A pretty packed and interesting weekend
It has been a pretty busy week with work and trying to fit in training but we managed to do about 12 Km in the pool. Not a hell of a lot but work played its part and I am now coming into a week where I am not on call so I would be able to spend a bit more time in the chlorine bathtub. Although it has not been a great week in the pool, The weekend all changed that a bit. Instead of the pool it was back in the kayak armed with new Dry bags and new video cameras, we were armed and dangerous to tackle the torrent of the River Wey.
Waking up to overcast and rain, things were not looking that great for a couple of hours on the River. Fortunately the weather cleared and by about midday, the clouds had gone and the Bright ball of warmth started to peek out from the clouds.
It was time to pack a bag and head over to Sues place to get the kayaks. Audra got into the water first and went and waited for me across the river. It was at this point that Mr Daddy swam decided that it was time to show who was ruler of the river.
Audra was over the other side of the river now I had to negotiate my way into the current, only to be confronted by a pretty pissed off swan who was very adamant that I was not going to go past the start. With head flat on its back, wings puffed out to look AS BIG as possible, he came charging toward me, in a mock charge routine. After two attempts, I managed to negotiate my way out into the river. I was just drifting down slowly in the current and looked behind me. There was Mr swan, charging after me. This time, it was not a mock charge – they can can move BLOODY quick when they want to get those webbed feet working.
As he approached, he lifted his head up to full hight and when he was along side, Extended both wings and Smacked me around the back of the head with his extended wings, not once, but twice – cheeky blighter!! The last time I got beaten around the head was when I was about 10 years old and that was generally the task that belonged to my father – NOT SOME FEATHERED FOWL!!
This was when I decided to get in on the act and tried to beat him off with my paddle – a lot more robust than a wing. He then powered away from me and tried to come at me again but thought twice when shown the paddle. Here, a truce was called and Audra then came past me and we were both swept away down the river to continue on a what turned out to be a very pleasant kayak. The sun was out, the scenery was stunning with the dappled sunlight, it was great to be out on the river and not freezing.
You have to love Blighty in the summer, it is awesome.
After a good three-hour kayak, with a bit of a break at Newark Lock to have some sustenance and bask in the glorious sunshine, we were on our way back. We did bump into last years crop of swans but luckily they were not as brave as their father and did not bother us but we were gifted by watching them take off and fly ahead of us, various times when we came up on them, until they figured that if they just stayed on the river and we gave them a wide berth, they could go about their day unhindered. The route we took back required 3 km of slogging against the current but it was all good training to be on the water.
Later in the evening we were joined by my brother for dinner to catch up with us, We have him to thank for me doing these silly things with my life.
Sunday
Back to swimming. It was time to head back to the pool, the day greeted me with a perfectly blue sky crisscrossed by about 20 vapour trails of planes destined for far-flung destinations. It is hard to believe that in a little over three weeks, we will be on one of them.
It was time for an early breakfast and then off to Charlton Lido to meet up with Greg Wood – a past channel swimmer and training partner of mine. He arrived with his partner so whilst Greg and I headed to the pool, Ali and Audra chewed the fat in the coffee shop.
It was really great to be in the water with Greg, I am not going to say that I could ever keep up with him in a training set but he had had a gala the night before so was not feeling up to his best. We did not go a great distance at about 5 km
Warm up, 10 x 200m, 10 x 100m, 10 x 50m. 500m cool down, then off to join the girls in the coffee shop. Again I was very happy with the fact that all my times were amazingly consistent. As many of you who read my blog know, that is a good indication that my endurance is coming along very nicely. With new information gleaned as to getting insurance for our little jaunt over to America and a good catch up had plus a good, hard, quick session in the pool, it was off to the next engagement. Lunch with some Friends who inhabit the east side of London, then onto coffee – needed them to stay awake on the drive home. I do not think I have ever made – and kept – 3 engagements in one day. I am generally too lazy to do that
Final Preparations
With time marching on at a lightning pace, work commitments piling up, we are a little over three weeks away from when we travel. a few final purchases to buy and logos and T- shirts to sort out and replace faulty equipment that we have bought, All is in hand for what promises to be a good trip
I will most likely have a heady session in the pool this week but then I will start taking it a bit easier. Whatever training I have not done now, it is nearly too late
Please do not forget my Donation Page which can be found ar the top of my website, a bit of a slow start on that but I hope that you will all help me make a difference