The new week started cool again, but at least it was dry, so we made a 0930h start to head down the Midi. We passed all the moored boats along the canal near Port Sud and were then able to increase our speed beyond 3 kph.

Soon we entered our first oval lock at Castanet. It was an upwards lock of 5m depth, and looked a bit imposing to start the day with, but it turned out to be surprisingly easy and comfortable.

One issue with travelling on the Midi is that there are a number of low bridges that you need to pay special attention to, especially with a bimini like ours that extends above the wheelhouse roof and is also wider than the wheelhouse. We have previously taken the bimini off after hitting a low bridge in Fontet, and would prefer not to do it again. We squeezed under the first of the notified low bridges at Donneville, but because we drifted off centre I made it closer than it really should have been.

So, before we came to any more low bridges, we decided to go conservative and lower the bimini to half-mast, using a system of ropes to hang the bimini off the wheelhouse roof. There was just enough room underneath to sit and have some lunch, but it wasn’t the most comfortable arrangement. Luckily when there were no low bridges forecast for the next day, it was relatively easy to put the bimini back into its normal position.

Our first double-lock was coming up at Ecluse Sanglier, near the town of Ayguesvives, so after lowering the bimini at the previous lock, we decided to cycle ahead to check out the double lock. As we approached it, we noticed a hive of activity, with lots of vans and workers milling around the lock. We thought it was a VNF work crew and that something was wrong with the lock, but closer inspection revealed that they were erecting stage-lighting. So, curiosity raised, we asked someone official-looking and were told that tonight a concert was being held in the lock, run by Convivencia, the group that we were told about last week by Steve and Lynda. We had been meaning to get in touch with them by email, but now they had fallen into our laps!. As we cycled past the lock, we saw the barge on which the concert would be held.

So after checking with the eclusier as to whether we could moor near the lock that night (and getting approval), we cycled back to the barge, then cruised up to Ecluse Sanglier, passed through the double lock with no hassle, and moored opposite Tourmente, the concert barge. After the locks closed for the day at 1900h, the eclusier gave the OK for the concert barge to enter the lock, which was then closed again for the night.

Naturally, Rita took the opportunity to seek out the musical director of Convivencia, learn a bit about how they operate, tell her about our band tour in 2018 and give her a Stand by Me CD. Let’s just wait and see what eventuates. A warm-up band did a 30 minute concert in a nearby field where many people were eating dinner, bought from one of the concession stalls, and having a pre-concert drink. The contrast between picnic tables and adjacent crops made an interesting juxtaposition.

As darkness approached, the main-act African band took to the stage.

They then proceeded to play a 90-minute concert till about 2300h, after which the post-concert party commenced and was still going after midnight when we hit the sack.