0/s1600/IMG_1730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeNkE7Ine-6lu_uYpWFpsWyXb_bxkqdwm9fAYZ0CRnCQQ54uRipU6utwEp4nWskh_eKFTmc3I4oot9e6HZPLrdKxF4YdTuRc06dgeeba7BlFkWtacvrbPaL04cYe_UkrZYdVZi9X6dG0/s320/IMG_1730.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farmland everywhere</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3haxIPW-XQA9DpFWUUcxheRy_aa5y04qWLQIBOqdb5FnIzxidqUvBqhuSPIeB7u6Wh1408hAKcSrjBh5Nb6WDK-w75gvP80oVrHYo7SoVtDc0XfsL550nyM-2Lf2lnXpVtL5TCTAF75U/s1600/IMG_1731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3haxIPW-XQA9DpFWUUcxheRy_aa5y04qWLQIBOqdb5FnIzxidqUvBqhuSPIeB7u6Wh1408hAKcSrjBh5Nb6WDK-w75gvP80oVrHYo7SoVtDc0XfsL550nyM-2Lf2lnXpVtL5TCTAF75U/s320/IMG_1731.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In many low spots, the canal crosses above streams and creeks on an Aquaduct. It is an odd feeling boating over a bridge, rather than under it. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmZFbSeLjxyWNNYZEa0B0nwKMjMRLKcHOnXXQSNZIQSrYrwFGJ6mssbcO7pGCtA_fIJDrfphHkL9quLk_37bVC-Z7UsrVo095VlEw5c7tGu0orOkrDFfB4CZTOnZXMGzAwTLOQkUjHBs/s1600/IMG_1743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmZFbSeLjxyWNNYZEa0B0nwKMjMRLKcHOnXXQSNZIQSrYrwFGJ6mssbcO7pGCtA_fIJDrfphHkL9quLk_37bVC-Z7UsrVo095VlEw5c7tGu0orOkrDFfB4CZTOnZXMGzAwTLOQkUjHBs/s320/IMG_1743.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many, many locks we entered.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7rBUtKVKQWfEbexBNNsOINuFUT-j_r7pUp_saNyqVzfh8MX4jsx-WNKBo4h_au8j0Y13Ts7vd7IhHiwRVz9nxFFwQjAvA4xp8_yX8E7VwnSFUREuDMxr3J25ViiLxgjUiRCd-bSQWfE/s1600/IMG_1745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="69" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7rBUtKVKQWfEbexBNNsOINuFUT-j_r7pUp_saNyqVzfh8MX4jsx-WNKBo4h_au8j0Y13Ts7vd7IhHiwRVz9nxFFwQjAvA4xp8_yX8E7VwnSFUREuDMxr3J25ViiLxgjUiRCd-bSQWfE/s320/IMG_1745.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice panoramic photo of a French country road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
We stopped for lunch, as the canal locks stop operation from 12:30 to 1:30 each day. By the way, the locks don't open until 9am and close at 7pm. Some lock keepers grow and sell vegetables, or locally made items, or wine to boats that are passing through. Some even have restaurants.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmZyZPS6rjcNGvakkSO5nFawXGJPDh0_8DRElq_ZmMvXLbC0UXpxf6D-Npg9Hvkd8brFWhswIwCCnMYuXMD7VMA0TdpOX9d9angdr_wxvVsv80m3lzohKNBkXMYTyS2z47SIDwcnxc6E/s1600/IMG_1736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmZyZPS6rjcNGvakkSO5nFawXGJPDh0_8DRElq_ZmMvXLbC0UXpxf6D-Npg9Hvkd8brFWhswIwCCnMYuXMD7VMA0TdpOX9d9angdr_wxvVsv80m3lzohKNBkXMYTyS2z47SIDwcnxc6E/s320/IMG_1736.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Bonnie biking along the canal bank.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqAgp8rrJefEZUgOetu41nFHVKnrAuQLPDCiw7ZCffLIcNVF2YsGRmT4E5Y20OMjH8XUYzNMiabh7eYg4Zz8OqTkOzoibe5eMWVibHChlwVTWIBghVvxt1oZbe3kzEOsBy2jd0D6EF70/s1600/IMG_1735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqAgp8rrJefEZUgOetu41nFHVKnrAuQLPDCiw7ZCffLIcNVF2YsGRmT4E5Y20OMjH8XUYzNMiabh7eYg4Zz8OqTkOzoibe5eMWVibHChlwVTWIBghVvxt1oZbe3kzEOsBy2jd0D6EF70/s320/IMG_1735.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonnie and Joelle after shopping at the Lock keeper's store. It may have been 5:00<br />
somewhere, but it was 10 am in France.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By the late afternoon, the clouds were moving in and it was looking like rain. We did not want Mark left behind to travel far in the rain to us, so we stopped just after a canal lock (Fr. Ecluse) named d'Herminis that had a restaurant as well. We made reservations for the two boats, 16 people, and had a very nice dinner. The wine and food was less like Paris and more of the southern French style. I suppose it could be summed up as less of the Nouvelle style, and more of the heartier stew type cooking.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2H9-dRNNprjQcw8IURpfbtikWRd4pHlDjPmNLbHh0TWdSOVlgZCL3RliEhMMV2LmS6CC70ei9exQC72qZt1pL0RATfuIlc9aZb3brTsixR7vqyP2pPtCU0tsKg8OlRMRxn7tl3-w4VDQ/s1600/IMG_1757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2H9-dRNNprjQcw8IURpfbtikWRd4pHlDjPmNLbHh0TWdSOVlgZCL3RliEhMMV2LmS6CC70ei9exQC72qZt1pL0RATfuIlc9aZb3brTsixR7vqyP2pPtCU0tsKg8OlRMRxn7tl3-w4VDQ/s320/IMG_1757.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tied up at the Herminis Lock before going to the Restaurant the Lock Keeper had.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3blNg61Jyh-9UIi_hdbLlL0zXaZmJArMKIhap7KF1sa9Wa30HsP4H7wieaar485IgW-HwsYbFraSZyjRzfiXYS7ZsHvMJx9xOGsEBldunON34w6duUODqFH2YnL_FwoSxzx0D4bVgfRI/s1600/IMG_1758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3blNg61Jyh-9UIi_hdbLlL0zXaZmJArMKIhap7KF1sa9Wa30HsP4H7wieaar485IgW-HwsYbFraSZyjRzfiXYS7ZsHvMJx9xOGsEBldunON34w6duUODqFH2YnL_FwoSxzx0D4bVgfRI/s320/IMG_1758.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The vineyard behind the Lock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKL0wHf2_9Nv04BTsn23NHJnJRn5aIySFJgwhvAByPFpVDXUr5C59yas1poCikG3vP77Ye_Oj7eUqhT5qv_QfomqDsHBRepdfzFF9XqgBkevny8JhUC2NVVQ1BFDhhcmEQvqwZVCPH_Y/s1600/IMG_1761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKL0wHf2_9Nv04BTsn23NHJnJRn5aIySFJgwhvAByPFpVDXUr5C59yas1poCikG3vP77Ye_Oj7eUqhT5qv_QfomqDsHBRepdfzFF9XqgBkevny8JhUC2NVVQ1BFDhhcmEQvqwZVCPH_Y/s320/IMG_1761.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herminis Lock, closed for the night</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYx2W_YkpejxDcsAIDnoyt1JKtQziQ-Ya6mC6C5Kv7hWVXWCOioghEysFsDQlOcjiqCuDazxSJi_FmDtTAGsl_8ISQAA1zso6j_0CghevmQp98zN8H3V9lcS0skxpif6Lnr8qPA0L0eT0/s1600/IMG_1762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYx2W_YkpejxDcsAIDnoyt1JKtQziQ-Ya6mC6C5Kv7hWVXWCOioghEysFsDQlOcjiqCuDazxSJi_FmDtTAGsl_8ISQAA1zso6j_0CghevmQp98zN8H3V9lcS0skxpif6Lnr8qPA0L0eT0/s320/IMG_1762.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panoramic of Herminis Lock</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1spG1QIj2cb35_n7p_pVeJfVrD67Veq9V_dSmYIwlJjcSNyV04fqvpg8gcFMuyzeDrK7nZXTTrEOTJDAuo5jt0qdBcHc3aLdc1n5x2e92rkZX5PH1_x6-aK4-Vf_t22iQpCbhsSr1Bj8/s1600/IMG_1765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1spG1QIj2cb35_n7p_pVeJfVrD67Veq9V_dSmYIwlJjcSNyV04fqvpg8gcFMuyzeDrK7nZXTTrEOTJDAuo5jt0qdBcHc3aLdc1n5x2e92rkZX5PH1_x6-aK4-Vf_t22iQpCbhsSr1Bj8/s320/IMG_1765.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A common sign posted on many of the Locks (Ecluse).</td></tr>
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Dinner took the traditional 3 hours and we were back at the boat and heading to bed about 10pm. The restaurant name was Restaurant la Rive-Belle (Ecluse d'Herminis 04-68-26-46-57).<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
June 14 - Short trip to Carcassonne</h3>
<br />
We were up at 7 and had a nice French style breakfast of Croissants, cereal, yogurt, and Cappuccino. We headed out at 9am, traversed two low bridges and arrived in Carcassonne a little after 10am.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fZTEngUyY83g1iNgAfrJwJ80tMaj0aYr3YzlLSjp2S3R7HMuh94X_e_nPH0CZPIJtjN3Tgd64MNDr8shPef49TT1pmSPrMgxTHVMGnXccUlppqBlvJ6_N9ToR_b4zOvWh6JMeEGMeE0/s1600/A3E15851-DC89-45BA-9114-60257064D609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fZTEngUyY83g1iNgAfrJwJ80tMaj0aYr3YzlLSjp2S3R7HMuh94X_e_nPH0CZPIJtjN3Tgd64MNDr8shPef49TT1pmSPrMgxTHVMGnXccUlppqBlvJ6_N9ToR_b4zOvWh6JMeEGMeE0/s320/A3E15851-DC89-45BA-9114-60257064D609.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Travelling into Carcasone</td></tr>
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There were a few small marinas, and we selected to stay at the one on the town side, just before the bridge. We backed in, doing a modified Med-moor with only stern lines.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YBtIC8k2FpVMWZNqISRkZg_2Y_ky1CNdlKezRicByukvoVasPuG8Njuhr1Xppjkgo5kKCOKVqrYodPwX2fVyAXB1li-_tAVycDQYtZN8HThsZw0Q4ybq4vER9ZSDL7Ji2WsrO7-pPSc/s1600/GOPR0145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YBtIC8k2FpVMWZNqISRkZg_2Y_ky1CNdlKezRicByukvoVasPuG8Njuhr1Xppjkgo5kKCOKVqrYodPwX2fVyAXB1li-_tAVycDQYtZN8HThsZw0Q4ybq4vER9ZSDL7Ji2WsrO7-pPSc/s320/GOPR0145.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tied up in the marina</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxf7U7SoTt7MVXR4KvRdQbUhiZIWUC9YSalFX4wZQ1n28bAvaiK9tdLST-aaEaZ7gknmeYhK9UuDFrbocluYEoFbh3Gwu2wl5JPUgdkdSwviO_LV2yl1V_Y889VaS2hqQXr8oDkXhDRR0/s1600/IMG_1811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxf7U7SoTt7MVXR4KvRdQbUhiZIWUC9YSalFX4wZQ1n28bAvaiK9tdLST-aaEaZ7gknmeYhK9UuDFrbocluYEoFbh3Gwu2wl5JPUgdkdSwviO_LV2yl1V_Y889VaS2hqQXr8oDkXhDRR0/s320/IMG_1811.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne Castle and walled city</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwM6jpefgheJBHfuPhH364JAewnHtKMYuDvLs75Gu7q7pKietrNJtN7cyX_3yW7DGEOL6HWSPOS_Z2CgeNYejH51BPZ3KMzOgsL2WVQJHxROPQnMAcBTmG9nyvNoCj0V0Um_Tben70Dw/s1600/CE886F79-8373-40C2-8692-8806F14C0D3B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwM6jpefgheJBHfuPhH364JAewnHtKMYuDvLs75Gu7q7pKietrNJtN7cyX_3yW7DGEOL6HWSPOS_Z2CgeNYejH51BPZ3KMzOgsL2WVQJHxROPQnMAcBTmG9nyvNoCj0V0Um_Tben70Dw/s320/CE886F79-8373-40C2-8692-8806F14C0D3B.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of Carcassonne's old City</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbn5WkPcF-UBoqcgF62ndEQbCGIZYDKYF_LvNjc5_ayWHIGoMT1MkM2LKZG27J4KNODmAHkLYHGRljfI7eeWfmgElcaMt4swEptpRU3BV5dETKTGjH6nrAfpjF3v-jKdGNzxPxd0vg1w/s1600/GOPR0151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbn5WkPcF-UBoqcgF62ndEQbCGIZYDKYF_LvNjc5_ayWHIGoMT1MkM2LKZG27J4KNODmAHkLYHGRljfI7eeWfmgElcaMt4swEptpRU3BV5dETKTGjH6nrAfpjF3v-jKdGNzxPxd0vg1w/s320/GOPR0151.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pondering lunch options in the center of town.</td></tr>
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We walked up to the castle, in the old city to get a view of it. We then came back and had lunch, rested and went back up the tour the City. The idea was to stay through the evening and watch the nighttime light show they put on about the history of Carcossonne.<br />
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Here is a link to its history - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcassonne">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcassonne</a><br />
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Here is a video of the trip so far. Its fairly good and not too long. I had some free French MP3s so you will hear the same music often in the videos.<br />
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<<Days 1 and 2 video coming soon>><br />
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Here's some of the many, many photos we took in Carcassonne.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOFxnAr4hgGDoNHQmWruWx2656JAhfdpT2dkqgINFKHxPAfymjgzwbT5aAijbiYWEmHQROJ_9hycHDY0sSzfXG8HTPIehlfXw0spd8mEQtuocTNauCgDkUFuuv5TlgA3TnRlBx80NVqI/s1600/IMG_1874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOFxnAr4hgGDoNHQmWruWx2656JAhfdpT2dkqgINFKHxPAfymjgzwbT5aAijbiYWEmHQROJ_9hycHDY0sSzfXG8HTPIehlfXw0spd8mEQtuocTNauCgDkUFuuv5TlgA3TnRlBx80NVqI/s320/IMG_1874.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDiu4gtdrNwMUbgfsScteUo1KrUG_UMpt53Klb0WPqniIHkFqCy8hXNHR4iS-ifZlI3L5SnIPWu1LHxN7GfEPYMOIPSHhNJ3KtBrIb31mcAuxFbjMa_QK4ppjNj9r_dUM0OxedHwlYr4/s1600/GOPR0178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDiu4gtdrNwMUbgfsScteUo1KrUG_UMpt53Klb0WPqniIHkFqCy8hXNHR4iS-ifZlI3L5SnIPWu1LHxN7GfEPYMOIPSHhNJ3KtBrIb31mcAuxFbjMa_QK4ppjNj9r_dUM0OxedHwlYr4/s400/GOPR0178.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFHuC9Zh1qw_W7VsQMfnaxg2LEY_YzLBEICXswo6Oi4_bg8dUvtRK7cSZRDnVE1b4JRJrsNJd6HajQr3xlvL8kzbq7D4Tiuq1shU6PjAs-lsZQMuIhLMg2i1xT0F17vcr64F5p_0rSqI/s1600/GOPR0179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFHuC9Zh1qw_W7VsQMfnaxg2LEY_YzLBEICXswo6Oi4_bg8dUvtRK7cSZRDnVE1b4JRJrsNJd6HajQr3xlvL8kzbq7D4Tiuq1shU6PjAs-lsZQMuIhLMg2i1xT0F17vcr64F5p_0rSqI/s400/GOPR0179.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wa5WenOZt2H7vXsy6aaiEQMJj71P19k-4zlBjVws5qlnPS68UrvZegBcazVcZaQnJkt45cs5Czx37xCYDUkV-tf7FSx6IU8M0nL27qDDHCGV_N_9KY9Upr4m-TH4dzUH-NrfZfqJg3o/s1600/GOPR0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wa5WenOZt2H7vXsy6aaiEQMJj71P19k-4zlBjVws5qlnPS68UrvZegBcazVcZaQnJkt45cs5Czx37xCYDUkV-tf7FSx6IU8M0nL27qDDHCGV_N_9KY9Upr4m-TH4dzUH-NrfZfqJg3o/s400/GOPR0180.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijsfuGi2sKX2EvZ-TbPQWt27JsKnTv1GMKM2L7bxQYKOeQhAC4aRNFqcRRFLhx9NSdcwBvGwAS1hRUKyAw2kEeN1RZmoCXYFYER4D-vokK_5T5jSrOdbpi1LbqsHFTyWLwCwGmTNw3ks/s1600/GOPR0186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijsfuGi2sKX2EvZ-TbPQWt27JsKnTv1GMKM2L7bxQYKOeQhAC4aRNFqcRRFLhx9NSdcwBvGwAS1hRUKyAw2kEeN1RZmoCXYFYER4D-vokK_5T5jSrOdbpi1LbqsHFTyWLwCwGmTNw3ks/s400/GOPR0186.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAFvAc7p0LVdxmWQxllThaIyHdC0Vo5UMrSJZMuWVo_bZSsiU_4OgJgmpv_I3VUSgGkGsII16XB89UkwkdrPUegerfcPS9Wnx9HufZyGaJMkdr29rbzjDed-zAou8fyqjDQDbIJ7o5kg/s1600/GOPR0187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAFvAc7p0LVdxmWQxllThaIyHdC0Vo5UMrSJZMuWVo_bZSsiU_4OgJgmpv_I3VUSgGkGsII16XB89UkwkdrPUegerfcPS9Wnx9HufZyGaJMkdr29rbzjDed-zAou8fyqjDQDbIJ7o5kg/s400/GOPR0187.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MDyWHFacYEm23kJ5emu_8IvhHVLdCvwS1QigDIfgQa9P8EKQISdWNtTvfnkQGlVyw0i-BSmwBHeo7kQHfKSVzLWJ9aUAZ5F_Fl9KrBbQZ-zI0t9Nm5NdkDn9YWXJqLZ8AXcHRJOyOlI/s1600/GOPR0189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MDyWHFacYEm23kJ5emu_8IvhHVLdCvwS1QigDIfgQa9P8EKQISdWNtTvfnkQGlVyw0i-BSmwBHeo7kQHfKSVzLWJ9aUAZ5F_Fl9KrBbQZ-zI0t9Nm5NdkDn9YWXJqLZ8AXcHRJOyOlI/s400/GOPR0189.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarnDBJD0nzctjKRQQboTHPcXbss6OYuPM_eZBqhJnvD4s-puWw2wtrBD78QJMHEedqt0HuIXdoB2oY9ykik19-dhrEI-YvYOMcmaBwWSNuX33QOaU8Vp2nJ9mo2Phyw08iYRQxJpq0MA/s1600/IMG_1799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarnDBJD0nzctjKRQQboTHPcXbss6OYuPM_eZBqhJnvD4s-puWw2wtrBD78QJMHEedqt0HuIXdoB2oY9ykik19-dhrEI-YvYOMcmaBwWSNuX33QOaU8Vp2nJ9mo2Phyw08iYRQxJpq0MA/s400/IMG_1799.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne Town Center</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpb2UOjUKUoBEDAPe5fhUu4JlNPK2yzj75hve3f7nsQUVNB8jdlH4FDE56TXQ4uTujOqqSeUIFcRPAiWJO17t4-kn5DiPl4Lu5MDoNv0EnwDvdpoUM4c73hyphenhyphen5jj5ErjG9DeSubEZHS1i8/s1600/IMG_1801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpb2UOjUKUoBEDAPe5fhUu4JlNPK2yzj75hve3f7nsQUVNB8jdlH4FDE56TXQ4uTujOqqSeUIFcRPAiWJO17t4-kn5DiPl4Lu5MDoNv0EnwDvdpoUM4c73hyphenhyphen5jj5ErjG9DeSubEZHS1i8/s320/IMG_1801.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne Tourism office</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5J65RRLtmXVcqA7bBJjxSwx0fuwGW05XPCDmD3_EhswqbXqhQJDCdzW-ncC_8pM-zWCtbbGuXVhSDBaz06qajf7fOUAu166TCvxKVayew5hLLd3u59g7zNRWa2Y4bVQr54sOX_ftiSU/s1600/IMG_1817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5J65RRLtmXVcqA7bBJjxSwx0fuwGW05XPCDmD3_EhswqbXqhQJDCdzW-ncC_8pM-zWCtbbGuXVhSDBaz06qajf7fOUAu166TCvxKVayew5hLLd3u59g7zNRWa2Y4bVQr54sOX_ftiSU/s400/IMG_1817.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few historical markers had an English translation. But there were also many brochures and tour books that had all the history in English. When in doubt, there was Wikipedia and Google.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuZJnXYLG_T4PQVDKaotDf1pMSE4Glg8D2DPmPHO7pM6vuht27VA4ivwKpBjl6kkYRr8gwH2D5EdmivF1fgPeP5E2W-k8V2inKBp1nstujFoQH3_8D4X8uXqkYLUf9bs-w8TS8PjuUFI/s1600/IMG_1823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuZJnXYLG_T4PQVDKaotDf1pMSE4Glg8D2DPmPHO7pM6vuht27VA4ivwKpBjl6kkYRr8gwH2D5EdmivF1fgPeP5E2W-k8V2inKBp1nstujFoQH3_8D4X8uXqkYLUf9bs-w8TS8PjuUFI/s400/IMG_1823.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The town also had some modern artwork along the river, and in the town square.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMsUU7QyMO6QzHzjk0Bek_wqE0z8Pf05T4BUkN1BArCkHsZQgV-cgoaakWCKWzj28RVFTFwtLsQ54pCJx3UaWJliGNra4sYljHlsGhZJ1kUfusvUX2PP5kRz8sB43pS5Z_uf0S-UTpjs/s1600/IMG_1825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMsUU7QyMO6QzHzjk0Bek_wqE0z8Pf05T4BUkN1BArCkHsZQgV-cgoaakWCKWzj28RVFTFwtLsQ54pCJx3UaWJliGNra4sYljHlsGhZJ1kUfusvUX2PP5kRz8sB43pS5Z_uf0S-UTpjs/s400/IMG_1825.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne entrance to Old City</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSZgxCepmlVsaGCgqY2_8f7stlH70de-4GyfLCdzFwxzFLM0_aHT7oAwoNXFtrGerYH-G4bvzho1TDgepYCf2pK4d7EvYP1Z5wDsiG3cZpuyHb4Nar1HCk1_BmCtf5KqV7X3LB6KVpfU/s1600/IMG_1831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSZgxCepmlVsaGCgqY2_8f7stlH70de-4GyfLCdzFwxzFLM0_aHT7oAwoNXFtrGerYH-G4bvzho1TDgepYCf2pK4d7EvYP1Z5wDsiG3cZpuyHb4Nar1HCk1_BmCtf5KqV7X3LB6KVpfU/s400/IMG_1831.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Carcassonne Entrance to Old City over Moot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswnOu5E5uCee9bWMAlnwHFjL73roJl2zGZMPAxvbA_tc7j81BtZntABmGE2ipEcyGHrnqQvYsycJiJlyBE5SExEtG3qZ_BrINLri_RLFveluKqxQrUJMTqx_Z3gHzDj6LMsmLtNhyphenhyphenvo0/s1600/IMG_1826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswnOu5E5uCee9bWMAlnwHFjL73roJl2zGZMPAxvbA_tc7j81BtZntABmGE2ipEcyGHrnqQvYsycJiJlyBE5SExEtG3qZ_BrINLri_RLFveluKqxQrUJMTqx_Z3gHzDj6LMsmLtNhyphenhyphenvo0/s320/IMG_1826.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqvUW0WVt1_dxqTt3o0ovfSPkwyBug061rPfeG45tn82GaBSkg66R4yJzyHR-Z8gl4Kv94PtsQE9YMlnDbSuDoDMFPkRNv9eN4eGVXp95pRgfVE3yWOgZpz1QPxLRUxm0H6H9XM4Oa4I/s1600/IMG_1827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqvUW0WVt1_dxqTt3o0ovfSPkwyBug061rPfeG45tn82GaBSkg66R4yJzyHR-Z8gl4Kv94PtsQE9YMlnDbSuDoDMFPkRNv9eN4eGVXp95pRgfVE3yWOgZpz1QPxLRUxm0H6H9XM4Oa4I/s400/IMG_1827.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne flood gauge on side of a building - 28 meter flood in the late 1800s</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_6z4YWYQO5mST1NyC2cmAnbC7mejVVj4olnqBaFrB5_pK14XOElm4RYr1ttACoYfntJJoFKJN5Ec4J_5L9lk_Yy7Ull8kUv3HUDOVTzFWene1u8QLW1WiyVbhcgk9P8GVul4sp6Vn9E/s1600/IMG_1830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_6z4YWYQO5mST1NyC2cmAnbC7mejVVj4olnqBaFrB5_pK14XOElm4RYr1ttACoYfntJJoFKJN5Ec4J_5L9lk_Yy7Ull8kUv3HUDOVTzFWene1u8QLW1WiyVbhcgk9P8GVul4sp6Vn9E/s320/IMG_1830.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Dl22my-4D_pgCGfeDngMZtZLvGdpaaxg1ezly_K7LiDzCNR88zvLh6Ua-psbdU04OyIQ8JBpIRcOYYgB4CRFwTvqDHxVKE2QHbV2CwgW-WdMAFrnmHV6QEkuRKgzG0vmjaRIetdm1II/s1600/IMG_1832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Dl22my-4D_pgCGfeDngMZtZLvGdpaaxg1ezly_K7LiDzCNR88zvLh6Ua-psbdU04OyIQ8JBpIRcOYYgB4CRFwTvqDHxVKE2QHbV2CwgW-WdMAFrnmHV6QEkuRKgzG0vmjaRIetdm1II/s320/IMG_1832.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne Museum entrance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojpOcSozeM1eSPFFZZwZaveKPfw3lTkEfg9skqQOzh7v3gl5ILA2NLFGf5HIuafgB1nDdYK0Exn5GcYRS28VCN55dFmXf-puDFhWRDyXpnMGAHEGxlxxcQpufreavJz9-y4MQ3WOibRc/s1600/IMG_1833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojpOcSozeM1eSPFFZZwZaveKPfw3lTkEfg9skqQOzh7v3gl5ILA2NLFGf5HIuafgB1nDdYK0Exn5GcYRS28VCN55dFmXf-puDFhWRDyXpnMGAHEGxlxxcQpufreavJz9-y4MQ3WOibRc/s320/IMG_1833.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvh5Sax93BpxD35wPCgq0h0dDpLB2ui4Wi23uEN4p9xVIlNU_t2s3F9FGnQzvsDq76m_2TRdWRsQMO8pjcSP9ERWvZCREGrb-Pl9VQT5XLHKGV3lindmWMxx1pFVkFVbjeGttdvb-mrk/s1600/IMG_1835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvh5Sax93BpxD35wPCgq0h0dDpLB2ui4Wi23uEN4p9xVIlNU_t2s3F9FGnQzvsDq76m_2TRdWRsQMO8pjcSP9ERWvZCREGrb-Pl9VQT5XLHKGV3lindmWMxx1pFVkFVbjeGttdvb-mrk/s400/IMG_1835.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4Wz8GDTgnsYwhOLBB-PtI8GWrmGihor450Dng3klsed7DdHO4YESSca9Kk6l9H6Q0ijsAzy02t5m_jy1JSKsClU7QY51Sr8AGXE6j3OPNfFHhyphenhyphenI1rgKCZBoxSnHE1ZsLmgQHTFrML6w/s1600/IMG_1837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4Wz8GDTgnsYwhOLBB-PtI8GWrmGihor450Dng3klsed7DdHO4YESSca9Kk6l9H6Q0ijsAzy02t5m_jy1JSKsClU7QY51Sr8AGXE6j3OPNfFHhyphenhyphenI1rgKCZBoxSnHE1ZsLmgQHTFrML6w/s400/IMG_1837.