Great news the white water is flowing and we have now had two sessions. You would have to laugh as once they got the pumps fixed, (rumour has it some damage caused by an alligator in the pump, but who knows) someone lost the key to open the gate to let water flow down the white water course so all sessions started 30 minutes late yesterday.
We took the opportunity to visit the Brazilian side of the Falls and luckily we had free entry from the organisers as an apology for lack of white water. perfect timing as we had planned to go that day anyway.
We have also been to the Bird Park and both sightseeing expeditions a big hit- knocking off a few sights while we have rental cars and early in training so not getting too tired close to racing.
We have had brilliant sunny days- late 20's early 30's so very hot but air con in rooms so ok once we get back to hotel.
Its been very humid but heavens have just opened so perhaps that will relieve the mugginess a bit. We have four small Ford cars, a bit like the movie 'The Italian Job' when we leave our gated parking lot and head out. It takes about 20 minutes to the course, 4 drivers ( Sue, Aaron. Martin & Malcolm) Everyone gets in the same car, same seats- I was laughing with my car lot as its a bit of a practice for the rest home .... same seats everyday!
We are on a roll now with meals and getting organised
Breakfast is a buffet, ideal as there is lots of choice even if some strange cakes and jellies in shot glasses. Lovely fruit though!
Lunch we self cater and with the chilli bin, 2 plates, three forks and one knife I purchased ( almost 100% fail on bringing the mess kit as per packing list) a good bakery two doors along and 500m to supermarket it seems to be working Ok, There are three tables in a communal area which we commandeer at lunch - we leave a bit of a mess on the floor but the hotel seem Ok with it and refuse to give me a broom to clean it up. Today I have got onto google translate and then took a note to the breakfast cooks to ask if we could have 17 boiled eggs (ovos) for lunch . With lots of hand gestures and me flapping my arms like a chook , I think they got the message although no eggs have appeared yet.
Kids have fridges in rooms so can have extra food for in between snacks.
Dinner so far has been mostly at this Brazilian BBQ place next door- costs around $13 NZ for all you can eat plus a bottle of water. The boys are mostly into speed eating and have timed they can be in an out in 20 minutes- the meat is continuous from a rotisserie BBQ arrangement and there is plenty and its really good. They have a dessert buffet and the finale is the BBQ pineapple which is rotisseried whole and coated in a sugary cinnamon mix and they bring it around and carve off slices.
Some of us are taking a more leisurely pace ( than the 20 minutes) and having an adult drink- caiparinha - lots fresh limes- Yum.
Dave & Marg McCulloch have joined us a couple of times and they head off now for a week then will be back for the business end.
We were invited out to the Brazilian team's compound. It was Pepe's birthday (one of their team ) I say a compound as they all live together with a gym and pool and even a cook. Ettore their coach ( from Italy) cooked the BBQ (Churrascaria ), all meat and buns and it was a bit chaotic as lots of young kayayers. Very vibrant and we got a glimpse of how they party when people started to dance, then drums and ukes came out. We got everyone home early but Im sure if the racing had been over it may have been more of a struggle. Great to see teams mixing up though and it seems that our Churrascaria restaurant next door is popular with all the teams so at night its been just about full with kayakers.
Not sure that many are handwashing but I sussed a laundry place outside of the hotel for 8 Real per kg, so just under $4 so the troops went en masse yesterday with their named plastic bags of washing. Haven't got it back yet and there was some concern about whites and coloureds- be interesting to see if all works out.
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