The World Adventure Racing Championships (XPD Australia)
Rush Hour
Rob Howard / 03.11.2011
It was a quiet morning at Tullah as many teams had stopped in the river canyon overnight, unable to make progress in the difficult terrain in the dark, and during the cold of the night. The result was a midday ‘rush hour’ on the Mackintosh Dam road as a group of teams portaged their boats. East Wind (Japan), SMX (France), Ecuador Travel, Milton Basement Racers (Aus) and BRAT (who are from Ireland, USA, NZ and Denmark!) and were all travelling together and it was a bizarre sight to see all those kayaks being carried down the road.“What you are seeing here is the ‘dawn start rush’,� said Eoin Keith of BRAT. “We all stopped together in the night and once we were in those kayaks there is no separating us!� He added, “I didn’t like the cold water last night. I don’t like swimming at the best of times, let alone in those temperatures.�
The teams were all taking different approaches to the portage with East Wind putting one on the kayaks on their head, using some foam blocks they bought (might have been seat pads or back rests), while BRAT had one boat between two, with their US racer Thomas Etter carrying a boat on his own. SMX were doing the portage in stages, shuttling back up and down the road. They all ended up at the put in at once and struggled to get down the steep slope into the river without crashing into each other.
Further up the lake at CP20 more teams were gradually coming in, sitting sodden and cramped in the single inflatable sea kayak. Two NZ teams arrived together. Bridgedale Socks NZ came in first and Jill Westenra said, “It was difficult in the night as everyone was confused and no one was sure quite where they were!� Nga Rakau were not far behind, but they had been held up waiting for their paddle bag (they have a 3 hour time credit). “We stopped to camp during the night, but had we known we could have pushed on to CP19 and then we’d have had a 7 hour credit as our paddles were not there. We heard Team SCAR were out so raided their paddle bag and found all sorts of food, including Thai Curry. It was wonderful and we know they won’t mind!�
Louise Mark said she had some problems with a skinned heel and big toe blisters, but she was cheerful and the team were soon up in the transition warming up by the fire and cooking some tinned meals on top of it. (There had also been gas patio heaters here during the night which teams had slept by.)
Arriving at the same time were Team Bones of the USA and Ray Malone said, “We had a 5 hour sleep when we couldn’t make any more progress down the river. The rain made the rocks extra slippy, so it was hard going.� This team arrived with their kit in an inflatable pack raft towed behind the kayak, and it turned out they had bought two with them hoping to raft down the river! “It didn’t work,� said Malone, “but never mind, we only carried them for 52km!�
All 3 teams were soon on their way while the patient marshals waited for more to come in. One couple who were marshalling brought their boat and were fishing for trout while they waited for new arrivals, and luckily the weather has now improved and is warm and sunny, with little wind.See All Event Posts