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBU7_gV-8ItLKOWqvZukPO6XdhcSeWkvoSO30j2dJyLOGgpxX2nw3QoJmns2jH0vOFWYA0Ds4RhhESv4_Jj0Zjac2FkfJw9q6xoju7-o9ux1C0kcEHR2nG0yUYTtnrUzcMDkwBhdaF_wI/s1600/IMG_1839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBU7_gV-8ItLKOWqvZukPO6XdhcSeWkvoSO30j2dJyLOGgpxX2nw3QoJmns2jH0vOFWYA0Ds4RhhESv4_Jj0Zjac2FkfJw9q6xoju7-o9ux1C0kcEHR2nG0yUYTtnrUzcMDkwBhdaF_wI/s400/IMG_1839.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPykjPj5eJPT4GuBtS5Tdt4TGlZhunJndu-yJLov5CjC7GtCd1eA3PQhAUHAlAbZbrbHiqwlgHRiSzulLITroqYKUip-Tdn_r8Xz9_VecPctkle80Tl8Q7A3TFx478cv6Jefj7GLlXDmA/s1600/IMG_1840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPykjPj5eJPT4GuBtS5Tdt4TGlZhunJndu-yJLov5CjC7GtCd1eA3PQhAUHAlAbZbrbHiqwlgHRiSzulLITroqYKUip-Tdn_r8Xz9_VecPctkle80Tl8Q7A3TFx478cv6Jefj7GLlXDmA/s400/IMG_1840.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne rebuilt wood portions of fortifications</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicK9p41fStducZD9Tn8TKcuMU5hKKfj2JUhvjiqP6w8mQ7gtWDT5Am7VHlxs2pwvfGnX2dCvnfZFUJnv8mVtmaHEYs6f7kG_dQtarMTJo-sOCHsVCK0pP-7c6mrpip2Zvf_paQKfxClBw/s1600/IMG_1846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicK9p41fStducZD9Tn8TKcuMU5hKKfj2JUhvjiqP6w8mQ7gtWDT5Am7VHlxs2pwvfGnX2dCvnfZFUJnv8mVtmaHEYs6f7kG_dQtarMTJo-sOCHsVCK0pP-7c6mrpip2Zvf_paQKfxClBw/s400/IMG_1846.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlt36HxrdqWFDbf3EpOxnSLRPBsUVUaxOS5-7Df11PwYCnxDLTjh8s37M9JNeQpgjnftmNl1VKgTOvc-qPlfSW8aLsRtxDTxKrkZ_gJnv5SIwoGVo9j8tN0P7vssmYj3pFHfYtX4PE30/s1600/IMG_1848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlt36HxrdqWFDbf3EpOxnSLRPBsUVUaxOS5-7Df11PwYCnxDLTjh8s37M9JNeQpgjnftmNl1VKgTOvc-qPlfSW8aLsRtxDTxKrkZ_gJnv5SIwoGVo9j8tN0P7vssmYj3pFHfYtX4PE30/s400/IMG_1848.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30MZ-3X12zRiPH8KXkFapvB6jLlJA6_2W8Yx9Uq7r9s7KuGcKL62jvZa2v7__IHs_LI2h83q2SsE8LZuvZJClHdd0xS23nRBsayPi1U8JiixH7H61KspwJ692LhbjJRqZW8ICBS2DJQo/s1600/IMG_1849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30MZ-3X12zRiPH8KXkFapvB6jLlJA6_2W8Yx9Uq7r9s7KuGcKL62jvZa2v7__IHs_LI2h83q2SsE8LZuvZJClHdd0xS23nRBsayPi1U8JiixH7H61KspwJ692LhbjJRqZW8ICBS2DJQo/s400/IMG_1849.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDntWJbSyvMyZllt205uvIvwmW0t7OKuQ1bgPRtI18_rNhE5U10L5LhQ-tP70M0fIpWoFLNv57YIyzRK_qDqC2vAbSNyey1XzRmDfi_L1aZ50Msd_Gpe-LaYXmDAU3DWBXcDNnJ5R3peo/s1600/IMG_1854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDntWJbSyvMyZllt205uvIvwmW0t7OKuQ1bgPRtI18_rNhE5U10L5LhQ-tP70M0fIpWoFLNv57YIyzRK_qDqC2vAbSNyey1XzRmDfi_L1aZ50Msd_Gpe-LaYXmDAU3DWBXcDNnJ5R3peo/s400/IMG_1854.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4R7Rzs3rJxvnzejK2AnMYJS_tqRcY3FlZcKdKfIOwWPYCgUeu4leFnCR-u7ZEZFzIx5p592tJsNeThPC5SUUDb9nQmseSuu5rmI9dvwb8TSzZygjvHAkYRwlw9zxEhyKp6DWpARI0Xho/s1600/IMG_1855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4R7Rzs3rJxvnzejK2AnMYJS_tqRcY3FlZcKdKfIOwWPYCgUeu4leFnCR-u7ZEZFzIx5p592tJsNeThPC5SUUDb9nQmseSuu5rmI9dvwb8TSzZygjvHAkYRwlw9zxEhyKp6DWpARI0Xho/s320/IMG_1855.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJDNpGBt9jTKrP-gQVqr_FvSnqpKWCTdIHgzdNq_8SiYVf_FEnUEymxTkrxkSRBKmwNE6EuNdSv2voF46riKRdFOAIEnTez7hk22HEUT1nBBrJq6EDNh904lURgVKhSMiwpc_ChImrgk/s1600/IMG_1856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJDNpGBt9jTKrP-gQVqr_FvSnqpKWCTdIHgzdNq_8SiYVf_FEnUEymxTkrxkSRBKmwNE6EuNdSv2voF46riKRdFOAIEnTez7hk22HEUT1nBBrJq6EDNh904lURgVKhSMiwpc_ChImrgk/s320/IMG_1856.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ52w6nJhWS7InV2rY957mC0aHbX_NGf_qp7jIFRop6LuUacpdqp5cckmeCREDgT2YxznaJQABqbwysG_rwcprjBxML8zvppK2AMTEWMZbuSYbh2x6nxw0AoBbpef9Dc2HM0YHSpgL1R4/s1600/IMG_1859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ52w6nJhWS7InV2rY957mC0aHbX_NGf_qp7jIFRop6LuUacpdqp5cckmeCREDgT2YxznaJQABqbwysG_rwcprjBxML8zvppK2AMTEWMZbuSYbh2x6nxw0AoBbpef9Dc2HM0YHSpgL1R4/s320/IMG_1859.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXKDS2ZZ6qOR7hKwUe3lclAnIgLqMPXLw9L3N4o-cgPJKkS3tyd5kD8cizFaEDVDD6aBIGjtJjYUjW0PYRpY0-b0JmN7aDMTsBqmrV8-PmzHKyV2pDFdcVG3PXH1NHlb9mbqkZodivRI/s1600/IMG_1862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXKDS2ZZ6qOR7hKwUe3lclAnIgLqMPXLw9L3N4o-cgPJKkS3tyd5kD8cizFaEDVDD6aBIGjtJjYUjW0PYRpY0-b0JmN7aDMTsBqmrV8-PmzHKyV2pDFdcVG3PXH1NHlb9mbqkZodivRI/s320/IMG_1862.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPNwFeisTKm-GCs4mjd4rw3C4s8HR6_qB11wk3hzBc5xzaszquVuatY5MEiruMKC_LFAnZcUKgbreMpFvb3sMnsrCy2Suy8MnvcOXweUv6-GyiUYJCLAEY1w9E4EHDtQueYCGKS-cWTw/s1600/IMG_1865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPNwFeisTKm-GCs4mjd4rw3C4s8HR6_qB11wk3hzBc5xzaszquVuatY5MEiruMKC_LFAnZcUKgbreMpFvb3sMnsrCy2Suy8MnvcOXweUv6-GyiUYJCLAEY1w9E4EHDtQueYCGKS-cWTw/s320/IMG_1865.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiIIjy8qv88C8TpOr9i-f5KX4YJo8g_3Qad5-29gXbzLZ8155N_fESp4eHFgcOAPnHqnDT9THe2IQe6W6HlPe4mfNMTVV-3aLxLltis4vBTLLQJsKXVCp-REP_q1mHHUAX-lVOhOx5XA/s1600/IMG_1871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiIIjy8qv88C8TpOr9i-f5KX4YJo8g_3Qad5-29gXbzLZ8155N_fESp4eHFgcOAPnHqnDT9THe2IQe6W6HlPe4mfNMTVV-3aLxLltis4vBTLLQJsKXVCp-REP_q1mHHUAX-lVOhOx5XA/s400/IMG_1871.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne cathedral</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuy4QoSHiSj_1_ahZsfvCL_T9luMXHw_TRGrYF9vxtyd4CfXTi4PIWtsXMq5NFq-IqdYfLddI4Kozf_joTBW703Yw06eNCObgjGu1KS1kfHGo2LcvRQsW0JbFXsSDj_4ui_EFDZp1GyKI/s1600/IMG_1875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuy4QoSHiSj_1_ahZsfvCL_T9luMXHw_TRGrYF9vxtyd4CfXTi4PIWtsXMq5NFq-IqdYfLddI4Kozf_joTBW703Yw06eNCObgjGu1KS1kfHGo2LcvRQsW0JbFXsSDj_4ui_EFDZp1GyKI/s320/IMG_1875.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne nighttime light show on its history</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZC-_72_H4FXjWFQ-NpKEIyi9nV2aZRxVE0eRmp-Rl4UDk0Bz6ffeHcJTUrZtHVHrs-f38usbHCy2U2T0aDq-6r8rerNWeS2T8woa554ekmJ7POAftqNkSVC9-sW3n-nDl2UlI3kAY7Uk/s1600/IMG_1877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZC-_72_H4FXjWFQ-NpKEIyi9nV2aZRxVE0eRmp-Rl4UDk0Bz6ffeHcJTUrZtHVHrs-f38usbHCy2U2T0aDq-6r8rerNWeS2T8woa554ekmJ7POAftqNkSVC9-sW3n-nDl2UlI3kAY7Uk/s400/IMG_1877.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne at night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwokHsTLGgUWGN2uUlwIxi6ADnpn4TXn0iV1T0-2_GlPrGG6FYVEeRci7hwx_99fg5Y-UcwXvz4HEWul3SfiyFDtteiUh5sUA4wPQVmr13F9E3m6_bsFIn1mC9hpRZxbaVaXN-ClIObo/s1600/IMG_1879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwokHsTLGgUWGN2uUlwIxi6ADnpn4TXn0iV1T0-2_GlPrGG6FYVEeRci7hwx_99fg5Y-UcwXvz4HEWul3SfiyFDtteiUh5sUA4wPQVmr13F9E3m6_bsFIn1mC9hpRZxbaVaXN-ClIObo/s320/IMG_1879.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne at night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEBQ2osjNi2rQVhSP5ohhjmDt74flLoezWPjFqhU5ADO-sxC3E5Ti61iHDjJHxDuCwPJX8oxB1D76YSgLFtr0pPg1aPcjUC9TEQ8HArrKzExaOeVB-0bV4JLpa9CLHSlNpVY4OwCEgT8/s1600/IMG_1884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEBQ2osjNi2rQVhSP5ohhjmDt74flLoezWPjFqhU5ADO-sxC3E5Ti61iHDjJHxDuCwPJX8oxB1D76YSgLFtr0pPg1aPcjUC9TEQ8HArrKzExaOeVB-0bV4JLpa9CLHSlNpVY4OwCEgT8/s640/IMG_1884.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne at night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
June 15 - Carcassonne, Trebes, Marseillette and on to Puicherie</h3>
<br />
Up at 7:30am and hung out for a while as gals went shopping for some supplies and I searched for a working cash machine. It seems Europe relies on Windows XP for many cash machines. And it must have been a bad day for patch loading as three had Windows XP errors showing.<br />
<br />
We got out of the marina at 11am and the first lock was right there. The bridge there was one of the tightest of the entire trip.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARcFtHCuSftzuowUviapuV4rtPWe4av21YiwxC4l2JeQt1PZxESK8nYILymW2vxCOGeMHY5Zqek0tH7QSB-mHbT6UjjEVKgEJi9tO05PvAYaEMl4fyd6wkQNr5KA9tDPJxZhgqUEdbOs/s1600/IMG_1906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARcFtHCuSftzuowUviapuV4rtPWe4av21YiwxC4l2JeQt1PZxESK8nYILymW2vxCOGeMHY5Zqek0tH7QSB-mHbT6UjjEVKgEJi9tO05PvAYaEMl4fyd6wkQNr5KA9tDPJxZhgqUEdbOs/s400/IMG_1906.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the tightest bridges on the trip.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCDbE_m5DIQd8WRO375L6yX52o7cY1WZJ_oH99m9grlmdDl7WF7KpOLwepX-dnlwKL9LduAXLt7rNYB_kdMWN3H_T_JNTFhwVUlVl-witpEUmfZxu5zqiLorDi7vvNsP6qm0bm0iqPYo/s1600/IMG_1908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCDbE_m5DIQd8WRO375L6yX52o7cY1WZJ_oH99m9grlmdDl7WF7KpOLwepX-dnlwKL9LduAXLt7rNYB_kdMWN3H_T_JNTFhwVUlVl-witpEUmfZxu5zqiLorDi7vvNsP6qm0bm0iqPYo/s400/IMG_1908.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
We crammed three boats in the lock, and repeated this for a few locks.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvESognM4bbV36ny1Rx2eLo7SzQwksceTpkT08olbcIDH0XxyyAj1QPmDBDiMae40SqJAf05u33OzBTbTeQKlFk3VtBaBNLIC92JZj2NySNYJfOLe9GQ_qgkjsPXzbNpXMkxJSIoQt0Q/s1600/IMG_1893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvESognM4bbV36ny1Rx2eLo7SzQwksceTpkT08olbcIDH0XxyyAj1QPmDBDiMae40SqJAf05u33OzBTbTeQKlFk3VtBaBNLIC92JZj2NySNYJfOLe9GQ_qgkjsPXzbNpXMkxJSIoQt0Q/s320/IMG_1893.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne in the distance as we headed onward.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuFbVovfHvTDwWclBQW1D3o0Sf_1pju-tiNq9b9CncOB6m5tkN22savdhEIlMJ4xQ_JkklNp2jasrcEHcPCwRywPTrYfg_i3ITl-H5IpOzPtWjGexrqIvv4kNWKjJzSSoiFRW0x5N0RY/s1600/IMG_1898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuFbVovfHvTDwWclBQW1D3o0Sf_1pju-tiNq9b9CncOB6m5tkN22savdhEIlMJ4xQ_JkklNp2jasrcEHcPCwRywPTrYfg_i3ITl-H5IpOzPtWjGexrqIvv4kNWKjJzSSoiFRW0x5N0RY/s320/IMG_1898.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This double lock was upgraded with Hydraulic door controls.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRYct7gy2l5xyYDc0nhwah4AJzytKB19X5LokQKIw1kXjFwVXSBMl9416W_oOgc5zDF3Swi8MWQKt8GLr5n_uYCg5S_ZCvKSkkICmLfOQ6vw31T9fW4QwXKkZBx2yHhwfU-PXq2j4Fwk/s1600/IMG_1899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRYct7gy2l5xyYDc0nhwah4AJzytKB19X5LokQKIw1kXjFwVXSBMl9416W_oOgc5zDF3Swi8MWQKt8GLr5n_uYCg5S_ZCvKSkkICmLfOQ6vw31T9fW4QwXKkZBx2yHhwfU-PXq2j4Fwk/s320/IMG_1899.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice how power cables just hang over the canal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiphwOB-zWPa-QafumovzCv_7OPzDRXr4S-FHPtwSVH8H-Fk8Gp9KdRc_DS3OnperEWWWLW7pCYD2-ggqFPQBIQoTqMaL6YjBfW0t7Ong-PgEL3lG3VZTXzaxKSkrcV3FShc_srpcfDE0/s1600/IMG_1900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiphwOB-zWPa-QafumovzCv_7OPzDRXr4S-FHPtwSVH8H-Fk8Gp9KdRc_DS3OnperEWWWLW7pCYD2-ggqFPQBIQoTqMaL6YjBfW0t7Ong-PgEL3lG3VZTXzaxKSkrcV3FShc_srpcfDE0/s320/IMG_1900.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few locks had problems, but most were well maintained. Upgrades apparently were done at different times and the controls and motors varied.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhke9941Eyb96MWVCTFZXYzVHPuv-xu0UGWrxVNhCd1qpF4z_ie6EdCLiriK1uj5Rvr1gUFEdO5ozdNzSF483WJvAl_H63a6WWAF3C0E7TiVZqv3a4lgwIdKrqSC4Ti-qKsXZq-Z6KowjI/s1600/IMG_1902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhke9941Eyb96MWVCTFZXYzVHPuv-xu0UGWrxVNhCd1qpF4z_ie6EdCLiriK1uj5Rvr1gUFEdO5ozdNzSF483WJvAl_H63a6WWAF3C0E7TiVZqv3a4lgwIdKrqSC4Ti-qKsXZq-Z6KowjI/s320/IMG_1902.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much of the stone work looked original, but showed some concrete or newer stone patches in places.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UaySBSZgi1C21P_w93NhTKCJE-pjtaBShlRa7yioU4gf3CLsMkIneSEdvH-EOTq7e6OGIItGA-59amlfcNdVd-hN3TIdKxLF-Gpdwlm8yNsRtYsM1R5VARRZD2zeDLDvBIJFpGh1mjo/s1600/IMG_1910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UaySBSZgi1C21P_w93NhTKCJE-pjtaBShlRa7yioU4gf3CLsMkIneSEdvH-EOTq7e6OGIItGA-59amlfcNdVd-hN3TIdKxLF-Gpdwlm8yNsRtYsM1R5VARRZD2zeDLDvBIJFpGh1mjo/s320/IMG_1910.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A church in a town along the canal.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoNYe_4UD4ka8IW1hekXnbN_P8TjVIzcSmFtcRm3JawLEBI8lV3ZzxkhNnPil6__TeQGM96cyb4ao5IXijeDSAMr63hPurSW3satcv851r3VbxBswBX9OlWLhz-KgDfQMojFkyC01ceM/s1600/IMG_1912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoNYe_4UD4ka8IW1hekXnbN_P8TjVIzcSmFtcRm3JawLEBI8lV3ZzxkhNnPil6__TeQGM96cyb4ao5IXijeDSAMr63hPurSW3satcv851r3VbxBswBX9OlWLhz-KgDfQMojFkyC01ceM/s320/IMG_1912.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical buildings along the canal.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Pc9Az6OKTnGooVX7COlDJiZRjwapFdoIBe5lJ6Cf4r9cYhorpT1XEAIkOUuzkmQnjj0oT1Qe_ramvIcIOmGZtagdH-rNYY60-4-2s-eVY47xMdEO-QBtJY4A8LTe7O2uEjG9ISRxO4g/s1600/IMG_1913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Pc9Az6OKTnGooVX7COlDJiZRjwapFdoIBe5lJ6Cf4r9cYhorpT1XEAIkOUuzkmQnjj0oT1Qe_ramvIcIOmGZtagdH-rNYY60-4-2s-eVY47xMdEO-QBtJY4A8LTe7O2uEjG9ISRxO4g/s320/IMG_1913.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pretty bridge, approaching Trebes. Many bridges had flower pots and decorations.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisovAVEJbK7ZkCZ7BIXE9a-JjoxcogE3Jl_5GLDFkCeZoS1zzScSJSZZJDyWezby_lhkbnKFnjU4icE_4QjIAdPh-HTQ5XRAaeonnA7-_mV0S9B7wayYdR0DSnnfdVBn_PJdwkXS-qT9c/s1600/IMG_1914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisovAVEJbK7ZkCZ7BIXE9a-JjoxcogE3Jl_5GLDFkCeZoS1zzScSJSZZJDyWezby_lhkbnKFnjU4icE_4QjIAdPh-HTQ5XRAaeonnA7-_mV0S9B7wayYdR0DSnnfdVBn_PJdwkXS-qT9c/s320/IMG_1914.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We passed through Trebes which was a very pretty town. If you do this trip, I recommend you stop there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPlLUe2HlNekHN4nt9Evph-EbfNuUwDgC-NReNIh6dBdFGCxh8gbYxWX59UfpNUYqaWTPMklEaNig9LeWAHBCqGtgYEjbyrqUQXsRLG14m3NEd2O5RTtimZwLvpOM2U5ga_j6ghiKr3Q/s1600/IMG_1915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPlLUe2HlNekHN4nt9Evph-EbfNuUwDgC-NReNIh6dBdFGCxh8gbYxWX59UfpNUYqaWTPMklEaNig9LeWAHBCqGtgYEjbyrqUQXsRLG14m3NEd2O5RTtimZwLvpOM2U5ga_j6ghiKr3Q/s400/IMG_1915.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Low bridge. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOx-_vCRHdKK2JnfL9gVgGqU86N7NnZG_fLTprjkZ-9zoXYvPH3SqR41j5KH6kqmANFlZkiBKfzk9Y_PbhYPTTbVDdEkOL2h0ZiZc-saI7BXzoG3HDH17p4QgCkJtkzAMbSx_tl7Z5lOM/s1600/IMG_1918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOx-_vCRHdKK2JnfL9gVgGqU86N7NnZG_fLTprjkZ-9zoXYvPH3SqR41j5KH6kqmANFlZkiBKfzk9Y_PbhYPTTbVDdEkOL2h0ZiZc-saI7BXzoG3HDH17p4QgCkJtkzAMbSx_tl7Z5lOM/s400/IMG_1918.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A charter boat basin is located in Trebes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHndsoTicpV1KDWVETCISfb8zP-TFWT04XmrWNJuuuCGSyy9GXmTs14FLHCfELnSZ5z7q4Fcu5iwnEQoaz0ULO-QY89DIfkuuH6kOMjgCbXrsefs0_qVJmavyeMTNTv2RdvmvqYF8KKTM/s1600/IMG_1919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHndsoTicpV1KDWVETCISfb8zP-TFWT04XmrWNJuuuCGSyy9GXmTs14FLHCfELnSZ5z7q4Fcu5iwnEQoaz0ULO-QY89DIfkuuH6kOMjgCbXrsefs0_qVJmavyeMTNTv2RdvmvqYF8KKTM/s320/IMG_1919.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive oil factory</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylbyzZSz6sYmuQj9qk87TBQZnymQtWpdrjKJTUgOq2F5GEvyY6SB0FaXvus0iAW9UbOxLcP-cGmkXTuB3qu_FWoY1cLVdr7nERqHPD4C7GNjg__yatlwG9wVla3NfBayYsHe8dpgJDjI/s1600/IMG_1921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylbyzZSz6sYmuQj9qk87TBQZnymQtWpdrjKJTUgOq2F5GEvyY6SB0FaXvus0iAW9UbOxLcP-cGmkXTuB3qu_FWoY1cLVdr7nERqHPD4C7GNjg__yatlwG9wVla3NfBayYsHe8dpgJDjI/s320/IMG_1921.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The triple lock in Trebes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0wT7TjSG9pPQ_uZQdOgO8r3jvQIGidl6pLad0HkfPR4nZn0i9U7DUDd2HqFw65J5bW9TXCOkGZKIaVDgan6qkHf1Qi_vZYE-dmDsQVEe-b5g36qUHY9ev_zw7zx5VounW9C9TdJd7HA/s1600/IMG_1927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0wT7TjSG9pPQ_uZQdOgO8r3jvQIGidl6pLad0HkfPR4nZn0i9U7DUDd2HqFw65J5bW9TXCOkGZKIaVDgan6qkHf1Qi_vZYE-dmDsQVEe-b5g36qUHY9ev_zw7zx5VounW9C9TdJd7HA/s320/IMG_1927.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm sure it was the exercise, not the wine that caused this...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdd6U3S9OWOy5UlUGZd9Lug4E-HSHcK2H-to7kTEvIFsN9s-ZOQYUrzVHu0RRjGNh9uNJEGee-bkocF3_K7kSJ5P8nF1ueYtHbH_82JpH5_8PP28ETagmuvoLll-e_ZFdXLwjftBMqxY/s1600/IMG_1929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdd6U3S9OWOy5UlUGZd9Lug4E-HSHcK2H-to7kTEvIFsN9s-ZOQYUrzVHu0RRjGNh9uNJEGee-bkocF3_K7kSJ5P8nF1ueYtHbH_82JpH5_8PP28ETagmuvoLll-e_ZFdXLwjftBMqxY/s320/IMG_1929.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An aqua-duct over a creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLK0t9hokd2KSNbwNEGyphG5uzJUSMh5bdmPko_PRhp_gmmshx698DS0c1-IyMULnCZ-ELe34kSkIzQa6z0X-iAlM9nyuIOKexHRoFakLC6CQg05ZEzt-_HT8QBiTxe06_fSOFxWhs6Qw/s1600/IMG_1930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLK0t9hokd2KSNbwNEGyphG5uzJUSMh5bdmPko_PRhp_gmmshx698DS0c1-IyMULnCZ-ELe34kSkIzQa6z0X-iAlM9nyuIOKexHRoFakLC6CQg05ZEzt-_HT8QBiTxe06_fSOFxWhs6Qw/s320/IMG_1930.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stopped for lunch and to explore. Almost hit the boat in front of us when the 'fly by wire' system failed to switch. The couple on the boat were from Switzerland, and later befriended us after being stuck in seven locks with us a few days later.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjeckpASVF6T2yDsHmTsUO2_fasanHCv7k3umvxcytUTENuG00reP05hB95z7om9IvvOMV2SHGPw3dieuU0_Llqw95AV13FCoooPVaCvFxXcTiS9dZkJ5UQFLJb_cpwlvULtg28-kpTc/s1600/IMG_1931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjeckpASVF6T2yDsHmTsUO2_fasanHCv7k3umvxcytUTENuG00reP05hB95z7om9IvvOMV2SHGPw3dieuU0_Llqw95AV13FCoooPVaCvFxXcTiS9dZkJ5UQFLJb_cpwlvULtg28-kpTc/s400/IMG_1931.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the towns were very scenic. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZI6tkPY-7KwfxI2s4R8UvmSr49sxGMMFuhtu1WPmtez0qRNfYSPQ7Nl-VD9ZtjSVCH_P2widTwOB_BFNp0tEJmOuuhXusuF0_fPjIYH1oFPElEoDIDmnAiaOmbzBx9B2M51VcKRJ6Ak/s1600/IMG_1932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZI6tkPY-7KwfxI2s4R8UvmSr49sxGMMFuhtu1WPmtez0qRNfYSPQ7Nl-VD9ZtjSVCH_P2widTwOB_BFNp0tEJmOuuhXusuF0_fPjIYH1oFPElEoDIDmnAiaOmbzBx9B2M51VcKRJ6Ak/s400/IMG_1932.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each Lock had a sign with the distance to the next Lock in each direction.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rrluH3WeT7ut63owxrkiY0KofaR2kzmu4Dpg_nyHZgpeqmzft0sAYCmJebb7GCt7gnv97kpiiXFrf84NXeqbQB2KPwDdgdKGsn1-vFpXaGuDaEEbyP5-DirrX6vyapLXgvlnIspr4hU/s1600/IMG_1934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rrluH3WeT7ut63owxrkiY0KofaR2kzmu4Dpg_nyHZgpeqmzft0sAYCmJebb7GCt7gnv97kpiiXFrf84NXeqbQB2KPwDdgdKGsn1-vFpXaGuDaEEbyP5-DirrX6vyapLXgvlnIspr4hU/s320/IMG_1934.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This region in France produces more wine than the entire USA.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmxBxDE20wy7AGW6Nk2j7PO3mEIn3ulhugYgHUtIkdu6jt0h1zvoh3ynqDW5izHGrsfGMdr7omM8Zc8mmJsyAHVvJJTFyCxMLnGTJT8frTcf8IBLayGAg-G_lxhD09Meb1MAdNXxygOM/s1600/IMG_1935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmxBxDE20wy7AGW6Nk2j7PO3mEIn3ulhugYgHUtIkdu6jt0h1zvoh3ynqDW5izHGrsfGMdr7omM8Zc8mmJsyAHVvJJTFyCxMLnGTJT8frTcf8IBLayGAg-G_lxhD09Meb1MAdNXxygOM/s400/IMG_1935.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lock featured artwork made by the lock keeper or local artists.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxP8SyXmakaZ8pveDr9bmfE00MgU1q2_hcI0Ly87cG-hlkirV2O3eXWDHj2vMcqp2-xRcQug4tLdyaEhZWsfoqkTNgZT_oLUL-EAsoR2vOSnFxq2hJMfzek8ZWqFO7c3NCQhQQXrZYpA/s1600/IMG_1936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxP8SyXmakaZ8pveDr9bmfE00MgU1q2_hcI0Ly87cG-hlkirV2O3eXWDHj2vMcqp2-xRcQug4tLdyaEhZWsfoqkTNgZT_oLUL-EAsoR2vOSnFxq2hJMfzek8ZWqFO7c3NCQhQQXrZYpA/s400/IMG_1936.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of locals entertain themselves by hanging around the locks and watching the boats traverse them. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBPXg-S3ss2dzA4FORTNhuW1ea6P6HxLgKNEug7vAroemyQMtkpxjiUziCx46XMCnBac8LnzkUvJACq0cP8HqSpuU7RZ-eP_6O8FeXE91A2bO3E_l_HeOshNgxWJ2Geb4u0qFvj2OUOs/s1600/IMG_1938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBPXg-S3ss2dzA4FORTNhuW1ea6P6HxLgKNEug7vAroemyQMtkpxjiUziCx46XMCnBac8LnzkUvJACq0cP8HqSpuU7RZ-eP_6O8FeXE91A2bO3E_l_HeOshNgxWJ2Geb4u0qFvj2OUOs/s400/IMG_1938.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More vineyards</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">We stopped for the night at </span><span style="text-align: left;">Puicherie. There was no real town by the canal. We took bikes into the older part of the town and found a great B&B in an old church. The owner directed us to the town conter, which was not much, and the only open restaurant. We made reservations for all of us.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFK9RqyPkJF_nCFN-Hbyq04C6s8InfKeDKoe_M3suk3Oa6VGXaMQyP3NxrXstCXae8dX10CXJyo9OLrvPxWQexv26oqn5ND2uPCW1C2HDkLUsWxJbqgKmAf1Q4qcWx8xfjvSbgTVfcNhg/s1600/IMG_1940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFK9RqyPkJF_nCFN-Hbyq04C6s8InfKeDKoe_M3suk3Oa6VGXaMQyP3NxrXstCXae8dX10CXJyo9OLrvPxWQexv26oqn5ND2uPCW1C2HDkLUsWxJbqgKmAf1Q4qcWx8xfjvSbgTVfcNhg/s320/IMG_1940.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tied up on the bank of the canal for the night.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B&B in an Old Church</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Town center of the old part</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Postcard from the B&B. Looked like a great place to stay while travelling through France.</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
