So two weeks to go.  starting to get the feeling I should have trained more, but the nerves are helped out because I have kind of wimped out and entered the race as a team of 2.  Having down the majority of the rapids that are a bit more ‘clenching’, the bit I was keen to do was the section called ‘the Tee Trees’.

The normal characters amassed on a cold saturday morning and slipped into some thing tight and neoprene.  It was a cold morning as I saw frost on some of the grass as we unloaded the boats from the roof of the car, a rare thing here I am told.

iI was pretty cold on the hands in the water, we put in just upstream from the start of the 8km tee tree section.  There was a very picturesque mist coming off the water as we set off.  just as we went the sun poked it head up and it was a very welcome warmth.

So, the Tee trees – what is it like.  Take a load of dense bushes that sit very close together, then run some fast flowing water through them and put in some tight turns.  Whats the fuss about I hear you think, try to manoeuvre a 5.9m surf ski through it. = Nightmare.

This is all I could really take picture wise in them as you are having to try and position the boat so much for each corner, usually failing then getting rammed into the side and falling in, then having to untangle the boat and some how mount it again in fast flowing river.

This is probably where I think most of the time will be lost in the race, as it is pretty difficult to navigate your way through and hard to recover mistakes.  I am sure there is going to be huge bottle necks for any of those not at the front and clear from the likes of me at the back causing obstructions ramming into every corner!

There were no real rapids of the day apart from the very last bit before we finished called ‘Posselt’s Ford’ (where we started form 2 weeks prior).  Easy little drop that requires not too much concentration or clenching.  So we thought, as Will went through it his nose smacked into something and made a huge “THUNK”.

You can’t see it that well in the above photo,  but what ever he hit bent his nose right back.  Will have to see how he goes fixing this – the next picture shows it a bit better.  The skis are plastic and pretty resistant, so hopefully he can pop it back out somehow.

After watching Will knacker his boat, Jo and I still decided we wanted to do it and went down it praying not to hear that expensive sound…..

First one is Jo – no noise, then me………. No Noise.  Phew.

A great way to spend a day, really glad I did it so know what to expect.  2 weeks and it will be with 300 others, it is going to be fun!!!!!!