15 August

Well it's the last day of racing with no lockes. ( Thank goodness- bet Ant - alias 007 - is delighted)  - A long session in the morning repeated by another long session in the afternoon. Crew looking a bit worse for wear but all happy and excited. 

Tony continues to be "chef de mission" and organizes us with aplomb. Thank you for your support, finding ideal pubs, translating, regaling us with stories, etc.  Incredible when you realize he is 78 years of age. At this stage he looks younger than the entire crew except for 007 - Ant - our secret weapon and Leslie who is now our cheer leader. 

We all have learnt to translate one or two words - the most popular is when crew members and our support team snap "seal" or shout "seal". The French word for a seal is "phoque" - ( sound it out phonetically and you understand when the crew uses the word "Seal"). The team agreed to say "seal" whenever one needed to and we all understood there was some area of stress. The Americans thought we were nuts until we explained the logic. Naturally  the idea was embraced.  

Well all packed, bus fully loaded with luggage and surprisingly everyone chatting and animated. Extremely early after long race and late dinners which is normal in France??? -  Leslie will be supporting us and hope she is still able to shout - " Go South Africa" or "Go Afrique Du Sud".  This really motivates the crew.  She tells organizers and crews often mention "Afrique Du Sud" in conversation... Of course the context is not clear??? 

On the bus other crews ask Team Oarsome South Africa to swop shirts at end of the day. Our shirts are a great hit. Remember they were designed by our artist Sue.  Photographers have taken pictures of our shirts throughout the Canal Di Midi tour. 

Today- for morning - (Wendy and Tim really) -  the plan is to swop out two rowers every 20 minutes.  For entire crew- Not to mention retain 4th place overall and 3rd place in the quad boat class. Let's see!!! 

First session - boys start for 20 minutes - make excellent time- catch up to many crews- but rudder breaks - so wrap rudder around hands ( wire and it cuts hands - hell - but no doubt no worse than what rowers feel). 

Then Wendy and me in stern pair with the dad and son team - "power house" in the rear. Rating 29 - highest so far and we pass various crews. Sue in the coxes seat and does well with barges and other boats. Some narrow calls. 

Bicycles apparently hit cobble stones and mountain passes - by this stage rear end of cyclists feeling the pain-  "Tour de Canale" - a real challenge!!! 

Then Tim, Mark Wendy and Sue  into a head wind??? Crazy - relatively light weight crew. Sue forgets to take back  pack off and rows session with back pack??? Really nuts. Team Oarsome South. Africa known as different??? 

Then the boys are back and we behind Lyon crew - young, strong crew with "one older" person. Also a dad and son team and the nephew is coxing. We rate about two pips higher and stay on their tail. Best bit of coxing I saw. He was Oarsome! Youngster  - probably weights 40 kg's. Flat out racing till the finish. They cannot loose us no matter what they try.  Rating about 30 and move to about 31 at finish. whew!!! They keep upping power and rate.  How many kilometers into race??? Brilliant rowing - at end we make friends for life. Both teams feel good and celebrate each others  success. Their cox and me celebrated as best coxswains of Canal Di Midi. Oarsome!!!

Everyone wants our shirts - and Sue swops with a crew member who also designed their crews shirts. 

Still 19 Km's to go this afternoon. Wendy and Tim organizing who swops into rowing crew when.  Their selection and organization has been brilliant! Everyone buggered! 

Off for a beer, coke and orange juice. Then to lunch!  Tony arrives and tells us some interesting stories - takes the pressure off.  Leslie plays "mom" picking up as members forget to get their stuff together. Thank you!!! 

Lunch comprises a salad starter with egg and tomato, lettuce, artichoke and a marinaded radish of some sort. Then onto calamari.  Went to find a spot in the bush to sleep for 10 minutes - so missed cheese and desert. 

Nervous for last session- crew decides 30 minute pieces before swop out - gee - after about 190 Km's - wow??? Ambience is festive but tense to some extent.  Me -I find a quiet spot with an old dog - a real dog - animals relax me. Leaning against a tree with a dog - 7th heaven.  

Whatever happens - it has been Oarsome!!! 

As mentioned, after  lunch find a piece of wild country side partially under the shade to lie down. 10 minutes. Amazing how you can be so comfortable on rugged terrain! Have thorns in pants, shirt, shoes and everywhere else! Most of crew in similar positions. 

Next session - We will be rowing through a tunnel of about 50 meters- timing is important as only one crew goes through at a time!  We may have to wait - and that is not in Team Oarsome South Africa's vocab??? 

