We are planning a boat/canoe trip down the Loire River in France in mid September of 2011.

In France the Loire is known as the Queen of Rivers, the last wild river in Europe, the playground and battleground of rulers and of those who would rule. It is also a place of great natural beauty. Kingfishers flit by in a flash of florescent blue. Dainty roe deer pick their way through the current between islands. Participants will watch the sun set on bridges that have withstood the floods of 700 years, on medieval castles dominating the towns gathered at the foot of their walls, eat wonderful dinners washed down with the legendary wines, Rosé d’Anjou, sparkling Vouvray, the flinty whites of Pouilly Fumé, from the vineyards that stretch along the banks of the Loire.

There will also be some places available for people to reserve a place on a traditional Loire river wooden boat, a futreau with a square sail, that will be sailed, poled, and motored down the river.

Much talked about in Duckworks Magazine and on the Duckworks Forum, the idea is for a group of friendly adventurous people to spend a couple of days building Michael Storer's Quick Canoes

http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/storer/qc150/index.htm

and then paddle them down the Loire.

The dates to plan on are: Thursday 8 Sept through Thursday 22 Sept, 2011.

This forum is dedicated to discussing and planning the event, and is open to all interested. Part of the plan is to require a $300 deposit from those coming to cover up-front organizing and materials costs. So depending on the traffic, it may be that once the deposit deadline is past, I will limit comments to those who have reserved a place on the trip to keep things concise and better organized.

Cheers, Brian Anderson