the crazy and eco-friendly challenge of two students!
That’s it, the canoe of Léo-Paul Farizon and Alexandre Chevalier, finally touches the water of the Norges river in Chevigny-Saint-Sauveur (Côte-d’Or). This Wednesday, July 6, a few friends and family members are there from 9 a.m. to say goodbye.
Physio students in Dijon, the two côtes-d’oriens have spent six months preparing for this trip which will take them to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (Bouches-du-Rhône). For this challenge, they represented 1,550 euros thanks to their important communication carried out on their social networks where everyone can follow their adventures.
“Anything is possible. If you want to do something, you will find the way to do it” says Alexander. The two young men weren’t terrified when they set off despite a somewhat perilous launch from the banks of the Norges. You have to lower the canoe into the water, don’t forget anything and already think about the lunchtime picnic break. In the belly of the boat, the two adventurers stowed six kilos of rice, pasta and dried fruit for the first few days.
Filter water bottles and camera
This idea was born on a whim “I was bored at my grandmother’s and I promised myself to occupy my holidays…” confides Léo-Paul, but this crazy idea takes on an almost scientific dimension. “We want to promote an ecological way of traveling that respects the environment, the H2O Lyon school and the IMU-studio (a university research laboratory)- Editor’s note-) we asked to question the users of the Saône and the Rhône to find out their expectations. But we must also take photos to feed a future exhibition in order to show the current state of the rivers”.
Throughout their journey, Alexandre and Léo-Paul will have to make water samples using two filter gourds provided by their partners. All of this will be used to assess the evolution of the environment. First lesson, the high temperatures and the lack of water in Côte-d’Or forced the two friends to leave on foot and to tow their ship baptized “Barnabé” by their Instagram followers. Take heart, see you in about two weeks for their arrival in salt water.
(Report and photos Nathéo Dillenseger)