Clinic of the kayak variety

After chitwan a few days of kayaking followed - more race training, rolling practise and a bit of river running on the Trishuli with a kayak clinic from another company. There was a few boys who were learning how to kayak and we were able to run the upper section of river with them. There was a raft with us on the first day and they were enjoying themselves. One of the boys from the kayak clinic capsized a couple of times and swam which I don't think he enjoyed as he ended up not kayaking the following day. 

The following day we had two girls who joined us and they too again had a couple of swims but they were in good spirits and enjoyed themselves. I ran 'upset' both of these times as although it was not the main line I still felt like I had pushed myself a little. The waters big and although there isn't many rocks there are big holes in some of the rapids which I don't really want to get caught up in. Overall it was a really good couple of days kayaking and my confidence on the bigger water has definatly got better. 

We were to spend the next few days at kuringhat with a lovely girl called mili who had booked on to learn how to kayak. Getting her to learn the basics was good as she wanted to learn and soon she was going upside down trying to learn how to roll. The next day she was to run some rapids and I stayed at camp to let Anil one of the GRG boys helping to cook have the chance as I had already run the section a couple of times. Mili did really well - Anil however had a couple of swims but enjoyed himself anyway. The last day of the clinic and we ran the section from fishling down to kuringhat. There was just us two girls and paddy. It went well and we had the chance to roll in the flat water which was good as I managed to roll successfully by myself a handful of times it felt like a lightbulb moment where things had clicked and were working well and easily! It felt like a small break through to me anyway! 

Soon though it was time to depart after being joined by a group of English people who were doing a multi river trip program over the next few days. They were heading to pokhara next, mili and Anil were heading back to kathmandu and paddy and myself back to fishling. 

Overall we had a really good few days paddling with different people and different parts of the river. Lots of learning was involved and a little more confidence gained. 

Nepal craziness

From the moment I arrived in Nepal everything was a little crazy as I kind of expected. My darling little pappu did meet me at the airport which made me happy and from there we went to the office dropped off bags, had dinner and went for a beer with some pool. He then gave me very little time to pack my stuff I needed for the next few days as we were leaving in the morning for the trisuli river as he was working a kayak clinic. 

We left early in the morning and I was a little confused and disorientated. I was shoved on a bus for several hours longer than what it should have taken due to the traffic on the road! Not suprising really as it's nepal - and just as bad a India when it comes to road rules and traffic. 

However we did eventually arrive which was welcomed as the bus comfyness was at a high as usual and it was nice to get some fresh air - after a quick set up of camp and we were off for a short kayak trip. I got in the playboat that I brought over for my little pappu which was a bad idea as on the first big wave that I hit threw me in the water and that was it I was swimming! Oh well never mind. I would have been ok but my darling wasn't too happy with me. After that experience I learnt that i need to paddle a sensible boat on big water.

The following day I had some rolling practise in the morning which was good. Although I'm a backwards roller which hasn't been helping my cause! It's ok I'll get it sorted out. In the afternoon we went down the river again which managed to stay upright in a big boat! At the get out here there is a cable car that goes up to the top of a mountain where there is a temple which I would like to visit one day. 

The following day we travelled up the river and got on at a place called phishling. This is where we are going to be living for a while - right on the river which is pretty cool. As we got on straight away there is a rapid - a minor epic followed with two people going for a swim. I was fairly near the back so I lost sight of the line that everyone was shown to follow down and so chose my own line - and survived! I'm not that bad really! 

After lunch it was time to pack and get sorted as we were leaving to go on a trip to the tamur, so we had to get our kit ready so that we could leave that evening.