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Photos

Friday

Good session this morning. Trip into the small town of Foix for the girls and some shopping at the market. A trip to the lake for flat water paddle, prior to that a shop at Decathlon a huge store for all things sporting. Bought weights for boats- a combo of fishing weights and weights for those weight lifting bars aftyer having been all over the town trying to find lead.
Home for dinner and I made my first ever cherry pie- what a luxury to have enought cherries to actually cook some.

Full run/race simulation went well and team got some idea of where they are at with some of the competition. The Brits were here with 5 support staff for 3 and a half days only , all funded by their Lottery board. We can only dream!
Afternoon session was a bit frustrating for some with tiredness and several with headaches. Bit of jetlag and cos it is a bit chilly possibly not enough fluid. Good to get these things sorted out early . Kidda has changed the plan to make a light day today with only 1 session and then Saturday/Sunday 2 sessions a day again. Havent even been into the town of Foix for a look so will probably have a wander this arvo. No coffee for four days so may have to shout myself one somewhere and kids an icecream! Still damp and a bit chilly but nothing like what we saw on news in other parts of France.

All boats sorted and team training with Brits this morning

All boats now in Foix and kitted out. Back yard resembles a boat factory with bits of foam, glue, resin scattered everywhere. Lucky our hosts are so understanding and have lent, drills, hack saws and more to get them all kitted out. Very wet yesterday so boats inside- lit the fire to keep them and us dry and warm.
Team having a full run session with Brits and Italian juniors this morning and I will walk via supermarche to collect food.
Have use of a basic kitchen in our flat and our hosts full kitchen and two fridges so meals flowing well now . We have a dining table set up for 9 , and even having lunch together with the table all set- like the French! even having crepes today - made them for last night but kids too full to eat dessert- a good sign!!

BOP Times article here- not quite right but any news is good news !!...http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/sport/news/olympic-ambition-keeps-rep-at-home/3915920/

Foix

Half the boats have arrived and hope that we have tracked the Vadja boats for this morning. Bit tough for Callum and Carl, but they borrowed baots and had a paddle after second session last night.
Haven kitting out C1 still which is a major. We have 14 sessions booked here in Foix, so lots of time in this training block to get really familiar with the river, which is the objective.
Was pretty cold yesterday, not what we were expecting at all!

photos

Foix at last

After a very long day we arrived in Foix at 11pm. Kidda was waiting and I had pre organised dinner- fantastic to have our host Corrine and Andy have the table set, salad and lasagne for the troups who were pretty tired. We had meant to leave Paris at 9ish but were told roof racks wouldn’t be ready until 12 . Trained back to airport area and Eurolease pick up to find a Frenchie or two trying to work out how to put them together. Got practical Malcolm, the farmer lad, and then all the team onto it and after a bit of an Inspector Clouseau affair and at least 2 hours we were on the road. GPS telling me arrival time 11pm, just under 800km. Was not impressed!! We stopped just for food and diesel and made it 11.01pm- the longest drive I have ever done , but motorway great- tolls of about $50 and vehicle cruises easily at the speed limit 130kph. The final straw- no boats on arrival so chasing up first thing.
But kids loved Paris so was well worth it. After the bike trip day , we all except Callum, who had forgotton shoes walked to the Jardin de Luxembourg and kids did a run. Back for brekkie a French experience with French stick, jam, cheese hot chocolate, OJ and coffee. Great value hotel as this was included (Hotel Marignan 13 rue de Sommerard for anyone’s reference who wants a budget hotel/hostel in a great location). Hot footed it to the Louvre- used a side entrance , info coutesy of our tour guide from the previous day- no queue and straight up to the Italian masters and the Mona Lisa.
Kids wide eyed at the enormity of the building, the quantity and size of some of the art. After Mona Lisa to the Egpytian section- sargophagus, a mummy and more. Enough art for some, so we agreed to split. Girls walked the Jardin de Tuilerie to L’Orangerie to see Monet’s massive water lily series- just a contrast for them and a bit of an art history lesson on Impressionists.
Met family friend Anna Chrisp ex Tauranga, who has a job at the Australian embassy, and her boyfriend, caught the metro to Le Marais area and a little French bistro for a ‘girls’ lunch. Great to have a local show us around- Le Marais, a busy place on Sunday afternoon for the French locals, compared to tourists. A big Jewish area and as their holy day in Saturday, lots shops open Sunday. Jane and Alana made an op shop purchase then back on the metro. Had a scheduled 4pm meeting with the boys and arrived near the Eiffel Tower to crazy scenes of riot police and hordes Algerians, singing, banging tins , marching in groups. They had just played Slovenia at WC soccer and we thought they must have won with the scenes around us! Thought we’d never spot the boys but luckily met as arranged. They had hired bikes from the guy from the previous day- 10 euro for the day- great value and had been back to see lots of things mentioned the day before- Arc de Triomphe, street theatre outside George Pompidou, inside Notre Dame- pretty impressed with their resourcefulness and they were having lots of fun. Padlocked their bikes then joined the queue. Luckily wehad pre purchased tickets via internet which cut the waiting time. Bit of a trick though as they take you to second floor then need another ticket. Nice man let me jump the barrier and a queue to get tickets and then we were at the top. Magic view and with our tour the day before they could all see all the land marks and areas we had biked. Lots of photos and off again. Super shoppers wanted to get back to catch the last of the stores at Le Marais, so two more metro rides and the girls have got this transport totally sussed now. Boys biked back with bikes and we all met en route to hotel about7.30ish by this stage. 30 minute turn around and off for dinner- then with very aching feet we traipsed to the Seine to view the Notre Dame , lit up and soak in the atmosphere of this magical city. Lots of people, street performance, fire dancers, magic acts and a group who had taken over a small bridge by Notre Dame for roller blading. The had set up a ramp and high jump affair- impressive! Photos later when we get organised !

Paris

After the long flight we arrived in Paris at 7.20am. Most got sleep so we were ready to hit Paris. Eurolease company eventually collected us and we went to the depot, after putting kayaks in the van, with a little rearranging of headrests.
Our vehicle roofracks arent available until 12 noon Monday, but we had already plans for 2 nights in Paris. Caught the train into Paris and kids eyes are wide open at the melting pot of people on the train- Africans in caftans, being the most colourful. At one stop someone just jumped on and started playing the accordian- like something from a movie set. Followed the directions, wheeling bags to the hotel I had booked. 1 star to fit the budget but just off St Germain des Pres and 5 mins to Notre Dame and lots attractions. First much needed showers then off to a market at the end of our street- fascinating with the cheeses, whole fish. poultry, fruit and vege and gorgeous flowers- peonies that I would have loved to scoop up and take home. Off to the boulangerie next and it took some deciding on what to have, it all looked sooo good! after a couple of hours wondering the banks and touristy stalls of the Seine we met our guide and bikes and we were off . We got an overview and saw so much . The trip was nearly four hours amd we covered lots a Paris with lots of stories about different areas, biking through the Louvre, Les Halles, Le Marais, Latin Quarter past Georges Pompidou, Hotel De Ville, Notre Dame. The troups were a bit exhausted by then so we headed back and recommeded French Restaurant , in the Latin Quarter . Was nice but everyone was nearly asleep in their food. Bed while it was still light. Headed off soon for the kids to run around Jardin du Luxembourg, breakfast then Louvre then up the Eiffell Tower at 4.30pm.