Well after leaving the centre I did the obvious and went on a random drive from west to east and east to west. In 3 days of driving, amazing views and random paddles I think I made in roughly 80 miles north from the centre despite driving for around 850 miles. So I truck Northward on the back roads in eastern France ending up in Switzerland for a brief time which was a bit confusing.
Anyway after a few days of trucking about I reached Disney Land Paris for 2 days which was a awesome laugh going on rides and all that sort of thing.
I then went to Lyon to see my mum in a rather posh spa hotel and spent a week in the pool, hot tub, massage pool and gym. Awesome way to relax after all the paddling.
Anyway after all the relaxation it was finally time to head back to the UK and 900 miles later I picked up a lovely new Jackson kayak all star. To my amazement Hurley was running on 3 gates another result of the bizzar summer. It would have been rude not to try my boat out as it was going and wow what a wicked afternoon on the water then the Long drive home surrounded by stressed Brits which was a bit of a shock as the chilled out attitude down in the south of France.
But hay how back in North Wales we have a server weather warning in place so fingers crossed the rivers will soon be running nicely for so winter runs and some cold paddling (DOH!)
Anyway people keep paddling and keep smiling
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Bourne Canyon and Hawai-sur-rhone
Hay,
Well I have finished my seasson on the Ardeche with a wicked 2 days.
Firstly we drove up to Bourne canyon which is about 2 hours from the centre but is well worth the trip.
John had been there a year ago but me and Simon hadn't so John was in charge of getting us there which was a mission it's self working of the random bits he could remember.You arrive high in the Ardeche mountains to a remote forest which has a huge gorge running through the middle of it. We had all only taken board shorts and rashies which made us hesitent when we so the commercial guys with wet suits, harnesses, ropes and 2 or 3 resuce kits between the group.
Once we got down the the river it was 2 hours of running, swimming and jumping of waterfalls which was awesome but very tiring. The big jump was 26m which was amazing the biggest I have ever done. John and Simon opted out as the were still working and because it was rather high.
But in the end it was all good and looked like an awesome early season/storm run for some good steep creeking. One to watch for the future for sure.
Hawaii-sur-rhone was amazing as it always is. It is still up high which is a rarity for the time of year. This "global warming summer" as the media has deemed it has been amazing for paddling in most of Europe the river are high and the water is warm. The main wave was running perfectly and wave on the far side of the island the wave was running or the less experienced people. Strangely the wave was deserted but for me and Simon which has been the sorry of the summer there as I haven't seen people there since Easter.
Have fun people and get out on the water
Well I have finished my seasson on the Ardeche with a wicked 2 days.
Firstly we drove up to Bourne canyon which is about 2 hours from the centre but is well worth the trip.
John had been there a year ago but me and Simon hadn't so John was in charge of getting us there which was a mission it's self working of the random bits he could remember.You arrive high in the Ardeche mountains to a remote forest which has a huge gorge running through the middle of it. We had all only taken board shorts and rashies which made us hesitent when we so the commercial guys with wet suits, harnesses, ropes and 2 or 3 resuce kits between the group.
Once we got down the the river it was 2 hours of running, swimming and jumping of waterfalls which was awesome but very tiring. The big jump was 26m which was amazing the biggest I have ever done. John and Simon opted out as the were still working and because it was rather high.
But in the end it was all good and looked like an awesome early season/storm run for some good steep creeking. One to watch for the future for sure.
Hawaii-sur-rhone was amazing as it always is. It is still up high which is a rarity for the time of year. This "global warming summer" as the media has deemed it has been amazing for paddling in most of Europe the river are high and the water is warm. The main wave was running perfectly and wave on the far side of the island the wave was running or the less experienced people. Strangely the wave was deserted but for me and Simon which has been the sorry of the summer there as I haven't seen people there since Easter.
Have fun people and get out on the water
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