June 16 - Not liking the 'Fly by wire'.</h3>
We were up at 7:30am as usual, and out about 8:15 after a quick, light breakfast. It was Father's Day. Which brings to mind that there is cell phone coverage throughout the trip, except rare locations, and you can rent a MiFi for the boat that gives WiFi for access to Facebook, email, etc. Thus you do not need international data plans on your smartphones. However, as we were 6 hours ahead, phone calls and messages that come in the afternoon and evening from the U.S. (think college aged children who stay up late) will wake you up in the middle of the night in France. We learned to put the phones on "do not disturb" or airplane mode before bed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LgW4HzIvUKxaWzipXdtn4q8h_6ZfWsXHuGdAFHsE9vUmDkW-LXWGFmoiYFKvrNN0_ymuthqEJkKiKxtN4fRdynaOebfMF9mVKZKCUCTT3XEYhX5zApYt-htDyK_t2GO76IffrAV_UjA/s1600/IMG_1954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LgW4HzIvUKxaWzipXdtn4q8h_6ZfWsXHuGdAFHsE9vUmDkW-LXWGFmoiYFKvrNN0_ymuthqEJkKiKxtN4fRdynaOebfMF9mVKZKCUCTT3XEYhX5zApYt-htDyK_t2GO76IffrAV_UjA/s400/IMG_1954.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the morning before departing. As you can see, much of the mooring areas are just grass. They even supply stakes and a sledge hammer t make your own mooring. There is never a need for an anchor on the canal.</td></tr>
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We set out after breakfast and almost immediately realized that we had no steerage or throttle. We stopped and drifted while we started troubleshooting our "Fly by wire" system. It did not take too long to figure out that the batteries that control it were low. Apparently the engine alternator does not charge the Pod electronics as they are 36 VDC. As it was cool out, and we are sailors, we had not had a need to run the generator for the last couple days. And as we avoid marinas, we did not have AC shore power either. Thus the Pod Control Batteries never got a charge. <br />
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We resolved to suffer with generator and air conditioning for the remainder of the trip. Woe is us.<br />
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We came across a Lock with souvenirs, wine and wine jelly. We purchased some wine, jelly, and some incredible cookies. The next morning I discovered that wine jelly in plain yogurt was my new favorite breakfast food.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZcHC0picMMSDX77EE5hVWB86RrNkgTGcoLA03mP8E8jfaXVKsjS5Nv0mGVl0uNXXNWneG2xR-bRvepkPbsDhh0T7Ypau9XdxchX-twsxGYD03ayf6RX7ki-OLdsmBLLX4oZcXqNZd8U/s1600/IMG_1961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZcHC0picMMSDX77EE5hVWB86RrNkgTGcoLA03mP8E8jfaXVKsjS5Nv0mGVl0uNXXNWneG2xR-bRvepkPbsDhh0T7Ypau9XdxchX-twsxGYD03ayf6RX7ki-OLdsmBLLX4oZcXqNZd8U/s320/IMG_1961.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lock selling souvenirs. </td></tr>
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We reached Le Redorte before lunch, having traveled a grueling mile of the canal. Actually, even with the two locks it was only about an hour and a half, I guess grueling is not a proper descriptor. We tied up at the Le Boat basin and traded in sheets and towels for clean ones. We walked around the yard and looked at the damaged boats that were undergoing repairs. Le Boat advertises that 'No experience is necessary' and some boats show that to be true of the people who chartered them. <br />
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We walked across the bridge to the town water front to look for a restaurant. We decided on La Peniche. The food was incredible, which is saying a lot, as the food even from dumpy little restaurants was typically very good cuisine.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great restaurant. Which is saying a lot as all the food on this trip was incredible.</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">French wine regions are spread thoughout the county. We spent our trip in the Languedoc region. (</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:French_vineyards.svg" style="text-align: justify;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:French_vineyards.svg</a><span style="text-align: justify;">) and thus were mostly exposed to their wines. This region has sub-regions or vineyard groups (</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languedoc-Roussillon_wine" style="text-align: justify;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languedoc-Roussillon_wine</a><span style="text-align: justify;">). Supposedly it is the single largest wine producing region in the world and produces more wine than the entire USA.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wine sub-regions of the Languedoc wine region</td></tr>
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We purchased wine for as little as 3 Euros a liter. And it was some of the best wine I've ever had. We left the Le Boat basin shortly after lunch, motored a few kilometers and stopped at Port Du Homps. I am sure we covered at least 2 miles on this leg.<br />
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I think that if you pre-planned hotels, you could kayak the entire trip with ease.</div>
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We tied up along the bank by a restaurant and made reservations for dinner for all of us. The other boats trickled in behind us and we were all able to eat at the same place.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another diner at a local restaurant.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Crepe for dessert. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Men's room at the restaurant.<br />
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The food was cooked in open wood ovens that looked like large pizza ovens with gratings on the bottom. We were back on the boat after 11pm as the dinner was quite long.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
June 17 - Wine tasting</h3>
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We were up a little late and moving slowly from the night before. We wanted to get moving as there was a winery along the canal we wanted to stop at. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tied up at the winery at 10am</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the winery</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The winery front door</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqqUFSkbHCsJMbYKkyFD6BqwpfThEGhMGWJ1Maa9vwtakKfMXGx6wHtl-S6Eqe0MmzSoY1-HgRqDmCO51KabTaam7Gt_YnqntFWDAzmV_DxVtpeohbmKmdnfPhIyTY5W8h112xVU7Vbs/s1600/GOPR0241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqqUFSkbHCsJMbYKkyFD6BqwpfThEGhMGWJ1Maa9vwtakKfMXGx6wHtl-S6Eqe0MmzSoY1-HgRqDmCO51KabTaam7Gt_YnqntFWDAzmV_DxVtpeohbmKmdnfPhIyTY5W8h112xVU7Vbs/s320/GOPR0241.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tasting room at the from of the winery's wine storage building</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Its 5pm somewhere, right?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbl65NwGHukPlt9PF0O7FO4TBtGXEK2vRkTiU5GPGCDrgh7am_gWdjhEU60NpgsxEWJJ6EbHWGk084ddAYxvNdk3QGDm9bEIvxfjzEa5LKi1oEBsNflez9jKCDg50b2XRDIWut-gQNdyM/s1600/IMG_1986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbl65NwGHukPlt9PF0O7FO4TBtGXEK2vRkTiU5GPGCDrgh7am_gWdjhEU60NpgsxEWJJ6EbHWGk084ddAYxvNdk3QGDm9bEIvxfjzEa5LKi1oEBsNflez9jKCDg50b2XRDIWut-gQNdyM/s400/IMG_1986.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winery name</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZjCwzgg4mVpQA5-Y-A525tsnFje_v4SHfj6bXMSBE8NuwiYERpywBImVjaNTHxUafmEinRMsM9HIjtqGMEfxhRBGaQi0aDNJGcm5JoX1I13dhAMWGAXi_5AHy6hknrH5ZR1WTiWCJr0/s1600/IMG_1988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZjCwzgg4mVpQA5-Y-A525tsnFje_v4SHfj6bXMSBE8NuwiYERpywBImVjaNTHxUafmEinRMsM9HIjtqGMEfxhRBGaQi0aDNJGcm5JoX1I13dhAMWGAXi_5AHy6hknrH5ZR1WTiWCJr0/s400/IMG_1988.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wine storage tanks. The old stone inset tanks are on the right, and newer fiberglass ones are on the left.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSkixWlOSRCtpJA5_R5Tr7MaD4rR9Iz1SuWfucAWtLKp73jI4Lyr4BpxuvCJB-IYiH61StGeJ8qztSIL2v1LALq-j1XBiszUrYpkvvKUbPrHHeLquA6PiUDFhuv8cHxe90UIBV_OxmTc/s1600/IMG_1989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSkixWlOSRCtpJA5_R5Tr7MaD4rR9Iz1SuWfucAWtLKp73jI4Lyr4BpxuvCJB-IYiH61StGeJ8qztSIL2v1LALq-j1XBiszUrYpkvvKUbPrHHeLquA6PiUDFhuv8cHxe90UIBV_OxmTc/s320/IMG_1989.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A chalk board marker on the front of the tank.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The winery's production building. It was build and enlarged over 400 years. Its almost a football field long and family owned and operated.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The town water tower</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiHeYjmkfXZ84dnUlS4kDcgoLTHZd-iFdo0rAa8s139Whv_iDxveIAd_NnhXTX9fPS0E2pexhXLxOxU5OCxxxBBm2kgkbAUN1A-7s0T5V52kmK5XMkbHO6iD61otImyyZZa3Y7mZ0RnA/s1600/IMG_2002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiHeYjmkfXZ84dnUlS4kDcgoLTHZd-iFdo0rAa8s139Whv_iDxveIAd_NnhXTX9fPS0E2pexhXLxOxU5OCxxxBBm2kgkbAUN1A-7s0T5V52kmK5XMkbHO6iD61otImyyZZa3Y7mZ0RnA/s400/IMG_2002.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off again, with wine in hand.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaytvyyPl-s3A0jGNQJ8SIEyQGUW7evi14R_MAjHoMym3i8TqBW-ZWk981-hR-9R_HtBsDB_k5Vfs4xe_bgqMBHnIF0LNDYz3-UcAaZ8_y2kLzIhlTbaeOEbjONscR60Aa_6mj9xQ1vI/s1600/IMG_2003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaytvyyPl-s3A0jGNQJ8SIEyQGUW7evi14R_MAjHoMym3i8TqBW-ZWk981-hR-9R_HtBsDB_k5Vfs4xe_bgqMBHnIF0LNDYz3-UcAaZ8_y2kLzIhlTbaeOEbjONscR60Aa_6mj9xQ1vI/s320/IMG_2003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tied up in front of a fruit company in the town of Somail.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7WXaDkWgxYW5GjpUgc9yg81oYZTTmyaRv589Fhs1Ut9FP29oZLUTdZcMim3CaCaEoMCxzVccogMZFhFbH8GnI8PnhhTNvoar2V-kKh73BMEOw24u5uJcbOT94mGvvpg6MPLH75X-liY/s1600/IMG_2005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7WXaDkWgxYW5GjpUgc9yg81oYZTTmyaRv589Fhs1Ut9FP29oZLUTdZcMim3CaCaEoMCxzVccogMZFhFbH8GnI8PnhhTNvoar2V-kKh73BMEOw24u5uJcbOT94mGvvpg6MPLH75X-liY/s400/IMG_2005.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonnie feeding the Canard (duck). The green boat in the background is a market boat that also makes bread each morning.</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
June 18 - Capestang,</h3>
I can't remember when we got up and stopped jotting down our adventures in my note book. So much of what you will read from here on is from memory or from the map we brought back with us.<br />
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We did follow about the same routine of waking, eating something together, local breads, or just yogurt and jam if we were not near a market. We also had cereal, milk, coffee and of course Bonnie's incredible Cappuccino for those who wanted it.<br />
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Mark or Joelle or both still tended to Molly and her family, as needed. We moved on until the next town or location that the guide books said was a must see. As the trip wore on, we were less worried about making the entire voyage in the 10 days allotted and spent even more time sightseeing and eating local foods.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAQXdPpH-becu3OlgqohhOpTm_WTGrOf-pDsTDKE0oPc_nJPhejjmzw0OOE1fnGsbhA_aUkZaXtNIsvw_23iNwmmJvMP1xCmWXNY2IzrFu54HGijW6dfOLEDtIB8YRe0upxtvTGCuEAg/s1600/GOPR0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAQXdPpH-becu3OlgqohhOpTm_WTGrOf-pDsTDKE0oPc_nJPhejjmzw0OOE1fnGsbhA_aUkZaXtNIsvw_23iNwmmJvMP1xCmWXNY2IzrFu54HGijW6dfOLEDtIB8YRe0upxtvTGCuEAg/s320/GOPR0250.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A restored canal barge now used as a home.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVScEVgysTKDc302D0tL2UOaL7KFWeoeyNh3bjkUkB66WmmVDpfzUYN7j9d0SvCs_PzP-sYm_sKDtIX2xmlekYspcc9a1Q5IJmjshgxt6uoQG3dQz2LsRTigxiJOd01QpxouOg5o7aIfA/s1600/IMG_2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVScEVgysTKDc302D0tL2UOaL7KFWeoeyNh3bjkUkB66WmmVDpfzUYN7j9d0SvCs_PzP-sYm_sKDtIX2xmlekYspcc9a1Q5IJmjshgxt6uoQG3dQz2LsRTigxiJOd01QpxouOg5o7aIfA/s320/IMG_2012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonnie, Mike, Tina and myself posing as we motor along. There were 7 of us on the boat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMWdnxE15kt9aeNUeak7XkNxynfFsoPYmBZ77s_OYwW31rAgwVaD3dNqHfxKJyqvJ8s1v5xDU-TYJFPYiZg4ke22K0MY2lzccjXM9wralAbIy4CBpxQlsT5oPCioQ9Wty-YWYFP8O84A/s1600/IMG_2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMWdnxE15kt9aeNUeak7XkNxynfFsoPYmBZ77s_OYwW31rAgwVaD3dNqHfxKJyqvJ8s1v5xDU-TYJFPYiZg4ke22K0MY2lzccjXM9wralAbIy4CBpxQlsT5oPCioQ9Wty-YWYFP8O84A/s320/IMG_2019.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joelle taking photos as we pass under yet another bridge.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7t9UfnxzBQc-TOcxjBsOCB84K5v6292IDf2kNUV_fexDR2lC3xScWtau9I0zXxWuNR1iapI_rhY_uTE9ReSvs_Xu2kXnBJbpKVqZmfZnERsyrSw3EqGozs0Ls9aP4nlU731Gnho0Nym4/s1600/IMG_2022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7t9UfnxzBQc-TOcxjBsOCB84K5v6292IDf2kNUV_fexDR2lC3xScWtau9I0zXxWuNR1iapI_rhY_uTE9ReSvs_Xu2kXnBJbpKVqZmfZnERsyrSw3EqGozs0Ls9aP4nlU731Gnho0Nym4/s320/IMG_2022.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very nice canal boat.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8N5b-A6c3T4N_3HiCLBpILjSABo00S3DV3HtlBFOwS-Ijnc-g5W5vrz7R5yQVDSK2lDdK4GbZ2aWhIhGQVZjhCXHjSrYJBmXdL8ArqgWNwi4Hh7Livb9t1gcguo93-ci4oVlg6VeV6k/s1600/IMG_2023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8N5b-A6c3T4N_3HiCLBpILjSABo00S3DV3HtlBFOwS-Ijnc-g5W5vrz7R5yQVDSK2lDdK4GbZ2aWhIhGQVZjhCXHjSrYJBmXdL8ArqgWNwi4Hh7Livb9t1gcguo93-ci4oVlg6VeV6k/s320/IMG_2023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We arrived in Capastang and tied up so that we could do some exploring.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbHvNfsNfJYbhP0wZJwTJQiRolhXQn_P0jwZNrWZ5wjCSLLAk6ipxrgtLAdEBCzM0ucd_nCGJ-Uf5-A4R0IGeJ01VQ6HUuA8RkGK9yUaYfgZx2yYGVjt35NPZQPRJL3o0nGuewT1Tzno/s1600/IMG_2024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbHvNfsNfJYbhP0wZJwTJQiRolhXQn_P0jwZNrWZ5wjCSLLAk6ipxrgtLAdEBCzM0ucd_nCGJ-Uf5-A4R0IGeJ01VQ6HUuA8RkGK9yUaYfgZx2yYGVjt35NPZQPRJL3o0nGuewT1Tzno/s320/IMG_2024.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A map of Capestang</td></tr>
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Capestang was a very pretty town, but not as scenic as Carcassonne. It was easy to walk to the town center where the cathedral was, in about 20 minutes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bmlzEPihtEQ4ZSJ0JDW3bBTnc1NixBp-PdVsXBG_YjW9589surpO2lWjqG6-PxVk9ukMPFaLBfCuD91vZbQhmFuV4CuvbcgocGEy9N3Ll8ucoKLnoydc6KaCsZepwZdZ1Q_JCaa75-Q/s1600/IMG_2026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bmlzEPihtEQ4ZSJ0JDW3bBTnc1NixBp-PdVsXBG_YjW9589surpO2lWjqG6-PxVk9ukMPFaLBfCuD91vZbQhmFuV4CuvbcgocGEy9N3Ll8ucoKLnoydc6KaCsZepwZdZ1Q_JCaa75-Q/s640/IMG_2026.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A church in the center of Capestang</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAnH-o9WvjEB3S_ipfLZEquPJ7HDt4uDBrlPBR6ki0isJBh4PgVm1YxgqcKxQ1Zbzf7HtsT2uha9-F-dpO4X-nGfEVoLT_D-gGqEMVfzQu1WGfUdiA-70-0dZ_uk_-xL33TI9CLUsmGQ/s1600/IMG_2029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAnH-o9WvjEB3S_ipfLZEquPJ7HDt4uDBrlPBR6ki0isJBh4PgVm1YxgqcKxQ1Zbzf7HtsT2uha9-F-dpO4X-nGfEVoLT_D-gGqEMVfzQu1WGfUdiA-70-0dZ_uk_-xL33TI9CLUsmGQ/s320/IMG_2029.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old aquifer the town used to get water.</td></tr>
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We explored the cemetery that was located by the canal. Tombs dated back for hundreds of years. Some were in special sets, such as French 'resistance fighters' killed by the Nazis. Some tombs were fairly recent, and some had "for Sale" signs on them, that appeared to indicate they were for sale, for non-payment of maintenance fees.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The local cemetery </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the vineyards around the cemetery</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cathedral in the center of Capestang</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating dinner on the boat</td></tr>
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We ate most breakfasts and many lunches on the boat. We only ate a few dinners on-board, and when I think we ate the dinner on-board did more out of worry of having too much food left at the end of the trip.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
June 19 - Oops I lost my notes. I'll look at the map and update later.</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three boats in the Lock. We were bumped by the Swiss couple that we almost crashed into a few days before when the steering system would switch over. On the last night they were drinking with us and we all had a good laugh.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTtN6k-K6s8DUPpZ5UtMQeJGChT1aWJ8wCd4v6vxAxCi5FN0KQrLgJEPkYJZ9wtciOM8M2RvmLdl3NQa0A_2eJnQMGNx4Cfld8o3N41OBUZCRjKeSy-ECnf6HpQyNGUbuYlpf6aMovPY/s1600/IMG_2065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTtN6k-K6s8DUPpZ5UtMQeJGChT1aWJ8wCd4v6vxAxCi5FN0KQrLgJEPkYJZ9wtciOM8M2RvmLdl3NQa0A_2eJnQMGNx4Cfld8o3N41OBUZCRjKeSy-ECnf6HpQyNGUbuYlpf6aMovPY/s320/IMG_2065.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Sign for the tunnel<br />
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(Tunnel history will get pasted here... When I get time)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-FeM_XL77jO9qGBYUhr-0iNxekgRz5vlU3Lz2lMBFZX2NI9TxaziUS-Tx0h3uVI2DeBSHx8GdAT5lcT7peDGrT5RXiEyJOFfeTrYk3XiZesYa8XPolkPvtJCf4_5hVCk6Jut2xL5REo/s1600/IMG_2119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-FeM_XL77jO9qGBYUhr-0iNxekgRz5vlU3Lz2lMBFZX2NI9TxaziUS-Tx0h3uVI2DeBSHx8GdAT5lcT7peDGrT5RXiEyJOFfeTrYk3XiZesYa8XPolkPvtJCf4_5hVCk6Jut2xL5REo/s640/IMG_2119.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting of the tunnel being constructed in the late 1600s</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting of Malpas tunnel in the Bezier Museum.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering the Malpas tunnel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the tunnel</td></tr>
