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.

wine river

Couvertoiradde village

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.

Loire gorge

Saliouse river

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!