BICYCLING ON THE CANAL DU MIDI

Today was our, bicycle on the Canal Du Midi day.  The Canal Du Midi is a 150 mile long canal through southern France.  It goes from the Mediterranean 150 miles inland.  The canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Sight.  It was built starting in 1666.  It's construction is considered one of the greatest construction works of the 17th century.  Originally it was used for shipping trade goods along it's length, but now it is used for pleasure boating.  The path we rode our bicycles on was originally the path used by the animals that pulled the barges up and down the river.  There are lots of Locks on the river that allow the boats to move from or to higher and lower elevations. You can even rent a boat and go on vacation traveling up and down the Canal.  Enjoy the pictures and videos of our day on the canal.

Nonnie riding on the canal

                              

Jerry riding on the canal

                              

Three boats inter a step down lock

They let the water out and they are lowered about 8 feet

Then they move out of the lock

French government bicycle structural integrity tester

This is close as I ever got to Nonnie.  At the end of our ride she was 100 yards ahead of me and could not catch up.

Prettiest girl on the canal

In this direction  I was testing the rut resistance of the path.

Taking a break

Two boats enter the same lock; one going up a step the other going down

It's a tight fit

Just enough room

The other boat leaves the step down lock moving into the step up lock

They will fill this lock and he will move a step up.