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Just after the tunnel, we stopped at a site of ancient Roman ruins. The area was covered with beautiful vineyards.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I look like I belong in France.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young grapes on the vine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2GARQxpKWrnohc9CzNXKSdZjMy1Ntvz8_m3xxmzjuieFJ9bmVpw3SYxjxXRkyKxgcZG4L1Sblh-KyDwHRShDvijfD7CeuVfVVWJGLHs_1Tulq54JBKWbBkcNJUxllSQ57lQ3kwV9cN4/s1600/IMG_2058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2GARQxpKWrnohc9CzNXKSdZjMy1Ntvz8_m3xxmzjuieFJ9bmVpw3SYxjxXRkyKxgcZG4L1Sblh-KyDwHRShDvijfD7CeuVfVVWJGLHs_1Tulq54JBKWbBkcNJUxllSQ57lQ3kwV9cN4/s400/IMG_2058.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient Roman grain storage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZODJU7oQeLue_ui4YuFxKYGY3-FQqMlKeWVTWNAZWQgHnNzRBvCaCmTrnJKQS5z8HNyttq9HEKeGnSyw2cYCLf340rvlO0SxhXPZZeM8H1EL1j2l329b3oF-yylPAYCYZuftYVDiNZA/s1600/IMG_2059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZODJU7oQeLue_ui4YuFxKYGY3-FQqMlKeWVTWNAZWQgHnNzRBvCaCmTrnJKQS5z8HNyttq9HEKeGnSyw2cYCLf340rvlO0SxhXPZZeM8H1EL1j2l329b3oF-yylPAYCYZuftYVDiNZA/s400/IMG_2059.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roman era ruins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YXUk18im4G5GbRPn-nrlUDMURdkGv-4HTYpibB0TEBnYMMF262gSvu2yaDU1xadLBq_HJfrYEl6XReNZDRixxCQWXpq9ik7y4ed7jJP2nKVUk9iQ0qVPinmqKlFheNQxIfUGq3FzI8I/s1600/IMG_2061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YXUk18im4G5GbRPn-nrlUDMURdkGv-4HTYpibB0TEBnYMMF262gSvu2yaDU1xadLBq_HJfrYEl6XReNZDRixxCQWXpq9ik7y4ed7jJP2nKVUk9iQ0qVPinmqKlFheNQxIfUGq3FzI8I/s400/IMG_2061.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient Roman road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAU48lof79Glqt0nWICGslsKM6sTn9EL8qNaSPvCPebBw6vUWR6vMHjqQ9Qq2_7LQtFOo0HW5tptF-6VkhgFPDoyWdC1KnLIp7_UlMEl6OsV3iyMcDlXufWHkwUL36jiBeEFcEYaEqE0g/s1600/IMG_2063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAU48lof79Glqt0nWICGslsKM6sTn9EL8qNaSPvCPebBw6vUWR6vMHjqQ9Qq2_7LQtFOo0HW5tptF-6VkhgFPDoyWdC1KnLIp7_UlMEl6OsV3iyMcDlXufWHkwUL36jiBeEFcEYaEqE0g/s400/IMG_2063.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stairs to a Roman lookout point</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgou_yC6XzdZ1JzHbS5OTCKOwLSzYH-vG2j3kf8_6zDGv5YFM1IszZH3YMKIjkZproYFXmr6Kae2g-5QijgFhngrzuO-D8vmsNakg9Aq9L5hyCK7NLw7ElKHHww19cUwHRD3jr5gf_QJXc/s1600/GOPR0274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgou_yC6XzdZ1JzHbS5OTCKOwLSzYH-vG2j3kf8_6zDGv5YFM1IszZH3YMKIjkZproYFXmr6Kae2g-5QijgFhngrzuO-D8vmsNakg9Aq9L5hyCK7NLw7ElKHHww19cUwHRD3jr5gf_QJXc/s320/GOPR0274.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the ruins of a lake, drained by the Romans in 600 BC to take advantage of the fertile soil of its bottom. The fields are all pie wedge shaped.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
We continued on</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tsrp8tjPwRIwuCDaN__1PcgYrJX6suil35fY-tIiipaotjDNH0wB2TWq8Lg7smGQjNxDe3igwoWLasmuzxURhko6WIe3Qwuy9dm_2_yvOvvaKk4dH8JpPmHGx3_yODCpkkLtYLwx6vA/s1600/GOPR0290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tsrp8tjPwRIwuCDaN__1PcgYrJX6suil35fY-tIiipaotjDNH0wB2TWq8Lg7smGQjNxDe3igwoWLasmuzxURhko6WIe3Qwuy9dm_2_yvOvvaKk4dH8JpPmHGx3_yODCpkkLtYLwx6vA/s400/GOPR0290.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sign for the Fonseranes Locks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_Cz8l_18VmWtc1jwHNsY3GqY-WvdlhDG9nyWz74n_tKemTo7olBUsTMg6QLKXxMogHvZ_89Yp17MVcBeXRas0bO4t4xLOXzGdB41ZE4icTQyauFuBm6g5gmgXJR3oVy-LVsccjT1PCY/s1600/IMG_2071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_Cz8l_18VmWtc1jwHNsY3GqY-WvdlhDG9nyWz74n_tKemTo7olBUsTMg6QLKXxMogHvZ_89Yp17MVcBeXRas0bO4t4xLOXzGdB41ZE4icTQyauFuBm6g5gmgXJR3oVy-LVsccjT1PCY/s400/IMG_2071.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top of the Fonseranes Locks. We'll be traversing this in the morning.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Oxx3mx9e0A-Z4hDvDqIIeCfdfu2G_waGWud4x1VXYTbQEZdjy71oJUPCRlF9YC-B20UYZrV-KeYez2QhYR7BRWzsly77Rxey3YhRPx7OYa8XdCq3QbGOvHnKVv5cBGSe8wsObOUshoY/s1600/IMG_2130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Oxx3mx9e0A-Z4hDvDqIIeCfdfu2G_waGWud4x1VXYTbQEZdjy71oJUPCRlF9YC-B20UYZrV-KeYez2QhYR7BRWzsly77Rxey3YhRPx7OYa8XdCq3QbGOvHnKVv5cBGSe8wsObOUshoY/s400/IMG_2130.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Fonseranes Locks, built in 1679 have seven locks with nine doors. To the right is the Water slope, built in 1984 to bypass the locks. It failed to function and was closed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenVQfX_tBBmsGRsIU27hmGrpSWh-vrHwsBcIYbKscyx2hk4_i1lBOudSpRMRevki7C7W2ODFP7CaizIB40vRcftcqdthZz6tZ74qaYsvfcjSXDplBwYqv92QML4-xfn7Wa1WCTQPT6Mw/s1600/IMG_2131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenVQfX_tBBmsGRsIU27hmGrpSWh-vrHwsBcIYbKscyx2hk4_i1lBOudSpRMRevki7C7W2ODFP7CaizIB40vRcftcqdthZz6tZ74qaYsvfcjSXDplBwYqv92QML4-xfn7Wa1WCTQPT6Mw/s400/IMG_2131.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Fonseranes Locks, built in 1679, photo in late 1800s.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXj1FNZgQKugje2zCw2ExhVJHAcQ-5kjZsCDgK19RgzNgBJLoiGWFEZBBRmJ4mTVkWHrwR03i5B-fLH_Xtyz43HISMiNdNop4Su6CGnG8asrCaHqVEwl-SSWczvHvs05QOa_2IlBQbMKk/s1600/IMG_2073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXj1FNZgQKugje2zCw2ExhVJHAcQ-5kjZsCDgK19RgzNgBJLoiGWFEZBBRmJ4mTVkWHrwR03i5B-fLH_Xtyz43HISMiNdNop4Su6CGnG8asrCaHqVEwl-SSWczvHvs05QOa_2IlBQbMKk/s320/IMG_2073.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice Mediterranean vessel built for the Med and canals. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9znWkpj3u4llU-d6Hel7J0K4CkarqbZULZDqjASbCpsQAsa4a2e5K4UXkNgUk8Rb3wKdgeMCs2C-Hst6G3joo6_lkj4N-Z98wD7lcVEr_ONU3aYI5Uxt7vpcj5rRjxp5bsUM08eQJoZs/s1600/IMG_2082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9znWkpj3u4llU-d6Hel7J0K4CkarqbZULZDqjASbCpsQAsa4a2e5K4UXkNgUk8Rb3wKdgeMCs2C-Hst6G3joo6_lkj4N-Z98wD7lcVEr_ONU3aYI5Uxt7vpcj5rRjxp5bsUM08eQJoZs/s320/IMG_2082.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A larger than normal lock.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnTmFvXNN2EgSVPJ8RlJYSfSTXuovZEwvvOe1Ig5oKcrLnvbKsW_mumsDA2cMrszfVyyQiwwd-UPmrM7t0mNkpTQ0zpA065DQy4kKzBzE3_CelGleUQiyttf4Y3PIxKLm98UgD8lTpwA/s1600/IMG_2084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnTmFvXNN2EgSVPJ8RlJYSfSTXuovZEwvvOe1Ig5oKcrLnvbKsW_mumsDA2cMrszfVyyQiwwd-UPmrM7t0mNkpTQ0zpA065DQy4kKzBzE3_CelGleUQiyttf4Y3PIxKLm98UgD8lTpwA/s640/IMG_2084.JPG" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A common theme for the trip.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
June 20 - The Fonseranes Locks and Bezier</h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIA593D-YY9IvAuLUCJmjbbP0JgmhJAvMvlNuvb2MHVuCshz91ADmZQTbUb7gq1H2UVv5h3kQ-WH9wsXUsDJbmPBr3rVuKc4_sxVA6uBY_DKwJxWPXxJauNlEhX-ek79moKHXpOYPbFI/s1600/IMG_2087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIA593D-YY9IvAuLUCJmjbbP0JgmhJAvMvlNuvb2MHVuCshz91ADmZQTbUb7gq1H2UVv5h3kQ-WH9wsXUsDJbmPBr3rVuKc4_sxVA6uBY_DKwJxWPXxJauNlEhX-ek79moKHXpOYPbFI/s320/IMG_2087.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lock and a low bridge at the bottom of the Fonseranes Locks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2Na6vG9QhWxU_VXbnEhnot9VqqvRr4be9R_IuYtKIEky5ZXK-0GsXVwD6LbdUO4dFK1ktfT37r4jn4wmoc1MayEA0qSoKAT3-LGpImmOR3cr8CIyPLKvQEVPkHbqeasgfmXVw7kTfV0/s1600/IMG_2088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2Na6vG9QhWxU_VXbnEhnot9VqqvRr4be9R_IuYtKIEky5ZXK-0GsXVwD6LbdUO4dFK1ktfT37r4jn4wmoc1MayEA0qSoKAT3-LGpImmOR3cr8CIyPLKvQEVPkHbqeasgfmXVw7kTfV0/s320/IMG_2088.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for another lock so we can enter Beziers' waterfront district.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnBJG74bz-CWpUwWoeOMC_w_WKR_XlQIYj4dlzGUKcVTywel-oPyPEN2_c0Klg0AArguuHrs7s1sZqdskTlWfP4wnoeK-_dWFo28_VtvNkGTccPS8lIUBFFs4f4wkBcZ6dnmN0-aFJm8/s1600/IMG_2089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnBJG74bz-CWpUwWoeOMC_w_WKR_XlQIYj4dlzGUKcVTywel-oPyPEN2_c0Klg0AArguuHrs7s1sZqdskTlWfP4wnoeK-_dWFo28_VtvNkGTccPS8lIUBFFs4f4wkBcZ6dnmN0-aFJm8/s320/IMG_2089.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the boats needed a little work. The waterfront in Beziers was not impressive.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6d7HbMr6tjBEQ65ajBtA4uP2ooZC0An0l5tDReqYdHCGhErEOAekCZ0sblYMWuS2we4wCijOmJZRX7UpJ7scl5r3EC4apx4Inv5ln1HQt-eqL6osW0zKiay08eoEFoPAR33XrdLAUtIs/s1600/IMG_2091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6d7HbMr6tjBEQ65ajBtA4uP2ooZC0An0l5tDReqYdHCGhErEOAekCZ0sblYMWuS2we4wCijOmJZRX7UpJ7scl5r3EC4apx4Inv5ln1HQt-eqL6osW0zKiay08eoEFoPAR33XrdLAUtIs/s320/IMG_2091.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wUXCy806IJJVloK9gsk4xw1Ktzp63Hzcgv_ZyqUezutPaDjIULRKXt5kWR2ePxVXNuGahRCEMOL_VfouxGI76UWHwv2IlFcCMGVU0P9XsBlkdqyvzV3RC_yt-1KDxEdspkC32a-VBmI/s1600/IMG_2095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wUXCy806IJJVloK9gsk4xw1Ktzp63Hzcgv_ZyqUezutPaDjIULRKXt5kWR2ePxVXNuGahRCEMOL_VfouxGI76UWHwv2IlFcCMGVU0P9XsBlkdqyvzV3RC_yt-1KDxEdspkC32a-VBmI/s320/IMG_2095.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of one of the water management systems for the Canal.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRLL3qzjxiLsz7Y1g4NH_oTUjw_A2ZPDPJXMkOasN9MaGjj9oOWwVheZjId_bIVudFRX1UcMF6W9ZrAmLcDdvj_sHWYXsWXD4Zaqi3RnkHda1x5Q2dCcvw_sD1P6G61-Zo5eMENlJ6HU/s1600/IMG_2097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRLL3qzjxiLsz7Y1g4NH_oTUjw_A2ZPDPJXMkOasN9MaGjj9oOWwVheZjId_bIVudFRX1UcMF6W9ZrAmLcDdvj_sHWYXsWXD4Zaqi3RnkHda1x5Q2dCcvw_sD1P6G61-Zo5eMENlJ6HU/s320/IMG_2097.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJE3bCsFfUh-PcjE6mJmQLWRFGtiCm6gWxjkuN_S6Ajva0PMf_10uuMT4PJK6Jka5zVfyjSa6-4o1UmQ4sc5izM8F-GddFn5uiUsg2E9ID9y78RgPMCTD15MPogkVOGQHbiJrtrg9Gd4I/s1600/IMG_2102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJE3bCsFfUh-PcjE6mJmQLWRFGtiCm6gWxjkuN_S6Ajva0PMf_10uuMT4PJK6Jka5zVfyjSa6-4o1UmQ4sc5izM8F-GddFn5uiUsg2E9ID9y78RgPMCTD15MPogkVOGQHbiJrtrg9Gd4I/s320/IMG_2102.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Jerusalem in Beziers, France.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRfGsPG-nDXKvr8lhSeoPVkjaHDVCYHVChi-STCKUY3b_SAJrrA-x9-FBSR0yjmS0nuGfiUI2FB10P0slc4C8Td_RpmDdyJeB1VdasvcMt66h1LOdXHfhIdkFwjPwPWwqcVojMg2spBE/s1600/IMG_2103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRfGsPG-nDXKvr8lhSeoPVkjaHDVCYHVChi-STCKUY3b_SAJrrA-x9-FBSR0yjmS0nuGfiUI2FB10P0slc4C8Td_RpmDdyJeB1VdasvcMt66h1LOdXHfhIdkFwjPwPWwqcVojMg2spBE/s320/IMG_2103.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch in Beziers. The meat was cooked behind Mike and Tina, in the fireplace.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUnOd0BTbuw0lkHpd720oTO9sdooNZOYTq-26rS3ehz4mRfCIQFbXBSNQYGjPFQlU_ne63YA4Xuh-SdzfUyLJvWcgEj0h3M31ECnWdDglIMsBvTcjQdBUSjaD7zUQwiiVAZnuWuxVrBw/s1600/IMG_2109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUnOd0BTbuw0lkHpd720oTO9sdooNZOYTq-26rS3ehz4mRfCIQFbXBSNQYGjPFQlU_ne63YA4Xuh-SdzfUyLJvWcgEj0h3M31ECnWdDglIMsBvTcjQdBUSjaD7zUQwiiVAZnuWuxVrBw/s640/IMG_2109.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cathedral in Beziers. I think this could be a postcard shot.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfuAvU2AGCyx8BJCAizqsB2ZdtuL-pYvMu0mftBN6NMOrLUIRz0cqOwnZ5l3xhQlA_9I8FMI44mc9ZBK_t4mK2g7CDVHKzY12J062QwUc4lS7Gb0VwvZB_V2Qq2ziLnMOnLAc68IH4WY/s1600/IMG_2112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfuAvU2AGCyx8BJCAizqsB2ZdtuL-pYvMu0mftBN6NMOrLUIRz0cqOwnZ5l3xhQlA_9I8FMI44mc9ZBK_t4mK2g7CDVHKzY12J062QwUc4lS7Gb0VwvZB_V2Qq2ziLnMOnLAc68IH4WY/s400/IMG_2112.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient fossils found in France</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDbHbGJvnOnw78oRx3DK-HhlvJtyBurSZKlNBT5BxdDXCebI4g6VQLuAIJyhjhfHHo1x0FYlKdiEdxDhZ0Rrm_nIQ7QGTlNfW2t1BL2BSVr468Ai5_ZqZTJ35XR-F8pK7Vbz3NQcpN5k/s1600/IMG_2113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDbHbGJvnOnw78oRx3DK-HhlvJtyBurSZKlNBT5BxdDXCebI4g6VQLuAIJyhjhfHHo1x0FYlKdiEdxDhZ0Rrm_nIQ7QGTlNfW2t1BL2BSVr468Ai5_ZqZTJ35XR-F8pK7Vbz3NQcpN5k/s400/IMG_2113.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The museum in Bezieers</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYHeHr-91xJmYvhCeFXpSJ7XJZ6JvhvjMMUucF_a4yx2rY2hF3wgxhWyJDF8i_Q9tsNF7fPPkjyudf_YmdDW7vSVxC_P5trSQINdCx5_SMnkiGluLf_pXu40rkMkjM_LmIr2_3l96yjw/s1600/IMG_2122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYHeHr-91xJmYvhCeFXpSJ7XJZ6JvhvjMMUucF_a4yx2rY2hF3wgxhWyJDF8i_Q9tsNF7fPPkjyudf_YmdDW7vSVxC_P5trSQINdCx5_SMnkiGluLf_pXu40rkMkjM_LmIr2_3l96yjw/s640/IMG_2122.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An original plan for a segment of the canal.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiiEARMP1LYYF2x0zIWRidHtB40uh2pI0GcSq8EBXq0JcezRxK-VMPh0S-jCHIXsS2asxriubqHhcQ_AMs9BB_hT5T0yl3JsvOwgogQ4PFdxiKzTXj5Tsyqbtb8LZfEWQXaiNYVRe01E/s1600/IMG_2128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiiEARMP1LYYF2x0zIWRidHtB40uh2pI0GcSq8EBXq0JcezRxK-VMPh0S-jCHIXsS2asxriubqHhcQ_AMs9BB_hT5T0yl3JsvOwgogQ4PFdxiKzTXj5Tsyqbtb8LZfEWQXaiNYVRe01E/s640/IMG_2128.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A chart of the canal system that was incredibly well laid out in the late 1600s.<br />
We couldn't get that much detail in 10 Microsoft Excel pages today.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29vSdkGmZEkG6ZjEH8D10EGG_PB_fsneBu92yV8l85_Lz15-aWMme13jMjfDROW8tevChfU60iIFr_FIJo8ghdOUBlMQKBShnFv_5GBZ-UstmSFSx0zvfrNlPQJRV3mLcci_6VLuH3Vg/s1600/IMG_2133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29vSdkGmZEkG6ZjEH8D10EGG_PB_fsneBu92yV8l85_Lz15-aWMme13jMjfDROW8tevChfU60iIFr_FIJo8ghdOUBlMQKBShnFv_5GBZ-UstmSFSx0zvfrNlPQJRV3mLcci_6VLuH3Vg/s400/IMG_2133.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A barge moving wine in the early 1900s.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXjEhjFp2X1akYnpN3J_LUrqgx92JNWNYQjC9Ca_8z43UwietDbZFjX9m5GZm5Mts-fj73VX20K-VriXrOw3wHKZxrhD9iC4y2YLHF9ka9TQ7ww7iFEZxtRxPhB_HZgu82SMimqbBspA/s1600/IMG_2135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXjEhjFp2X1akYnpN3J_LUrqgx92JNWNYQjC9Ca_8z43UwietDbZFjX9m5GZm5Mts-fj73VX20K-VriXrOw3wHKZxrhD9iC4y2YLHF9ka9TQ7ww7iFEZxtRxPhB_HZgu82SMimqbBspA/s400/IMG_2135.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three local grapes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGfxLk3LpoNeCxtain4Fl582HpSz3wA_DJhW8EqfqbjAw1KGsJKy4u8_s2pA94FIS93IEaI1gAhIRw6vjda2_0yEyhRWyprKxwt8Vl9el2cWkfg7WvxxA4uTfbsozqALdLHOWyk0C8d8/s1600/IMG_2136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGfxLk3LpoNeCxtain4Fl582HpSz3wA_DJhW8EqfqbjAw1KGsJKy4u8_s2pA94FIS93IEaI1gAhIRw6vjda2_0yEyhRWyprKxwt8Vl9el2cWkfg7WvxxA4uTfbsozqALdLHOWyk0C8d8/s320/IMG_2136.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An ancient, pre-Roman dwelling from the area.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7vhtSk7B3qKo3GGSY3bqxA-3hbABaOkG4rZd_XMO-EIhzcpqvlu3I-W9-8_UTO-E4QM7FG1VyjqjGD7Ffw-4SNP9la_UwbSt4xjHhBtqJcdC9Xn8X6_8vuCrfPSPpHJlmPPQZa3PezA/s1600/IMG_2141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7vhtSk7B3qKo3GGSY3bqxA-3hbABaOkG4rZd_XMO-EIhzcpqvlu3I-W9-8_UTO-E4QM7FG1VyjqjGD7Ffw-4SNP9la_UwbSt4xjHhBtqJcdC9Xn8X6_8vuCrfPSPpHJlmPPQZa3PezA/s400/IMG_2141.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another of many great meas. Seafood tonight.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_T1DH7O5cZDaTUaeZ0T3Txs52mgccpd65RXCPhv1amREFePytrOMKcb4CQzctnY7WGj32uAvHTvsur17GXI32uZb5VLBDPaTFlGwvlTemsyIylouGN4LpQ3rMK1-unMMe5KCe9y9oGg/s1600/IMG_2144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_T1DH7O5cZDaTUaeZ0T3Txs52mgccpd65RXCPhv1amREFePytrOMKcb4CQzctnY7WGj32uAvHTvsur17GXI32uZb5VLBDPaTFlGwvlTemsyIylouGN4LpQ3rMK1-unMMe5KCe9y9oGg/s320/IMG_2144.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many great bottles of wine. When they even came in a labeled bottle...</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
June 21 - Last day Cruising, Bezier to the LeBoat Basin.</h3>
<div>
I may add some text here, but I kept few notes at this points and only have the way-points in the Navionics App on my iPhone and a few notes in a great Map we purchased along the way.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjje4PvAenhG7qdupv8gPseFX2R22YmTSRG3LGkzsHSk5ItgluZQDD7GiqGJbZbxCBrra5AtzSG3DHfRIdctu1oNmeuZIDicLjQ2UBhUWyASU7ixAMw8BIHXPofWrR8l388S_MjHX__lFQ/s1600/IMG_2150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjje4PvAenhG7qdupv8gPseFX2R22YmTSRG3LGkzsHSk5ItgluZQDD7GiqGJbZbxCBrra5AtzSG3DHfRIdctu1oNmeuZIDicLjQ2UBhUWyASU7ixAMw8BIHXPofWrR8l388S_MjHX__lFQ/s320/IMG_2150.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A local wine store. This was a little more upscale than the usual ones.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlug_2BcO3gXR4lHZoACvk7Pc6sN1zApXyiEmEGXeKePy7Q_AmQr0SSAbudHeUL-qKbEHkuo9hgqM8vCtj7982BFTej8KCsBh9bLbBqFFWMlVSFUqQI9tU2uEakdI4rzAQ7z3-VzrF9s/s1600/IMG_2154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlug_2BcO3gXR4lHZoACvk7Pc6sN1zApXyiEmEGXeKePy7Q_AmQr0SSAbudHeUL-qKbEHkuo9hgqM8vCtj7982BFTej8KCsBh9bLbBqFFWMlVSFUqQI9tU2uEakdI4rzAQ7z3-VzrF9s/s400/IMG_2154.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old wine press.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The French statue of Freedom in the town square.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very large canal barge. It obviously can't go too far inland on the canal.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the more modern bridges we saw.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonnie uploading to Facebook.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another classic canal barge converted to a home.</td></tr>
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We pass a 'reverse' Aquaduct that I will hopefully add text about later.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting at the Circular Lock</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjWIlAIQZHX5jE-xk7jlp63BHhnVz4-uBLgYPmM4nYH1EItoFl0EXqbsJoMjKy1EBFeua1NeRem5J45NCJgKax3MG0dmderIcmRkGU75_ciLNzca0-ZRcyWUKCDIFhIGi12ZnHlj41XI/s1600/IMG_2186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjWIlAIQZHX5jE-xk7jlp63BHhnVz4-uBLgYPmM4nYH1EItoFl0EXqbsJoMjKy1EBFeua1NeRem5J45NCJgKax3MG0dmderIcmRkGU75_ciLNzca0-ZRcyWUKCDIFhIGi12ZnHlj41XI/s400/IMG_2186.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How did a McGreager 26 get to France? Aren't they made in California?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old amusement park on the side of the canal. It'll be hoping in a few weeks when the tourist season gets going.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Le boat basin, Cassafieres, France</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our last meal on the boat before departing in the the morning for the beach.</td></tr>
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June 22 Taxi to the beach.</h3>
We were up at about 6:30am and packed and off the boat by 9am. We checked out at the LeBoat office and they did not seem to care if the boat was clean or not. Of course we left it quite clean. The taxi had multiple trips to make, so we had to wait until after 12 for a ride to the Hotel Le Brazil.<br />
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The time on the boat was fantastic! Rural France is beautiful and the people were wonderful! We can highly recommend a boat on the Canal du Midi. Next time we might try going the NW canal route.<br />
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June 22-24 On the beach at Palavas les Flores.</h3>
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Rather than do another Blog post, I decided to just add on to this one. We spent three days on the coast, enjoying the local town, beach, food and sightseeing.<br />
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I compiled a video of it. I may add more text later to the Blog, but the video sums up the last days quite well.<br />
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We had an uneventful flight home and fantastic vacation. There were no low points and we came home with a strong desire to see France again soon.<br />
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Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-6079181945847876452013-06-23T12:33:00.002-04:002013-06-25T17:28:49.986-04:00Four Days in Paris<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The same group of friends that planned the Croatia trip a couple years ago, planned a trip on a canal boat in southern France for this summer. Bonnie and I had never been to Paris, so we added a few days at the beginning of the trip to see Paris before heading south to meet everyone else and get on the boat.</div>
