Caving

Things are moving along well here in Liptovsky and everyone seems to be adapting to the environments. The weather has been pretty hot lately and everyone has been either studying or resting between the sessions. So not too much to report over the last couple of days. We have found a cheap place for dinner as we are unable to cook at this stage, however we will investigate having a BBQ later in the week. A few more teams are arriving, Australia, Canadians, USA, Slovenian, Irish Czechs and of course Slovaks.

This morning started off with an early speed session on the white water with Anna going for a flatwater recovery. After lunch whilst Ella and Malcolm studied Shaun, Anna, Ben and myself decided to go for a bit of a sunday drive up one of the mountains here. It is Slovakia's biggest ski area and there is resorts and chairlifts everywhere. We also found the 'ice caves' and decided to check them out.  A short 20min walk up the hill in 30degrees then down the stairs into the cave to a chilly -1 to 2degrees. Ben was pretty keen on taking some ice for his drink, while Shaun wanting to have a lick right there.. The tour was pretty cool although it was in Slovak so we couldn't understand too much. It was a fairly open/touristy cave system with all the usual, bats, stalactites/mights, animal bones and then some cool ice formations throughout the cave. A quick catch up from Seu World Cup, dinner and a late white water technique is in the plan for tonight night.

We have been well looked after by our host who has been pointing us in the right directions for bits and bobs and we will try go check out some thermal pools that are 5mins walk away and that have healing powers so Shaun might end up living in them to fix his shoulders.

Krakowski klub kajakowy - training in Poland

Team all down to breakfast at 7am looking great in team uniform - out to walk the course straight after a fantastic breakfast of eggs and tiny sausages, breads and cheese, peppers, sliced meats, cereals and yoghurt.

Its a very easy smooth motion to roll out of bed, down to a buffet breakfast, slide out the door and into your kayak ....

kayaks and gear change at the door of the hotel ....

looking back towards the hotel and hostel from the steps up to the course

looking up the course from the top of the steps

This mornings session was all about getting to know the course and Deahna had a go in Finns old boat, and apart from not being able to reach the foot pegs she thinks it might suit her better for the next few days until she gets her new one, Pavel has since put foam blocks in the boat and now she can reach. Kids all had a great time conquering the drops and the large deep eddies - the day was heating up as they headed up to the hostel at 9.30 for some quiet time and lunch at 12.

 This afternoon they walked the course in the 30degree heat and then completed a series of halves and a tech session. The main drop under the bridge caused some grief for the C2 boys at times - the course is long and straight with muddy water but is very well designed with very forgiving plastic bollards. Once again we had the parade of old folk sunbaking - however this time it was only old men in their y fronts lying all over the  tiered seating at the sides of the course smoking, drinking and watching the kids .... makes you wonder how it would be tolerated in NZ. Martin is thrilled to find that his photo is still up on the wall in the hostel hallway hall of fame - his last competition here in the C2 at the European champs.

Some of the kids investigated the swimming pool and spa facilities here while Dale and a few of the others took the black van on a wee trip to try and find a supermarket for snack food - the receptionist at the hotel sent them to a tiny village with two tiny shops, the one in the photo above is the biggest one, and a post office at which Deahna tried to post home some post cards - it was a mission which almost defeated her until 

Dale gave her some Zlotys (polish currency) and the lady smiled and finally agreed to give her a stamp On the other hand Dan and Luke nearly caused an international incident trying to buy some mizone and an icecream from Polands version of  Arkwright in 'Open all Hours' .... after the lady almost yelling at them and waving her arms around a fair bit they finally figured out there was a minimum purchase if they wanted to use their card so put both lots together and avoided John Key having to send someone to mend international relations. However they decided that it was actually really cheap and spent the next 10 minutes with their phones and currency converters working out how exactly how much cheaper than NZ it was. 

Back for tea at 6 which was miles better than what Martin and Pavel had led us to believe from their previous trips here, then up to video review and a team meeting to plan tomorrows training and site seeing excursion.

Ljubljana to Kracow

Yesterday was a very long day as evidenced by us writing the blog this morning rather than last night at 11.30 pm. We started with our last training at Tacen at 8.00am although it was 30 minutes later before we could get on the course as there was a gang of surveyors working doing lots of measurements before and after it filled. The drop still proved very challenging and everybody had to roll at some stage although not as bad as one Slovenian paddler who ended up going down the most of the shute backwards.

