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CLICK HERE TO
ENTER PHOTO GALLERY
ITÕS NOT TOO LATE TO SPONSOR US
Ð CLICK HERE Hebridean Challenge Survived TeamTGO completed the gruelling five day adventure race called the Hebridean Challenge and left with a prize. Before you start thinking we managed a podium place, let me quickly clarify the statement above. Out of the sixteen five-person teams, TeamTGO came second last. Truthfully, that was not a surprise, because it took us until day four to fully understand what this race was about, and by then it was a little too late to recover.
SAUL ALONGSIDE A ÒSMALLÓ BASKING SHARK An injury
to my back (again!) meant I missed two kayak stages and a MTB tine trial, and
the penalties for these probably made all the difference, but we didnÕt care
too much about that. Our main
goal had been to enjoy ourselves, and perhaps it was this attitude which led
to the race marshals awarding us the prize for the Òfriendliest teamÓ. Perhaps it shows a lack of
competitive character, but IÕd rather have that one. Friendliest of all were the kayakers. During the party on the last night, it was significant that the paddlers were all huddled together chatting with each other rather then with their teams. It really was a sociable event. I have
two articles to write about ÒThe HebÓ and theyÕll appear here once theyÕre
published. For now, here are
links to some photos and a little explanation about them.
FOLLOWED TO AND FROM THE
SHIANTS BY DOLPHINS Day three was meant to start with us setting out from an overnight camp, separate from the others, racing 14km to the Shiant Islands, then 16km back to the finish. I was nervous about this from the start but would have gone until I heard the forecast. In the event, the stage was cancelled and we spent Tuesday night with our teams. Instead, we paddled leisurely to the site of the overnight camp, had lunch, then while we waitied for the tide, we took a blast around the Shiants in three fast safety boats. On the way there and back we saw two pods of dolphin. Once
returned, we paddled a little further North, again not racing. On this trip we saw three basking
shark, a minke whale, and a sea eagle.
Astonishing to see all these in one day.
A VERY FRIENDLY RACE The link
now accesses a photo gallery to which IÕll add pictures as I receive
them. IÕm sorry there are no
race pictures, but they may come in time when we exchange images, as Donald
had the presence of mind to give his camera to Jeff Allen, the Sea Safety
Officer, who snapped away from the safety boat.
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