Post Canal Racing
Apologies for the absence of communication, but on the canal there is not a minute to yourself (and trying to get on the internet there made me lose the will to live). Honestly, you wake for petit dejeuner at 6.30, on the bus at 7.15 and dont get back until 8 for dinner at 8.30, to start the same all over the next day - 5 days in a row...
For those who haven't tried the crazy canal race (or heard me rave about it) it can be described as many things: incredibly physical, requiring a huge amount of mental fortitude, strength... the Australian team tried to described it - definitely not Fun, definitely challenging mentally and physically. 'Bloody awful' was another description - and one of the Irish said 'never ever let me do this again.. how did i ever forget how hideous it is'.... In that discussion it was decided that it is like childbirth - hideous, painful but then you forget it and decide to do it again!
Having raced the 206 ks 5 or 6 times as a rower, I have now been seconded on to the 'security' arm of the organisation. Our job is to stop cyclists taking the wrong turn at intersections, to stop cyclists and boats from racing across main roads without supervision, and to help people lift and put the boats into the water as required.
I'm covered in bruises from lifting boats, covered in scratches from blackberry bushes (and that was just trying to find a toilet spot au naturale), and have cycled well and truly more than 206 ks - and at speed!
This year there was a team from Southend, an Irish team, two Australian teams and the ubiquitous Kiwi Team (let's face it, We are Everywhere). The English team needed some refining which i took on board (I mean seriously, you need to do some due diligence on our teammates if you are going to commit to this race ("what do you mean you have never rowed sculling before" isnt what you want to hear from a teammate on the first day, but there it was. And then one rower got sunstroke and I earned the name Florence while he threw up on the canal bank (''no, just take your time, I won't leave you here..")). The Irish finished in a cumulative time 11 hours slower than the fastest time: at one point I pulled rank and jumped in stroke seat and rowed the final 5.4 ks to Castelnaudary with La Belle Sophie (Security Team) in bow seat just to get to lunch: that's all I'm saying..). And the Kiwi team lost one rower to an Ambulance with a heart that went out of rhythm.. those Kiwi's just dug it in with one man down GO THE KIWIS.
21 teams, racing down the canals. On one corner the Security Team (me at this point) was cycling ahead Spotting Issues - on a particular corner which has claimed a few bow balls (a serious S Bend) i could see the potential of an Outcome with an approaching canal boat - I called out to the driver to 'pay attention, bateau approaching' and they decided to stop to watch - diagonally across the corner - serious language skills were required to move the excitable Spanish holiday makers on the boat along to a safer corner.
Anyway, everyone got from one end to the other - some crews liked each other less at the end, some more so. So here are a few photos..
Important information here - tells you how far you have been and how far until the next ecluse
And look who we found - Hartmut and Wahb who came to race in NZ in Hoea Kaha
Magali and Cleo - the much loved mascot - such an animated face!
Team Irish -
Sunflowers in the afternoon
Morning on the canal
Lunch in Castelnaudary
Bridges are narrow - competent coxes required
These guys take a lot of space on the canal if you are not watching
Team Kiwi from Hamilton
Team Security - Philippe, Henry, Martin, Josette, Felix
A 7am selfie outside the Carcassonne castle gates
Team Lille - the fastest slickest team on the canal this year
The Kiwi team waiting to go into Tunel Malpais
Honestly two of the most gorgeous teenage boys I've met in a long time - Martin and Felix. I've offered to adopt them...
How proud am I - this is a french team wearing their tshirts from Hoea Kaha, my own version of this rallye.
For those who haven't tried the crazy canal race (or heard me rave about it) it can be described as many things: incredibly physical, requiring a huge amount of mental fortitude, strength... the Australian team tried to described it - definitely not Fun, definitely challenging mentally and physically. 'Bloody awful' was another description - and one of the Irish said 'never ever let me do this again.. how did i ever forget how hideous it is'.... In that discussion it was decided that it is like childbirth - hideous, painful but then you forget it and decide to do it again!
Having raced the 206 ks 5 or 6 times as a rower, I have now been seconded on to the 'security' arm of the organisation. Our job is to stop cyclists taking the wrong turn at intersections, to stop cyclists and boats from racing across main roads without supervision, and to help people lift and put the boats into the water as required.
I'm covered in bruises from lifting boats, covered in scratches from blackberry bushes (and that was just trying to find a toilet spot au naturale), and have cycled well and truly more than 206 ks - and at speed!
This year there was a team from Southend, an Irish team, two Australian teams and the ubiquitous Kiwi Team (let's face it, We are Everywhere). The English team needed some refining which i took on board (I mean seriously, you need to do some due diligence on our teammates if you are going to commit to this race ("what do you mean you have never rowed sculling before" isnt what you want to hear from a teammate on the first day, but there it was. And then one rower got sunstroke and I earned the name Florence while he threw up on the canal bank (''no, just take your time, I won't leave you here..")). The Irish finished in a cumulative time 11 hours slower than the fastest time: at one point I pulled rank and jumped in stroke seat and rowed the final 5.4 ks to Castelnaudary with La Belle Sophie (Security Team) in bow seat just to get to lunch: that's all I'm saying..). And the Kiwi team lost one rower to an Ambulance with a heart that went out of rhythm.. those Kiwi's just dug it in with one man down GO THE KIWIS.
21 teams, racing down the canals. On one corner the Security Team (me at this point) was cycling ahead Spotting Issues - on a particular corner which has claimed a few bow balls (a serious S Bend) i could see the potential of an Outcome with an approaching canal boat - I called out to the driver to 'pay attention, bateau approaching' and they decided to stop to watch - diagonally across the corner - serious language skills were required to move the excitable Spanish holiday makers on the boat along to a safer corner.
Anyway, everyone got from one end to the other - some crews liked each other less at the end, some more so. So here are a few photos..
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