CATS AND DOGS

I thought twice as I dodged the flooded roads on the way to the club this morning. We are back in the K2 today last used on the Marlow to Runnymeade outing in horrendous weather so why should today be any different.

Atkins up front with the tiller and setting the pace and Walker in the rear seat sheltering from the rain. We had one or two wobbles but soon got up to speed and we were aiming to break our Mapledurham island return record, the going was quite good, the river has come up about 8 inches from Lee's K1 session yesterday and we assume the flow is faster too.

In the thick of the mist and rain, the local helicopter pilot took off from his house near the canoe club at Caversham, I commented to Matt "that guy is a complete nutter to be out in weather like this", we both reflected that he was probably looking down thinking the same of us, and no doubt his DW time would be a fraction of ours in his chopper! As they say this event is the poor mans everest and we do not have the funds to buy a helicopter.

We came in 55:35 minutes later which is a new record! things are going well, we both agreed there were times we could have pulled harder and now have a conundrum, should we increase the cadence or stroke rate or get a longer reach and more powerful catch/pull?

I am off to read a book or bother Simon Jeffs for his input.......