French Massif Central, best fall creeking place!!!

Dec 12, 2011

Hi all,

We were waiting for the rain for a while now, for few months actually, then Mother Nature gave us a lot of southern wind which bring the rain on the Cévennes region.
Cévennes is a region of massive plateaus and deep valleys in the Massif Central, France.
Well, all options of kayaking places were offered to us, just have to choose!!

I went to paddle the flood Ardèche river, which is called the "french mini Zambezi", a big waters section full of waves!!
Then I met my brother on the Lower Tarn river at the highest water level of the flooded Tarn river, he was following me down the section and I was probably too much concentrated on him and not enough on my lines... So, I fucked up the diagonal at the first badass rapid, went through a massive hole and after a good fight, I grabed my sprayskirt and pulled it out... Yeah, I swam...
My boat went far away, found it once, but cannot get it back, then it goes away with the flood, and found it a second and last time in the trees few kilometers downstream!! What a mission...

Two days later the dutchies Tim Uneken and Level 6 team mate Casper Van Kalmthout arrived in the region!!
I brought them on the classic river sections still full of water, the Upper Lot, Lower Tarn, Upper Dourbie, Sources of the Tarn (1st day section), and Upper Upper Tarn.
My brother Gautier realized a super nice video of us kayaking the Lower Tarn and having good fun, thanks Gautier!!

Paddle On The Lower Tarn from Gautier Grollemund on Vimeo.

Was so good to have Tim and Casper at home for few days and guided them on my home runs!!
Thanks buddies, was a pleasure!!

When Tim and Casper drove back to Holland I spent a good night at home in Rodez, and the next morning I was back on track with the buddies from Pyrenees for 3 good days of kayaking!!
We ran the Upper Dourbie with massive water, Upper Upper Tarn and Upper Tarn and the full Upper Dourbie to finish.
It's always good to paddle with the Pyreneans because we know each other pretty well and we can go big all day long without problem and for sure with a massive smile on our faces!!
Later I had again few days kayaking in the area!!

That was for sure the best fall season in Cévennes ever, more than 20days on the river!!
Can't wait for spring time here, and if you wanna come, feel free!!!

Thanks again to Level to keep me warm, dry and good looking everyday this fall season!! ;-)

If you want more, visit my blog!!

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