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June 7 - Heading Across the Pond</h3>
We enjoyed having Premier Coach seats on the flight. The Travel Agent was able to get them for us at no extra charge. The food was quite good and it proved to be a great start to our vacation. We should have tried to sleep more, as we were really dragging when we arrived in Paris at 5am local time.<br />
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June 8 - First Day in Paris</h3>
We pondered immediately immersing ourselves in French Culture and taking the Metro, but I quickly thought otherwise with our bags. Bonnie would have taken up the adventure though. We got a cab to the hotel. The cab driver seems confused, not sure if we knew if we were asking to be dropped at a Hospital.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Taxi, heading into Paris.</td></tr>
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The Hotel Hospital staff were not yet in, and we had to wait on a stone seat until 8am. The old marble benches that have seen many a patient were not comfortable at all.<br />
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The rooms were spartan at best, but the location was perfect and the price was probably the best in Paris. The shower/tub had no shower curtain and the hose was short, even for short people like us.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the front door of the Hotel Hospital of Notre Dame.</td></tr>
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We got a bit of a rest and cleaned up, then went out for lunch.<br />
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We crossed the bridge to the Northeast and a block off the waterfront found a nice place. We had escargot and fois gras (the pate version). The escargot was good, but in a lighter olive oil and herb mix, rather than the butter we have at restaurants back home.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wine and Escargot in Paris</td></tr>
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We walked around for a while, heading in the general direction of the Louvre The exterior of the Louvre was impressive. We walked around the outside and took some photos. <br />
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We found a double decker tour bus stop and bought a couple tickets. As we were later in the day, it was good for also for the next day. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the tour bus.</td></tr>
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We rode the green line around from the Louvre, to the Eiffel tower, and Parliament buildings. We jumped off at Notre Dame, where we were staying.<br />
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We went to a nearby restaurant on Isle de Citi and had lamb shank and Seafood Risotto. It was good, and the wine was very good.<br />
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We crashed early, and even the very hard beds didn't stop us from sleeping.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
June 9 - Touring Paris</h3>
We got up late and were moving quite slowly. We felt like we had slept on the floor. The weather was a bit rainy and breezy. We wondered out for food and ended up with Bonnie getting Escargot again (this would become a trend) and me getting a Quiche. Both were great. We had wine with lunch.<br />
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The jet lag was certainly having its effect, but wasn't stopping us from enjoying Paris. <br />
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We jumped back on the tour bus line and this time took a different route.<br />
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We had not planned an Eiffel tower trip in advance, and looked into tickets. This would normally be a very long wait, but as it was not yet fully into the tourist season and was cold and rainy, we took the Metro Orange line and had a short wait for tickets.<br />
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The tower was just as great as we had read about. We got many photos and video. While waiting for the second elevator to the highest level we met two couples from the US. One of the guys did Motorola contract work and we knew some of the same people. Small world.<br />
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We walked about 2/3s of the way back. We stopped at a few restaurants along the way, but all were closed as it was Sunday and it was off the tourist track. We found a small open restaurant and had dinner. The escargot was in a cream sauce with herbs and oil as a separate layer. It was really good. They also had a fantastic Cappuccino. The wine as great again.<br />
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We exchanged emails and Facebook posts with friends, kids and my brother. My brother and his finance were also in France combining a work and vacation trip. He warned me that the Air Traffic Controllers were planning a strike and was not sure how broad the effect would be.<br />
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We crashed about 11pm, which wasn't going to help the jet lag.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
June 10 - Touring Paris , Part Deux</h3>
We slept in again, and were slow getting moving. There were long lines at Notre Dame and we decided to have a late breakfast of coffee and a croissant.<br />
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We walked to the pharmacy and also a post office, so that Bonnie could mail a letter she had been carrying on her since we left. We pasted a shoe shop and stopped in on the way back. Bonnie found a cute pair of shoes and I purchased some odor free insoles. <br />
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We walked back past the tower that Pascal used to measure changes in air pressure, and from that invented the barometer. We also walked to Pont Nerf and down around some of the dinner cruise boats. Bonnie had found the Calife on Trip Adviser the night before, so we called and made reservations for a romantic dinner. It was a smaller boat, which was a remodeled antique and very pretty. <br />
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We had lunch and did some souvenir shopping, then took a break before heading out to the dinner cruise.<br />
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The Calife was great. The wine, food, and tour route were all great. We went up the Seine for a kilometer or so, then turned around and went down it, past the Eiffel Tower and copy of the Statue of Liberty.<br />
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We then turned around and came back to Pont Norf, where we started.<br />
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We arrived back in at the hotel and got on Wifi to confirm our flights for the next day, which we found were cancelled due to the Air Traffic Controller strike. We started looking at train tickets, but could not find a good site to order them from. We called our travel agency, only to find out our travel agent passed away the week before from a brain clot. The agent who helped us told us that a train was our best bet, but said she couldn't order tickets for us. We finally gave up and went to bed.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
June 11 - Homeless in Paris</h3>
We got up early to figure out our travel options. We found a train that went straight through to Castlenaudary. Bonnie ordered it on-line but it would not confirm the tickets. We packed up and checked out. We took a taxi to the train station and went to pick up the ticket. It wasn't there, and apparently the rail line was not allowing outside purchases due to the strike. There were no tickets available for the morning train. The 3:00 train went only as far as Toulesse, and we would need to try to get a local commuter train to complete the trip to Castelnaudary.<br />
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We decided to think about options such as a one way car rental, or something else, and did not buy a ticket. Instead, we went off to the side and pondered it. <br />
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I walked to the rental car area to see what was available. No luck. We went back to the ticket window to buy the ticket. This agent was better at English than the last one, and we explained our dilemma. He was very helpful and found a red-eye sleeper from a nearby train station to Castelnaudary. We bought first class tickets hoping for a larger sleeping car.<br />
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The train was not scheduled to depart until 10pm, so we decided to take our luggage back to the Hotel-Hospital and see if they would keep them for us. They did, and we went out for a walk around the town. We ate escargot and Rotisser (rottersisserie) pork. We waked and shopped a bit, then went back to the Hotel-Hospital to chill and get our bags. I got a short nap in the chair in the lobby, then we took the Metro to the Austerlitz station.<br />
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We still had a four hour wait for the train, so we sat at a cafe there, drank wine, and watched people go by. Bonnie worked on translating the menu so she could learn some more French cuisine names.<br />
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The train was on time, and quite crowded. Our sleeping car room was for four people. The other two men were nice. One was a French Army Doctor travelling back to his base at Carcassone. We tried to communicate as best we could. <br />
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It was a long ride. We both tried to sleep, but didn't get much. We still had not recovered from the red-eye to France, and three nights on a very hard bed.<br />
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We were not sure if we would understand the announcement for Castelnaudary, so we set alarms for 4:45a to have time to get our bags together. The conductor did come in to wake us, but we were up and quietly slipped out with our bags.<br />
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Here is the compiled video of the four days in Paris.</div>
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I'll create a link to the Picasa site with all the photos from the trip.<br />
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Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-67526257315899638152013-05-25T11:04:00.003-04:002013-05-25T11:04:37.303-04:00Spring Return Trip - Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We loaded up the red Mustang that has been sitting in our driveway for the last three weeks and headed back to Sneads Ferry, NC.<br />
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It was an uneventful 7 hour ride, with a bit of traffic on 95, but it went fairly smoothly. We arrived at the marina after dark and took the minimal clothes, etc. to the boat. The new engine was installed, the marina had washed the boat and it looked great!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new Starboard engine<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Day 1</h2>
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We spent the morning visiting and catching up with the nice folks at Swan Point Marina. Evelyn and Tina are great! We went food shopping at 'Four Corners' and picked up some groceries. We settled our bill and the marina staff offered to return our car for us. That would save us a lot of time, so we took them up on their gracious offer.<br />
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The event board in the marina store had "Welcome Back Eric and Bonnie" written on it.<br />
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With the engines checked, and the boat all packed, we headed out. I had figured out a break-in period for the new engine and planned to be very gentle on it as we followed the routine.<br />
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We got about 3 miles...<br />
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Then the port engine started knocking and loosing power. So we went down to one engine, the new one, which we needed to be gentle with. This provided a bit of a predicament. Do we keep going and figure out the problem along the way, or go back. We called the marina and they had not returned the rental car yet, which made our choice easier. So we turned around and headed back.<br />
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Evelyn called a mechanic they use often, and he came over an hour later to check things out. It was pretty much the case that this engine was a bit tired as well. It apparently is leaking oil, and perhaps seawater into the cylinder. So the engine would be needing a lot of TLC to get us home. Little did we realize how frequent that TLC would need to be.<br />
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In the meantime, I returned the car as it was getting late and we felt very guilty asking the staff to coordinate it that late in the day. When I returned, the marina was hosting a nice happy hour for everyone. A few commercial fishermen were there and Bonnie was asking a lot of fishing questions.<br />
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Somehow it was decided that we were to go 'flounder gigging' with Captain Jerry that night. I didn't know this, but apparently flounders go into the shallows (like 2 feet or less of water) to sleep at night. A flat bottom skiff with a couple 200 watt bulbs and portable generator can light up a lot of bottom area. One then uses a heavily reinforced pole with a 3 or 4 pronged spear head to 'pole along' the flats until a flounder is spotted. Then you use the pole to spear the flounder and flip it into the boat.<br />
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It took me a bit to grasp the shape of a flounder, covered with sand, lying on the bottom. But once I got it, I had no problem gigging four that night. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleaning the flounder from Gigging</td></tr>
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Once flounder was close to 5 pounds. Bonnie was sitting at the console seat behind me and pulled off the flounders when I flipped them in. We got back about midnight and couldn't thank Jerry enough for the experience.<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Day 2</h2>
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So here we go again. This time I was a bit better equipped in the knowledge department on how to deal with the fickle engine. We followed the break-in routine on the starboard engine and one the port engine performed an every three or four hour plug cleaning and oil topping off session. We had the current and wind with us for the entire day and made good time.<br />
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From a few miles west of Moorehead city, to the inlet, the place was swarming with powerboats of all sizes and speeds. They were like bugs swarming around us. Boat wakes and passing boats kept us on our guard.<br />
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As we passed through Moorehead and headed towards the inlet, to make the turn to Beaufort, we spotted Tintean coming in from her offshore hop from Charleston. Sara and Ken were exhausted and had reservations in Moorehead city. Bonnie missed the opportunity to see Beaufort on the way down, as it was so cold in Novembeer, so we decided to meet up the next day or back in Annapolis.<br />
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We got a great slip at the town dock and after nice showers on-board and getting settled, we went for a walk around town. Someone had recommended to Bonnie that she sell her solar lights through a store in town. But it had already closed and would not be open on Sunday until after 11. We would be long gone by then. So hopefully Bonnie and organize something by phone, and we can drive down or stop through in October.<br />
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We asked about a few places to eat in town and went for a stroll to find them. We ate in a waterfront restaurant that had very friendly staff, but just adequate food.<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Day 3</h2>
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We (meaning me) woke up an hour later than we planned. We took on a bit more water, and then headed to the gas dock. We had a nice chat with the attendant who spent over 20 years living on a sailboat and doing the ICW each fall and spring. He had good tales to tell. We didn't mind chatting as we had time to kill before the draw bridge opened. Another boat started to get in position, so we said our goodbyes and shoved off.<br />
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We had the current with us again, and now with enough hours on the new engine to push her a bit harder we made 7.5 knots as we headed towards the Neuse River.<br />
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Sara and Ken got an earlier start and were 3 miles ahead of us as we began the journey. They were going to River Dunes to do a bit more R&R before journeying farther. We really wanted to make it home a bit quicker as Bonnie had sample cupcakes to bake for a friend's wedding and the dogs were costing quite a bit during their stay in the spa.<br />
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We made great time on the Neuse, and still had a decent current on the run up to the Pamlico River. So we kept going. We were passed by one of the prettiest Hunter Sailboats I had seen, that is before the new 40s that Greg, and Carl and Sue purchased. It was painted blue and looked brand new, yet had the lines of an early 2000s style Hunter.<br />
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It was also very fast, and was doing a good 8 knots. When we got to the Pamlico River, it was a couple miles ahead. But requiring under 3 feet of water, we cut the turn into the Pungo and jumped ahead. We didn't really intend to race, and were not even aware of our position to them until we turned into an Anchorage Mark Doyle had listed in his cruising guide. They intended on the same anchorage, and were following us in.<br />
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During all this, Bonnie made dinner and we enjoyed a nice dinner of the flounder we caught and lobster ravioli. It was a little rough, but not too bad. We had a lot bumpier meal underway three weeks earlier in the Cape Fear River. Certainly pushing each day is not a good habit to have, and the great meal Bonnie made were worthy of an anchorage and calmer eating. We really hope to be able to give ourselves more time when we go south this fall.<br />
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We anchored and the Hunter anchored not too far away. As Bonnie was cleaning up from dinner, I went over in the dink to find out what model it was. <br />
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So, you know its a small world when... The couple, Rich and Betty were from Pennsylvania, kept their boat at Kent Island and were former HSA1 members. Not only that, they did a sailing trip with HSA1, myself and Ian and Tyler, in 2000 and remember Carl and Sue.<br />
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I brought Bonnie over and we had some drinks and chatted. Rich actually had a copy of the float plan for the HSA1 trip. He is a very organized guy.<br />
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We were in bed before 10.<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Day 4</h2>
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We were up about 6:30 and off almost right away, so that we could try to get good miles under our keel again today. Bonnie already checked on Mary at Doury Creek Marina to find out if she was making her Beer Can chicken this week. She wasn't, so we could keep on going.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The long run ahead...</td></tr>
