Our friends Keith and Margaret from Edmonton arrived for
a 2 week visit near the end of September. We took the train to Bordeaux to meet
them which gave us an opportunity to see the city as we wouldn’t go that far
on Calypso. Even though they arrived with colds – which they kindly shared with
Phil – they were still able to take part in cruising and tourist activities. It
was wonderful to have help in the locks - made it a holiday for us!! They
seemed to enjoy cruising along the Canal du Midi and the Canal Lateral à la Garonne admiring the little
villages, the serene canal and the changing country side even though at times
the weather didn’t cooperate. As members
of a wine club at home, they loved sampling the different wines native to
France. After a week in Paris and travelling to Tours and Bordeaux, they
were slightly French-fooded out but we still managed to have a few gastronomic
treats – the famous cassoulet among them. But for the most part Keith’s new
favourite dish - and best ami - was
the beautiful French omelet!
Rows and rows of
vines!
Ready to Harvest
We enjoyed a short stay in both Castelnaudary and
Toulouse. Both cities were wonderful but the captain and I especially loved
Toulouse. After Paris, it is our favourite large city and I hope to go back
someday. It is known as the Rose City
because a lot of the buildings are built with red brick as opposed to the
lighter limestone bricks of other towns and cities in the south. It also has
amazing parks, pedestrian only streets in the heart of the city and museums and
art galleries. Not to mention the incredible churches and monasteries.
Toulouse has the
Vierge Noire (Black Madonna)
Bordeaux is similar to Paris in that many of its
buildings are from the 1840’s Napoleon III period. Built at the mouth of the
Garonne river, much of its prosperity came from being a major trading port to
and from the rest of the world.
With Keith and
Margaret in Bordeaux
We had one more amazing adventure when we rented a car
and the four of us headed off on a whirlwind tour of the upper Lot and Dordogne
Rivers, down to Albi and back to Moissac where the boat is moored for the
winter. OMG – how gorgeous! We had the most amazing hotel room which looked
across to Saint Cirq Lapopie, one of the most delightful villages ever. But it
was rivalled by Rocamadour which is built right into the hillside above the Dordogne
River. And the icing on the cake was
Cordes, a hilltop village with a steep climb
to the remains of a castle at the top. Stunning – all of it! We didn’t have
enough time to do Albi justice so I am definitely going back to this part of
France. I’m hoping to talk my friend Susan and anyone else who wants to join us
to do it in the near future! Walking or biking would be the best way to see it
the next time.
Rocamadour - built right into the hillside
Saint Cirq Lapopie
– gorgeous view from our hotel
We are still overwhelmed by what a great summer it was.
We saw and did so much that at times it is hard to take it all in. From the
charming Canal du Nivernais, the mighty (read terrifying) Rhone, the Carmargue,
the Mediterranean and finally the Canal du Midi!! Our side trips to the Cote
d’Azur, Cathar country, the Black Mountains, Perpignan and Collioure on the Med
and the Dordogne and Lot Valleys were awesome – we couldn’t pick a favourite –
they were all great. I’m in sensory overload just thinking about it!
After four summers travelling through 3 countries, 25
different canals and rivers, approximately 3100 kms and over 600 locks, we have
reached our final destination! Our goal was to get to Carcassonne and
Castelnaudry in the south of France and we did it! Sadly, Calypso is up for
sale but we take heart knowing that the next couple who own her will have as
much fun as we did.
Our lovely little Calypso was a very comfortable home on
the water, giving us all the amenities we could wish for as well as fostering a
life style that finds us living in the great outdoors - something that’s not
always possible in Canada. Our aft deck became a second living room where we
drank our coffee every morning and ate a lot of our lunches and suppers. On
cruising days the Captain sat perched at the wheel on the captain’s swivel
chair and the Matelot sat beside him on her folding chair tucked in beside the
steering station and the starboard rail. On non-cruising days we both sat in
our folding chairs reading, researching and drinking but mostly
people-watching. It was an absolutely delightful experience in every way – both
the great times and the scary times.
Along the way we met so many amazing people - some of
whom will become lifelong friends - cruised through a multitude of wine
regions, visited stunning historical monuments, villages, towns and cities. It
was also an amazing learning experience. We came to appreciate the different
nuances of culture, language, geography and economical regions within the same
country – something you can only know if you’ve lived in the region as a local
for a period of time. Truly we’ve accumulated a lifetime of memories to relive
and recall during our golden years.
So, we sign off what is likely our last blog for some
time with mixed emotions. Sad to leave our beloved Calypso but excited about
what the future may hold. We don’t know what form the next adventure will take
but we are certain there will be one! It may not be as monumentally challenging
as buying a boat and cruising with no prior experience, but it will involve
travel, meeting new people and seeing new places. And who knows - another blog
may appear for your reading entertainment!
Much love to all
The Glad to Be
Home Captain and the Snuffling Matelot Who
Misses Her Little Calypso
..... and we came home to this??????????????????
