I used to read my kids a book where some animals would watch the boats on the canal and they would dream of going on a cruise.
The oldest one (an otter?) buys a canal barge and they set off on their adventure - travelling and living on the canals, going through the locks, etc.
It did a good job portraying the adventure, freedom and relaxing lifestyle that I imagine such a life would have.
My kids (20 and 17) still remember it. Thanks for your photos - I’ll show them to my kids!
21twelve:
"I used to read my kids a book where some animals would watch the boats on the canal and they would dream of going on a cruise." Sadly, many years ago I drove over this canal four different times, without ever knowing what it was, or taking some time to stop and smell the flowers...
A beautiful piece of history.
There's an old canal along the river just by my home, but long since disused & filled in.
In New York the old Erie Canal has some of the same feel as Canal du Midi, but on a scale of one to ten, in terms of ambiance, if the French canal is a ten, Erie Canal... maybe a two.
New York State Barge Canal (old Erie Canal): 