The next day we passed from the étang into the Canal du Midi , and were mooring in Bagnas lock waiting for the gates to close behind us. But what was the lock keeper shouting as the waters rushed through the lock gates ahead, and our boat began to rise? "He seems to assume that we are planning to return later today," B. yelled above the roar of the water. We shook our heads, and shouted back that we were heading for the round lock at Agde. From there we intended to head to Grau d'Agde at the mouth of the River Hérault , and return to our mooring via the sea over the next couple of days. After a lot more shouting the lock keeper seemed to understand, and as the gates opened in front of us he gave us a friendly wave. But what was that he had indicated as we were leaving? "Closing?" Brian looked surprised. "I think he said they were closing."
Unlike British canals, most canals are operated by a lock keeper. You can still see many lock keepers' houses by the side of the canals, although at Bagnas, a smaller lcabin has recently been constructed, and the lock keeper arrives from elsewhere every day .
"But I thought the canal wasn't closing until November 11th," I faltered. "It's still the end of October!" The lock keeper had vanished inside his little house for his lunch , so we couldn't question him further. After all, in France, lunch-time is sacrosanct. "That's fine if the weather holds," B. said. But what will we do if the wind gets up and we need to return the same way? Uncertainty lay ahead.