I told all of you that Ralph and I would be rowing and biking over 200 km in the Rallye du Canal du Midi between August 18 to the 22nd in the south of France. Food and lodging would be provided. It sounded like an idyllic excursion down a picturesque waterway from Toulouse to Beziers near the Mediterranean. There would be over 240 other people making this rally. Some would be racing but not us - we would go at our own pace and enjoy the view - little did we know!

On the Sunday afternoon, we gathered to put the rigging on the boats (this is the part that holds the oars). There were only 4 boats assigned to the Canadians but there were extra rowers so on Monday another boat was assigned. For some reason, 6 rowers needed to be assigned to each boat even tough the boat could only hold 5 people - 4 rowers and a coxie. We were confused - what would the extra person be doing. Then there were 4 of us who only wanted to bike - we were set - give us a bike and away we would go.

So on Monday morning we selected our bikes, the rowers were assigned their boats, the boats were put on 'chariots' - these were 2 wheeled wagons with a cloth sling that the boat was balanced on, then the boat could be pulled through the streets to the water (ingenious). This was all arranged in a parking lot so the 40 or so boats and the several bikers walked through the streets of Toulouse to the Canal du Midi. We launched the boats and then placed the chariot into the boat as well. This seemed like a silly thing to do since the boat was now in the water, why would we need the chariot again?

It was a gorgeous sunny day, the views were awesome, the light filtered through the trees lining the canal with so many shades of green. I had to stop often to take pictures - the winding canal, the row boats, the several joggers, other bikers, walkers - all good. I looked forward to the first lock - I had read that the locals had a great time sitting and watching the boats having trouble in the locks - this would be interesting.

But then what did I see once we reached the first lock - the row boats were being put to the shore, the rowers all got out, the boats were pulled out and onto the chariots, then pulled/pushed around the lock to the next water level, the boats were put back into the water, the rowers and chariots back into the boat and away they went to the next lock. This was crazy - how may locks will there be?

Now we knew the purpose of the chariot, the extra rower and the bikers. We land lubbers were needed to catch the bow line (or the stern line), hold onto the riggers while the rowers got out, give a hand to help them out of the boat, help lift the boat out of the water and onto the chariot, help pull/push the boat around the lock, give a hand to get them back into the boat, push them off, find the bike and take off. Exciting stuff, but not after 4-5 times and this is still before lunch. Luckily there was a snack half way through the morning. But we were rushed and not allowed to really stop and enjoy it.

This went all morning until we Canadians were the only boats left on the water. The organizing men in green vests started helping us out and into the water and encouraged us to hurry - what happened to the leisurely row through southern France? Lunch was ahead - we figured that all the food would be gone but when we came to the lunch place - a space in a grove of trees had tables and chairs set up, all the other rowers and bikers were sitting there with no food in sight - they were already done and cleaned up? NO - they hadn’t started yet! They had to wait until we were all there - I was floored! We found a spot to sit, then we all, 250 of us, got up to get a plate, plastic cup (with a napkin inside it), knife and fork, then sit down again. Then they passed out bowls of salad, bread and bottles of wine. After this course, we lined up for a hot meal of rice, fish and chicken. Quite tasty! Then apple tart and coffee. Unbelievable!

Then the question came up - where are the toilettes? A finger was pointed into the trees - OK - now I knew why we needed to bring toilet paper.

After lunch, they let the Canadians into the water first and actually gave us a lesson on how to get the boat off of the chariot and into the water without breaking it, or our backs. A lesson that would have been well appreciated at the beginning of the day.

Monday afternoon was the same as the morning - in and out of the water. It was a hot and sunny day and we were exhausted by night time - haul out the boats for the last time, turn in the bikes, get on the bus for over an hour's ride to Carcassonne. We grabbed all our suitcases, walked up 100 steps into the beautiful walled city, dragged them over cobblestone streets to the hostel to be told that the Canadian's rooms were in a different hostel down by the buses! Well, down the 100 steps to the buses, through a parking lot, down about 50 steps to another hostel. Beds were found, showers taken, dinner and sleep.

Breakfast next morning at 6:00, buses leaving at 7:00 for another day of rowing, biking, pulling boats out of the water and then back into the water. Did I mention the lovely winding canal, the gorgeous light filtering through the trees - these sites were still there the following 4 days but there was no longer the need to stop and take pictures every few turns.

Would I do it again - haven’t decided yet - ask me after the pain in my butt goes away.