The day started early, just after midnight as a matter of fact. We were awakened by a really loud, really strange noise. Half awake, we eventually determined that it was actually coming from our boat. I popped open the bilge access – something we are not really supposed to do – and the noise appeared to be coming from the bilge pump. I jiggled it a bit and the noise stopped, but the pump operated a bit every half hour for the rest of the night. It had never run before. There always had been a bit of water in the bilge, and there didn’t seem to be more now. At any rate there wasn’t much sleep after that, what with the pump operating, and the worry that we were going to sink at the dock.
We were sharp in the office at 9, paid our fuel bill (12 hours on the engine), and got a taxi to the Carcassonne train station by 10:30. Because of the escalating rail strike we wanted to make sure we got to Toulouse for our flight to Rome. Vic asked the information lady when the next train to Toulouse would be, and she said “Now, platform 2.” We got in the ticket wicket line and the lady there said “Go. Platform 2. Get your ticket on the train”. So, down the stairs, across, up the stairs with the suitcases. The train arrived in about a minute, and we got on, not really knowing if it was the right one until we arrived at Toulouse. No one arrived to sell or take our ticket, so I guess it comes out to being a free ride. I wonder if it is part of the railway workers action against the railway.
So we are back in the Toulouse Ibis, that hotel with the leaky shower record. The same faulty design of showers exists in the whole hotel, it appears.
We are to be here four days so we will get to see something of Toulouse.
Skip to content
On the Move – Photos From Here and There
Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time. -Steven Wright