Salomon X-adventure GB National Event (2)
The view from the back at the X-adventure
Rob Priestley / 12.09.2002
The Salomon format had teams of three heading out on the each stage and after long hours discussing the night before it was decided that this was the one I’d miss (our decision was less tactical and more who wanted to do what).
A long cycle followed by the excitement of the ‘fun yakking’ rafting section for two of the team with a short swim to follow. This was my first encounter with this format and I quickly discovered the problems of missing the first stage. Not yet race tired, I think I used as much energy pacing up and down waiting for the team as they did racing!
When our cyclist, Katherine, reached the transition a collection of evil looking bruises and cuts told the tale of a bike ride gone wrong. Her tales were of many a fall and a nasty bump on the head!
Stage Two – Rainbows and sunsets (with a lot of paddling and rain in between)First the long paddle up Loch Etive. A stunning looking loch with a lovely head wind.
We settled into our paddling rhythm and soon became lost in our own world (which unfortunately runs at a slower pace than those teams moving rapidly ahead of us). As the last of the later starters came past us we tried to ride the bow wave of ‘The North Face’ as they shot up the loch past us. We couldn’t see the engine but are sure there was one hidden in there somewhere!
The banter between us and the other Glasgow team ‘Stobhill Roughnecks’ who also happily occupied the back of the field passed some of the journey up as they kept paddling past us at an obviously faster speed but with a complete lack of a straight line – either that or they were just sightseeing both sides of the loch.
About 30 minutes before the end of this stage we saw the most incredible double rainbow any of us had ever seen with both ends dipping into the loch. As I thought to myself any amount of rain this afternoon would be worth it to see sights like that a massive rain squall blew up and soon put paid to any of my feelings of appreciation for the natural environment!
Out of the boats we headed for a lovely 10 km road ‘run’. Katherine’s tumble from the bike proved to be much worse then we had previously thought as this point and we headed up the road at walking pace as running was causing her too much pain. Very quickly the teams behind us on the paddle kindly jogged past to leave us to appreciate the beautiful solitude of nature. Well that’s one way to feel good about being out the back.
SleepMonsters
