River of Fire..

I was up bright and early, making sandwiches and getting ready for my epic voyage in a canoe, along the River Loire

As I strolled down to the quayside it was already a buzz with people,boats,and music thumping out from some stalls that had been set up – it was a fishing competition, which explained why so many people with boats had been turning up last night, and were already fishing from them on the river, in the hot early morning sunshine.. whilst I was waiting for the canoe people, a great shout went out, and lots rushed down to the river, to help land and then measure a whopping fish ( I think it was a carp) 2.4 mts long…bigger than me…I’d better watch out on the river today ! – the poor blighter was carried off and dumped in holding pool, I suppose he’ll get released eventually !

The canoe people ( Canoe D’Anjou) http://www.canoes.fr/circuits.php had arrived by then, I was given my instructions in broken English (worse than my broken French !), and then we were packed into a rickety old van and up the river, to our various drop off points.. I was going furthest,  to Montsoreau and would have to paddle 27 kms back along the Loire, which they told me, because it was such a slow moving and wide river, would make it quite hard on my own ( it was, I can still feel my strained arms), although fortunately they supplied a double paddle, rather than single, which did help..I was soon out on the River, with all my valuables and camera in a waterproof barrel, which made for a tricky bit of balancing to get it out !

I’d set off just before 10-45 a.m., and they said they’d meet me at Gennes at 6 p.m. ! off I went out onto the wide river, hoping it would be easier than they thought.. it was nice floating along, as the birds on the riverbank blissfully sang out to greet me ..but it was getting hot, and I soon had to stop, in the middle of the river, for a change of headgear, and I’d taken the precaution of bringing my cycling gloves, to protect my delicate hands ! Not long after midday I was approaching Saumur again – I’ve come at this town by three differing modes of transport I thought, as I paddled along the base of the castle I was getting peckish, and soon afterwards found a nice deserted beach on an island in the river, to cool down in the shade of a tree,and eat my lunch..very,very warm , even hotter as I prepared to set off again, having to put on a long sleeved top, to stop my arms getting too burnt… the adventure continued, as slowly I had started to be able to recognise when the water became very shallow, even in the middle of the river, sometimes the canoe dredging over the top, almost getting stuck it was that shallow… around the differing islands, avoiding natural and man made obstacles , gaining a new perspective on the river and it’s inhabitants, although I did hear may fish jumping…I didn’t see any of the monsters caught this morning ! Every now and then I would just sit back, and let the river push me along, although slowly, as I looked at the sky overhead…blue and hot,hot,hot…

and by now getting very tiring..

I could see in the distance the bridge at Gennes, so knew my salvation was at hand, and watched as a sailboat overtook me ,perhaps I should have taken one of those ? then a new view of the campsite from below..and then I was back to Gennes, under the bridge, and hauling my canoe out of the river, and onto the quayside, whilst all the fishermen continued to congregate, looking for more ‘big fish’..it was 4-15 p.m., my 34 kms canoe trip had taken 5 1/2 hours, well within my expected time, as the canoe people found out when I rang them to let them know where their equipment was,and trudged back to the campsite and collapse !

I spent the rest of the day, just watching the world go by, as more cycle campers arrived and set up, and I considered my movements of tomorrow ..Bonne Nuit !