And the race begins... Team Oarsome South Africa get called to the start - the start is through a bridge which doesn't fit a quad with blades extended. After the bridge 3x half strokes, lengthen and we off.  Solid rowing - effective rowing with a tail wind - we go like the wind! 30 minutes later a fast change out and off we go again- passing crews at a rapid rate weaving between the crews - some hair-pin bends - then we swop out before 50 meter tunnel as only one boat can go through at a time and there is a queue. Loss of valuable time. Two crews ahead bash into the walls of the tunnel. So even slower. Crew chomping at the bit... You have to row very short strokes at backstops. Interesting. We loose about 10 minutes -Out of tunnel and the power is on - wow!!!  We weave down hairpin bends over taking crews narrowly missing each other. Blade clashes take place in narrow sections with boats, barges and logs in canal... Some slower crews are so kind they move over and let  us through - wonderful people. The fraternity are just incredible! Then we hit head winds of note - grit teeth and pump with everything you got. Heads drop and you can see it is now about mental strength. Heading for a very narrow section and just as we enter - a barge enters from the other side- oh dear - stop, back it down - ??? another minute and a half lost??? Noooooo!!! 

Once again a start and now it is grit and determination! Team Oarsome South Africa has great mental strength- make their bodies go beyond the pail... 

Still a darn tough head wind so it is very tough!  Feels like the longest ( although not from a distance perspective) and hardest section. 

Eventually Wendy and Sue who are cycling this leg call  out - "400 meters to go".... Do not know how the crew did it - but felt like a propeller was inserted on the boat - we fly through the finish!  Wow!

Then the crew collapses and stops rowing. A very well deserved rest.  We have finally finished racing!!! Leslie, cycling team and Tony yelling us to victory ( if you finish you feel like an Olympian. 

Then get boat  and trolley out the water and loaded up. Tim suggests him and me take the bikes and find somewhere to buy beers and coke.  On tired legs we cycle all over- no luck! 

Then just to really loosen up - all the teams walk their boats and bikes about 2kms to a field where tables are set up - but that's for dinner. On the side of a river- once again amazing. 

Naturally Team Oarsome South Africa find a pub - decked out in a beach theme - and all join. Festive music, lots of photos, lots of stories, lots of laughter ( probably a little hysteria as the Canal Di Midi race is now over!)  No answers on who comes where. That will be announced tomorrow??? 

Onto the bus and off to the hotel in Bezier  - only a 5 minute drive - get 45 minutes to shower and change ( for girls sharing that's a challenge - also with all the tired legs and arms and backs showering at breakneck speed is a challenge for all!). 

Then into the bus back to the river side for dinner. Get told must be back at bus at 11-30pm. Wonder how many of us will fall asleep at the table. Eagerly awaiting results!!! 

 Arrive at dinner -cannot stop chatting - Tony is so helpful with translating. The Amarula fruit  cream  chocolates and fudge and the story of elephants getting drunk on Amarula goes down a treat! Gifts for selected members from us.  Even better connections established. 

Lyon team - wow! Aus lady - incredible, Americans - buying beer and amazing, Germans a treat, and the list goes on and on. The bus driver is also a hoot.... Just incredible...  Organizers deserve masala... Arranged everything and it ran like clockwork with a herd of motley oars people! Well done!!! 

Then dinner - think for the first time all food  was partially ignored while the chatting and drinks were great! 

Eventually poor buses left at about midnight with last stragglers slowly coming in. 

For me- a first Canal Di Midi - but an amazing experience. Old hands tried to explain what it was like - they did not come close. It is an adventure, a historical experience at breakneck speed, a opportunity to meet "Oarsome" people, - a trip of a life time. 

It is sad that the trees on the canal have a disease - and are marked to get cut down ( believe me you look for every portion of shade).... But a lot is being done to resuscitate the region and replant the trees. 

Also, it is sad that regulations are getting so tough in France that the Canal Di Midi  may not last for much longer... This is hearsay.... But would be a travesty... 

This year was a resounding success with the most number of entrants and highly competitive crews. 

Truly we were blessed to be part of this "Oarsome" event! 

On an almost final note - thank you to our team

Tony - at 78 you can teach youngsters ( anyone younger than you) the meaning of life. 

Leslie- you have proved what grit and determination can do and you added a sparkle to our team. Not to mention a caring motherly nature to all of us when needed. 

Tim- or Dr Hutton - you provide leadership and are a Mr Fix It of note. 

Wendy - organizer par excellance and get hands, feet and every other part if your body dirty and is the glue that hold all together. Simon- your sense if humour is only surpasses by your strength - you flip that huge boat out the water as if it is a toothpick. A real dad, husband and leader. 

Mark - our gentleman - will handle every situation with aplomb. Appears laid back - but a great team player is hard to find...

Ant- 007 - secret weapon - and total power house - not to mention probably the "poster boy" of the entire Canal Di Midi - girls watch this space

And Sue - a stalwart - just keep going - this was her dream and she followed her dream - and she will be celebrating her 50th birthday soon... 

What an Oarsome South African team. Thank you for a life of memorable times in a mere week! You are amazing!!! This is what life is about!!!  

Fianally to everyone who was part of this trip if a lifetime, including all competitors and organisers and support members - A BIG THANK YOU from Team Oarsome  South Africa!!! 

That's it folks. 

Judy Van Es