Tarnschlucht the 5th.

Hello out there... 😉

Today we wake up for the fourth time in the beautiful Tarnschlucht and our thoughts revolve around the hope that it doesn't rain 😳...a glance outside - it's cloudy but no rain 👍 we have breakfast and pack our things, because we want to leave at 8:45 am, as we are meeting with the group just below Ste. Chely, where they only slept in a cave with a sleeping bag after a full rain tour...that would have been too much for me...I enjoyed the warm shower 😋. We go to the garage where our delicious, wet, cold wetsuits, neoprene socks, swim trunks, and such are hanging...and they are soaking wet...yuck....brrrrrr....so we change into them and I think to myself, "what's rustling here?"...and then it dawns on me....of course, it's raining...again and how it's raining...it was just waiting for us 😔 But it doesn't help and we stomp to our 🛶🛶 They are still exactly where we left them and we don't have to pump much except for a little bit of air, so we can start right away. Today I'm smarter and have my hood under my helmet - so no water runs down my neck and at least it stays "lukewarm" under the dry jacket. After a good three-quarters of an hour we reach Ste. Chely, go under the bridge, and pose in front of the waterfall...no stop...someone still hasn't had enough rain or needs an extra shower because Jörg goes through the waterfall...but he didn't really have fun (zoom in on the picture 😆😂🤣...at least it doesn't look like fun...but hey...you're supposed to try things on a study trip...I'm feeling pleasantly warm and decline the offer. For a few tourists on the bridge, two boaters on the Tarn river are their morning highlight. Shortly afterwards we reach the group and continue together. 10 minutes later it stops raining and patches of blue sky can be seen. 15 minutes later even sunshine ☀️. The Tarn river flows leisurely and the landscape offers many photo-worthy views and I try to "capture" the beauty of nature. We reach La Malène around 11:00 am and stop for lunch. Since our snack is miraculously still in the bus in Prades, our lunch today consists of black tea / coffee and a chocolate treat from the bakery and Riesolé banana – that's so sweet that Jörg's sugar needs are met for the rest of the day and he gives up his chocolate treat...I eat both pieces....you never know what the weather might have in store, because it's getting dark again in the sky...after a good hour, we continue. We briefly discuss a spot where the group might have difficulty and then leave earlier than the group. That way we don't have to rush, can take photos, and wait at the spot on the gravel bank. We enjoy the ride together again and arrive at the described spot after about 40 minutes....where there is a rock standing on top that is supposed to look like a mushroom...to me it looks like a lot - but a mushroom?...judge for yourself 😳....the group arrives 15 minutes later and gets out to look at the spot...and I'll spoil it for you...today, many have more luck than brains...no one falls or tips over and we don't have to rescue anyone. After another short ride of about 10 minutes, we see the bungee jump platform and shortly after that is the exit point...because after that comes the Pas de Soucy...which is impassable. The boats are loaded and the group leaders point out that there will be a small cave tour today...really cool, because then I would have seen two caves....yeaaahhhhh. But everything turns out differently 😞 on the way back, what always happens after paddling tours happens...the body gets what it needs - energy through sleep 💤. In the end, most of the participants are so exhausted that the cave tour is cancelled, which makes me really sad, but I can also understand it. I wouldn't go into the cave with my participants either. So it looks like it will just be a cave visit...Back in Prades, we put our things away in the bus, say goodbye to the group and drive to Sainte Enimie to have tea/coffee. Upon arrival at the hotel, our landlady immediately opens the garage for us to hang up our things...simply great 👏...we go to the room, shower, and doze off a little...apparently we also need energy ☺️ In the evening we go to Christiane's Pizzeria L'Eden, because tomorrow we will be out in the highlands, and we want to thank her for the help with borrowed equipment, valuable tips, information, a bus provided for shuttle service free of charge, a cave tour, and all in all...a big thank you!!! We are having a set menu again tonight and, like all the meals here so far, it is very very very 😋 for both of us 🥗, Jörg then has beef goulash with scalloped potatoes and I have rice with chicken in 🍍- 🍛 (pineapple curry) sauce and for dessert, Jörg has fruit salad and... 🍧 for me 😉 another day comes to an end and tomorrow is the last day. We're looking forward to the highlands and say good night! Big hug, my dears ☺️