Paddled down the river on our last full day in the Dordogne. What a perfect way to end our week here. Went about 16km from Cenac to just past Beynac. Big wide lazy river with a few ancient bridge bits poking up, a couple of rocks, brances, swans and 3 rock (roman arch) bridges to avoid. We've decided our annual float down the Kettle with friends should be held here next year! It's pretty amazing to laze down the river with chateaus, castles, churches, swans, kites, falcons and herons along the way.
At first we had only one other canoe in site which made for a very peaceful morning. Eventually some pretty inexperienced paddlers set off which made me a little concerned about crowding and bridges. When after a leaisurely lunch beneath Castlenaud Castle (ahhh!!!), we heard a particularly noisy group coming we decided to pack up and get ahead of them. Their noisy laughing became panicked screaming as one of the boats  (Mom & daughter) hit a rock and capsized near the bridge. Dad and son had no idea what to do and were panicking also. With no English spoken and panic in full swing we managed to convince them to let go of the submerged canoe and let us take it to shore. We wanted them to swim to shore but we are now prett sure they couldn't swim at all. At least they had life jackets on... They hung on to the one canoe as Dad & son managed to paddle it to a mudd shore. All in all everyone survived. Shane emptied their canoe & the paddles were found. When we came upon them Dad was laughing clearly not understanding the danger they were in. I only hope the Mom got dry clothes on. She was terrified and possibly hypothermic. I'm glad we were there to 'yell' sign language at them and give them some sort of direction.
Quite a change from our leisurely pace down the river.... Shane paddling while I sketched the castles along the way. It was a perfect day and I have sketches to prove it>
The next day we headed off to the Basque area of France. The south west corner of France in the Atlantique Pyrenees. Very different country here. The Pyrenees mountains shone white in the sun as the gently rolling countryside gave way to wide street towns and white buildings with barn red shudders and doors. Very different from Dordogne.
There are also a ton of pilgrims heading off to Spain from all corners of France. This translated to a lack of rooms in the towns here..... which translated in a Chambre d'hote in the countryside with cows as neighbours. Pretty place but I'm sure glad we have PG or we never would have found it!.
Today we headed west to the Atlantic Ocean. It rained and the wind whipped but it is still beautiful. Lots of surfers in Biarritz and St. Jean-de-Luz. The towns are both quaint and sprawling depending on where you walk. Like big beach resorts with history. There are long sandy beaches as well as rough rock outcrops. Really pretty. Took lots of pictures as we drove down to the Spanish border. Ate a great seafood lunch in St Jean de Luz and met a delightful couple from Bordeaux. (.... if you're reading this thanks again for the good conversation and we do hope to see you in Canada one day)
It is back to St Palais and our gite with the cows for one more night. Tomorrow we head off to St Jean Pied de Port. If the weather holds we may stay or we may head farther east towards Lourdes. We'll just have to see.
Goodbye from McDonalds (I'm actually getting used to their coffee...yuch)