In late summer 2024, Hugh, Tim and I were watching a series called Great Canal Journeys on Amazon Prime Video.  Hugh and I had taken our first canal trip with Blue Crowne Line back in 1994 boating on the River Lot. 

In 2001 Tim and Julianna joined us to do the Canal de Midi. 

We had often discussed doing another trip but it was the show that activated the conversation with some intensity.  Once the decision was made to do the trip, then it was “what area of France”.  Although, le Boat, which had merged with Blue Crowe Line had many offering in other countries, we all agreed on France.  This was a clear vote for the food and wine!

Tim had a trip in northern France he was advocating for, but I prevailed.  I had long wanted to see the wild Camargue horses and flamingos in southern France.  Also, we knew with Tim’s work, that we would have to select a time in October, and as his trip selection was much further north, weather wise the south most likely would have better weather.

So the trip we selected started in St. Gilles France to Port Cassafieres.

We arranged our trip in early September and then “patiently” waited for the next 12+ months to pass. 

Goal one:  Trip insurance

Goal two:  Airline tickets

Goal one became a problem before we left because we purchased the insurance over a year before we traveled.  So sometime in September 2025, we had to make numerous calls to get the insurance amended.  But we were successful!

Goal two was slightly difficult because you don’t simply fly to St. Gilles France.  It became an opportunity to study all possible connections between Phoenix and France that landed us someplace close to the port.

We settled on a flight from Phoenix to Montreal and Montreal to Toulouse.  The flight arrangements for this trip were convoluted from the start, more on that later.