Open Adventure Coast to Coast
It's a Funny Old Game
Liam Drew / 30.08.2009
So day 1 had been a raging success, and day 2 was my chance to consolidate my lead. Starting last, I had the luxury of spending the day chasing, and with this being the last day of paddling, it was my opportunity to make the most of the fantastically fast epic V10 surfski that ultimatekayaks.co.uk had loaned me in taking time on the lakes.
Starting with a short road ride out of Keswick up a hill, I arrived at the north end of Thirlmere about 4 minutes down on team Helly Hansen, so we'd knocked the ride out in a similar time.
Another swift and efficient transition (new team member Hildy, who had joined us last night fitted straight in) had me on the water, slowly closing in on HH, who in turn were creeping towards Bruce Duncan (the man with the hot legs according to my support crew).
Exiting the lake I overtook HH as I slung the V10 (very happy it's the 11kg 'ultra' model) on my shoulder and they lugged their Necky up the track.
I was through transition while Bruce was still changing his shoes, and onto a run I had seen at the start of last week. Up the forestry track, and as I came back, Bruce popped out in front of me - I was now last on the road again as the others had all elected to go bush up the hill and taken reasonable time out of me. Oh well, there went any chance of the King of the Mountain award for the day, so I just slogged up the hill conserving myself for the descent.
By the top HH had pulled out 3 minutes on me, Bruce a minute or so, and Anthony Emmett was just in front. The descent off Helvelyn was pretty spectacular, slippy, dangerous, and covered in walkers who were very gracious about moving out of the way.
SleepMonsters
