Destination France
Guide Will Help You Cruise French Canals

Canal Cruising in the South of France - The Romantic Canal du Midi provides a wealth of information on “barging” French canals. The beautiful Canal du Midi, built in 1666, links the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Ports, people, wine, markets, restaurants and history are presented with an eye for romance in this practical and intimate guide. Cruising itineraries, charter options, navigation alerts, tips on boat handling and locks, tying up recommendations, and even buying and maintaining a French canal boat are covered. Sketch maps identify key facilities and places of interest. There are also special off-the-canal destinations, such as the local olive press, secret bathing pools and lots of wineries.

The authors, Pixie Haughwout and Ralph Folsom, are veteran sailors and have extensively cruised their French canal boat, Joie de France. Their guide is loaded with photos and artwork. It is spiral bound with multiple indexes for easy usage. At $26.95 plus $3.00 shipping USA, Canal Cruising in the South of France sold out at the Annapolis and Chicago Boat Shows! The Preface begins:

Cruising the Canal du Midi in the South of France is leisurely, sensuous and deeply relaxing. There is romance in the sheer beauty of the vine-laden historic countryside through which it passes. The grace of its hillsides, stone bridges, oval locks and remarkable boating aqueducts blurs dreams with reality. A friendly Mediterranean hospitality prevails. You can tie up virtually anywhere without charge along its meandering 240 kilometers from Toulouse to Agde.

From Sea Fever Gear Publications; www.seafevergear.com. Tel/Fax: 619-222-7074. Email: seafevergear@aol.com.