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The Alligator River- Pungo River canal is a very long run. It was quite pretty, but it is very long and we had to keep attentive as this is where we bent our rudder on some unseen tree in November.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tannin rich water's of North Carolina</td></tr>
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We saw a lot of deer, one herd had over 20 deer in it. One the radio a boat ahead of us radioed that they saw bear cubs playing by the water. When we got to the spot, they were gone. Bonnie was quite bummed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last time we were on the Alligator River, we bent our rudder on a tree.</td></tr>
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As we crossed into the Alligator river, the winds picked up quite a bit. We had our jib up since morning, but it did not do much until now. We were heading up the River at mostly 8 knots, making great time. Until... The electrical system started acting odd. We would smell burning rubber on occasion, but could not isolate it. I made the assumption that it was the chest freezer, as that was the newest item on board. But it wasn't. The voltage was dropping and rising very oddly causing the radio and chart plotter to reboot.<br />
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I started to isolate the various system to find the cause, and of course that is when the port engine decided it was time for some TLC. I decided we could continue on one engine for a bit, and worked on the power problem. Bonnie had the helm, and the iPad with Navionics as her guide. It did not take me too long to find the problem. The cable jumping each pair of 6 volt batteries was apparently the weakest link in the electrical system. As we like to run the invertor in the mornings, rather than the generator, the cable was heavily loaded once a day. I should have changed it when I replaced the batteries in October. My bad!<br />
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Then good fortune smiled upon us. Just the day before I ran across an old bag of junk from the 1985 Hunter we owned. I kept meaning to throw it out, but didn't. In it was some 1/0 gauge cable I had from a project were I was going to upgrade the Battery cables on that old boat. Cables, lugs, everything I needed were there. I cut the cable with the bolt cutters we keep for emergency rigging issues, and had us back up and going in 15 minutes. Then on tothe TLC for the port engine.<br />
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We crossed Albemarle Sound with minimal current, and good wind behind us. Storm clouds passed both in front and behind us, but missed us. We ran up the North River and entered the cut to Coinjock. We were pretty tired. Our new friends on Trust Me, radioed us to see where we were anchoring. We told them Coinjock, so they called around and found space for both our boats at Midway marina.<br />
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We tied up at the dock by 6pm and invited Rich and Betty to join us at the restaurant across the creek. We launched our dink and I was designated dinghy driver for evening.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonnie tinkering on the dink before dinner.</td></tr>
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It was a cool night and we continued to not need heat to AC. We were in bed by 10pm.<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Day 5</h2>
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We were up fairly early but wanted to get oil as the port engine had been burning a quart of oil about every four hours. We used all the oil on the boat and only had the oil jug I store old oil in. <br />
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By 7am we were antsy and decided to find a place farther north to get oil.<br />
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We followed a Nordhavn trawler through to the Great Bridge Lock. While we waited for the bridge, he radios and ask what he should know about the lock. We gave him a bit of advice, but forgot to mention NOT to tie up the wall. Fortunately in the lock, I noticed him tying his line to his cleat and warned him of the potential consequences. The change was about 3 feet, and a Nordhavn would make a heavy ornament hanging from the lock wall.<br />
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Earlier, while waiting for the Great Bridge Bridge to open, we passed another PDQ 36 moored. It was from Maine, and had the word Peach in its name. It looked about the age of our boat and appeared to be undergoing a refit. It had new canvas, new wrap around windows, no trampoline and some really ratty looking gel-coat. Hope it brings a lot of joy to whomever is renovating it.<br />
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This is a video of us leaving out of the north end of Great bridge Lock. <br />
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Heading up the ICW into the industrial and shipping port areas was a bit crazy. Tugs with barges, ships, Navy vessels, security zones, and other cruisers made it all fairly complicated.<br />
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A railroad list bridge that is normally open was closed as a very long train just went through and another was about to. A barge we were just ahead of, had a heavy load, so the bridge stopped the second train and opened for it. The bridge tender announced that anyone that could make it through with the tug could go, but he was closing the bridge for 15 to 20 minutes right after the tug passed so that the next train could go through.<br />
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We were at full speed and ahead of the tug, but the tug accelerated from 5 knots to 8.5 knots and was gaining on us. We made the bridge in parallel with the tug. It was a bit stressful with our fickle port outboard could call it quits without warning. The current was against us and it would have slowed us own greatly if the engine failed.<br />
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After the bridge a ship with two tugs was coming south, riding the tide and was going to pass the tug port to port. The tug had to shift to the starboard side of the channel, where we were. Simultaneously we were approaching the Navy security zone around a warship, and there would be no space for us. Thus, I ducked into a space between a dry dock and a pier and radioed the tug of my intentions to get out of the channel. He thanked me and went on by us. The photo below was taken with the GoPro and does not really do justice to how close everything was.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tug passing us, south bound ship, Navy ship with Security zone off its bow and no room for us.</td></tr>
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To top is all off, we wanted to go into the Marina on the other side of the channel to get fuel and oil. Once the chaos passed, we had an opening, as the railroad bridge now was down and blocked the rest of the ships from catching us.</div>
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We got fuel and oil, and a short break before heading up the river again.</div>
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As we passed Norfolk, and the Navy base, a warship was coming in to dock, escorted by tugs. By this time the bridge had opened and a line of large cargo ships, other cruisers and tugs were coming up behind us. So we decided to turn left and head out into the Hampton Roads anchorage and out of the channel. </div>
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The discussions on the radio coordinating the Navy ship was interesting to follow. The navy ship wanted the oncoming cargo ship to pass starboard to starboard, and the next ship and smaller vessels to hold position as it came close to the pier, turned hard to port, dropped its anchor and backed into the pier. It was quite a sight to see.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Navy ship readying to turn to port, drop anchor and back into the Navy pier.</td></tr>
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We wanted to anchor someplace safe for the night. It looked as if we might get a thunderstorm. I had never been into downtown Hampton, and avoiding the events on the Norfolk side put us in that general direction. We went up the Hampton River, which was very nice. The VA hospital (I just found out what the building complex is) and Hampton University were very pretty. There did not seem to be a place to anchor until we were almost to the fixed bridge downtown, that we could not fit under. As we were preparing to find a place there to anchor, I saw a person coming out of the Hampton City Dock office. I called the number listed on our chart-plotter and the guy picked up his portable phone to answer my call. It was a $1.25 a foot for Boat/US members and he had lots of open floating dock space.<br />
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We slipped right into the dock and tied up for the night. We were pretty tired and Bonnie was already working on dinner, so we stayed put and did not walk around town. <br />
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We called Tyler, but he was in back to back classes, and as we were exhausted, we went to bed.<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Day 6</h2>
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We were up early, and were ready to shove off a couple hours before the marina was to open. So we put cash in an envelope with a note and put it under the planter where the dock-master left a bathroom key for us the night before.<br />
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We crossed the Route 64 tunnel before 8am and were out in the Bay. As we crossed Mobjack Bay and came in closer to land, we sailed through a swarm of black flies. There were flies everywhere. Killing flies became an obsession for the next two days.<br />
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The wind was from the south, but the current was against us, so we did not make great time heading north. We had the jib out and did the best we could. The waves were pretty high and felt like ocean swells.<br />
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As the day wore on, we were not sure if we were motivated enough to go all the way home by sailing through the night. I did want to get across the Potomac River before we stopped though. Bonnie found a nice little anchorage on the chart. I had never tried to anchor just above the Potomac as there is not much in the way of good anchorages. <br />
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The one we found was really pretty, with one problem. The channel in was very shallow and narrow. And it was exactly at low tide we entered it. There were channel markers indicating the deep areas (2.5' to 3.5') from the shallow (less than a foot or exposed sand bars). Obviously this was a channel for small power boats.<br />
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We ran aground a couple times, but were going very slow and backed off the sand easily each time. Once, we could feel the keel dragging across the bottom while were running down the center of the channel. Good thing the wind was not from the north or west, cause we would never have gotten in (or out) if any water was blown out of the creek.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our path in to St Jerome's Creek</td></tr>
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As I mentioned, the creek and anchorage were very pretty. There were not a lot of houses around it. I put out our 25 feet of chain and with the bridle, give us over a 7:1 scope in the 4' of water we were in. The sunset was pretty, we had a nice evening and slept well. <br />
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Day 7</h2>
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Bonnie woke me at 5:45am as she heard voices outside. I looked out and some watermen in their boat were passing us slowly and talking- probably wondering how a sailboat go in there. <br />
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We did not have exact tide data for the creek, and I was trying best to interpolate the tide data from the Potomac and from Patuxent. So I did it the old fashioned way and looked at the current. It was still leaving the creek. I had the feeling it might be a good idea to up anchor now, before it got shallower. So we did.<br />
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It was easier getting out as we had our trail on the GPS that showed where we had to back up when we went aground. We only hit bottom once and as the tide was inches higher than the night before, we were fine.<br />
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The winds had not calmed during the night, so the Bay was choppy and full of large swells. The initial run out of the creek, to the point we could turn north was broadside and not at all enjoyable. But it only lasted about 15 minutes, then we made the turn, raised the jib and were making 7+ knots up the Bay. We still had the current against us, but it was much less stronger than yesterday.<br />
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There were a lot of cargo ships and tugs out, and the AIS traffic reminded me of Norfolk, only on a larger scale. Car carriers were overtaking slower tankers, tugs were running outside of the channel, and about 6 sailboats were all lumped together heading north.<br />
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We still had leftover flies and may have picked up some additional ones. The car carriers were coming fast - overtaking us at 10-14 knots faster then we wee going. So we had to plan to cross from the east side of the channel near Popular island to the the west side of the channel between ships.<br />
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We tied up onto our mooring ball at 2:30pm. The skies looked like rain, but as with the entire trip, missed us each day - with eerie clouds passing either north or south of us. I took the dink in to shore and walked down the street to get a car.<br />
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We unloaded the first load of food and clothes from the boat and headed home. Then it was time for a long shower.<br />
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Bonnie went to get the dogs, who had acquired 'kennel cough' while in the Spa, and I did some work that was in need of attention.<br />
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Its nice to be home. But over the total of six or so weeks we were actually on the boat this winter/spring we had developed a routine that was like being at home. I really enjoyed it, and am ready to go again.<br />
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As we are off to France in under two weeks, I will be getting my travel wishes fulfilled. In the meantime, we need to haul the boat, get the port engine looked at, clean it out, and get the house ready for us to leave again for three weeks. Oh, and I suppose we have to earn a living somewhere in there as well.<br />
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Stay tuned for photos and video from France.<br />
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Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-493018053898495672013-04-27T16:59:00.002-04:002013-04-27T17:15:52.205-04:00Springtime Return Trip - Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Similar to the trip south this past November, the trip home was not without events and a change of plans. We had hoped to bring the boat home over a couple week period, and stop along the way to see a few sights we missed going south due to the weather.<br />
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We got to Charleston on Friday and prepped the boat. It was in good shape and nothing was in a condition to delay us. We spent Saturday at the farm market, buying some fresh veggies, raw milk, and fun stuff like pickled Okra. Yes, oddly enough, I have developed a taste for pickled Okra. We went to Hominy Grill for dinner and had a wonderful meal. </div>
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Sunday morning brought winds from the north northeast at about 25 kts. Of course that is just the direction we needed to travel. The weather service said winds would be north northwest at 10-12 kts. We had limited time, and as we planned to take the ICW anyway, set off.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heavy chop in ICW motoring against 25 kt winds</td></tr>
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The winds stayed with us for three days. We had a lot of chop on the nose and the apparent winds hit 45 kts at times. This video gives you an idea of what it was like.</div>
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High winds on the ICW</div>
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There were few boats out and the tides were lower than usual. A large trawler ran aground in front of us and was stuck hard until a PDQ 34 Powercat helped pull him off a few hours later. </div>
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We had planned to make 12 hour days, if possible to try to get to Cape Charles for a Craft Fair on the next Saturday. We didn't really expect to make it, but thought it might be good to see how far we couple get. Renting a car to make the Fair was always on option.</div>
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Winyah Bay was very rough, and we entered it just as Bonnie has was serving dinner. The broadside waves really tossed us around. I turned bow into the wave for a while, even though it was not our intended direction of travel, so we could finish dinner. That also got us to the windward side of the Bay and into a more sheltered run.</div>
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We made Georgetown at sunset, not a bad day's travel considering wind and currents. We anchored as far back as possible, but the wind was still 18 kts on deck and 26 kts at the top of the mast. But the anchor held well and we got a good nights sleep.</div>
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Bonnie had her perfect cappuccino ready before sunrise and we were off as the sun left a beautiful red ribbon across the sky. The winds stayed just the same and we plowed through the waves for the entire day.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barge traffic was much lighter than in November</td></tr>
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We stopped in for fuel in North Myrtle beach at saw the boat Windward, owned by a wonderful couple we met in November going south. I knew Bonnie wanted to make time and it was only 3 pm, but we were very tempted to grab a slip and stay the night to visit with them. We regret that we didn't. Any yes, we know well that old adage; that sailing trips should never be made with a tight schedule.</div>
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We anchored just before sunset in a small marsh on the edge of a channel, just shy of Southport. The winds across the marsh were 30 kts and I was feeling unsure of my judgement in selecting the location. But it was the best around and pushing it as we did, near sunset, gave us few other options. Our great little anchor (here's where you get to laugh) an 18 lb aluminum spade with 25' of chain, held perfectly as always. I have been lectured on our ground tackle many times, but many people of various skill levels. But I have to say that it has held through many a blow and I swear by that little spade anchor. </div>
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Bonnie made her usual incredible dinner and we hit the hay for a early start again. I must say that no matter what the weather, the rush, or other external troubles, Bonnie consistently creates the most wonderful meals for us. I never cease to be amazed.</div>
