FMO Crew: French Alps 2014

Day 2

Happy Birthday Terry!

After creamy porridge (not quite to everyones taste) and Rob told Rich not to get anything to go on the porridge as Rob “doesn’t haven't anything with my porridge so if anyone wants anything special they can get their own”, Conor finally got out of bed, we then had to try to put the get ins and outs on the satnav. Rob had to repair his boat after breaking the fittings; we found it particularly difficult to get the boat back out of the accomadation, but the winch came in use. Finally we got on the road by around 11:00 heading to the sunshine run.

Toilet Chronicles - at the get on the loos just said WC and there was only one. Whilst Molly and Sophie went to borrow the cafe, Charlotte & Katie just sussed out the car park facilities. They were unsure if it was unisex as there was a gent using the urinal, but then his wife walked out also. Needless to say they braved it but it was another hole in the ground. Dan was very confused when he saw them walking out past the urinals of what he assumed was the gents.

Whilst waiting for the car shuttle, Rob took Sophie on moving water for the first time in her own boat, where she excelled in her breaking in and out. Eventually we got on the water at 13:00, only for Danny to realise he left his skid lid in the van. Having a successful “sunshine” (mainly wind and shade) run, all continued on through the Rab wave. First to go through was Rob leading Rich, Sophie, Connor, Charlie, Danny (borrowing Katie’s helmet), Molly. All of whom took the most difficult line. The Duo managed extremely well and even managed a roll part way down the wave. Before the rest of the group ran the Rab we questioned Rob as to why he took such a crap line, his response was “It looked like fun but Rob Deller always said run the wave hard left”. Unfortunately for Conor he took this hard left line and landed upside down, two rolls later and he was back up the right way …. Smooth move. Then the rest of the group made it down the Rab wave, but the Germans who followed us weren't as successful with two swimmers and the rest “munched”. Molly to the rescue! All finished the sunshine run successfully. The Germans even made the effort to come and thank Molly at the end of the run and spoke good english.

Next it was for the Briancon Gorge, which was up due to the rain earlier in the day. No major epics except for Matt who forgot his baby grow and decided to bail out and mooney to the rest of the group.

Back to the accommodation to cook dinner and the gas bottle ran out on the cooker. How many men does it take to change a gas bottle and how many women do you have to ask to figure out how to change the gas bottle? Dinner was yummy, Chilli again with a barbecue flavour, or was it burnt we aren’t quite sure.

Written by Katie B with input from everyone.

Rab Wave