Travel to the Canal de Garonne
Day 2 Grisolles - Castelsarrasin
(in 24 km.) Grisolles: We returned to Grisolles, where we eat near the market square and where is located the metallic covered market (Halle) from 1894 (19th Century). We meet the others member of the group there. A few meters away from the square stands the church of San Martín, which highlights its bell tower and the shrine. After the short visit, we move one of the cars to Montech and leave the rest of the cars in the parking lot of the village located along the Canal de Garonne.
Grisolles - Metallic covered market (Halle)
(in 16 km.) Montech: We made the 16 kilometers of bike lanes linking Grisolles with Montech, passing among other places by Montbartier bridge and the lock of La Vache. We entered in Montech and passed through the port of this population. From this point starts the canal that links Montech with Montauban. Passed the village (where stands the church of Our Lady of the Visitation), we must move along the right bank of the canal, while we admire the "Pente d´Eau de Montech".
Pente d´Eau de Montech (Montech water slope)
The Montech water slope is a type of canal inclined plane built on the Canal de Garonne, inaugurated in July 1974. To allow a boat to ascend: the gate is lifted, the boat enters the channel, and then the gate is lowered. This isolates the wedge of water, on which the boat is floating, from the canal it has left. Two diesel locomotives ascend the slope pushing the water wedge in front of the movable gate. The boat rides on the water wedge. This system allows large ships to save the five locks that must be crossed to overcome the height difference that the canal water has in Montech.
Canal of Montech
(in 16 km.) Castelsarrasin: Once past Montech, the group continues to move bike towards Castelsarrasin (passing through the locks of Escatalens, St-Martin and Prades), while drivers will look for cars that have left in Grisolles and drive to the end of bicycle route to pickup in Castelsarrasin the group of cyclists, load the bikes in the car and move to our next accommodation. In this section we have a little accident. One child falls and knee peeling. We remind all children who want to overtake must do it with caution and warning. We do not want to have to pick up any child within the channel ...
(in 53 km.) Agen: We arrived at the campsite which will be the base camp for the next week.