BLOG : Our daily adventures,
Week 62 + Last day of Phase 2 - Diou to Nevers
September 10th to 16th + 17th 2023
- Day 428 : September 10th : kayaking down the Loire: Diou to Somewhere close to Bourbon-Lancy - 13 km
Baptised by the locals "Le culte de Breves", this deadly rocky patch isn't designed for beginners and even less for inflatable rafts...the rocks here are razor sharp...and if you look closely enough, you can see a canoe crushed by the strong current against them.. Two fishermen warned us this morning about this second obstacle on our way (which was also luckily indicated in our guide "La Loire vue du fleuve"), they went fishing quite early departing from the small dock located right beside our tent and came back as we were ready to embark on our boats. They went very close to the rocks to get a glimpse of the lengendary dangerous spot and they told us that flip flops were still circlying around the canoe in the rapids...so their owner must have left both canoe and shoes behind not so long ago... We'll definitely carry our kayaks on the side for this one!
13 km done for a total of 5352 + 13 = 5365 km
- Day 429 : September 11th : kayaking down the Loire: Somewhere close to Bourbon-Lancy to Somewhere close to Chambon - 13 km
Happily gliding through life !
This poor bird just flew right into a tree ending up hanging upside down in the branches then fell on the ground next to us...quite a rough ordeal...it doesn't seem to be able to fly properly, it didn't move since then, I hope it didn't break one of its wings.
13 km done for a total of 5365 + 13 = 5378 km
- Day 430 : September 12th : kayaking down the Loire: Somewhere close to Chambon to Somewhere close to Lamenay sur Loire - 19 km
19 km done for a total of 5378 + 19 = 5397 km
- Day 431 : September 13th : kayaking down the Loire: Somewhere close to Lamenay sur Loire to Decize - 15 km
It was pouring rain yesterday night and our kayaks were full of water in the morning. This newly created habitat must have seem sufficiently attractive for the local fauna...and one little frog has establish itself a home in my kayak overnight. We had trouble catching this little jumping and slippery friend. After a thorough scooping and sponging session, we are back on the Loire. My bag became a drying station for the day...and new configuration: I will paddle with music today!
This tree's beautiful roots are pomping water directly in the Loire...it is one of the surviving ones. Since we started our paddling adventures, we sadly noticed that many trees were suffering from the drought and the decrease of the river level...there roots could no longer reach the river which is now flowing sometimes 5 meters lower than usual.
We just went through a very intense rain....no place to hide on open water...I tried to steer my boat on the river bank under a bended tree and Casey found solace by reaching a sandy beach and running heavily loaded with his precious cargo to shelter himself under another tree...
I stayed in the kayak, packing as fast as I could our solar panel (that we optimistically extended on top of my bag in the sunny morning) and sponging frantically the kayak which was gathering what seemed to be a litre per minute of rain water....We ended up totally drenched!
I stayed in the kayak, packing as fast as I could our solar panel (that we optimistically extended on top of my bag in the sunny morning) and sponging frantically the kayak which was gathering what seemed to be a litre per minute of rain water....We ended up totally drenched!
Luckily the sun came back to dry our wet bones and boats.
15 km done for a total of 5397 + 15 = 5412 km
- Day 432 : September 14th : kayaking down the Loire: Decize to Somewhere close to Avril sur Loire - 11 km
Third obstacle: the barrage of Decize, we have to walk around it as it is simply forbidden and downright deadly to go through...
A little ramp access on the right side 200 m before the barrage becomes our disembarkment point...we had to beware since there was broken glass on the small slope...it would have been stupid to avoid an obstacle and pierce a hole in our boats in the process.
Our "portage" strategy becomes slowly better: i managed all of my things in one shot while Casey (the food-bearer) had to walk back and forth twice...almost perfect!
11 km done for a total of 5412 + 11 = 5423 km
- Day 433 : September 15th : kayaking down the Loire: Somewhere close to Avril sur Loire to Somewhere before Imphy - 10 km
10 km done for a total of 5423 + 10 = 5433 km
- Day 434: September 16th: kayaking down the Loire: Somewhere before Imphy to Somewhere close to Sauvigny les Bois - 6 km
6 km done for a total of 5433 + 6 = 5439 km
- Day 435: September 17th: kayaking down the Loire: Somewhere close to Sauvigny les Bois to Nevers - 7 km
7 km done for a total of 5439 + 7 = 5446 km
Au revoir Nevers! We will see you again in April 2024 for the start of our third phase of kayaking-hiking. We are already nostalgic and looking forward to the next chapter of our adventures. We are driving home to Alsace/Germany on the 20th of September to get back to work and save money for phase 3.