after poring over the map at breakfast. The last thing we wanted was a repeat of yesterday. The path was fine as far as Trebes but then deteriorated and, though a lot drier looked to be as narrow and bumpy as before.
We had identified a detour through Aigues-Vives across an area of drained lake which looked promising we decided to take it. It proved to be an excellent decision. Dead flat, good tarmac and the wind behind us - what a relief. I had been dreading another 50 km like yesterday. We passed a stunning chateau in the middle of nowhere and rejoined the path at Puicheric. It was showing no sign of improvement though so from here on we took the parallel D roads for most of the 
way. They were as empty of traffic as the towpath so very pleasant to ride on.
We were really surprised by the difference in the quality of the path after Toulouse. Unlike the path from Bordeax to Toulouse there were plenty of little restaurants - often the lock-keepers themselves offered snacks, wine etc but they were clearly targetting the canal boats. One of the lock-keepers told us that there is a real battle going on between the Canal du Midi, the departement and the mairies of Toulouse/Bordeaux and the Canal laterale. The latter see cycling along the 2 canals as a real driver of tourism in the region but the canal du midi and the departement are, for some strange reason,
hostile.
Somewhere after Puicheric I had my second puncture - rear tyre this time. It was quickly fixed - mainly by Emma who was better at remembering where the gears go! All in all a much easier day!
way. They were as empty of traffic as the towpath so very pleasant to ride on. We were really surprised by the difference in the quality of the path after Toulouse. Unlike the path from Bordeax to Toulouse there were plenty of little restaurants - often the lock-keepers themselves offered snacks, wine etc but they were clearly targetting the canal boats. One of the lock-keepers told us that there is a real battle going on between the Canal du Midi, the departement and the mairies of Toulouse/Bordeaux and the Canal laterale. The latter see cycling along the 2 canals as a real driver of tourism in the region but the canal du midi and the departement are, for some strange reason,
hostile.Somewhere after Puicheric I had my second puncture - rear tyre this time. It was quickly fixed - mainly by Emma who was better at remembering where the gears go! All in all a much easier day!
