Our driver was a font of local knowledge telling us the best restaurants pointing out old houses built into the caves inside of the gorge and advising us that the local cheese maker was renowned through out the region for its quality and value for money. We arrived at our launch point and were soon navigating our first white water rapids.
No strangers to canoeing we careered on through the first rapids like complete pro’s, the rest of the day was set as I took a sergeant major style approach to the whole experience at the front of the canoe and Johnathon diligently following orders in between doing his own thing as we sped on down the river.
The weather was sunshine and clouds, not the most ideal conditions for beaching the canoe, swimming and sunbathing; however seeing the gorge from the middle of the river is a most exhilarating experience, totally at one with nature with trout swimming in front of the canoe and dragonflies buzzing past. We had chosen a leisurely 12KM route ending at the campsite and as we sailed on through the gorge the sun finally burnt off the clouds allowing us to bank the canoe on a deserted grassy beach, cracking open some beers and pulling out a picnic as 3 birds of prey circled above us on the thermals and storks glided past. As we munched away it didn’t take long for the ducks to hunt us out and they were rewarded with the remainder of our bread.
We neared the end of our route and only took on board water at a couple of the rapids but not once capsizing. It was a great feeling to arrive back at the campsite tired and aching but a real sense of achievement. A hot shower and more beer was in order and later Johnathon rustled up a lentil cassoulet with French fries supplied form the campsite takeaway, all washed down with the obligatory SVB.
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