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2025 05 29 Day 5 Prades – Langeac (15km) grade 2+ by Nikki

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2025 05 29 Day 5 Prades – Langeac (15km) grade 2+ by Nikki

We were up and out early to head over to the River Allier, leaving the stunning Gorges du Tarn behind us.

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Prades – Langeac (15km) grade 2+

We enjoyed the scenery on the 2-hour drive, but were wary of the grey clouds overhead. Our previous experience from two years ago was that the Allier gorge was colder and wetter than the Allier. However, as we started to unload the cars in Prades, the sun came out, and it soon started to heat up.

2025 05 29 Day 5 Prades – Langeac by RA 003
We enjoyed the scenery on the 2-hour drive, but were wary of the grey clouds overhead.

The get-on at Prades may be one of the most impressive starts to a river anywhere. Lush green grass, a small sandy beach, a pretty bridge spanning the river, all overshadowed by a huge basalt rock formation forming the opposite bank of the river.

We launched and headed under the bridge and down the first shingle rapid or two. The river soon brings you to a sneaky little chute, whooshing you round to the left.

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The river soon brings you to a sneaky little chute, whooshing you round to the left.

After this, the river passes the railway arching high alongside and continues on its way. A series of easy shingle and low-grade rapids, with a few fun bouncy ones thrown in. The river winds through greenery and basalt columns, and rock formations.

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The river winds through greenery and basalt columns, and rock formations.

Early afternoon, and the sun was getting hot, but no swims had yet taken place.

We came to the weir. The weir has a glissiere (a chute made for canoes/kayaks). On our previous trip, this had been a boat swamper, but the river level was lower this time and therefore perhaps less likely to swamp, but there was a bit of a drop-off at the end of the ramp.

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There was a bit of a drop-off at the end of the ramp.

I went first, with some kayakers at the top telling me “á gauche”… weeee, SPLASH! I went gauche, straight over the side of my canoe. I grabbed my boat and dragged it to the bank, and turned around to see Martin doing the exact same thing… weee, SPLASH!

I looked at the rest of the group and gave them a “it’s up to you” signal. After much deliberation, everyone decided to portage, I have no idea why??

Finally cooled down, Martin and I each went to different places to meet the rest of the group, as we were aware of 2 portage routes and weren’t sure where they would pop out. In the end, we all gathered just below a small “wave” that had, on a previous trip, been an excellent surf wave.

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From here, the river continues with easy rapids and pretty scenery to the end at Langeac.

From here, the river continues with easy rapids and pretty scenery to the end at Langeac.

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