The Garonne Lateral canal

Toulouse is a great example of what proper cycle ways are about. It was so busy going into the city this morning that you really had to concentrate or get bowled over. 

Here we cross over a motorway . 

 An affluent city ,even the homeless have tents 

Capitalism at its best. Not only can they sleep under bridges , they can set up in business

If you're teaching your dog to beg! Don't

 We don't want this catching on in NZ

This guy was doing circus acts between lights. I like to give buskers something. They make our world a bit more colourful. 

And the council workers were out cleaning the streets and the canals ,as they do... 

The mobile mechanic was doing an early morning service of the hire bikes.( he actually told me to bugger off !) must have thought I was one of them tourists.

Spent the morning enjoying the beautiful buildings and gardens of the center city. The Jardin du plantes is a lovely garden that spans several blocks by using walk bridges over roads. Great idea

The canal du Midi finishes at this basin beside the Garonne river. The masterpiece of Riquet who wasn't even a qualified engineer

Traffic then used the Garonne to reach the Atlantic. Unfortunately, flood and droughts made it unreliable so in 1887 the 'Garonne canal lateral 'was made which took it to the tidal part of the river.

 That's what we'll be following for the next 200 odd kms

Interestingly, they keep the water flowing strongly for the first 30 odd kms, bypassing the locks with these weirs. It drove a number of small power stations and finally a flour mill

Very few tourist boats on this section as it's just a long ditch. Great biking though

We've made it to Griselle and were lucky to get the last room in town. In fact I'm not sure if I've rented it or BOUGHT it. Anyway, it's nice😉