_Germany_ *Lake of Contance* (South: Baveria, Baden-Württemberg, Austria, Switzerland) - between Austria, Switzerland and Austria; Complete tour around the lake takes approx 7-8 days. Best paddling between May und August (beware of powerboats on weekends and in holiday season - 20/7 - 30/8). Lots of camping sites, several owned by Kayak Clubs of the DKV - Konstanz, Überlingen, Friedrichshafen, Lindau. Visitors Boat renting possible by commercia renters or - if lucky or member of the DKV or associated organisation - or at La Canoa, Konstanz (Ask for Kai Oberacker). Upper Danube (Oberes Donautal) (South: Baden Württemberg) - smal river in a "small canyon". Camping available, renting available at Besi´s (though environmentally quenstionable) *Regen* (Southeast: Baveria) - One of Herbert Rittlingers "dream rivers" from Blaibach near Cham to Regensburg and if you want further down to Romania (better: Straubing to get back to pick up your gear at Cham). Boat renting possible by commercia renters or - if lucky or member of the DKV or associated organisation - at KC Graf Luckner in Cham. Tour takes 7 days to Straubing. Smaller parts possible. *Havel* (Northeast: Mecklenburg - Vorpommern, Brandenburg) - From Kratzeburg (accessible by rail) to Fürstenberg and further on to Berlin (if you want) Leads you through the Natural Reserve of Müritz Nationalpark. No commando camping within the limits of the Nationalpark (fees of approx. 40 usd), but lots of camping sites. Boat renting possible by commercia renters or - if lucky or member of the DKV or associated organisation - or at Boat renting possible by commercia renters or - if lucky or member of the DKV or associated organisation - or at a commercial place near Kratzeburg. Most beautiful landscape. Take lots of time. *And then:* Elbe, Spreewald, Rhein, *Main*, lots of others - and WW, too (dont know much about the latter except keeping myself away from it) As for all these rivers and lakes check out the digital maps at www.kanu-info.de You´ll be amazed - do you have that knid of digital map somewhere on an UK or US server? Questions? Mail me. Or keep my or Rainer Schroeders phone number when you come over here. _France_ *La Loire* (of course) - from Digion (in summer with low water: Nevers) to ... where you want to (across the Atlantic back home?). Camping available, camping on sandbanks and shore most times possible (beware the fact that there might be cattle where there was none in the evening). *Grand Leyre* (Gascogne, half ways between Bordeaux and Spain border) Hidden in inland dunes in a natural reserve the Leyre (later, after joining with the Petit Leyre) the Eyre winds its way between, over and under trees for 70 kms until it goes into the bay of Arcachon and the Atlantic. It took Rittlinger and his family six days for 2o kms in the fifties due to all the trees in the water. From kayak base near Commensaq the river is almost cleaned (well, soso - not advisable for a foldable as I did) and tours with or without guides are possible. Camping is available in reasonable distances, toilets must have been seen (southern type: two steps and a hole - funny when I went there last week with a lumbago in holiday). Lots more, of course. I wonder what French members of paddlewise will write / have written. Since I am back from holiday in France for only three days I still havent read all digests. Until we meet have a good time on your water and keep the scratched side down, Frank Frank Fichtmueller, Guetebohlweg 4, D 78343 Gaienhofen (d) evkirche.hoeri_at_t-online.de (p) fichtmueller_at_gmx.de (T) (0049) + 7735 - 2074 (d) 2776 (p) (F) 1431 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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