Villeneuve de Beziers to Agde

Monday, September 24th

Well pleased with our decision to decamp from Beziers to Villeneuve de Beziers the night before, we had breakfast on the boat on the quiet side of the lock.

The Germans, who made the same choice as us, but earlier, were on the other side, along with the many derelict, commercial, and hippy boats that line the Canal wherever there is any sign of civilization (and sometimes when there isn’t).

There were only two locks today – this one at the start, and one half way to Agde, our intended destination and just 18 km away. The scenery was changing a lot, and was both flatter, more estuarine in appearance, and without the Plain Trees that had lined the Canal almost continually from Negra.

There was a strange looking flood barrier along the way, another Le Boat marina, and a very large and ugly amusement park that had closed for the season. We were glad again that we were here in September and not July or August.

We weren’t sure where in Agde we would find a mooring, and when we arrived at the round lock which separates the Canal from the sea, we found very little available. The only place to park looked like it had our name on it – right outside the port authority (we weren’t going to push our luck though).

Fortunately, the local commercial boat company (Canalous):

were happy to let us tuck into one of their (powered and watered) spots, neatly between the pontoon and (yet another) German boat. 

We had gone in nose first initially, because it’s easier, but found the power cable didn’t reach the plug, so we decided to turn the boat around. We were doing quite well on our own, but the Germans (who always know better) started ordering us around (probably just trying to help). We couldn’t have done it without them, not. Anyway, we stay on everyone’s side because you never know when you might need something (and they seem well stocked with champagne).

We cycled the 1 km into town, had a nice walk/ride around, then a coffee overlooking the river, and a nice cycle back. 

I think we’ve already decided where we’re eating tonight – there’s bouillabaisse on the menu!