Hexatrek Hiker Discovers Kayak Section on French Trail

A hiker on the Hexatrek long-distance trail spent a morning walking parallel paths before a chance meeting revealed an upcoming kayaking opportunity. The day's trek involved farm walking, handling animal pastures, and seeking relief from intense heat in a river.

Morning Detours and Blackberry Breakfast

The hiker, writing for The Trek, broke camp in the dark and walked for about two hours on trails near, but not directly on, the official Hexatrek route. The path led through a farmer's meadow, requiring navigation over a barbed wire fence. After stopping to prepare a cold-soak breakfast, the hiker settled on a quantity of foraged blackberries determined solely by what would fit in the jar alongside other ingredients, declaring it the best trail breakfast to date.

A Fortuitous Trail Meeting

Later in the morning, the hiker rejoined the official Hexatrek and met a couple also hiking the route, whom they had encountered days earlier. This conversation provided key trail intelligence. "They asked me if I was going to do the kayak section in a couple of days," the hiker reported. Delighted by the prospect of changing transport mode and cooling off, the hiker extracted details and noted the location on a map. The rest of the morning passed through farmland described as "fairly boring," with endless views of grass scorched by the heat.

Afternoon Refuge from the Heat

The hike led to the town of Le Pont-de-Montvert around lunchtime, a destination chosen for its bridge and the promise of water underneath. The hiker noted the area's literary connection, mentioning that Robert Louis Stevenson had once wandered through. The afternoon was spent primarily submerged in the river to escape temperatures, which the source states were a "mild 38°C." A brief stop at the tourist office provided a chance to charge electronics before the evening hike resumed at 6 p.m.

Evening Ascent and Covert Camping

The final climb of the day was a slow ascent grazed with more blackberries. Upon reaching the hilltop, the chosen bivouac site was surrounded by sheep and cows in an area with unclear fencing. After receiving a "very favourable" response from the local sheep, the tent was pitched. The hiker fell asleep practising kayaking strokes in anticipation of the newly discovered water-based trail section ahead.