The run into Toulouse was "highlighted" by a large amount of "Industrial Scenery", and we now realised why this run does not have a great reputation. With very few places to moor, it is a stretch of canal that should be done in one hit. At one stage, we thought we had found a factory that had been graffiteed by an Australian graffiti artist.

But a little further along, we realised that it was the company (HomeBox) that had graffiteed its own building!

One of the highlights of entering Toulouse from the north is going through the Basin, where the Garonne, Midi and Brienne Canals meet. Entering from the Garonne (from the north) and leaving via the Midi (to the east) requires a very sharp turn to the left.

We did this very slowly, but still needed two bites at the cherry to get lined up for the exit into the Midi. Might have been easier to do a full circle to the right.

After squeezing under the bridge out of the basin, we slowly made our way up the tree-lined canal through the centre of Toulouse, until we reached the first lock.

There we were met by the eclusier who controls all the locks in Toulouse, and were asked to pull over at the next pontoon and wait till the canal-sweeper went through from behind us. Unlike the locks on the approach to Toulouse which were in a poor state of repair, the VNF spends lots on money on trying to keep the Toulouse canals themselves clean and free of litter. I guess lots of tourists look at the canals in Toulouse, but there are relatively few boats which actually use the canals and the locks!

Two more locks and a series of tunnels and roofing structures through very narrow canals brought us to the one which rises just next to the Toulouse main rail station at Matabiau. It certainly is impressive to rise up out of the deep lock right in front of the grand station. Unfortunately, this area is a congregating area for all sorts of transients, so it's not a good idea to hang around for too long.

From Gare Matabiau it was a clear run with no more locks to Port Saint Sauveur, where the DBA Rally was being held. After passing the final bridge, we paused and put up the flagstaff and our bunting before making the grand entrance to the port. We saw lots of friends on barges already moored, pulled alongside Caroline to fill our water tanks, and then moved into our assigned space on the east side of the port.

The port was quite full with DBA Rally barges and others, some of whom registered for the Rally when they heard that it was taking place.

After saying hello to lots of friends from the previous two years of barging and having a quick drink on board Papillon, Rita and Stuart Barry headed off to a music store to rent a Melodian (small accordion) because Stuart had forgotten to bring his from the UK.

They arrived back halfway through Drinks & Nibbles, where I had decided that the best way to meet and become friends with people was to grab the champagne bottle and go around filling up everyone's glasses! Seemed to work a treat. We then moved to the outdoor restaurant on the quay, where we had a welcoming dinner. Another good chance to meet and talk with people, although the weather turned cooler during the evening and everyone went scurrying for jackets.

After dinner, we retired to the back deck of Hilda May for a warming tea and coffee. Stuart had great delight in showing off his electric-motor dinghy, which he planned to use for various activities during the rally.

Given the stories we had heard about potential security issues in Toulouse, we had a rather disturbed night as we imagined every strange noise to be someone coming on board to relieve us of our valuables. But when we woke next morning, everything was still in place.