Saint Pardoux

For a day trip we decided to head off to the lakes at Saint Pardoux. Filling the boot of the car with picnic group and a canoe, we finally set off at 11:00 with the temperature pleasantly in the high 20's; by the time we reached the lakes - after a pit-stop in Bellac to fetch a sun-umbrella, it was well into the 30's in the shade. Temperatures continued to rise through the day, peaking at well over 35 at 7 o'clock. Not a cloud in the sky the whole day, only varying shades of blue.

These man-made lakes (as a reservoir) are pretty large and several locations have been developed as activity centres.

1. we passed by one leading down to the ski-centre, just out of Saint Pardoux village which was very attractive but all the shaded areas under the trees were already taken
2. passed on the activity centre below la Maison du Lac; it was a fair stretch from parking to shoreline with hardly any shelter
3. the Site de Cabannes was mobbed with children and other visitors; glad we didn't aim for there though the location was great

Time for Home

Instead we found an empty car park just before the new bridge over the Couze. Across the road a few fishermen were dotted about the shore but down the hill on our side, was a little inlet; initially we were shaded by large trees but as the sun moved round, we were forced repeatedly to retreat up the hill. When we arrived there was not a soul about but the parking soon filled up though it never felt busy - just a few swimmers or dog walkers passing by.

The lakes must be just below an International East-West flight path; the contrails of the high-flying jets were about the only thing changing in this idyllic setting - we counted 9 planes overhead at one time but the traffic flow was continuous and thankfully silent. Unlike the fish popping in the water but the water-boatmen skipping across the surface or the blue and red damsel flies dancing by all kept their peace.

After Pauline & Sybil cooled down with a swim, we got the canoe out. Tootling out into deeper water we could see the water sports centre at the Maison du Lac including a marina for sail-boats. Better still were little sandy spots on the forested shoreline where couples or family groups had the world to themselves, paddling or swimming in the warm water; we know where look the next time we visit.

Our canoe may not make it back though; we had to pump up the left side before final launch; but it must have a leak - it soon started listing as it deflated. Still by our reckoning, the canoe has survived treks round Ireland and beyond since 2008, not being looked after terribly well either. Today one of the top covers blew out as it was being inflated too; so thats at least two leaks to be repaired. Perhaps we will get the Sevylor we should have got had we known and the Sea Eagle can be our backup. Or maybe I will build an Indian canoe as I keep threatening...I have the book, after all!