Training Log Archive: Dolf

Looks like the start of a Love/Hate relationship with the Valley...

To be honest, only about 2 minutes out of the 8 and a bit hours where hate but it was a good introduction to the adrenaline filled runs through the enticingly named rapids such as, The Shredder, Washing Machine & Bone Breaker.
I fell off a few times, lost my paddle once (thanks Matt), got stuck in trees and on rocks and got into a couple of tricky situations that clearly showed who was boss out of the River and me.
But for a couple of minutes in Championships rapids I was scared. Up onto a rock when trying to get over to the left just after the start my ski was turned sideways, off I came and holding on to my ski I went under. The force of the water seemed much stronger and nearly got pulled away. I managed to grab the other side of the ski and pull myself up behind it, only to see it wrap around the rock. I held onto a nearby tree and struggled to pull the ski off the rock, after getting it free and watching it bounce down the rapids with a nice big dent underneath I only had one option. So I followed it down feet up, ass bouncing off the rocks, somehow managing to hold onto my paddle this time.
After climbing out very shaken, Dangerman retrieved my ski and we witnessed similar events involving Matt (Bent ski, Ass ride, lost paddle, Hypothermia) and Steve (Ass ride, lost paddle). I can see why this is Juffy's favorite part of the river....... not.
We had quite a long break, Looking for paddles, Matt getting changed an
trying to warm up, then Juffy, Dangerman and Steve making a new paddle out of two broken paddles and a tiedown strap. (see following pics)
Back into it with plenty more minor rapids (they actually looked scary at the start of the day) then just Syds (awesome fun) and Bells (Dangerman joined the bent ski club) before we were well and truly finished for the day.

Thanks to Juffy and Steve for some much appreciated advice ("Take the right channel it's much easier ............ I think.") and to Matt (for putting up with a couple of sick jokes) and Dangerman for ignoring Juffy's advice at times and showing the best way is to sometimes go straight into the DANGERZONE.

Can't wait for next time..

Here are some pics...

Getting ready...


Matt & Dangerman making it look easy...


Steve making it look hard...


Matt taking his ski for a walk...


Not sure what Matt is doing to Juffy???


Dangerman playing hide the ski...


Sometimes you have to improvise...


Highway to the Danger Zone...


Steve making it look easy...


Hows the serenity?

Lovely run in the wind and pelting rain.
After a week of being flat out at work, Deb and the girls home sick with the flu, and a funeral to go to yesterday I had a small window of opportunity to get some exercise in this evening.
I left knowing that it was going to get nasty, but running in the wind and rain I felt the best I had all week.
With all the germs in the house I've just been hoping to dodge getting sick until after the valley run tomorrow. So far so good...