Nan is into extreme sports says Uncle Richard

For those hanging out for the photos of Cordes-sur-ciel, you will have to wait another day. I have attempted to put them on this blog 3 times and each time they keep slipping back to their position ie sideways as that is how I took them. I will keep working on it and when I get the time will put them on.

However, today, Richard and I went not quite white water rafting - but canoeing down the Aveyron River for 10 km. We went through 8 weirs and water falls - it was amazing. Got thoroughly soaked and I cant wait to do it again with Wendy when she gets here, I know she will be up for it.

You pay 30 euro and tell the man how long you anticipate you will take and he comes down in a van to meet you and bring you back. You can only canoe one way as once you are over the first weir there is no going back. It was great!

We opted for 3 hours but it actually only took us 2.5. We then were collected at the same time as the previous couple who took off before us. When I go with Wendy I will say 3.5 hours and take a picnic. It is so beautiful. It is extremely isolated, the variety of trees, birds, fish and the water was just wonderful. We even saw a little deer by the waters edge. Richard took his fishing gear but was happy to just keep meandering downstream. The river runs between huge overhanging limestone cliffs at times and at other times just forest either side. I do have photos but not of the really spectacular stuff as you are given a barrel that is waterproof to put your camera and so forth in and it is difficult to get it out to use except when the water is quiet and calm and you feel confident you wont turn over the canoe in retrieving it.

The first weir you come to you have to tackle down a water race which is unbelievably good fun. Scary but fun. You are told how to tackle each weir, ie to the left the right or the middle before you take off and you are given a map. This one was on the extreme left and it was about 2 inches wider than the canoe and at a 45 degree angle. You sped down in about one second and hit the bottom, become submerged because of the height coming from and emerge dripping wet but exhilerated. The rest were not so dramatic.

This is a photo of Richard that I managed to take over my right shoulder in a split second and it turned out remarkably well. I was in the front of the double canoe and he was obviously behind me.

I will now try again with the scenery.