Canoeing the Ardeche Gorge: Day 2

[@peterwolf3001]

great dad skills Ray. what a fortunate young lady to have you as parents.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

That is kind. Thank you

[@garethbarker9498]

Lovely to see you and Maya paddling together Ray memories that will last a lifetime

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Yep I totally agree. As an 'old' dad I am trying hard to create those memories. Thank you and keep well.

[@matzappeldorn5136]

Grat nature and and a really nice river. Many thanks that you splitt your canoe trip with us. Regards //MAtz

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you for your kind remarks. Yep it is a special place

[@andym924]

I did a short trip down this gorge a few months ago. The wrong side of 50, having never sat in a Kayak and not being particularly water confident I was coerced in to having a go. I loved it! I'd love to return and do a longer run, perhaps taking in one of the canoe slides. I really enjoyed watching your group tackle the river far more effectively than we did. Guess it's never to late to start something new!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

So pleased you had a great time! Yep never too late.

[@akcarlos]

its so great to see you teaching Maya in a calm manor, lets hope she grows up to be as good or better teacher as you.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

I do love paddling with her. On the Great Glen in Scotland with her at present

[@harveysmusicschoollizaman2290]

I have done the 30odd km trip 4 or 5 times. It is a great paddle for sure. Thanks for the footage, brought back memories 👍

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

It is one of the great river trips. Glad to waken those memories

[@anthonychadwick7254]

Enjoyed that Ray. Looking forward to annual whiskey trip in October

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you. Yep whisky. Good stuff

[@EzeAdventurer]

amazing memories, well done Maya!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

I will pass that on when I am back in the UK. Flying north today from Saskatoon to paddle the remote Porcupine River. Keep well and thanks

[@EzeAdventurer]

@@RayGoodwinCanoe Yes legend!!! I'm off to Yukon in about 2 weeks!!! Catch up soon! Have an awesome trip Ray!

[@KartsHuseonica]

Loved this video Ray. You are blessed to paddle this.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

It is wonderful. But blessed to have it so quiet. You would be stunned by the crowds at the hight of summer.

[@grahamrowe6278]

Now it is the begining of November and a brilliant time to go. Me and a pal had the place to ourselves a number of years and were the only folk in the 2nd camp. Pretty much a trip of 'T-shirt by noon weather' while it rained and blew in the UK. The Tarn was empty to. And those epic autumn colours. Now - 5.35 seconds in Ray... what was all that about. Dear me!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Yep I would agree with the out of season visits: great time to visit. 5.35 seconds: yep that was a good error. I am going to do another analysis video and that will feature (with the permission of Rod and Sharon).

[@grahamrowe6278]

@@RayGoodwinCanoeNow, not that I'm one to be critical (ye, right... hehe!), 'good error' reformats to 'asleep at the paddle', or more likely 'gorping at the ever-developing scenery'... which is, frankly, fair enough!😅

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Sharon on Rod are friends but it was the first paddling I had done with them. Neither can kneel due to severe knee problems and even after some pretty direct comments still failed to lean into the turn. But hey ho we were having fun and I was not working.

[@philschaefer4651]

Again, great looking float with some fun looking little rapids. I looked up the river on Google Earth and you're not kidding about the typical traffic. The overhead images show boats everywhere! Thanks again for another inspiring video.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

You are most welcome Phil. I have done it in a single day (easily) but starting at first glimmers of light. We were past both bivouac sites before anyone else was on the water, seeing our first paddler as we exited the gorge. But yep it is wall to wall plastic in the height of the season.

[@BuckMckawtheotherone]

It looks like a beautiful place to paddle. The scenery is epic and it has a lot of history. I can see why you return whenever you can.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

With a bit more water it is just the best

[@9murlon]

Another highly enjoyable film Ray - thanks 🙂 Wonderful to see Sharon and Rod - we loved their company on the Allier and Drôme this year (including your excellent tandem workshop with Lina). Sharon is very much in our thoughts, as she faces her big mountain challenge.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

They are good people and we can only wish Sharon the best thoughts and wishes. She got an early preview of this one and really enjoyed it.

[@tmcbrighton]

Haven’t been to the Ardeche in 30 years since my PGL days, really must make an effort to go back and visit. Lovely video as ever Ray

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you Craig. Yep it was good times with PGL, I always enjoyed running some staff training our there. And indeed it is worth the effort to get back there.

[@markl2815]

Nice one … and with water too

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you! Yep enough to escape scrapes other than on two occasions... one of those being a very silly route choice from me.

[@markl2815]

@@RayGoodwinCanoe I stuck my arse on exactly the same route choice a good few years back now. I also didn’t paddle the rest of it as nicely as you either. Take care … we did just have some rain for the first time this summer more or less so hoping ….

[@T3PinR]

beautiful float

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

It is. Thanks

[@jimmysqueezyronin5623]

Beautiful place and pretty much all to yourselves!! Great vid thanks for sharing 👍

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Glad you enjoyed it. it was that forecast of bad weather that kept the others away. Mind it is wonderful doing it when the sun is shinning.

[@Tim8o1]

Nice one Ray, I would imagine some of those rapids produce a fair amount of carnage when the river is full of plastic. Also I noticed your Gunnar dip below the waterline when entering one of the eddies, the river must have been going at a fair speed to warrant that. Keep them videos coming 🛶😀

[@Tim8o1]

Gunnal (damn you smell chucker)

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Gunwale even 😀 Yep often known as rent a crash when the hire season is in full swing. I do like playing with the amount I dip the edge scoring double points for water over the edge.

[@Tim8o1]

@@RayGoodwinCanoe forever the teacher lol :)

[@naturalflow157]

This feels like the adventure of a lifetime. I find it inspiring at the same time a bit scary haha. But that's mainly because in those past few years, I have lost a connection to myself and my dedication to something higher than myself. Your videos and your sharing here inspires me to push myself a bit further to figure out what I need to change in my life and find those connections again. Thank you so much for creating and sharing this journey with us and I wish you the best :)

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

That is so kind of you. Yep those connections are so important, do something to get them back. And yes there are more journeys to come. Keep well.

[@AdrianOates]

Looks an amazing river, one to add to the bucket list!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

It really is!

[@tonystacey3347]

Really enjoyed watching this. Lovely to get it to yourselves too! 12:10 not sure the spring was showing - finest drink on a hot day! Thanks for posting this Ray.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Glad you enjoyed it! A reminder of great times

[@brianj9635]

interesting comment at the end Ray about having done the paddle so many times yet would do it again - places like that are indeed special and sometimes made more special with who you paddle with. take care !

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Yep I will be doing for some years to come.

[@martinoutdoors6941]

Fabulous

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you kind sir