Between Hérault and Ardèche area !



I came back at home after I have spent two weeks in the Cévennes in France (Hérault, Lozère and Ardèche area). We started this journey in the famous French gorge of Valgarnide on the Dourbie river where we spent two days in an awesome scenery. It was the first weekend of November, one of the public holyday in France. Every year the Dourbies villagers organise the chestnuts festival; it was a good opportunity for us to join the party, eat some chestnuts cooked on the fire, drink some wine and dance… During the last days, we went on the Hérault River which has a beautiful gorge view, visited the Couvertoirade village one of the most beautiful village from XI century, then we took a breakfast in the south Mediterranean coast in Palavas-les-Flots, just before we came up in Ardèche area.




Every year, when I am going to the Ardèche area, I usually paddle the classical rivers (such as Upper Ardèche, Bourges,…). This year I decide to explore and run “unknown” rivers. Thanks to Henry Denis, a local paddler and famous writer of the book
“Cévennes guide”, we discover a set of beautiful rivers from class III to V+ , such as Saliouse, Escoutay, Eysse, Loire River gorge that Henry has the “secret” knowledge.







He brought us across some awesome scenery, where young and former paddlers gathered. This creates, all along the week an atmosphere I am in love, almost addictive!!

Thanks every paddlers
Enjoy the photos :

Cévénes Octobre-Novembre 2011

Stefun

Jura 2011




At last, we’ve got some rain in the Jura area! As often, when the rain “comes home”, we decided to scout some new rivers’ section in the South of Jura (next to Saint Claude) taking advantage of a rarely “higher” water level. We found some new sections, but unfortunately the levels were too low. Finally, we went back in the center of Jura, closed to Champagnole. There, we kayak the middle Lemme River and run some waterfalls on the Ain River… and the next day, we did the Saine River under a beautiful sun!

More photos here :

October 2011 Jura session