Romancing the
DRÔME
Expérience en arrière-pays [ Backcountry experience ] In 1936 , Henri Cartier-Bresson photographed families camping out by the River Marne , to the south-east of Paris , “ Capturing dips in the river and countryside picnics of wine , bread and cheese ,” as ordinary workers started taking advantage of the freedom which came with their first ever paid holiday time . Some 75 years later , adventure photographer , Paul Villecourt , set about celebrating how these pioneers took to activity en plein air by inviting friends to join him for a first-ever Open Canoe Festival ( OCF ) on the banks of the River Drôme in southern France .
The romance of unscripted adventures in a wonderful setting initially drew enthusiasts , and the enthusiasts encouraged Paul to repeat the event . Many became familiar with the region through these early encounters , even developing a sense of belonging ( https :// paddlerezine . com / revisitingunfamiliar-haunts ). The prospect of returning would inspire some of us through long winters , and a few of us openly romanticised the event online and in print . We romanticised its communities of enthusiasts and stunning landscapes and touched on a deeper romance connecting the Open Canoe Festival to La magie de l ’ arrière-pays . PADDLER 19