THE CHALLENGE … 24 students are attempting to kayak the full length of the Grand Union canal – non-stop, team-relay style, from Birmingham to London. It’s 137 miles, with 166 locks and 2 tunnels to be portaged. Target time - 30 hours!
THE DATES … 9TH & 10TH September 2006
THE AIM … The aim is to raise a total of £2500 for PERU’S CHALLENGE. The Andes mountain range is a breathtakingly beautiful destination … however, amongst the beauty, life for many Peruvians is tough. Peru’s Challenge focuses its work in and around Cusco, one of the poorest areas in Peru. It is a not-for-profit organisation working with volunteer travellers to improve child education, health and hygiene standards in indigenous mountain villages.
PERU 2007 … is planning a white water kayaking expedition to Peru in July next year. The team will be working with Peru’s Challenge on a community project in one of the mountain villages.
THE BASIC PLAN …
Depart Exeter School … 0730 Saturday 9th September
Aim to start K2 Marathon at Salford Lock at 1200
Finish at Brentford on the Thames before 1800 on Sunday (target time!)
Celebrations + Barbecue
Return to Exeter by 2230
THE TEAMS …
There will be two K2 teams (A and B) and one K1 back-up team
Each team comprises six crews A1 > A6 and B1 > B6
There will be two minibuses (BUS 1 and BUS 2) and one back-up vehicle
BUS 1 is “home” for crews A1 > A3 and B1 > B3 for the 30 hour duration.
BUS is “home” for crews A4 > A6 and B4 > B6 for the 30 hour duration.
THE RELAY …
Each team paddles 5 stages of the relay … each about 4.5 miles … a total distance of roughly 23 miles, including 28 lock portages.
For the paddling schedule … see the route plan.
Note that each bus has a 6-hour undisturbed rest period during the night.
BUS 1 – 2100 to 0300 and BUS 2 – 0300 to 0900.
BACK-UP TEAM …
2 drivers will be allocated to each minibus and there will be 2 or 3 back-up drivers in the additional vehicle. A drivers rota will be drawn up to give the bus drivers scheduled rest periods away from the main action.
ECC …
ESSC is currently affiliated with the Exeter Canoe Club. We are very grateful to ECC for providing us with training facilities on the Exeter Canal and for generously loaning us two K2s and one K1 for the event.
TRAINING …
The K2 teams started practising before Easter and the aim has been to get out training once a week since then.
Pete Scott
June 2006
|
