Our Location

June 16 through 26, Vias, Beziers and back to Agde

	May be I'm getting lazy, but here is the log for the last ten days. First of all, the French system worked. Nobody chased us away from the mooring in Vias, so we stayed until the 18th. It seems that Vias is THE place for the Dutch. Most boats around the Avanti B were from the Netherlands. Staying for days, weeks, .... close to the beaches and not having to pay anything for water and electricity. May be there should be a system where someone charges money after a few days! We found that most boaters think that 10Euro per day is a unbelievably expensive, and so they would go on and leave the place for someone else to enjoy.
	On the 17th our next visitors, Susi and Paul (Betty's aunt and uncle), arrived and we started (early on the 18th in the morning) for another run to Beziers and back. On the way we meet one of the many hotel barges cruising the Canal du Midi. Here you see the Athos entering the lock of Villeneuve les Beziers.
	It was again VERY HOT, close to 40C (nearly 110F), so we had breakfast on the deck.
	One of the past-times of the Avanti B crew; feeding ducks, dogs, cats, .... They seem to know when and where we (or should I say Betty) arrives!
	June 20th, back in Agde. A special day; Betty's birthday. We celebrate with the usual breakfast. Champagne, smoked salmon, bagels (this year toast), cream-cheese and a Guugelhopf (with candles).
	Sunday June 22 in Agde. It gets serious! The regional competition organized by the Pavois Agathois to qualify for the French championships in Joutes! In case you don't know what this is - check the video or www.joutes.com.
	Quite a serious event, the tips of the Joutes consist of three iron heads so they stick in the wooden shield the opponent carries. Our seat-neighbor, a local lady, explains the nuances of the sport to us and points out that it is not unusual that the lance slips from the shield and leaves lasting marks on faces of the players. The other players below (covering their faces) are only ballast; they make sure that the two platforms are exactly leveled as it would be too dangerous if the players and their shields are not aligned perfectly.
	The event was accompanied by the world famous band 'Pena del Sol' - in case you have not heard from them yet - imagine an old Italian movie ' Don Camillo and Peppone' and the band that plays for village festivities! Check their web-site for sound-bites!