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Canoes de Beaucaire
It is possible to hire a variety of canoes and kayaks by the hour to paddle along the river between two weirs (one is at Beaucaire, so it's mainly downstream towards Valence). The flow is ever so gentle usually - in fact even after quite heavy rain this year, the flow was almost non-existent and it was necessary to paddle to make any headway at all!
The canoes are heavy-duty plastic ones which can be difficult to steer because of their weight, and you are absolutely guaranteed to get soaked. Within minutes you are sitting in an inch of water!
However, the real fun is to be had by joining one of their two half-day tours, either from Bonas to Beaucaire (three weirs) or Beaucaire to Valence (two weirs). The latter takes 3 - 3.5 hours and the latter 2 to 2.5 hours. Generally, the former is done in the afternoon, and the latter in the morning, but low river levels can lead to the Valence trip substituting for the Bonas trip.
Most people's views of weirs are as dangerous roaring whirlpools and turbulant water, but along the Baise the width of the canalised river at the weir and the diversion of the lock channel further lessens the flow. The kayaks and canoes are portaged over the weirs fairly easily - at the first, they are simply shoved over the top. The second weir, closer to Valence shows how powerful the river can be in flood: the weir has been devastated by flooding water and the river level is now very low (especially close to the weir above where the water is barely three cm deep).
The trip can be very tiring by the time you reach Valence, especially as the flow is not enough to keep you moving. But it is a great few hours of exercise. Be prepared to get very wet, and make sure to take water if it is sunny.
