French Alps 2019 paddling trip
Day 2b The River Onde by Craig Ford 
The vehicle shuttling for the afternoons paddle, The Onde, seemed to a precursor to the afternoon’s paddle. Winding narrow streets with jutting out houses designed to wreck our passing vehicles, and only one apparent line to follow.
However, on to the paddle itself, four groups set off, spaced out as there would be little opportunity for finding an eddy for anything bigger than a playboat. It was a case of follow the leader, who sometimes became the sacrificial paddler sat on a rock allowing the following group to avoid the obstacle. Leaders swapped regularly as rocks and different lines caused paddlers to progress at different speeds down the Onde, which had more than good line. A combination of good paddle line choices, fortuitous boofing and overhanging trees being dodged saw the group arrive safely at the get out.
The Onde even claims to have caused a hand roll, aka pushing off the bottom, but without the aid of a paddle. A river that was great fun trying to avoid being pinned against a rock with the exhilaration of getting it right and flowing down river facing the right way.
