Long post on our canoe trip down the Aveyron with some pretty pictures too.
Nev
As proud owners of an inflatable canoe - gonflable to the native speakers - we thought it would be rather jolly to take it for a spin along the Aveyron. So one morning, after walking the dog, we sped off to Varen, parking close to the Moulin for the start of the trip. The planned journey of around 13 miles would take us past Le Riols, Lexos, Montrosier, Feneyrols with the final stop at St Antonin.
We swapped "bonjours" with a local chap who was sitting on one of the benches and then carried on with the preparations. A few pumps later the canoe was ready and after a quick look round to see that we had everything, we launched the canoe into the river.
As there has not been a a great deal of rain, the river was not particularly full of water, so when I jumped into my seat we promptly grounded. I got out and dragged the canoe to a deeper section, reinserted myself and then we were truly on our way. The river flows south away from the main road and shortly you enter a really peaceful area and we saw both Grey and Night Heron, Egrets and Kingfishers. This is the first canoe trip that I had taken my camera as prior to this we had been prone to falling out, especially on the sluices. But we still had a waterproof bag and the camera was tucked away just in case.
There is a technique that needs to be learned when using a canoe as a photographic platform, I am going to call it "owling" as when you stop paddling the canoe then wanders around on no specific tack and you end up twisting your head round in all directions just to maintain vision of the subject rather like an owl. The first stop was at a weir just outside of Lexos where there is a spruced up mill house built over three levels. The attached terrace has a great view over the river.
Passing Montrosier further downstream there were families playing in the river watching with amusement as we barrelled through the fast flowing section under the bridge, fortunately staying the right way up. Just before we arrived at Feneyrols there was another section of rapids and in the middle of the river was a fisherman fly-fishing. Of course, I wanted a picture but the challenge was stopping the canoe long enough. We managed to turn the canoe sideways and jammed the paddles into the riverbed thereby anchoring ourselves in one place. I wanted to capture the fisherman in action flicking the line back and forth and after several shots I hoped that I had got what I wanted. We lifted the paddles and scooted down the rapids, steering around the fisherman.
Passing Feneyrols under the cyan coloured bridge we were on the last section of river. There was more activity here as other people were out fishing in canoes and small boats. On the banks we could still hear the sharp call of Kingfishers, then they would dart by barely above the surface of the water. Suddenly there was one resting on a branch surrounded by leaves and I managed to take a shot as we drifted past. Then there were two on the other bank arguing with another bird and one of them flew off and landed on the end of a large branch sticking out of the water. It was quite far away but the composition was really nice and it demonstrates how tiny these birds are.
So after six and half hours of paddling we arrived at our destination of St Antonin, nicely worn out from the day but what a lot we saw and I have added some of the pictures for your enjoyment.
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