Allier Adventure: France 2008

Well its that time of year again, time for the summer holiday. Last year we had such a great time canoeing in France that we decided that we'd do it again! Although we decided this year to take it easy and only paddle one river, the Allier, and spend more time chilling out, eating local food, and drinking cheap wine!

The rapid we walked, complete with pinned raft

The start of the grade 3(+) gorge, before the rain started

The Weather wasn't great this year, the first week was plagued by rain and thunder, but the second week was much better. We warmed up on a lower section of the river that was only grade 2 and everything seemed great. So we decided that we'd jump in at the deep end with our second day on the river, with some great tight and technical grade 3(+), all in the bottom of a steep and wild gorge. Which tandem in an open boat is an exciting experience! We walked one rapid early on, and we were glad as a raft then pinned itself for a couple of minuets, eventually flipping and sending all the clients down the shallow rocky rapid, Ouch!. The Rest of the run was super cool after that, running some drops, upto about 3 feet, and some long bouncy rapids. The weather though was the worst day of the holiday, quickly turning into non-stop rain, low clouds and thunder. By 2 in the afternoon mist was rising off of the water, because the air temperature had dropped below the water temp.

The longest rapid on the section, as seen from the train

Somewhere in the middle of the gorge

Our third day on the river was an absolute blinder, the longest section at 20km, through another wild section of gorge, with little sign of any other person for most of the day and with one rapid after another. The rapids were all Grade 2 with a couple of grade 3s to keep you on your toes. And with the barrage releasing an extra 2cumecs of water it made everything even better. The sun was blazing and we had a great day on the river.

One of the Grade 3 rapids on our last day on the river

Looking back up the valley on the cycle shuttle run!

Off of the river we enjoyed plenty of time lazing about our campsite reading books, some laid back drives through the great scenery to find view points, the 'tourist train' that runs right through all of the gorges, most of the time right next to the river, and of course enjoying all the local produce, wine, cheese, bread and fruit.

Enjoying the sun on our last day on the river

A hitch-hiker on the lower section of the river
There are still a couple of sections of the upper river that we haven't paddled, mainly because they are a little to tight and rocky of a tandem canoe, at grade 3(5) and 4(5), but maybe I'll return with my kayak at some point to tick them off. As for next year I'll have to find a new destination, time to break out the guide books!