Canal boating

My wife and I are planning to rent a canal boat and cruise next year and I%26#39;d like to know which months have the best climate? Particularly in the first half of the year and preferrably when fewer people are on the water. We are looking at using Nicols and are curious to hear of experiences with them. Also, we%26#39;d like to know a good route to take that provides picturesque scenery with old world architecture and buildings, good wine and cuisine, and not an over-abundance of locks. I don%26#39;t mind some but I%26#39;d prefer not to have to get out every 10 minutes. Also, does anyone know of any festivals that take place in some of the towns along the routes? Your advice, suggestions and opinions would be greatly appreciated as neither of us have been to France. Thanks.

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If you want to use Nicols I suggest their website is a good place to start:

http://www.nicols.com/

My recommendation is that you choose a one way route. Somehow the return portion of an %26quot;out and back%26quot; lacks adventure and might best be characterize as anticlimactic.

The bulk in not all of the commonly available routes offered by companies encompass those core elements of interest you describe: scenery, architecture, wine, and cuisine. However some itineraries do include a good number of locks. Only the Camargue routes contain but a few locks.

Trying to include festivals into a boating schedule might prove difficult. Unless you have extra time in which to travel, parking and dwelling upon a single location can cause problems meeting your arrival schedule.

If neither of you have previously been to France, I might urge you to strongly consider the Canal du Midi which offers a good collection of diversions along the way as well as beautiful scenery, vineyards, and numerous small towns.

Here is a list of the remaining reputable boat rental companies:

http://www.midicanal.com/

http://www.franceafloat.com/

http://www.leboat.com/

http://www.locaboat.com/

http://www.rive-de-france.com/default_gb.asp

www.minervoiscruisers.com/english/main/

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June 21 (Festival of Music) and July 14 (Bastille Day) are celebrated throughout France. Festival of Music may be celebrated on June 20, being a Saturday, in some places. Other festivals will vary depending on where you are.

My wife and I have used Nicols for our last 4 trips and have been happy with the service and the state of the vessels. They do get a fair amount of wear and tear and but all of the vessels have been clean, well fitted out and reliable. We use the Nicols 900 with 2 cabins, 2 bathrooms but no flybridge. The big plus with only 2 of us is the easy access from the saloon to the front deck and side door from the saloon so that the captain can hold a line and have control of the helm and engine.

The Nicols Duo is tempting, with the dual steering position, but not quite as easy to get around I suspect.

While the Canal du Midi is the most popular area for cruising, it is an area we have avoided because of its popularity. The two areas we have enjoyed the most are Buzet sur Baise down to Condom and return and Le Lot from Bouzies. These areas are less populated and mostly small, meandering river rather than canal.