Saturday 7 June 2014

No snow toboggan

Posted by Rosie

It was Ben's birthday recently and last weekend we wanted to do something to help him celebrate.  Having recently written about thrill seeking in Normandy we felt we should give the birthday boy something new to get his adrenalin pumping. But what?

Horse riding - he's currently doing this at school

Mountain biking - nope - not thrilling enough for him

Car rally - not old enough

Kayaking - been there, done that.

Rock climbing - another one he's done and to be honest it was a bit wet.

Via Ferrata and zip wire - could do but he has already done this.

Tree top walks - well this was a possibility but Ben had other ideas.  Simon had picked up a leaflet recently about the Luge at Souleuvre.  The what?  Ah well, luge is the French for toboggan and last year AJ Hackett who run what can best be described as a thrill centre at the nearby viaduct of Souleuvre opened a railed toboggan.  So for Bens' birthday we went:


No snow tobogganing!  


Click to make bigger

1 km of track and speeds of up to 42 kms an hour.  Suffice it to say - one go was not enough and I fear we may well be back here again very soon.

At least the boys didn't quite fancy (yet) doing some of the more daring things also available at Souleuvre:

  • The Flying Fox Zip Wire  -a 400m zip wire for 1,2 or 3 people, reaching speeds of 100km/hr
  • Top Swing - the highest swing in France at 61m 
    Bungy jumping at Souleuvre
  • Bungee Jumping - throw yourself off the 61m viaduct with just a piece of knicker elastic to save you.

Are you a thrill seeker?  Would you have a go or have you already bungee jumped?  If you do fancy having a go at any of these activities, The Viaduct de Souleuvre is just 1/2 an hour from Eco-Gites of Lenault.  Me - no, I like to keep 2 feet firmly or terra firma and was quite happy to act a chief photographer and walk the dogs! The valley has some lovely paths for walking or cycling and the countryside views from the top of the viaduct are stunning.

 

14 comments :

  1. That sounds amazing great birthday treat #countrykids

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  2. Aaaaaargh! Nothing in the world would persuade me to bungee jump or do a zip wire which went that fast! I consider myself lucky that I can get my thrills in going for beautiful walks, smelling the flowers etc. That said, I think my boys would absolutely love that railed toboggan! #CountryKids

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  3. What a fab birthday present - I think the look on Ben's face says it all. Thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.

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    1. He was almost too scared to go but then loved it and went on several more times afterwards yelling "go faster .... no, break!!"

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  4. What a great birthday present!! I looks like a lot of fun :D

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  5. Wow, definite thrill seekers in your family.

    I'd love to try the toboggan, but bungee jumping. I wouldn't choose to do it...if it came to it, I might do it just to say I'd done it. But can't say it's something ~I particularly fancy.

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    1. I might have had a go when I was younger but now - NO WAY!

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  6. There is a no snow toboggan not far from us and it's great, this one looks super duper though. No I wouldn't have jumped, i'm like you prefer to have my feet firmly on the ground ;) #magicmoments

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  7. I faint easy. So if I will bungee jump of do something extreme I will probably faint somewhere in the middle. I leave these sports to my son and husband =P #magicmoments

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    1. It is certainly the men in this family who do the mad things - I prefer taking the photos!

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