We have just got back into a wifi area and it sounds like Australia is already experiencing devastating bushfires early in the season. We feel for the families that have lost their homes. We live in a bushfire area now and are always conscious of the dangers.

We have just finished a week canal boating down the Canal De Garonne in southern France. It is a French canal dating from the 19th century which connects Toulouse to Castets-en-Dorthe. The remainder of the route to Bordeaux uses the Garonne River. It is the continuation of the Canal du Midi which connects the Mediterranean with Toulouse.

Whilst it was relaxing most of the time, we also managed to enter 30 locks which with my lack of huge skills took some concentration. As Mal and I had the boat to ourselves we took turns in one of us staying on the boat and pulling the rod to open the lock while still trying to drive the boat and then getting the boat into the lock without hitting the bridge !!! While this was attempting to happen the other was on the bank running up to close the lock when the boat came into the lock and then grabbing the ropes before the current in the lock had other more drastic things in mind. Overall things went well and no major damage occurred to the boat, although I have stiffness in muscles I did not think I had. (I hope this makes sense to those reading this). Believe me, it was not always easy!!

During the week we visited some very old towns along the way, enjoying some meals in hidden little French restaurants. Other days we visited local boulangers (bakers) for bagettes, boucheries (butchers for meat) and with local fruit and vegies made some tasty meals on our canal boat “Nazareth”.