Rapid

It was Phil’s birthday, a good friend of ours, and he was going to have a quiet barbecue celebration which he wanted us to join. When he originally invited us he suggested a long walk around the lake and an ice cream before heading back to theirs for the barbecue. This sounded great, and I was quick to agree, but after hearing that the lake was very busy because the school holidays had started he instead suggested, as a treat to himself, that he’d like us all to go kayaking on the Seine; which runs along the bottom of their garden. It looked like our quiet afternoon had gone up a notch — exciting!

So we packed some suitable clothing, and made our way to theirs. After an extensive safety briefing putting our wet shoes on we all dived into our kayaks at the end of the garden, and set off. We had taken the double seater, thinking we were being kind, allowing them the fun of the single seaters, but I think we had the easier time.

We were actually heading up river, against a few sets of shallow rapids. We needed to get out and push the kayaks through these. Then to a gentle, wider part of the river, full of ‘les demoiselles’. It was both exhilarating and beautiful.

The journey back, was so much quicker, and we all decided we’d risk staying in the Kayaks for the rapids.

Brilliant, happy birthday Phil.