Finally after being sent away by the grumpy freight man 3 times, the kayaks arrived at 9am. Dale and I completed our 28 hour round trip back to Minden. The road trip was hysterically funny and frustrating at times but if you ever have 8 hours and a bottle of whiskey I'll fill you in!!!!!
When we arrived in Minden at the Gull river the boater cross was just finishing. Cole finished 2nd. (I'm writing this at 5am and don't have results with me).
That night all the paddlers had 45 minutes on the river with very happy faces back in their own boats finally. We went back the next morning for another session before the race started at midday. The course at Minden is very big and has a huge fast chute for the first 5 gates then a big drop at the end. Photos will follow. At the end of that day the course moved downstream. The next morning we returned for another race before the series prizegiving in which several of our team won teva shoes for their overall placing.
At 2 pm we drove to Niagara Falls. Sadly due to traffic we missed our jet boat ride on the massive rapids. However all the team loved Niagara followed by all you can eat tea/desert and fireworks over the falls at night all floodlit.
11pm to bed and 530 to rise after a sleepless night on the van floor (hostel was about 300 degrees and van has aircon!!) we started the massive drive to Wausau. It took 17 hours including stops but we made it. I didn’t know my body could stand to drive that long but cruise control worked hard for 14 hours. Wendy was an absolute legend also singlehandedly managing the drive and the kids managed to get some well earned if uncomfortable rest.
Dale and I spent the entire day in radio communication telling jokes, singing songs and generally keeping our spirits high....sorry kids if it kept you awake but it certainly passed a very long day well.
We arrived at 10pm to luxury accommodation at bargain prices at Rib Mountain Inn. Checked in and to bed…..smart enough not to give kids the internet password ;-)
Off to the course at 9 for our first session and 8 days in one place.
I’ll send photos and results later today.
Feelfree to leave a comment so we know people are reading. Cheers, Andy.
4 comments:
Hi yes we are reading , sounds like you guys have had the mission of all missions. Great to read the updates and I know how much effort goes into producing them when all you want to do is sleep sometimes. We are all in Leipzig, training for the WC 3 race starting Friday.
It is cold and wet but forecast to clear. The course is artificial from an open cast mine filled into a lake. It flows in the opposite direction to Penrith. Just off to the laundromat for my small whanau team.
Take care and good luck to all for the Wausau race. Sue, Bryden, Ella and Jane
Knowing your driving andy I thought you would of knocked a few hours off the time.
Good luck to everyone racing in Wausau,
Callum
Hi Guys,
yes we certainly are reading the blog, what a mission you have all had. I did get several txts on the way so was keeping tabs of you.
Train hard for racing this weekend
take care
Lou
thanks for the updates Andy! Good luck to the team for the race this weekend.
From The Whiteheads
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