Enjoy the CDU Newsletter

Published: Wed, 09/05/18

5th September 2018 CDU Newsletter 587

Terry 0417 977 330

terry@canoeingdownunder.com.au

https://canoeingdownunder.wordpress.com/ website

https://www.facebook.com/canoeingdownunder/ facebook

Now that our WA marathon paddlers are in Portugal I'm feeling that I am missing out. It sounds as if they are having a good time and seeing some cool things.

A special place that I would have loved to have visited in Portugal and that was the huge ocean surfing wave at Nazare. Take a look at the biggest wave ever surfed and a world record. It was a 24 metre (80 foot) monster. See here:
https://www.facebook.com/abcadelaide/videos/422905484900853/

I could have gone to Portugal but because of my prostate problem I chose to go on holiday at the St John of Gods Hospital Retreat in Subiaco. I made a visit on Tuesday to look over the place. I met two nice ladies who told me what to expect with the procedure as well as giving me a check-up. Despite being told all the in and outs of this 5 hour procedure my pulse rate was steady at 59 beats a minute.

So after a week or two of getting all heavy jobs done around the house, in my kayak shed, (I can't lift anything above 5kgs for 6 weeks afterwards) having more blood tests, seeing a physiotherapist, continuing my pelvic floor exercises, and a day dieting, and taking a special powder mixture with water, the time has come to relax for a few days.

I enter the retreat at 11.00am on Thursday, when I will be shown to my room to relax. I will then be pampered for a couple of hours, given a nice fresh gown to wear and then I was told I will get an exciting ride in the bed. Apparently in the straight long corridors the bed will attain great speeds but most of the excitement comes on the corners. The bed has levers that lift it up and down and I believe I will be able to lift the bed sideways so to take the corners faster.

Once I get into theatre I will have at least two other friendly professional people ask me a few questions, tell me about the experience that I’m going to go through and ensure me I won’t see or feel a thing. First though they will insert a tube in my arm, I will be slightly tilted head down, legs up and within moments I will be dreaming pleasant thoughts.

So for 4-5 hours I will be dreaming of all the good things I have done in my life as well as some great things that are going to happen in the future. This period of sleep will be exciting. Meanwhile the professionals will be working on me, removing all the bad spirits and ensuring that I have a better longer life in my old age.

Once the procedure is all over and the bad parts of me have gone I’m told I will wake up with a few more tubes hanging out of my body and a mask over my mouth. These are necessary to ensure the experience goes well and to make sure my transition from my deep sleep back to reality is a smooth one.

I'm told I could be feeling a little sore and under the weather but the high speed ride on the bed back to a recovery room will dull any pain and when my system has fully recovered I will be given another ride back to my room where dinner will be served. Not only that, I will get a personal fluid bag to store my waste water which I can keep for a week which is pretty exciting. It's like getting a prize after a race.

The following day I will be able to relax and be pampered and looked after whilst I read, write, listen to music and laze around. This will be the highlight of my visit which I am looking forward to.

After a two night stay at the retreat I will be chauffeured home leaving my tranquil setting to enter the rat race again, heading through traffic lights and busy roads.

If I didn't have a nice home to go back to with a great view and Jenny to look after me, I'm sure it would be sad to leave the hospital retreat.

Josh Kippin (middle) on his last training session on Saturday morning before heading to Portugal.

The Saturday morning training session at Sandy Beach, Bassendean is back on. Training/race starts dead on 7.30am.

Luke Getting Ready to Race

Luke Dooley after a K1 practise in Portugal. Photo Jane Dooley

Luke after a K2 portage practise. In hospital the day before his race.

He and Liam were doing their first portage, they jumped out and the boat sprung forward the full weight of the edge of the seat hit his already bad ankle.

Photo Jane Dooley

Australian Masters Marathon Championships

The Australian Masters Marathon Team in Portugal.

Mark Lawson 10th 60-64. I heard had a few problems which included his rudder cable snapping near the end. Photo Jane Dooley

Jenny Bateman 3rd Ladies K1 40-44. Photo Jane Dooley

WAs Ron Clarke 11th in the 65 plus K1. I heard he had man-flu. He was so close to 7th position. Photo Jane Dooley

K2 Start Line. Photo Jane Dooley

Day 1 Aussy Results here:

https://paddle.org.au/2018/09/04/2018-canoe-marathon-masters-world-cup-day-1/

Day 2 Aussy Results here:

https://paddle.org.au/2018/09/05/canoe-marathon-masters-world-cup-wraps-up-with-aussie-wins/

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The Ocean Racing Champs were on a few days earlier

2018 Ocean Racing World Cup – Nelo Summer Challenge 2018 in Portugal

https://paddle.org.au/2018/09/04/2018-canoe-marathon-masters-world-cup-day-1/

WA Wildwater Championships at Bridgetown

Competitors at the Wildwater Championships in Bridgetown.

Demi O'Brian at the State Wildwater Championships.

John O'Sullivan who is usually behind the camera at the State Wildwater Championships.

Jane Liddle hidden by a wall of whitewater.

Peter Gigengack slices through a wave.

There is no stopping Fifi. She will give anything a go.

Sandy Beach Saturday Morning Training Session

Nikki waits for Bruce, who has a greyhound, to beach after the race.

Mike Liddle leads Hugh and Mark, Peter Liddle and Warren Southwell around the last turn.

Mark leads Peter Gigengack (who passed Mark before the finish) and Bruce McWhirter around the last turn.

World Marathon Canoeing Championship

WAs Julie Jenkinson taking home the win in the SS1 Master Women 50-54 age group. Julie finished 19th overall in the Women’s category in a time of 1:45:42.88.

Results here: https://paddle.org.au/2018/09/03/australias-women-ocean-paddlers-impress/

Oldest paddler at the World Marathon Canoeing Championship, Paul Chalupsky. 81 years old on the 22nd September.

Paul Chalupsky 80 years old winning the over 75. Oscar winning the over 55 and Herman Chalupsky wining the over 50 . Oscar came 16th and Herman 18th overall in a field of over 300 in the Nelo Summer Challenge.

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