Origin: Toulouse, Hotel D'Orsay 8 Blvd Bonrepos
Destination: Castelnaudary, Maison du Cassoulet 24 Cours de la Republique
Finally located Le Canal a Velo, the shop for our rental bikes...it was "hidden" by construction of what will be a lovely promenade park area along the canal near the train and bus station. Sebastian and his colleague got us all outfitted (including a couple of dorky helmets), we took our departure photo (below--Bob will splice himself in when we get home.) in front of the Toulouse train station and were headed out by 10:15. The first 40 km were dreamy on the wide paved path in the shade of the plain trees. Brief stop for salad and coffee lunch at Castenet lock. The path was a very gradual climb to the high point at Seuil de Naurouze, just beyond Port Lauragais, where another canal enters replenishing water on the canal from a reservoir in the Montagne Noire. This paved section is heavily used by cyclists. We enjoyed watching recreational boats enter and leave from the oval shaped locks, designed by Pierre Paul Riquet in 1667 for this 240 km Canal du Midi, built to enable goods to go from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean.
Though we did not venture off the canal to visit small villages, we were painfully aware that this region was where the Cathars were persecuted and 200,000 to 1 million people brutally slain by the Albigensian Crusades of the Catholic Church and French crown during the early 13th century.
After we left the paved section in Port Lauragais, the path was dirt and became increasingly narrow, bumpy due to tree roots. Each town, we were told, is responsible for maintenance of its section of the canal. Approaching Castelnaudry, the path again widened for pleasant use for cyclists and walkers. At the Ocean Lock, the last for today, we enjoyed seeing a plaque dedicated to Thomas Jefferson who had visited the canal in 1787 to learn about canal construction.
We enjoyed eating Cassolet for dinner, a local stew of white bean and pork. In the background of the restaurant were cheers during the England- Croatia World Cup game.
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