Early June in Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne

June is a good month. Just out of spring and the beginning of summer it is gloriously green. Thunderstorms still providing lots of rainwater and shows of lightning. This is the view this morning about 0900 as I took our dog for a run and swim. It was calm and peaceful except for the occasional splashes of our labrador retrieving his buoy. He loves to run in the grass under the oak trees. It is cool and soft under his paws and he just runs and runs like nowhere else. It is a serene place.

Luka and his buoy, happy times always

a hole in the clouds and another beautiful sunset

2 things you will see almost everywhere here are walnut trees and the big brown limousin cattle. The nuts are taking shape and are larger than an olive at the moment. The nuts are pressed to make oil and are of course also sold as the whole nut. 

walnut trees 

limousin cow, they are everywhere!

The cows are enjoying grazing in the fields. The grass is tall and lush after all the spring rains. They seem curious and give a stare as we pass by.

It is a beautiful place to live and explore.

25Km Dordogne Stand Up Paddle Race 21 October 2017

The Start!

30 racers entered into his year's 25Km race from Argentat to Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne. The morning was overcast and with some light rain but it didn't dampen the excitement of the event! This year I had a racing board, a super RedPaddleCo 12'6 RACE inflatable board. I received it a month before the race and tried to get as much practice on it as possible before race day. It is much narrower than my recreational board so I needed to get comfortable on it!

Approaching the first bridge after Argentat

The start is always crazy! Everyone paddling like mad trying to get out ahead as fast as possible. I was keeping up with the front group for awhile before they started pulling away from me and I needed to get into my pace in order to make the full distance! I kept pushing hard, too hard sometimes which led to me falling off in several whitewater sections. 

Last bend to the finish

I was caught up to by No.23 Loic from Tours and we stayed neck and neck for the last 15Km or so of the race. He finished 18 seconds ahead of me!! 

The run to the finish!

So the final part of the race was getting off on the beach and running to finish under the big green inflatable Correze arch! Smiling as I am so happy to have done it and I was thinking maybe I had made 3rd place???

Did it!!

A very happy but tired finisher! I asked the time keepers where I finished and yes I had managed 3rd place in the women's 12'6 inflatable board class!! I was met with a hug and thermos of hot chocolate by Tom who had flown home specially to see me race, nice.

Looking forward to next year's race. I know I have a lot to do to improve as the competitors are getting younger and younger and it will be harder to hang on to 3rd place!

Keep paddling!