WARNING TO ALL! There is a rapid towards the end of the trip down the Ardeche where there is a wall of rock to the right and people actually drown by being pulled under into a downwards spiral so ask about his place when you rent your canoes and walk them around it!
Cet endroit n'est pas un bon souvenir pour moi, c'est dans mon passé, un môme est tombé dans l'eau, les parents criaient, je n'ai pas réfléchi au danger, je me suis jetée à l'eau, j'ai été entraînée dans les courants, j'ai réussi à rattraper ce petit gamin qui pleurait, j'ai lutté, c'est difficile de nager dans les courants, j'ai réussi à m'en sortir avec ce gamin dans mes bras plus loin, j'ai eu la peur de ma vie, peur pour la vie de ce petit gamin.
My family and I are planning a full descent on the Ardeche river this summer. Is the place this exact spot it near called Vallon Pont D'arc? Is it very near the huge arch of Rock called the Pont D'arc? This place looks fun to just smash right into the rock lol.
I got stuck on the rapid at the end, just beside the last wave. It flipped my kayak and I had to get out of it. Was not undangerous, but I am not a beginner, so it was not THAT dangerous ;)
The rock is called Charlemagne and you have to work very hard to surround the rock on the right side, not on the left side. I got pulled to the left side, hit the rock, the canoe tipped over, I hit my head at the rock under water and then started swimming to catch my paddle. Best part from Vallon Pont d'Arc to St. Martin d'Ardèche: the last 30 min. before you reach St. Martin. There are caves on your left and in the mid 70's, hippies used to live in these caves. It takes 8 hours with a break.
My friend almost drowned under the magdaline Rock and I had to pull him out whilst I myself was being sucked underneath the canoe very dangerouse but good fun
