A day trip from Castres to Carcassone was part of the initial planning we did back in Australia largely because of the Canal du Midi and the history of the town. It also worked out well as it was on the way back to Narbonne which is where Nancy and Sasha live. We travelled over the range after having lunch (yes it was 13:00 and we were running late) in Mazamet. There was a magnificent view of the town and also on an adjoining hill the medieval town of Hautpoul as we left to travel over the “mini Pyrenees”
We then moved onto Carcassonne and “Le City”. The city was purchased privately and has had substantial repairs. Some of the walls were rebuilt off the existing foundations and needed interpretation. The roofs are definitely “new”. Below is the moat to the inner castle. It is one of the few shots that is possible without including one of the many shops that are within the complex. However, they presumably help to offset the repair costs!
Tieve stood guard at the entry portcullis (a very serious task potentially having to shoot people with your water bottle).
Certainly it is more enjoyable to anticipate an ice cream.
Within the City is a cathedral with spectacular stained glass windows. Lianne got told off for photographing them but I ….. 
In contrast to the medieval city across the valley are todays new structures.
Sasha took off with Tieve and we found both enjoying the merry go round. Someone is looking forward to grandchildren! 
Helen decided that Seren should not be overlooked and Tieve had a second go. (Really Helen wanted a ride herself.)
One of the goals of the trip was to see the Canal du Midi. We said goodbye to Nancy and Sasha and drove along some of the canal where it passed through the town.
One of the reasons for staying in the area was to go to Toulouse and visit the airbus factory. Here there are 2 Qantas planes ready for final fit out. Qantas, Emirates and Singapore are the only 3 Airlines currently running with the 380 however there is a Lufthansa plane in the factory. Some stats – the plane is 80m wide, 80m long and 80 foot tall. The engines represent 1/3 the cost of the plane. We travelled from Sydney to Singapore on one – great – very quite spacious and with all the gadgets we could cope with!
As we arrived a plane took off which both Helen and I commented reminded us of a Baluga whale. It is in fact a converted A300 (600ST for super transporter) and is in fact nicknamed the Baluga.
There are only 5 in existence and we got 2 in the same shot.
We then looked out the Canal du Midi – 260 kms long across the South of France from Toulouse to Beziers. 
Lovely lunch spot with passers by all wishing “bon appetite”. When we had finished a barge locked through. Quite a tight fit. Although a working boat it appeared to have some tourist passengers aboard. 
Our next site was at Draguignan in the SE of France. This was to be our base for the first 4 days of Le Tour. Prior to the start of the tour we had a day trip around the Gorge de Verdon – spectacular and very beautiful.
There were a series of rafters travelling through the gorge who also undertook a number of rescue activities en route.
View from the bridge at Castellane at the top of the gorge.
And also of the town as we drove out. The church on the top of the plug is just visible and would have taken some building. A bigger challenge would have been to limit the swearing as you made the climb each Sunday for mass.
We then moved onto Carcassonne and “Le City”. The city was purchased privately and has had substantial repairs. Some of the walls were rebuilt off the existing foundations and needed interpretation. The roofs are definitely “new”. Below is the moat to the inner castle. It is one of the few shots that is possible without including one of the many shops that are within the complex. However, they presumably help to offset the repair costs!
Tieve stood guard at the entry portcullis (a very serious task potentially having to shoot people with your water bottle).
Certainly it is more enjoyable to anticipate an ice cream.Within the City is a cathedral with spectacular stained glass windows. Lianne got told off for photographing them but I ….. 
In contrast to the medieval city across the valley are todays new structures.Sasha took off with Tieve and we found both enjoying the merry go round. Someone is looking forward to grandchildren! 
Helen decided that Seren should not be overlooked and Tieve had a second go. (Really Helen wanted a ride herself.)One of the goals of the trip was to see the Canal du Midi. We said goodbye to Nancy and Sasha and drove along some of the canal where it passed through the town.One of the reasons for staying in the area was to go to Toulouse and visit the airbus factory. Here there are 2 Qantas planes ready for final fit out. Qantas, Emirates and Singapore are the only 3 Airlines currently running with the 380 however there is a Lufthansa plane in the factory. Some stats – the plane is 80m wide, 80m long and 80 foot tall. The engines represent 1/3 the cost of the plane. We travelled from Sydney to Singapore on one – great – very quite spacious and with all the gadgets we could cope with!
As we arrived a plane took off which both Helen and I commented reminded us of a Baluga whale. It is in fact a converted A300 (600ST for super transporter) and is in fact nicknamed the Baluga.
There are only 5 in existence and we got 2 in the same shot.
We then looked out the Canal du Midi – 260 kms long across the South of France from Toulouse to Beziers. 
Lovely lunch spot with passers by all wishing “bon appetite”. When we had finished a barge locked through. Quite a tight fit. Although a working boat it appeared to have some tourist passengers aboard. 
Our next site was at Draguignan in the SE of France. This was to be our base for the first 4 days of Le Tour. Prior to the start of the tour we had a day trip around the Gorge de Verdon – spectacular and very beautiful.There were a series of rafters travelling through the gorge who also undertook a number of rescue activities en route.
View from the bridge at Castellane at the top of the gorge.
And also of the town as we drove out. The church on the top of the plug is just visible and would have taken some building. A bigger challenge would have been to limit the swearing as you made the climb each Sunday for mass.
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