Gorge Du Tarn River S. France June 2018

Welcome to the "Gorge Du Tarn River in the south of France. During June 1 to 8 (2018) I enjoyed 6 days open canoe paddling with 3 other retired friends, Andy, Alan & Nick. We teamed up with Mark & Louise Ludolf (known as Mark L on Song of the Paddle) and Mal Grey also active in SotP and photographer. (Some of Mal's photos enhance this page). These guys were in N. Ireland with us last September at the annual Ulster Canoe Festival. Their invite to come to France could not be ignored so the old boys planned to visit our friends and go paddling. We camped beside the river facing lime cliffs 100's of metres high with vultures shoring over us during breakfast and King fishers feeding before our eyes. It was amazing. The trip was so easy to plan. Mark & Louise, from England but living in France for the past 12-15 years, operate an outfitting business in S. France and can provide a range of options depending on your ability and needs. They provided us with everything. All we needed to bring was personal paddling clothes; foot wear, shorts and T shirts. They provided us with new boats, paddles, PFDs, safety ropes, tents and a base camp site. Mark, a chef, did the cooking and Louise was our host. It was like high end restaurant food from a camp site beside the river Tarn. There was lots to eat and a supply of beer and wine on tap, what more do you need. We did shuttle runs daily, which worked out well and the local villages along the river are a must to visit. Enjoy the photos below, which are not in any daily order but are aimed at sharing our experience over the 6 day. Flight: Dublin to Rodex was 2 hrs, Car hire Euro Car: It was a 1.5 hrs driving to the camp site. The river: was 1.6 mtrs higher than normal, so less technical but very fast grade 1 to 3. I hope you enjoy the photos and if you are interested in going to France don't hesitate to contact me or MarkL on SotP.