After a quick morning dip, we set off again, sad to leave our perfect swimming spot. We stop off when we saw the canoe sign not far down the road, and decided to give it a try! The Goozle hound was keen to come along, but she obviously didn’t realise we would be traveling on water! She got to stay and guard Berty. Incidentally, Goozle is not a hight loving dog. We went up on a bridge the other day to look at a Swan nest and she lay flat on her stomach, refusing to move. When chivvied by Paps, she adopted a crab like walk as far from the edge as possible. Anyhoo, we purchased the hire of two canoes for some money and amidst much exited squeaking we were given life vests, a waterproof barral for our food and we were off! Rio captained my ship, and Orlando captained Papas with the Chouque in the middle! As it was a blustery day and the sun a bit shy, I did not envy Geoff his enthusiastically rowing team!! We pooled off down the river, much fun being had by all! One could stop along the banks or on the islands wherever one wanted (which we did on numerous occasions, the captains enjoying leaping out, pulling the boat to shore and then pushing it back out and leaping in again) we had a jolly snack lunch on a pebble island, and what with the glistening water, breathtaking scenery, especially the limestone cliffs, and happy chatter it was a highly successful trip. Luckily Elodie only realised towards the end that she wasn’t a captain, and it was only as we reached the landing spit that she bellowed a bit, along the lines of ‘why is it always me because i’m small, i’m not listening, go away, Rio is being horrid’. All valid stuff, which we would have gone into in detail, but as luck would have it, the friendly canoe chap turned up in the nick of time! On the way back he showed us a tiny village on the other bank, only access across the river.  Apparently it was abandoned by 8 families, and the whole village was bought by a rich parisien who restored it and uses it as a holiday home! Looked very agreeable. Back to Berry and a quick hot drink as it had been a little chilly towards the end! Then onwards and upwards for Berty!  She hung around 90 on the temperature gage, and inched her way up. I got a photo at 900 is m. But she actually got to 1299! The roads were pretty twisty and it was starting to get near lights on time. As I havn’t yet mastered the lights, we scanned the roadsides for a handy spor.  This being a national park, there were a few too many nocampingcar signs for my liking. Just as we were getting desperate, and starting to check out the possibility of a campsite, Geoff spotted a sign for a lac. Lo and behold, many a van nestled up. We joined them just as the cloud and mist closed it. Brrrr. Sups and bed. Oh, we spotted a man carrying a dead snake so they all charged over to look. Apparently it had had it”s head bitten off, and was on the unpleasantly large side.

Weather has been amazing. Off to another park today. Yesterday’s park was very relaxing, though Elodie wasn’t so keen. Much grumbling this morning that we are going to another ‘not real’ park, where thing are not allowed to grow ‘free and easy’! Its true that wvetything is trimmed and pruned to the last inch. Getting over the cold she must have picked up on the plane, she’s almost back on form, though refusing to go on any planes again! Walking along, one weaves through as many bikes as people. All the bikes are sit up ones, and pretty much everyone has a child seat or basket on the back and front. I am finding the people quiet, gentle, polite and keep themselves to themselves. A great city to wonder round! We walk from the apartment every morning, and stop off in Seiyu, the cheapish supermarket to get lunch. Onigiri, eggs and the obligatory sweets later, we tackle the metro. Geoff is pretty good at negotiating around. Excellent fun being had by all! Off to YoyogI park now!♥