It's been absolutely beautiful lately in these parts and for some time a canoeing trip has been in order. After gathering up lifevests, anti-mosquito lemongrass spray, sunblock, and water jugs (all things we don't regularly use), tomorrow will be spent together in the company of Jérémy, our invité, on our state's main river, La Juine. We're going to Etampes, a medium-sized town in the south, and then coming back upstream again. It's a rather lazy river, fitting since we'll be in this lazy boat:



Cédric's grandpa built it around the time paid vacation was granted to French workers. His family has used it ever since on the Juine, which runs behind both of our houses, as well as on the ocean and on several lakes.

We have a couple obstacles to face, although the weather will be perfect. For one, there's a mill halfway through to our destination at Auvers Saint Georges, which will require us to lift the boat out of the water and carry it to the other side of the mill. Secondly, there are two river patrol officers that we may have to clear. Normally this shouldn't be a problem, since we'll all be wearing our life jackets, but the boat isn't licensed (I've been told there's no need for a boating license around here) and, having grown up on the banks of the Ohio, I just feel weird being in a boat without a little metal plate with the year on it attached to the side. All of the other boaters I've noticed don't have licenses (at least not visibly), so I imagine we're not in breach of the law.

I'm excited, worried, and adventurous, but most of all I'm ready. Donc soyez prévenus, demain La Juine est à nous !