Rob & John, Tonic Construction's very own intrepid explorers are teaming up for their most demanding physical challenge to date.  Supported by sponsors Buildbase and CPM Group Ltd they are attempting the arduous:

Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race.

http://www.dwrace.org.uk/

They will be completing it (hopefully) on behalf of Cancer Research Uk on April 22nd 2011,

The race itself starts in Devizes, Wiltshire and finishes downstream from Westminster Bridge in London, opposite the Houses of Parliament.

At 125 miles long, and with 77 portages, the race is attempted by around 150 crews each year, and finished by only around two thirds of them. The race is a severe test of skill, stamina and will power and is competed for by World champions, expert paddlers and two overweight middle aged men from Swindon.

Sunday 20th March 2011

This morning we had to paddle 20 mile and after Friday nights paddle we were not looking forward to it. We set off from Honey Street to Kintbury and felt very stiff, struggling for the first hour or so . The  canal was very messy with lots of debris floating around and for the first part of our paddle the Kayak and ourselves were covered in weed and reeds.  After negotiating a low bridge and some fairly good exits at the locks, things were looking good. We met our support crew for the day (Graham and Jeff) who fed us our jam sandwiches and suddenly I had lots of energy,

Then we come across Bruce Tunnel which is alway a daunting prospect and to be fair we came through it with only one minor incident which seemed to annoy Rob (whats going on John? Keep paddling he shouts) not realising that I had scooped up a clump of weed which took me off balance.

Crofton Flight for me and Rob was a good section as we have not previously completed it in one hit, we managed to run it all and apart from Rob getting a stitch we coped well. Suprisingly I seemed to get lots of energy and finished strong.   There were not many paddlers out today just a couple of Barges and lots of fishermen. Yet again the duo Graham and Jeff just seem to relish the challenge ahead of them and are doing well at meeting us at planned portages (This day anyway lol) They were always ahead of us and feeding us just like our mothers did when we were young.

Friday 11th February 2011

As we enter the final third of our training the reality is sinking in; We need an engine.  Unfotunately the rules do not permit an outboard so we must rely on willpower to get us across the finish line.  The four months since October has already given many experiences: The cold canal water (see video); playing chicken with swans; fistfuls of stinging nettles; paddling through Reading on a Friday night; seeing John's shorts slip down as he runs carrying the boat; losing our support crew;, ice,ice and more ice; watching our boat drift slowly down the river without us in it; angry fishermen; broken rudders; lots of swearing; angry residents; hands covered in blisters and numb feet.  However we are now paddling substantial distances at a rate of 4.5 to 5mph, a speed that would see us complete the race in about 24-26 hours.

  Our training up to Xmas was mainly intended to keep us stable in the boat, paddling with something resembling correct technique and getting used to getting up at 5am on a Sunday morning to splash around in a rat filled canal for 2 hours.  Incredibly, our enthusiasm remains undimmed, currently we train before work in the week, one evening per week and at the weekend we paddle sections of the course day and night. (This Sunday 30 miles from Reading - Windsor).  This has been very demanding for our families so far, but now our support crew are joining our long paddles every week, a huge commitment to make in their spare time.  Glamorous for them it isn't; hanging around to meet 2 madmen on a deserted canal at strange times of day or night; their role is to shove food in our snot crusted mouths, time us, encourage us and make sure we don't die of hypothermia.  But for as long as Graham, Jeff, Alan and Mike remain keen we will continue to demand they spend their Friday nights / Saturday mornings driving around the Thames Valley with a car full of John's peanut butter sandwiches and my Xmas chocolates.  Within two weeks we will have paddled the whole course and will have acheived the qualifying distance of 35 miles, all that is left then is more practice and trying to increase our speed.  This year's DW is being attempted by a 6 times world champion marathon paddler and the current world champ, they are attempting to break the 30 year old course record.  Little do they know about the competition.....