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At sunrise we started off again, but it took a bit to get the anchor unburied. It had set and buried itself quite well. Once in 2010, in Cape May harbor we spent three days anchored in a nor'easter and it took over half an hour to dig the anchor out.</div>
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We passed Wrightsville beach bridge and the bride tender told us the Figure 8 bridge was broken and wont not be working for a few hours. We figured we would get up there and then anchor or such. The USCG Cutter Simlax that does all the channel marker work for NC and some of SC was among the parade of boats with us. They radioed us to say they were going to drop their steel piling ,and become 'a pier', while they waited for the bridge. I told them I wished I could do that, and they offered to let us tie up with them. So we did. We got a great tour of the ship and learned it is the oldest Coast Guard Cutter in the fleet, built in 1944.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dessie rafted up to Simlax</td></tr>
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Bonnie was quite impressed that a crewman was assigned 'catamaran watch' while we were aboard. We had a nice tour and after about an hour and a half the bridge was fixed and opened for us.</div>
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We made the Cape Fear River, with wind on the nose again. It was rough, and the tide was against us, as well as the wind. I tried to motor sail for part of it, and we were able to get to 6 kts for about 1/3 of the river. The rest was about 3.6 to 4 kts. Needless to say it was a long trip.</div>
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Bonnie felt the salmon was not going to last too long, so she made it and roasted brussell sprouts for lunch. Pretty nice meal for a 'light lunch' in rough weather.</div>
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When we got to the cut, the current was in our favor and we made 8.5 kts through it. Then we hit alternating patches of fast and slow as the tide and current was still rushing out of the various inlets we passed.</div>
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All in all we were making good time, until...</div>
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Do you now that horrible sound a garbage disposal makes when a spoon falls in it? Well our starboard engine decided to start making that sound just before the North Topsail Beach bridge. To make a long story short, the engine had never been quite right since we purchased the boat. It occasionally burned oil, occasionally did not like to start, and just seemed to always need a bit more attention. We had it fully serviced before we left and on the way south I checked the oil everyday. It died on us once going south in November. The Yamaha mechanic said its oil sensor was not connected and it was not running quite as it should. </div>
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We limped up towards Sneads Ferry, but decided to drop anchor for the night off of the channel. It was quite shallow and took a bit to find a safe spot. I played with the engine, and called my brother who used to be a boat engine mechanic. I pumped the engine oil into a mason jar and let it settle. With the flashlight shining on the bottom of the jar I was able to make out a variety of 'star constellations' in the hundreds of metal flakes sitting against the glass. It costs $2600 to rebuild an engine that costs $3000 new. Hmmm.</div>
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In the morning we strapped the dinghy to the starboard side and ran with it, and the port engine, up to Sneads Ferry. </div>
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I called the Yamaha dealer there and they recommended the Swan Point Marina for tie up. So we called them and they told us to come on in.</div>
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The marina owner, who has only had the marina since last July was wonderful. She and her staff where great to us. The marina is old and full of character (and characters). We really enjoyed our time there. Their main dock is a single, long floating dock that can hold 7 or 8 catamarans or trawlers. Its too shallow for sailboats that draw over 5.5' of water, and even that is close at real low tide. But their set up, with a Yamaha dealer just across the parking lot, is ideal for PDQs, the new Geminis, and Tom Cat catamarans that use Yamahas. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swan Point Marina has a pet Pelican that lets you hand feed it fish. He waits for the commercial fishermen each day.</td></tr>
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So the search for a new engine began after we tied up. Unfortunately the spring orders for engines were already made by dealers. The local dealer, as with most dealers on the Carolina coast, sell only larger engines. A place in Oriental had one in stock, but it was a tiller handle version. </div>
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The PDQ owners have a great forum and Facebook page. So I posted our dilemma on their Facebook page. A few owners told us of a place in Michigan that many of the PDQ owners custom ordered outboards from. So I called and sure enough they had one left. An Amex number and the marina address later, and a new engine will be there by next Friday. The Yamaha dealer next door said he could install it while we were away. We could not stay all week as I actually have to show up for work these days. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJlYiT_hPGzMrObpCDzSjaGXf4pLKj_04pOIlxNgyoL26j-VAiqS1-l7XfcV40cnZOCw9wPcMXlDlxPzOvbbLzbNvZSkBXIoN30AQSQeXRiCaRDVTisI_CYYg49YJm9u8rnsdHRsdW_A/s1600/photo+(27).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJlYiT_hPGzMrObpCDzSjaGXf4pLKj_04pOIlxNgyoL26j-VAiqS1-l7XfcV40cnZOCw9wPcMXlDlxPzOvbbLzbNvZSkBXIoN30AQSQeXRiCaRDVTisI_CYYg49YJm9u8rnsdHRsdW_A/s320/photo+(27).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dessie tied up and waiting for her new outboard engine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
A call to Enterprise got us a car. We actually were able to get a rental car for two weeks that we return to Jacksonville, for half of the cost of a one-way, for just a couple days. So as we will be back in two weeks, we chose that option. Then, being near Camp Lejune on a Friday, many marines rent cars. All choose the lowest priced options, as did we. So the young lady asked if we wanted a free upgrade to a mustang. We were not sure, as Bonnie had boxes of crafts for Cape Charles. But after we determined that it would all fit, we took the cherry red convertible Mustang. I asked the young lady if she gave it to us cause we are the old folks and wont drive like the marines would. She replied that I wasn't 'that old', but yes, that's why we got it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We had a nice drive to Cape Charles, with the top up, as the car was full of Bonnie's solar lights. <br />
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Currently she is at the craft fair, while I went to the Barrier Island Museum and am not catching up on the blog and work tasks. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWTuVd1hMMwW_yKCz2aKqy73iZzPVo-JlLVAOzwuhuWr7vd0ttKvmB-6puZO2h5t6HJBZvup9AUBYyJta5gPe_krdbauf7Rxn8g63q_iQ4ogv6D7nlAOTfWwnqhOuFcqPblBjC-k9How/s1600/navartmusic13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWTuVd1hMMwW_yKCz2aKqy73iZzPVo-JlLVAOzwuhuWr7vd0ttKvmB-6puZO2h5t6HJBZvup9AUBYyJta5gPe_krdbauf7Rxn8g63q_iQ4ogv6D7nlAOTfWwnqhOuFcqPblBjC-k9How/s320/navartmusic13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.barrierislandscenter.com/navigation.html" target="_blank">Barrier Island Center</a></div>
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<div>
We hope to return to the boat in two weeks and move a bit farther north. But this time, we plan to go slow and stop a lot along the way. We have a few good friends that are just leaving the Bahamas, and hopefully with catch up to us.</div>
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<div>
Stay tuned for the continued voyage.</div>
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Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-10061062589768378092012-12-26T12:01:00.000-05:002012-12-26T12:01:11.432-05:00Wishing Everyone a Happy Holidays and Great 2013!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenFa5hXRXwxvVlxeetxiFVNjRXqwoqFujFnxEqMkLluq3p_a4k4mfoRB2BwsVB0VKBMEQZzEg2yuI4ie6bpjn9CpNRM0yRFvV6gwu18x41viNjb_-FLRaq72Y0vFGwrWrSagY-UxgJ-s/s1600/Xmas+card+2012.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="497" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenFa5hXRXwxvVlxeetxiFVNjRXqwoqFujFnxEqMkLluq3p_a4k4mfoRB2BwsVB0VKBMEQZzEg2yuI4ie6bpjn9CpNRM0yRFvV6gwu18x41viNjb_-FLRaq72Y0vFGwrWrSagY-UxgJ-s/s640/Xmas+card+2012.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our environmentally friendly Holiday Card. All the same great wishes, none of the environmental waste.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-68706079373815068192012-12-21T18:18:00.000-05:002012-12-21T18:18:06.512-05:00Away from the boat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3GrIH2LhMz4zAQ6h725jqONak4Egh0UBqUqZXRlr-W-2cFh7B07z5lvzvB6xHRraewRYEAN65ffH_7K_91F6gmP7Jo5Tvw8yi8it0b5OpiMT3eRK1cl1SMJ5YcybqDV80hyphenhyphenIO8ooAiw/s1600/megadock.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3GrIH2LhMz4zAQ6h725jqONak4Egh0UBqUqZXRlr-W-2cFh7B07z5lvzvB6xHRraewRYEAN65ffH_7K_91F6gmP7Jo5Tvw8yi8it0b5OpiMT3eRK1cl1SMJ5YcybqDV80hyphenhyphenIO8ooAiw/s400/megadock.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dessie on the webcam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Almost like being there, we can see our boat from the Marina webcam. She sure looks small with all the larger boats around her.<br />
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Hopefully we will get down there in the next few days, and spend some time enjoying warmer weather. If not, we will take some time in early January and try to get to north Florida.<br />
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Right now we are accomplishing some big projects on both houses and getting one ready for new renters. Bonnie's cork counter-top project is looking pretty good.<br />
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We hope all our friends and family, near and far, have a great holiday.</div>
Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-1348898946277787952012-11-29T10:48:00.003-05:002012-11-29T10:48:29.701-05:00Back in Annapolis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Work and needs back home brought us back for a while. We came home to a cat that decided to express that he was dissatisfied with our length of time away - and that Casey was not enough company for him. He marked almost every carpet in the house at least once. We have a new roof leak as well.<br />
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Other than that, the house, animals, and Casey survived us being gone quite well.<br />
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Here is a link to some of the photos from the trip so far. Hope to add to it as I collect them all.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzJqBguFDp6-qBXIIKubRnU3py_cON6lvXISwEyX6HKExxJcRLYaALl3f2EbhbRRdLgjkR-Ik7rOjA0orGYBq-XudHFBuyTB_8NlxM7QCPqfDYeR8ZIkUZISoHBJJanr0A4NxWIvMEqw/s1600/GOPR4409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzJqBguFDp6-qBXIIKubRnU3py_cON6lvXISwEyX6HKExxJcRLYaALl3f2EbhbRRdLgjkR-Ik7rOjA0orGYBq-XudHFBuyTB_8NlxM7QCPqfDYeR8ZIkUZISoHBJJanr0A4NxWIvMEqw/s320/GOPR4409.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105195334523126513182/2012WinterSailSouth#" target="_blank">2012WinterSailSouth Album</a></div>
<br />
I dropped off the motherboard from the Heatpump/AC unit to be diagnosed. Hopefully it wont be too expensive.<br />
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Its quite a bit colder up here.</div>
Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-38848655136150024032012-11-24T20:37:00.001-05:002012-11-24T20:37:13.061-05:00Arriving in Charleston<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We were up early, partly as we were excited to get to Charleston, and partly because it was so cold in the boat. We had the propane heater and propane stove running to warm things up.<br />
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We can't run the propane heater at night as it can burn up all the oxygen in the boat. It only takes it a little while to make the Carbon Dioxide detector quite unhappy.<br />
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Bonnie got coffee going, and I got the boat ready to move. We could hear all the duck hunters around us shooting like it was a war zone.<br />
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It was an uneventful and pretty run. This was a nice change, as nothing broke and no mishaps happened.<br />
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As we entered the harbor, Bonnie saw seagulls following one of the late season shrimp boats working deep water in the harbor. She grabbed some stale crackers and threw a few out. Within a couple minutes, all the gulls left the shrimp boat en masse and moved to us. We could have made our on Hitchcock thriller.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nPWjN3uUsN8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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They followed us all the way to the mouth of the Ashley river.<br />
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We had been remiss on contacting the City Marina about a slip, and as it was Thanksgiving there was no one to answer a phone call or hail. We thought it best to anchor in the 'new' anchorage across from the marina, and check-in, in the morning. As with Beaufort, the currents would be opposing the wind. Not fun. We found a good spot near another catamaran and prepped to drop the anchor.<br />
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The owner of that catamaran came out and held up his radio mic for us to hail him. I was having visions of the Frenchman in Beaufort. We established contact on the radio and he warned us of a large debris field under where were looking to anchor. We thanked him and started looking for a different spot.<br />
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I moved forward to the channel and close to the Megadock (the City marina's massive front dock). It had many open spaces on it. So I figured that we should just grab a spot - as we planned to check in with them in the morning anyway. As we approached, we saw <i>Fortunate </i>and <i>Comocean</i>, two boats belonging to friends of ours, just on the back side of the Megadock. So was tied up just across from them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdgH4aCzPyDmksrvPqcoVQsAB9BQ3od-lgZkNIA6gWiWmrFCuPJs4qHB5rwBroLyZqBHCL5qwG_Sok57BdZ24SpV_7KPVsdJO0N6MwVlboHNnCeanNz-BRDp9UIscwjRGJULkle5CNBQ/s1600/photo+(13).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdgH4aCzPyDmksrvPqcoVQsAB9BQ3od-lgZkNIA6gWiWmrFCuPJs4qHB5rwBroLyZqBHCL5qwG_Sok57BdZ24SpV_7KPVsdJO0N6MwVlboHNnCeanNz-BRDp9UIscwjRGJULkle5CNBQ/s320/photo+(13).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our friends' boats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As we looked around we saw two other boats here from our travels - <i>Ata Marie</i> from our few days in Cape Charles, and <i>Windward </i>(actually they saw us) from our first days on the ICW. It was like old home week.<br />
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The next day <i>My Pleasure</i>, from our sandbar adventure day, arrived. We spent an evening reminiscing those events, and helping them with their new iPad.<br />
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Tokkie on <i>Ata Maria</i> invited us for drinks and some great cheeses one night. We reciprocated by having them over for lamb chops. Then today they took us to lunch at Hymans downtown, and played tour guide for us at the market. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjen8ihfWR3q5wUhR8t5l38pPLclxuOIyG-z0AnIUuuV0xHLhqB4Fa4yrfOTBJ8grj-UCPJZhS9kQjounbqRXTppZbcsHmPaokLEG75ZeLJgPcXbf3GpnmT-NGYTsv6rRB5-0XRKHIMtw4/s1600/photo+(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjen8ihfWR3q5wUhR8t5l38pPLclxuOIyG-z0AnIUuuV0xHLhqB4Fa4yrfOTBJ8grj-UCPJZhS9kQjounbqRXTppZbcsHmPaokLEG75ZeLJgPcXbf3GpnmT-NGYTsv6rRB5-0XRKHIMtw4/s320/photo+(10).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prepped for company.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Somewhere in there, as group of happy sailors came by and asked about Bonnie's lights. It ended up that they were from the Annapolis area - one couple owned a marina in Tracy's Landing, one couple left to explore the east coast this winter on their Lagoon 44, then plan to go to the UK in the spring. Also among them was the Lagoon sales rep from Annapolis. We had drinks and played Mexican Train dominoes with then until late one night. Notice a trend here?<br />
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The folks at the City Marina were great. We signed up for a month, and they moved us to a spot near, and on the same side, as <i>Fortunate </i>and <i>Comocean</i>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDGs9FbgYOwM9iuEfkW-tXlGNRoqReIVZesgGB9_xwBrCuRzY_EOtyX7PNp9fJ0alfiZ7BVSZI35SL3k-JCBNhywN4evlc70aUlzcCf79pjaEE_y9BkzQnF5GbP0peDs9NpHIt1oSRmA/s1600/photo+(11).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDGs9FbgYOwM9iuEfkW-tXlGNRoqReIVZesgGB9_xwBrCuRzY_EOtyX7PNp9fJ0alfiZ7BVSZI35SL3k-JCBNhywN4evlc70aUlzcCf79pjaEE_y9BkzQnF5GbP0peDs9NpHIt1oSRmA/s320/photo+(11).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dessie at the Megadock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Tomorrow we will arrange for a rental car to take home for a few weeks. We'll also check out downtown again, and start setting up <i>Desert Star</i> for her few week rest here.<br />
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I need to coordinate new parts for the AC/Heat pump and record all the model and serial numbers.<br />
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So that was pretty much our Thanksgiving weekend. It'll be hard to top it next year.<br />
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Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-83233238070557014022012-11-21T18:31:00.001-05:002012-11-21T19:34:35.824-05:00Butler Island to Beautiful Marsh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">ICW 395 to 430<br />
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We were up at 6:15 to try and get an early start so that we would have time to visit Georgetown, SC and still make Charleston tomorrow in the early afternoon.<br />
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We awoke to a cold boat. I thought the generator ran out of fuel, but actually the heater broke. Can you say Brrrrr? <br />
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We had the current with us and made Georgetown in an hour and a half. We got gas at the first gas dock and the staff there apparently did not have their coffee yet. They lacked any sense of southern hospitality.<br />
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We moved to the town dock to tie up and go for a walk. We came upon the Ship's Booty in the 'Mall' as they call it. The owner's husband opened early and we had a very nice chat with him. Bonnie found a few cute things. We ate lunch at the Big Tuna by the dock. They had a special of steamed oysters. It was a large tray of clusters of oysters. It took me an hour to eat them all and my hands got a good workout. They were very fresh. Bonnie had the Grouper sandwich with well done fries (Thanks Arnon and Nancy for the well done suggestion).<br />
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Entering the harbor, and leaving, Bonnie donated some old bread to the gulls. It was quite a show.<br />
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We had a mixed current the rest of the way. We came to Leland Marine and looked in their creek for a place to anchor. It was too tight. We passed a guy on the dock and asked how much they charge for the night. We are pretty sure he said $6 a foot. Probably not, but we took it as a sign to keep moving.<br />
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We anchored near whereMark Doyle had a good anchorage listed in his cruising guide. It was quite and beautiful. Probably the most beautiful so far - and that is saying a lot.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkEOoNDQ-SWeEHaG5Rt-u1QKuTV4y9RklJfvbij4TOu5LJJ_52hWP2oMCgft-WnovQIo7JaOGDJEzVIXaI00G0t5TyPpUS98ChkWObvRb7To3TRC8u7UmfIjTqWF2xlFb_i7EY2r7wAE/s1600/GOPR4436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkEOoNDQ-SWeEHaG5Rt-u1QKuTV4y9RklJfvbij4TOu5LJJ_52hWP2oMCgft-WnovQIo7JaOGDJEzVIXaI00G0t5TyPpUS98ChkWObvRb7To3TRC8u7UmfIjTqWF2xlFb_i7EY2r7wAE/s400/GOPR4436.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset in the marsh in South Carolina</td></tr></tbody></table>I dropped the dink and did some fishing. No luck. But I got some great photos and video of the boat at sunset.<br />
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Pretty nice!!!!<br />
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Bonnie made Scallops Provincial for dinner. It was incredible. But that's what dinner is most every night with her. <br />
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<br />
Bonnie will be baking a lot tonight to heat the boat. :-)<br />
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<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWglGLlM_-DTkTmdfprtwjkD5mCAu0c0pSCf4QzjC2DlRRkuBSjKXFQKxYC4T8L1Xd9WC40tMgc9jU677Le9QZkHek9y3e3cvm13bud40H5QhWErUp9qFw0PSzPEO1PiX1ZiHKuQ3EFg4/s640/blogger-image-70924074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWglGLlM_-DTkTmdfprtwjkD5mCAu0c0pSCf4QzjC2DlRRkuBSjKXFQKxYC4T8L1Xd9WC40tMgc9jU677Le9QZkHek9y3e3cvm13bud40H5QhWErUp9qFw0PSzPEO1PiX1ZiHKuQ3EFg4/s640/blogger-image-70924074.jpg" /></a></div>Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0South Carolina Lowcountry (null)33.079051 -79.495833tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-34070669512403299912012-11-20T19:35:00.002-05:002012-11-20T19:35:24.507-05:00Shallotte Inlet to Butler Island, SC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
ICW 335 to 395<br />
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The night went very well. I got up once when the tide changed and the anchor alarm went off. Dessie was sitting just fine and the anchor held fine. The current was probably 3 kts in each direction and the winds were howling again at gusts over 25 kts. Will it EVER get warm and sunny!<br />
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We got up while it was still dark and were underway just as the sun was rising. We really wanted to make Georgetown, SC, but that was not to be.<br />
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We entered South Carolina about 8:08 am. The current was with us much of the way. Then it changed. We seemed to have it and the wind against us for the next 45 miles. <br />
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We passed the Casino boats, a lot of bridges, and the rock pile (a narrow cut with rocks on each side).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghvnx4eujBbO_UwkX6HLCaUZFTPTA358RzfLCEkV2R4vpWF1jq2ISeq6NmD6z15hPf5ybfr4BxNXufp3KbEf3qTba3Hl3m3C_Ig6Zpw-xt-rycjYO5LEwaiTFwqHuQCmiXSoEVjSp58w/s1600/photo+(14).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghvnx4eujBbO_UwkX6HLCaUZFTPTA358RzfLCEkV2R4vpWF1jq2ISeq6NmD6z15hPf5ybfr4BxNXufp3KbEf3qTba3Hl3m3C_Ig6Zpw-xt-rycjYO5LEwaiTFwqHuQCmiXSoEVjSp58w/s320/photo+(14).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casino Boats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lighthouse along ICW</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three tugs, a large barge, and couple hundred feet of pipe. The last tugs was steering from behind like a large fire truck</td></tr>
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<br />
The bridges were monitoring channel 9 and opened on request. However, we found if a boat was just far enough ahead of us, that the bridge just closed, they will make us wait a while.<br />
<br />
We passed our friend Brooke's house. We tried to reach her, but no luck. So we anchored on the back side of Butler Island, where two other boats also dropped their hook for the night. I tried some fishing with a little lure, and even tried hanging the dive light over the side to attract fish. No luck.<br />
<br />
But what a great time we are having. We motor, motor sail and even sometimes sail, for many miles - with our well provisioned home and all the comforts. We stop when we want, or go when we want. We have cell phone coverage much of the time, and talk with family and friends as easily as in Annapolis. When evening comes, we drop the hook, eat a terrific meal, do a little fishing, make new friends, and/or have a quiet evening together. It can't be beat!</div>
Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-41400694584237241132012-11-19T19:30:00.001-05:002012-11-19T19:30:06.755-05:00Wrightsville Beach to Shallotte Inlet NC (Monk's Island)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
ICW 283 to 335<br />
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We spent three nights in Wrightsville Beach, waiting for the Nor'easter to pass. It hasn't yet, but we decided it was time to move on anyway. A few other boats had the same idea, and the front floating dock was full all weekend with cruisers.<br />
<br />
We did have a very nice time. We had use of the loaner car at SeaPath YC, and did a bit of exploring and shopping. We slept great and made the most of the weather. We even caught a movie.<br />
<br />
Bonnie found the recycling center and I found West Marine.<br />
<br />
Winds on Sunday night gusted to 42kts. We sure felt trapped. This morning is was a bit better. Gusts only to 26 kts. We had the tide and current and wind with us, so we decided to go. It wasn't as rough as we thought. The cut had a 3 kt current in our favor and we flew through to the Cape Fear River. The river tide was slacking and not too bad. There were long and large swells, bit they were from behind, with the wind, and were gentle on us.<br />
<br />
We turned west on the ICW past Cape Fear, and went as far as we could go until dark. As the sun was setting, we passed a beautiful inlet (other than it being low tide, 25 kt winds and a 2 kts current) that looked incredible in with the setting sun shining from behind us. So we decided to drop the hook here.<br />
<br />
Its probably not the wisest spot, but we have are good enough at this to get a shallow spot out of the channel and the wind almost anywhere. I will be checking our position often, but we seem to be holding well.<br />
<br />
There is 3G coverage, and we saw a beautiful sunset. I even did a little fishing - caught nothing. I'll try again at first light. Tomorrow we hope to make South Carolina about lunch time.</div>
Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-32224942936477185982012-11-17T11:38:00.002-05:002012-11-17T11:43:32.724-05:00Mile Hammock to Wrightsville Beach<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
ICW 244-283<br />
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We were up by 7 and underway to time the bridges. Not far down the ICW, we passed a Hunter 46 (My Pleasure) at New River inlet (72A) that was aground. We asked if they were okay, and they weren't. Although the tide was coming in, it was pushing them farther into shallow water and the current was 3 kts from the Inlet direct on their broad side.<br />
<br />
We decided to try to throw them a line. Not my brightest idea. Bonnie was at the helm and not able to keep us moving perpendicular to the current. The current pushed us into them and bent our BBQ up a bit, and knocked the base off of one of their life line sanctions . We got away from them before we did any more damage, and I dropped the lines - which quickly proceeded to wrap around their rudder.<br />
<br />
We could not leave them like that. So... we anchored nearby and I took the dink over to them. I should have done that in the first place. The lines were all wrapped up and not coming out. So it was time for a swim. I was really hoping the next time I put on my wet suit it would be in a warm place. But that was not to be.<br />
<br />
It did not take too much effort to untangle the lines. Of course after unbending the rudder the other day, anything would seem easy in comparison. We did have a real problem with passing boats. A group of USMC boats and a few large power boats all passed without slowing down at all, even after repeated hailings on the radio - and seeing them pointing at us. I can almost expect that from large powerboats, but I was more than a bit disappointed in my fellow Marines.<br />
<br />
I then used the dink in combination with their bow thruster to get them off the bar against the current. It took a bit, but eventually worked. We were back underway at 9:45am, but our bridge timing was now a mess. We waited 20 or more minutes at both bridges, with strong currents and winds driving us towards them. At least the rest of the day was less eventful.<br />
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A view of the strong currents while waiting for the bridge</div>
<br />
Bonnie called around for slips, and we got a nice one at Seapath Yacht Club. They were great, and even have a courtesy car and on-site laundry. We walked to the beach and found a cute surf shop to look for a present for a friend's son's upcoming birthday. We ended up buying a used paddle-board for us instead. The guy there, Mick, delivered to our boat in his pick-up truck.<br />
<br />
We ate at the South Beach grill, which was okay. We enjoyed the Wifi at the Yacht Club and caught up on things while doing laundry. Its nice to have power and water. We crashed by about 11pm. </div>
Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-56924803263547131672012-11-17T10:07:00.002-05:002012-11-20T19:41:15.647-05:00Beaufort to Mile Hammock (and Dead Engine)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
ICW 205 to 244<br />
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After a rough night of swinging on the hook, we were up at 6:30 and decided it was too cold to tour Beaufort more. We'd visit it on the way home in the Spring. The tide was rushing in at about 2 kts and the winds were down to 15, but had some hefty gusts.<br />
<br />
The weather ensured we stayed in the ICW and did not try to venture offshore. Our Speed over Ground was 9 knots once we turned south on the ICW. We were making great time, until...<br />
<br />
The starboard engine decided it was time to loose all power. It was really an odd problem, and seems to go into a forced idle mode intermittently. I called my brother, who knows a lot more about engines. He ran me through some possible causes, but none found the cure while underway.<br />
<br />
We started calling marinas looking for Yamaha services. Not much luck. the tide was turning and the current was going to be a bear on one engine. So we decided to go into Dudley's Marina. They were very nice, but did not work on Yamahas. They swapped out the Racor filters and looked for water. No luck.<br />
<br />
Bonnie posted about our predicament on Facebook, and our next door neighbor in Annapolis, called to tell us of two good service places near there. Thanks Brent!!!!!!!! I called them and one, Gregory Pool Engine Services actually has trucks and makes boat calls. They sent a great guy named Robert, within an hour. He did the usual checks - plugs, oil, connections, etc. While checking, he noticed the engines were installed without any alarms hooked up. Odd. Then when showing me a cable end, realized that it was bare and might have slipped to a position to be grounding out. Apparently the grounding out of the sensor was acting like a dead man switch and putting the engine into a low oil survival mode, even though it had oil. That was a lucky find! <br />
<br />
Robert checked over the engines and gave me a list of things to change and connect, when we got someplace warm and had time. <br />
<br />
We were back under way at 3:19pm. We raced to catch the Oslo Beach Bridge, when we did - and weren't even the last boat through. We motored down past the Marine Corps Training Center where I spent many a training exercise. It brought back a lot of memories.<br />
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USMC Osprey</div>
<br />
It was dark as we arrived at the Mile Hammock anchorage. We eased through the other 9 boats at anchor and found a good spot in the back near the boat ramp.<br />
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We were in best before 10, in a sheltered anchorage listening to the night ops flights of CH-53s going overhead.</div>
Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-22769555535121611532012-11-16T22:59:00.000-05:002012-11-17T09:39:30.587-05:00R.E. Mayo to Beaufort, NC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
ICW 157 to 205<br />
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We shoved off from R.E. Mayo's dock just before 7am. The Neuse river was very rough and seas appeared to be about 3 or more feet. It was a wild ride, and we motored sailed with the Jenny most of the way.<br />
<br />
Bonnie wanted to see Oriental, NC. So we headed there. We arrived about 10:30 and anchored in the mouth of the harbor as the only free dock was full. We took the dinghy to the town dinghy dock and found a great recycling center there as well. We bought a few things, and a new Brazilian hat for me at the Inland Waterway Provisioning Company. Then went to get coffee at the Bean, and drop in on a friend of our neighbors - who wasn't at the office that day.<br />
<br />
We were thinking of eating ashore, but the boat was well provisioned and we were hoping to make Beaufort by dark. Bonnie had some stale bread and the seagulls became her buddies for a bit.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonnie feeding the gulls in Oriental, NC</td></tr>
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<br />
It was still very windy and we again had winds from the N/NE in the 20s, gusting to 30.<br />
<br />
We entered Beaufort by the back channel and did a balancing act at the draw bridge for 20 minutes with 2 kt current and 20 kt winds.<br />
<br />
We motored around to Taylor Creek and searched the crowded anchorage for a place to drop the hook. We did not find much, and as it was cold, we did not want to be too far away.<br />
<br />
So I boldly dropped the hook between two French boats, just off of the channel. One owner came out and in gesturs that required no translation, let me know he thought I was a bit too close. I probably was, as we drifted back more than I wanted. So we upped anchor and moved a little forward.<br />
<br />
Taylor Creek anchorage is known for opposing winds and currents that move boats every which way. These 20 kts winds were perfect for such an event. So I was a bit stressed about it. Next time I plan to get a slip there.<br />
<br />
We ate dinner at Clawson's (the food was not great) and walked around the town. It was very cold and windy, so the walk did not last too long.<br />
<br />
We were in bed by 9:00. I got up to check on things at about midnight and found Dessie sitting totally different than the other boats, with the anchor trailing back and to starboard and the boat sideways out in the channel. The combination of wind, current and a light boat were providing interesting results. I reduced the length of anchor rode to avoid inadvertently visiting neighboring boats, and played with the rudder angle to see if I could settle her out. It worked a little, and I checked on it every hour. That did not make for a great night's sleep.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281466067996417768.post-4169391592858439502012-11-16T22:00:00.002-05:002012-11-17T09:31:00.241-05:00Pungo River Anchorage to R.E Mayo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
ICW 127 to 157<br />
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Life sometimes prepares us for events in mysterious ways. Back in late 2008 I hit a dredge pipe and bent both rudders. A former PDQ employee and incredible boat expert named James, and Sandy a PDQ owner, and I devised a way to rig a come-along from the bow pulpit to the rudder. We then created a bracing system around the rudder and 'cranked' the rudder back to center. The only caveat was that the boat was on land and we had lots of time and muscle to pull it off.<br />
<br />
We set out about 8am to figure out what to do about the rudder, and possibly find a place to haul the boat. The day before, we passed a very large water moccasin floating high on the surface, eyeing us as we passed. The water was full of tannins and almost as dark as the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis. The water temperature was also in the 50s. So swimming was not in the cards as far as I was concerned.<br />
<br />
We called all the places in the Cruising Guide, but no luck. We stopped at Dowry Creek Marina for gas, and to ask what might be around. The folks there were very nice and sympathetic. They let us have some space by the gas dock in shallow water and told us stories of river diving and searching for lost anchors.<br />
<br />
Well, I figured the only way to get us moving again was to recreate the come-along, but do it underwater. I still had the tow strap and most of the parts on board. I have a SCUBA tank, but no air, so it would be done via holding my breath.<br />
<br />
It took a dozen or more trips to get a strap around the rudder, then a few more to get the other strap to the bow pulpit. Unfortunately the strap to the bow was too short. I needed something that would not stretch. The only thing usable was the main sheet, which was Dyneema. So I cut off about 20 feet of the $3 a foot line added to the strap.<br />
<br />
Fortunately it was clam and sunny, so I could work with some visibility. And the tannins weren't as bad as summer water in Annapolis. My head and ankles ached from the cold water.<br />
<br />
I alternated cranking on the come-along, and diving to check the space above the rudder. I repeated this many times and finally got a point I hoped the rudder would still have some space after it bounced back when the pressure was released. I let the metal rest, before I released the pressure.<br />
<br />
It mostly worked. But the space was too narrow. So I repeated the cranking and diving routine again. This time it worked and the spacing was fine. <br />
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Cold and dark, but got it done...</div>
<br />
The winds, clouds and cold rushed in about 11:30 and I worked faster to get it done. By 12:30 I was dressed and we were on our way, thanking the marina staff as we left.<br />
<br />
At 1pm, when we crossed the Pamlico River, the waves were about 3 feet and the winds were in the 20s, gusting to 30. We were flying along at 8 to 8.5 knots.<br />
<br />
We entered the cut and Bonnie read in the "Managing the Waterway" guide by Mark Doyle that the R. E Mayo company sold great seafood. So we stopped there about 4:30pm. They had the seafood in large refrigerated rooms, and also had a huge marine parts store that sold an incredible variety of hardware for commercial fishing vessels.<br />
<br />
We purchased shrimp, flounder, and scallops from them. I also got some unique fishing gear I have never seen before. We asked about spending the night as I was pretty exhausted from the rudder work. They charged 40 cents a foot for the night. Quite a deal.<br />
<br />
Bonnie made steamed shrimp, basmati rice and wedge salad for dinner. We watched a movie Tyler downloaded for us months ago, and were in bed by 9:30. I slept like a log.<br />
<br /></div>
Eric Epsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17451623518047636519noreply@blogger.com0