I still looked like a minor burns victim so dipped out of the kayaking. I wanted to make sure I was up for the rafting, on fast rapids you need to be down low in the boat and there was one eight year old little butt that I wanted to be sure was firmly planted down....
Sort is a european centre for kayaking - a rapids course with the poles is set out and runs down the river through the town. The guys here all grew up on the river and I had total confidence in them. They gave Alex and Amie a coach each and they had a three hour lessons. The loved it, Alex has announced it's his new sport. They learned to navigate the rapids, stop move across the river and paddle up stream. Amie capsized twice and Alex around ten times! They had such a nice time, so excited. I had the best morning, browsing shops, cafe con leche in the sun...actually enjoying Spain!
In the afternoon we watched a local kayak race - a huge thing here. The kids kayak all summer and ski all winter ...sigh. The skills of these children was amazing. They compete all over the world.
We then went and got the new tyre. The man had ordered a replacement on the internet - bless him, which had arrived. But, the rear left was now also very, very..He was such a star...the valve had blown. So he replaced it rather than insisting we had another new tyre. We worked out we both spoke french and he explained it's a common problem coming over the mountains in hot weather with a heavily loaded car. The pressure over moving side to side under weight in heat blows them. He fitted the new tyre, put the spare in the boot, had the other tyre off and replaced the valve and sorted the front left valve and charged us 20 euros......what a lovely man. We taking him some wine int he way out of town tomorrow.
Wednesday 27th
The next day we chilled. Eva recommended we hang out at an alpine lake. We got a picnic together and spent the day chilling on grass by the lake. The kids swam and caught fish. We then took the long route home meandering down the mountain through tiny alpine villages. The big team joke goes like this.....they both throw their heads back going ..ahhhh...who's this....MUMMY upside down on a rope....!!!
Anna lives next door to Eva and this hotel so we sorted out rafting for the next day. She had arranged for a friend to take us rather than a big group thing. It turned out to be Alish - the kids kayak i
Thursday 28th
Water water rafting was amazing. It was just us and Alish. He knew Miguel from cayoning and travelled with him last year in Patagona - he says the rafting is fantastic - maybe next year....
We travelled 21 km down river back to Sort. The weather was fantastic and mountains stunning. We stopped at one point and the kids jumped from a bridge into the raging river ! Alish had a line to catch them in case they shot off downstream! I didn't do it because I had no wetsuit (for obvious reasons!) and it was freezing water....
Now chilling before heading down to Barcelona tomorrow - am not looking forward to the heat and pitching the tent .....
Still trying to post photos but with dial up it's very tricky - maybe they will actually have cable in the city!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment