A hint of Homps, a little of Limoux

Monday 28th September

We awoke to a beautiful day in the Languerdoc following a lazy Sunday initially lounging about the pool, and later enjoying a superb meal of regional specialities at Carcassonne Cite amongst the ramparts (Pate maison, Soups onion and poisson and deux Cassolets).

Our hostess Jean drove us to the hire car depot near Carcassonne airport where we were to pick up our B class Mercedes. Due to a misunderstanding concerning the required documentation, I was nominated as the designated driver. Not having time to panic, I eased the car out of the carpark and onto the wrong side of the road.

Carefully I drove to Homps courtesy of Madame GPS where lunch was partaken at our old favourite Les Tonneliers, just down the road from Camilla's dream house. My meal Le carre d'agneau aux herbes de la garrigue (rack of lamb with regional herbs) was washed down by Minevois Rose, delicious. The largest man in Homps was nowhere to be seen!

The bell sounded and Le Saint Ferreol departed for our voyage Promenade Sur Le Canal du Midi.

We shared our first lock with a rented barge that passed on after we attained our new level; there are 65 locks used to lower and raise the barges of which we used but 1. Reaching our destination a few kilometres along the Canal, the Captain turned the vessel around for our dappled voyage back to Homps. The plane trees provided shade to us and the nearby stone studded maison of the canal-keeper as we cruised at a leisurely 8kph. We were rudely returned to the 21st century by a fly past of French fighters as we disembarked at Quai des Tonneliers.

Despite it not being market day, we decided to visit Limoux. Madame guided us safely, despite the odd hiccup and the heavy peak hour traffic. Parking a short walk from the Place de la Republic we stopped into a Tabac for stamps before partaking of a drink at a bar in the square. I walked down Le Rue to ensure our favourite shopfront titled "D'etant" was still there. It was, and to my surprise it was a sports shop of the old kind - full of fishing lures and boule sets.

Back to the Mercedes laden with bread and wine for our trip back to Palaja. Pasta Palaja for dinner, washed down by more Rose made for a good night's sleep.