Southwest France - WCC13 Ended; Touring Began

September 19, a Thursday, is the final conference day. I walked to the large square for the Toulouse Metro, and here are two photos of the area:

The large "M" on a pylon was familiar to me & my COCA friends.

And one photograph of the seats on Toulouse's quiet and efficient Metro, with colorful upholstered seats.

Side-by-side seats at the end of the car.

At the Conference center the 2014 locale made its presentation:  Milan, where 3 or 4 rivers flow into or through Milan.  Some come from the Northern lakes; the presentation of lovely photographs that included local wildlife and countryside.

The announcement of the venue for 2015 was announced by Dave Ballinger (President of Inland Waterways International) - - it is Ghent, in Belgium.  There were final speeches by representatives of the several French organizations sponsoring the conference, then lunch was announced.

Buffet lunches were generally these little canape-like foods.  Tasty, but one needed lots to keep up with the wine. 

Please note that the wine was always poured in advance; the water had to be special-ordered!

Buffet style with many choices of food and drink, and waiters passing through with choice tidbits - the best of which was 'poulet curry' (curried chicken and rice).

Curried chicken & rice went quickly.

After many good-byes to our co-delegates and guides, like Delphine Valentin, my personal favorite.

always knowledgeable, efficient, and especially cheerful

After bit of waiting,

I recall that we sat down and were quickly called to the coach.

we departed for the coach pick-up spot.  The coach was there, but the suitcases were not.  They'd been picked up by another vehicle and were en route.

That's Rod helping with the luggage, once it finally arrived.

There's always some oddity to screw up the schedule . . . which is a good reason to leave some wiggle-room in the schedule.

We drove a long time and distance to the Tarn River and crossed at the Rivieres dam (21 m. high).  That dam pretty much stopped navigation above the dam.  Given the height of the dam, it will be difficult and costly to provide locks or a boat lift to ensure navigation. At the boat harbour Aigueleze, we boarded a replica "gabarre" - an open-topped wooden boat.

In long-ago days, there was no motor; one floated (poled) down river and the boats were broken up, the lumber being reused .  Sort of like in the USA 18 & 19th centuries on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.

Propulsion of this was by an electric motor.  The boat owner/operator is Michel LeGrand (not the pianist or filmmaker) who is one of the pioneers of French waterway tourism, according to David Edwards-May.

M. LeGrand on the right, David (our trusted leaded) on the left.

As we approached the city of Albi, we tied up at Hotel LaReserve, our hotel for the evening.  All were delighted to see a robot lawn mower sort of waddling back and forth across the lawn.

A very nice Relais & Chateau hotel facing the Tarn River, with its own dock.

Kind of like a Roomba vacuum cleaner?

Some of us stood in its way to see how the machine stopped and then turned away. Barbara and I were drinking beer on the patio when we were called back to the gabarre to continue the cruise up to Albi for a brief examination of area by water.

I cannot identify the bridge or the tower or their ages.

I was delighted with the room that Kerry and I shared.  It was quite comfortable as well as beautiful.  The chairs' seats and backs were covered with exquisite embroidery.

Our view was over a tiled roof toward the Tarn River; very quiet and peaceful place.

At dinner I sat next to Giacomina, wife of M. LeGrand, and learned a lot about her, the area, the bad wet cold summer and its effects on the local vineyards and agriculture.  And slept well that night.