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I have had a dodgy shoulder/arm since December and at 67 yrs am otherwise reasonably fit and want to canoe (for the first time ever) along the Dordogne in June.  Can any canoeist who has experience of this river tell me  if I need much arm strength to paddle and mantain a straight course and how fast the river usually flows,  Any other tips about staying upright would be helpful too.

Carol

I don't know whether you wanted to canoe specifically but we have been on the Dordogne a few times in kayaks. We travelled about 10 km each time with  the advantage of 2 to a kayak which may be the answer for your dodgy shoulder. The river never felt too fast though I'm sure there are unsafe places. I hope you have fun and the paddling may do your sholder some good!

Thanks both, we were going to have a 2 seater I just didn't know it was called a kayack.  I do like the idea of someone else (OH) doing all the work.  He says he can manage but I was not sure how hard it would be.  Physio is not doing much good so perhaps the paddling will sort me out (or finish me off)

We are aiming to stay at Le Perpetuum, near Domme, so hopefully this stretch of river behaves itself.

Cheers

Carol

A kayak will normally be a single seater, very occasionally for two.  You will want a canoe, Canadian style.  I would suggest if you have a dickky shoulder you take the front seat.  If you are going July/Aug then you will find that you mainly only need to steer the canoe and the current will do the rest unless it's a windy day when short stretches can need more effort.  Depending on where you are i would recommend the canoe base at Castelnaud, which is a local club and uses the revenus to fund activities.  VItrac back to the base is a nice float, and you can take all day if you want. Remember to get a 'bidon', waterproof container to put your camera and picnic in.  The Castelnaud base also has a boulangerie and a boucherie-charcuterie to buy the essentials.

NB when I refer to 'kayak' and 'canoe' I am using the french definition of the 'vehicle'.

Hi jaiash, thanks that is very helpful.  We are going with 3 other couples who also want to do the river trip for the first time and the site, Le Perpetuum on D703 from , Sarlat just over the Vitrac bridge, has been democratically decided upon and the canoeing can be done from the site.  Hopefully we will be able to have "a nice float" as it is possible we may be going from Vitac to Castelnaud.  Thanks for the tip about the waterproof kit.  It will be in June so our fingers are crossed for little wind and NO rain.  Do you have a tip about getting into the canoe and keeping upright.  We are complete novices and only speak common phrases in french, so unless the campsite people speak english we may be wet in no time.LOL.

Cheers

Carol

I took my wife on the Dordogne as her first canoe many years ago and she loved it.Very scenic with no rapids.Going in June you may find the current very strong/fast which makes descent even easier/faster but easier to crash or fall out.

Our campsite neighbours had a terrible time when they went crashing into one of the bridge supports and tipping up,neither swam very well and both got swept away,the lady was rescued by a french fisherman and initially they couldn,t find her husband,she became hysterical until another french fisherman found him 500 yards down the river.They hadn,t put lids on there containers either and lost there cameras etc.

So top priorities would be.

1) keep life jackets on,ive canoed throughout the world along the Congo,Lower Zambezi,murray and I still wear one.

2)Do the container lids up.

3)Keep youre center of gravity low.i.e don,t stand up.

4)The best canoeist goes in the back.

5)careful not to get youre padel stuck under the canoe if going across current with the padel up current.

6)Don,t be temphted to leave the river by clambering along overhanging branches and try and avoid when in the canoe.

7)Have fun,the dordogne is a nice safe river.

Carol

Take a towel.

Wear some old sandals that fasten on securely, not flipflops, they come off and float away!  I have had a knee replacement and find that getting in and out is the most difficult part for me.  Generally I sit at the back, OH gets in the front, i push the canoe in so that it floats, she sticks her oar in ( no change there then!) to hold the canoe and I get in - good leg first - and then we're off.  I think  you 'll be very unlucky to hit a bridge, even in June when the river flows faster.

Downside of setting off from the site is you hang around waiting for the minibus to take you back, if you got Castelnaud and park up they take you to Vitrac and the car is waiting for you on return so no hanging around.  IMHO that stretch is probably the most beautiful on the river for tourist canoeing.

Ninjasoverload,Thanks for help.   Do hope I don't crash into the bridge!  Will deffo keep on the life jackets and avoid the branches as I am not a good swimmer!

Carol

Jaiash, thank again for info.  If you manage with your knee I'm sure I will manage with my shoulder.  Had to laugh at your comment about your wife, "she sticks her oar in ( no change there then!)"  that's me as well LOL.  You may be in trouble if she reads this forum!

Cheers

Carol

Hi, we stayed at Beynac and canoed from somewhere else back own to Beynac......could have been Cezac or somewhere similar.

Was pretty easy going. We were given big plastic containers to put out stuff in so it didn't get wet either.

Its a lovely trip. Very gentle river in early July. I shared a double canoe with my 8 yr old and OH in another with our 4 yr old. Current pretty much carries you down the river (particularly if you stay in the center of the river).

Thanks everyone, glad it is easy enough for an 8 and 4 yr old to do.  If they can, I can

Carol

Hi firstclass, I glad I am going somewhere that sounds so lovely.  Even though I live in a sort of rural area I have never seen a kingfisher!  Relieved that it is easy to canoe as I don't want to spoil the trip for OH or the others if I had problems.

Cheers

Carol