Cruising the Canal du Garonne and River Baïse in southwest France revealed a side to France I hadn’t expected. I’d seen photos, paintings and movie scenes of the Eiffel Tower, the Parisian cafes and the paddocks of sunflowers. But the ivy covered houses, empty village streets as shop owners closed in the heat of the day and the abundance of life along the river was as enthralling as it was picturesque.
From the water we had a rare opportunity to really take in our surroundings. We moved slowly along the canal and I’d find myself just sitting on the boat, my legs dangling over side, and just looking at everything around me.
Villages once thrived the closer they were to the canal, so exploring the surrounding townships was only a short walk from the water.
The scenery along the river was different to what we’d seen in the canal. There was no cycling path and the vegetation was thick to the water’s edge and rich with wildlife.
