Canyoning in Gordes du Verdon

This is our group just before we are about to start the canyoning. We were a total of eight. Me and C, another couple, Emily and Martin and then a group of four guys and our instructor and guide. This was just such an awesome experience! I am so thrilled that I did this. So cool! I want to do more of this in my life. The Gorges du Verdon is a 21 Km (13 mile) stretch of rock and water that is a dream come true if you love the great outdoors. Here you need true grit and true grip ton conquer some of the passages and challenges. The clear green waters of the Verdon river has chiseled away the limestone plateau and gouged a spectacular gorge that rises about 2500 feet. Slot canyons like this have have been carved and a world of genuine awe-inspiring beauty has been created.

We met up with our guide and group and from there drove for another 45 minutes on really narrow roads up and down the mountain slopes until we reached a small parking space. Here it was time to strip down into your bathing suit/bikini and get part of the wet suit on. After that we left two cars behind and squeezed ourselves into the two remaining cars and drove for another 20 minutes. From here we had to do a shorter hike of about 10 minutes before we reached our true starting point.

Me jumping of the cliff. A bit scared - yes, but so happy I dared to do more than I expected from myself. Some of the jumps here don't appear to be so high. I think that the main fear factor was not knowing what was coming up. Not knowing exactly how high it was. Some times we climbed down part of the way with the rope but the rope would end somewhere before we reached the bottom so from where ever the rope ended Morgan, our guide would drop us. I just closed my eyes and said a short prayer and thought - oh shit here I go, he is dropping me into the abyss.

First time ever in a wet suit. Getting this thing on and off was not very easy. It is just like wearing tight pantyhose on your legs and arms. It was great in the water. We had to walk a bit before we reached the water and boy did it get hot wearing this gear. I had been kind of worried that the water would feel very cold but I did not have to worry at all because by the time we got to the water it was a great relief to cool down.

More jumps. We jumped both high and small jumps all in the range between 2 to 7 meters.

This is Emily getting ready to slide/climb down. I am right in front of here and have already started my decent down.

This was the first time ever that me and C tried canyoning. Emily and Martin had done it before and the for the four other guys it was also their first time. We got to do a mix of jumps, slides, and climbs. Our guide Morgan explained and gave us instructions before each new challenge. The expression here on my face tells you that I am thinking - shit, am I going to go down there! But I am happy I dared to challenge myself and do more than I thought I would do. I am kind of afraid of heights so some of the stuff here required an extra mental push. I did not however want to be the "petit poulet" of the group. There was one of the higher jumps that was just too much for me so there I was repelled down by rope. But I was not the only one to back down on that one and that really made me feel a lot better.

The canyon was very narrow in some places but it was so very beautiful! It was so cool to do this. I was absolutely thrilled! This is one of the best things I have ever done. It was just such a wow experience in every possible way. The water was cool and crystal clear. This is a slot canyon just like some of the canyons we visited in Utah and Arizona last year.

Me and C after the final climb. C had sort of tricked me and lied a little but I am glad he did. He told me he had signed us up for the easy level that was just 2-3 hours but he admitted as we were there that this really was the medium to advanced level and we had 6 hours in front of us. By then it was too late to back down for me. There was only one way to go and that was to follow the group and go down and forward.

Martin and Emily that we became friends with. They were so nice and it was fun to get to known them. We went out to dinner together that evening in Castellan.

Every one in the group after the canyoning was done. The group of four guys had some rose wine in their car that the invited us all for. Kind of funny everyone almost walking around in their bathing suits or underwear. C is standing next to our guide. Man, he had like the most perfect body! For lunch he had a piece of baguette with chocolate and I thought - this is really unfair to be able to eat that and look that gorgeous.

Parts of the canyoning tour were just such a pleasure. It was the most fantastic feeling to float on your back looking straight up into the blue sky the foliage and the steep canyon walls, drifting down with the stream and just relaxing (for the moment trying not to worry about the next up coming challenge).