We were ready for some fresh air, good exercise, and fun on the river Dordogne.
One of the special experiences on the Rick Steves' trips is the opportunity to meet some very nice people. At first meeting, everyone is typically polite and careful with comments. By day 2 friendships begin to form and, well - the real personalities begin to show through. Our day on the Dordogne was on day 10 of the trip and provided the final attribute for complete group bonding: fear! No one wanted to experience the physical and emotional pain of tipping his/her canoe over. Good news: we all made it; both those with and those without any canoeing skills. We had a great time with lots of fun, good exercise, and an absolutely stunning views of the country side from the river. Thank you Patrick!
The river was framed in small farms, medieval villages, caves, castles, and ancient hillside dwellings. Wildlife, friendly locals (probably amused at yet another group of "Americans" enjoying the river), beautiful vistas, and interesting stops were evident along the way.

Here we have two of our world-class canoeists after a stunning demonstration of river transport skills. (yawn)