Deahna on Tacen

Patrick is in there somewhere

 The weather was still very hot and it was  heartbreaking to leave the water and climb in to the vans for the long trip to Poland. Martin and Pavel did a great job driving ,translating and navigating. The view from the van slowly got more industrial as we left Slovenia and went through Austria to the Czech Republic. Lots of wind farms, power stations, motorway interchanges, road works and tiny villages on the hills in the distance.
The scenery was often limited by the motorways high walls and of course we were trying to take the quickest route to Poland - 12 hours wasn't very quick ...... Martin was magic navigating us here without an error.

Pavel on the long drive

Deahna, Callum and Haylee

Following Martin's crew 

the square in Sigmund Freud's home town in Czech Republic

heading for dinner in the market square Czech

 We travelled for about 3 hours through Czech Repulic and stopped at a town called Pribor for dinner - the translation of this town is Cutlery .... and it happened to be the birthplace of Sigmund Freud.

Dinner 

Back into the vans for the last push to Poland - slow bit of the trip as there were lots of road works and on some stretches of the motorway there were many sets of traffic lights - Pavel shot through a few orange ones to try and keep up with Martin who was on a mission .....

Arrived in the dark to the Hostel and Hotel Kolna which is right on the course - haven't been outside yet to look at the course but we can hear it from our room ...... down to meet the kids for breakfast. 

paddles, boats and elbows

Hot already by the time we loaded up into the vans at 8am this morning and headed to the course. Kids a bit amazed at the chinese family at breakfast this morning who had chosen from the buffet, chopped up red and green peppers and sliced tomato with runny strawberry yoghurt poured over the top ..... eaten with a spoon. We are assuming they couldnt read the Slovenian signs ... mind you neither can we.!!! Water came on right on time again however the kids were all on the water chaffing at the bit at the top of the chute waiting to launch into it. We have been very lucky with the kayaks being stored on the trailer at the course and locked up each night by the kind raft operator whose business is next door to the course.

 

 This mornings session was thirds with video being taken - Pavel and Wendy left the course a little early to take the van to the auto shop to get welded up and collect fresh bread for lunch - managed to navigate the way there and back in time for video review and early lunch eaten under the shade of the boathouse and to the sight of Haylees boat lying injured on the grass - Callum also had a wee turn upside down being worked in the top hole but finally managed to roll up - no way was he going to bail. 

There is a Slovenian junior camp happening at the course from now on and the place was swarming with little kids. Our kids indulged in a push-up demonstration which keep the wee kids amused and impressed with New Zealand paddlers.

Robin, Dan, Callum and Deahna

  Back on the water after lunch - for some reason the water level had dropped a little and it was a bit shallow in parts - paddles didnt like it much and Finn and Matthew both needed repairs tonight.

boat and paddle repair, Wendy, Patrick, Martin

 The C2 boys of Dan and Luke gave us all a great show coming down the chute and missing their line and flipping over - a very high speed crash with crunching and banging noises to accompany the show - they didnt come out but had a bit of skin off elbows and water up the nose, head shaking and loose looking arms and caused Wendy to think she might need the elastoplasts, but they are tougher than that, and got out and headed straight back up again.

 The girls, except Jess who is looking after her arms, did a flat water session in the afternoon with Haylee using Jess's boat so hers could dry out in readiness for mending tonight

. Finn and Pavel ended up having the whole course to themselves near the end of the session as the shallow water, hot sun and tired bodies gave up and packed up.The wee kids were all ready to go and we wondered where on earth the training was going to be held, however they all got in at the bottom of the chute and with arms as fat as our kids big toes and heads barely above the top of the spray decks they swished off down the course ..... no wonder European paddlers are so good.  Headed back to town, quick change for some, and  into the old town centre to explore and shops and eat yet more icecream. We all met up at the three bridges and went to our half price pizza place for tea again - not worth cooking as we were all feed and watered for less than 5 euros each. Kids went off in groups for more exploring of the old town as the sun went down and the night life started to kick into action - some went to the top of Ljubljanas highest building to take in the view, others walked up the narrow cobbled track to the castle on top of the hill, and others sat in the town square and listened to buskers and watched the street performers.

family photo after tea -( Patrick Washer photographer)

 All back on time to collect yet more finished washing from the piles on the floor of Wendy and Dales room - funny how there are always undies and socks unclaimed - someone will be going commando soon if the stash keeps getting bigger. Very early start tomorrow, van needs to be loaded by 6.45, breakfast from 7 till 7.15 then straight to the course for a single session before the long 8 and a half hour drive to Poland.