SATURDAY 4THDECEMBER 2010- Johns account of todays paddle

Well this cold spell we are having is hampering our training schedule its been over a week since we have been in the boat we tried to go last Sunday but the canal was frozen so me and Rob had decided to make a managerial decision and go on the river Thames for the first time.  Our launch site was at Buscot Weir and our planned route was 10 miles.  Well we had the privelage to have Alison (wifey) and Georgie (daughter) come along and be crew members for the paddle and I must say they did a great job for first timers and were at both check points in good time for us to recieve a few chunks of chocolate. Well there were lots of sharp bends along the way which was good practice as were the locks.  However at the penultimate lock which we were approaching with good speed I suddenly noticed the water in front of the lock was completely frozen.  I said "Rob! what do we do?"  "There is nowhere to get out"  I shreiked waiting for him to give me an answer.  He said "crack on we will try and break through with pace and get to the side"  Well we increased our speed and we headed for the ice.  I was thinking this is how they must have felt all those years ago on the Titanic.  My heart was racing as we hit the ice and The Red Condor seemed to glide on to it and then come to a grinding halt, we were in the middle of the river on top of the ice. Rob said "we better be careful or we will slip under and never be seen again". We were stuck on top of the ice wondering how the hell we were gong to get out of this mess, eventually I broke the ice  as Rob stabalized us and we managed to get to the side after ten minutes (this seemed longer) and get out and have a quick talk about how well we managed that problem.  We got back in the other side of the lock and away we paddled feeling pleased with ourselves, a few bends later and then we see our crew Alison, Georgie and of course Sky the collie.  We get out have a warm coffee.  To date this was our best paddle and we also managed not to fall in and not sink into the iced waters.   We also got some good speed up. Keep up the good work Rob I have great faith in you to take me to Westminster. Thanks to Alison and Georgie you did a good job.

SATURDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2010- Johns account of the early paddle 6.30am.

Tony Iles (our self nominated coach) who has yet to arrive at the wharf on any occasion, where were you this morning. His canoe The Red Dagger has not even got wet yet!!

I promised myself I would not write too much, but just had to let everybody know that we finally managed to stay dry and not capsize the kayak this morning what a wonderful feeling, good work Rob you are finally up to my standard! 

SATURDAY 30TH OCTOBER 2010 - John's account of the day
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Well its been 27 days since we began this journey of ours its 6.30 in the morning and I have the Kayak all strapped and ready to go waiting for my partner Rob to turn up not that he is late. The excitement is still with me and even though we have only been out approx 6 times and still falling into the canal I keep saying to myself this is the day we are not going to capsize. Rob pulls up and off we set to Devizes and are in the water for 7.57am heading for the marina.  We were a bit wobbly to start with but staying afloat, we get to the marina and  congratulate each other on achieving that.  Before we have a chance to catch our breath a guy appears in a barge and says "hey thats where we are going to moor"  I thought to myself well we were here first so tough!!  However as we are not sure of canal etiquette I said to Rob that we would move on a bit and portage in a more quiet area.   The captain of the barge said "which way are you going" and I inform him that we will go between him and the moored barge that was in front of our Kayak as this seemed a good idea.  We were moving slowly between them and I reached out to the barge and all of a sudden we capsized Rob was not a happy bunny we had been in the Kayak for 45 mins yet capsized whilst standing still!

We got back in the Kayak and moved on to Horton Bridge had a 5 min rest then turned the kayak round.  Rob wanted to   paddle to wharf with out stopping,  I thought he was mad but paddled away with gritted teeth.  We got out of the Kayak and bumped into fellow paddlers Graham and Roy and a good bit of banter was had.   I must say what a lovely bunch of paddlers they are. We return to the car to head off home only to discover that I had been given a parking ticket.  Even this didnt dampen our spirits; we had a great morning only falling in the canal once and that was only due to the captain of the barge bullying us away from the mooring.  Looking back I think we had right of portage never again will I surrender my moor to a big barge.

SUNDAY 3rd OCTOBER 2010   - MAIDEN VOYAGE

The maiden voyage in the K2 took place this Sunday morning.  It was very wet and windy and not very appealing at all.  John and Rob met at Tonic Construction's offices to collect the boat and load the Jeep with the necessary equipment setting off for Devizes at 10.30am.  As they drove along there was much banter about how many times they would capsize, would they actually be able to get in the boat etc. when suddenly a cross wind took the K2 and slid it across the roof.  John jumped out to help stabilise it only to discover the roof bars had come off the roof rack, with the rain lashing down and the wind blowing a gale this couldnt have happened at a worst time but the boat was resecured and they were on their way although now both were a little damp to say the least.  (Roof bars were deemed to be too short and would be returning to Halfords for an exchange)  Fortunately the K2 was not damaged.

They arrived at the Devizes Canoe Club base and met a chap called Paul who confirmed that they could join the club, things were looking up.  Rob then explained that they were intending to enter the Devizes to Westminster race and would require as much training as possible.  Paul found this amusing stating " yes everybody "wants" to do that but not many succeed"  Rob pointed out that they "had all the gear but no idea"  Despite these rather sobering comments the lads got the boat onto the water.

15 seconds later they had capsized, this was repeated at least twelve times with John bellowing " ROB" as if he was the expert.  Good job Rob persuaded John to purchase the wetsuits they really came into their own.  Eventually they managed to move the boat some 30 metres - not bad for their first time in the water and the actual race is only some 125 miles.  So keep practising boys.

Anyway they were soon changed and dry and drinking a warm cuppa congratulating each other on their success.

Big thanks to Paul for all his help they will be back at the club Tuesday.

 

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