Inspired by an earlier adventure, kayaking from the English Channel to the Mediterranean Sea, Nigel Foster decided to revisit France by kayak. This time, with his wife Kristin Nelson, his plan was to cross France from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.
Setting off in balmy September, along the scenic 17th century Canal Du Midi toward Toulouse, their route would carry them onward through the Bordeaux wine region via the strongly tidal Gironde estuary to the Atlantic. With a tandem kayak as their vehicle, and a tent for accommodation, their plan was to discover as much as possible about France within walking distance of their route. That included tasting wines and local dishes and learning about Medieval towns and villages with their tales of crusades and defensive strategies. And then there were the surprises, the creaking signs, and gunshots in the dark, the mudflats and the tidal bores. A fun escape!