i thoughta saw an otter

We had received a call from the Locoboat woman on Friday, checking where we were as there were problems with the Baise river between Nerac and Moncrabeau. Luckily, yesterday we were only going as far as Lavardac so it didn't worry us, but after coming across some shallow sections of the river on our way to Moncrabeau today, it wasn't hard to understand their concerns.

After a quick trip to the supermarket (and the adjoining cafe which offered wifi) to stock up for the next few days, we set sail again. Nerac is one of the bigger towns on the Baise so we stopped to check it out. As we pulled up a woman with an American accent who is from the Hunter Valley and has property in Tasmania between Cradle Mountain and Mole Creek, told us the weekly Saturday market was due to close soon. Mum and I leave the boys to lock up the boat and follow the people returning with bags to the market.

It starts off with fruit and vegetables, then cheese, meat and well, everything. Clothes, hats, bags, book etc. At every turn it seemed to go on. Mum seemed unable to pass a stall without buying something so it came as great relief to her budget when we spied a hairdressers. Mum had called into a couple of places without much luck but this place had time to fit her in. While I caught up on my gossip in the magazines (I got the gist from the pictures), mum got her message across to the hairdresser and ended up with a haircut she wanted. After a tad more shopping we headed back to the boat and set out for Moncrabeau.

Adding to our river entertainment, today we saw a couple of otters. They'd swim ahead of us but when we got too close, dive under. We wouldn't see them surface again. Mum also got some great photographs of a kingfisher.

The port at Moncrabeau was nothing more than a dock with signs to a nearby camping ground that had showers and toilets. There didn't seem to be much around at all - which a ride later that evening confirmed. There are no bike paths along the river as much of it is private property, so instead our cycling adventures have to wait until we moor. This evening Dad and I set out to explore the village, which unfortunately lies at the top of the hill. We peddled to the top, had just enough time to catch our breath before it was all downhill again. Thanks for visiting Moncrabeau. We headed along one of the outer roads, a bit more hilly than we'd come across previously but the same narrow, winding roads without another soul on them.

We rode for a couple of kilometres but our reward on the way back was a beautiful view over paddocks of sunflowers and straw. Unfortunately I hadn't taken my camera, but then some things you will remember anyway.