Tarn by canoe (France, 2020)

Tarn by canoe (France, 2020)

A 4-days, 80 kilometers canoe trip along the Tarn river, in Southern France.

  • Day 0<br><br>* The plan?<br>From Quezac to Peyre, through the canyon of the Tarn river<br><br>* The means?<br>Two canoes, one tent and a lot of imagination<br><br>* The excitement?<br>Unmeasurable
  • Day 1<br><br>Cloudy day.<br><br>Leaving Quezac in the afternoon. Tarn is very shallow and the canoes get often stuck in the stones. More time spent getting out to pull them, than paddling.<br><br>Distance covered - way less than expected.<br>Level of tiredness - way more than expected.
  • Day 2<br><br>The night was long and full of pain – body still needs to get used to the rhythm. Anyway, wake up feeling brand new.<br><br>Packing all the stuff and refilling our energies, ‘cause the river is calling.
  • Day 2<br><br>Sun showing up: can get rid of some layers of clothes, needed in freezing mornings.<br><br> Such a relief that the Tarn starts getting deeper and paddling is smoother.<br>First signs of civilization appear along the way.
  • Day 2<br><br>All of a sudden, we find ourselves surrounded by massive green cliffs. Water dripping from everywhere. Green, deep, wet smell.<br><br>Carved in the rocks, this little bunch of houses, like they’ve been standing there since always.
  • Day 2<br><br>That feeling of sweet comfort, after having found a hidden shelter, set up the tent and wore dry warm clothes. <br><br>Plus, eating bread and cheese bought on the way, while the sun goes down.<br>Sky is pink.
  • Day 3<br><br>Mornings with surprises: the most beautiful, pristine, breathtaking part of the canyon right in front of us.<br><br>Tarn is getting wilder, not only in terms of landscape: rapids and strong currents appear more and more often.
  • Day 3<br><br>Food is over and completely hopeless to find restaurants nearby. <br>Let’s see if we manage to catch some “lunch”…
  • Day 3<br><br>Learned many tricks to deal with the rapids so far, but won’t be of any help here.<br>Pas de Soucy is a 1km stretch of Tarn too dangerous to cross: giant rocks have fallen in, about a century ago, making it narrow and angry.<br><br>Gotta get out and move the canoes forward.
  • Day 3<br><br>Tarn is easily navigable here, and the landscape gets more crowded and urbanized. Have been spoiled in the morning, it’s hard now to share the river with other people.<br><br>Recognizing familiar places: we’re living not far from this broken bridge.
  • Day 3<br><br>Passed by home – had to fight the temptation of quitting for a hot meal, warm shower, soft bed.<br><br>Just for a second; then temptation is gone.<br>The temporary home offered by a tent hidden in the woods is the coziest thing ever.
  • Day 4<br><br>The current is now much stronger: finally we can relax and let the river do most of the job.<br>Just have to be careful not hitting the rocks.<br><br>It’s Sunday morning. Outside it smells of barbecue and smoke and lovely Sunday mornings.
  • Day 4<br><br>Closed, unexpected encounter with a tree full of worms; therefore, swimming time.<br><br>Getting closer and closer to Millau city. Hotter and hotter outside. <br>For once we don’t mind the cold water of the Tarn.
  • Day 4<br><br>Survived the city, the ramps, the dams, the heat and the adrenaline.<br><br>Started seeing the Millau viaduct three hours ago – now this giant seems behind the corner. <br>Wooo! It’s our arrival point.
  • Day 4<br><br>Sense of pride and accomplishment while sharing this well-deserved chocolate bar.<br><br>End of the trip. We got off in Peyre and pulled the canoes up to the road. Waiting for the ride back home.<br><br>Sunset approaching. Tarn behind is beautiful. Life is beautiful.
  • The End<br><br>Along the way, map got folded and rolled and wet and filled with marks of achievements and challenges.<br>Hands got cuts and wounds and blisters and stories to tell.<br><br>4 days, 80 kilometers, two canoes, one tent, and a lot of happiness.