You wouldn't think that a mild-mannered canal would ever get too wild, would you?
This is La Redorte during the recent storm.
It's a town just up the canal from us.
We cruised Maggie May through it last year at this time.
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| This is what La Redorte looks like normally. |
The restaurant is completely destroyed.
Lost everything.
All wine into the canal and down the river.
There are hundreds of stories like that.
Our region got hit with a MASSIVE storm.
From Carcassonne to the Mediterranean.
Our region got hit with a MASSIVE storm.
From Carcassonne to the Mediterranean.
Several rivers overflowed.
Some breaking banks into the canal.
The canal, being higher, enthusiastically rushed down into the rivers.
Some breaking banks into the canal.
The canal, being higher, enthusiastically rushed down into the rivers.
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| That WAS the road - between those 2 narrow lanes of trees. |
Water levels in Trèbes - another town along the canal - rose 8 meters in 5 hours.
That's over 26 FEET-!
Bridges out.
Roads washed away.
Extensive flooding.
That's over 26 FEET-!
Bridges out.
Roads washed away.
Extensive flooding.
Rescues. Dead and missing.
A disaster.
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| The view from our boat - normally. |
Fortunately, our village was just at the edge of the storm.
Also, there are no major rivers near us.
Also, there are no major rivers near us.
But this is what it looked like during the storm.
(The waterfalls reminded me a bit of Norway...)
And Maggie May -?
Not a leak.
Cool.
There was so much damage to the canal banks, weirs, locks and bridges -
they've closed down the canal.
Until "at least" next spring.
There was so much damage to the canal banks, weirs, locks and bridges -
they've closed down the canal.
Until "at least" next spring.
After the headlines are gone, everyone is left to clean up the mess.
And what a muddy mess it is.
So how did we wind up on a canal boat in the south of France?
This wasn't really the original plan.
Part of the story is here:
How This Sailing Stuff got Started.
And - why?
One of the reasons is here - the social life.
Or - things we've learned: Boat Life.
What's it like - living on the canal -
in summer?
in autumn?
in winter?
What's the surrounding area like?
How to deal with friends and family on board a boat?
What about cruising in other places in France?
The Lot River?
The Yonne and the Nivernais in Burgundy?
And what about the brother with the wine cellar in Bordeaux?
How This Sailing Stuff got Started.
And - why?
One of the reasons is here - the social life.
Or - things we've learned: Boat Life.
What's it like - living on the canal -
in summer?
in autumn?
in winter?
What's the surrounding area like?
How to deal with friends and family on board a boat?
What about cruising in other places in France?
The Lot River?
The Yonne and the Nivernais in Burgundy?
And what about the brother with the wine cellar in Bordeaux?
For everyone affected by the storm.