DW Day 3: I've started, so I'll finish...

This is NOT the way down the Thames!

But does it matter how you finish??? Our crews are experimenting this year with a variety of different techniques for crossing the finishing line. The following techniques have been tried so far:

1. Running with your boat - Alex and Chris on Day 1.

2. Capsizing just before the finishing line and crossing it upsidedown with the number not on display - Monty and Joe on Day 3. (Many thanks to Lee for shouting out their number to the marshalls so that the time was recognised.)

3. Keeping on going past the finishing line (in an attempt to make it a 3 day race maybe?) - overly keen Errol and Rhys on Day 3.

4. Paddling over the line with the boat the right way up - everyone else on every other occasion. (On balance - probably the best option!)

'Feed me!!!'

Who would have thought it! Hamsters in kayaks!

So that was DW Day 3. All boats were up and away from the bog that is Longridge Campsite, with the last boat departing at 9.04am. The flow on the river was fantastic, meaning that all crews whizzed downstream, with good weather assisting all. The rate of flow meant that the support crews had a major challenge keeping up with the super-speedy paddlers and the day flew by for all involved. Spirits were high for the paddlers, although there were some worried looking faces at the rate of water flowing around some of the weirs.

Gemma getting some running repairs to her hands.

All crews had a good paddle, with only the paddlers (not the boats!) needing running repairs today. But who would have thought that 38 miles could be covered so quickly - all paddlers getting great times, with Alex and Chris posting the fastest RHS time of the day of 4 hours 41 minutes. Alex threatened to give Chris a big kiss if they completed the day in under 5 hours, so watch out Chris!!!

'Surely we deserve a lie in on the last morning?'

The tide tomorrow is not outrageously early, and the instructions were up at The Thames Young Mariners campsite, advertising the mass start at 7.35am. Let's hope that all paddlers eat tons tonight and get lots of sleep in preparation for the final day.

Come on guys! Only 17 miles to go!

Paddlers: 108 miles
Support crews: 114 miles (in support - not including all of the extra bits to and from home/hotels etc!)

CM

PS Most bizarrely, the paddlers covered more miles in their boats today than we did in support in our car!