Nick's Paddling Gallery http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/ 35 rows en-gb 60 Wye http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c1024355.html Floating down the Wye on a hot summer's day with Blair, Helen and Liz. Saturday 15 July 2006: Floating down the Wye on a hot summer's day with Blair, Helen and Liz.

Liz has her new name on her helmet Making rainbows

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]]> Sat Jul 15 2006 Kimmeridge http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c882204.html A chilly but sunny morning's surf at Kimmeridge. Monday 6 March 2006: A chilly but sunny morning's surf at Kimmeridge.

Sliding in Kev and James under the cliffs Kev Mark Mark and Heather Sit-on-top guy - doing surprisingly well Blair Line-up at the take-off Shore-thing? Rule #1 in a problem situation - take a photo! Break zone.

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]]> Mon Mar 6 2006 Angel Island, San Francisco Bay http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c840295.html A work trip to San Francisco gave me the chance to explore the Bay Area on a warm, sunny day. Hiring a kayak in Sausalito, I did a quick solo circumnavigation of Angel Island, accompanied by a few seals. Sunday 22 January 2006: A work trip to San Francisco gave me the chance to explore the Bay Area on a warm, sunny day. Hiring a kayak in Sausalito, I did a quick solo circumnavigation of Angel Island, accompanied by a few seals.

Leaving Sausalito marina Passing traffic Curious visitor... Angel Island dead ahead, Cap'n! Dwontown San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge Angel Island harbour Disused immigration buildings Downtown SF. Golden Gate A good day for sun bathing Arf arf! Empty beach Good view! Downtown SF, with Alcatraz in the background

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]]> Sun Jan 22 2006 White Nile, Uganda - Hairy Lemon http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c780956.html Chilled out days at the Hairy Lemon, interspersed with manic, bouncy boating at Nile Special. Friday 25 November 2005: Chilled out days at the Hairy Lemon, interspersed with manic, bouncy boating at Nile Special.

Downtown Jinja Lake Victoria from Jinja Hicksy relaxing with a Bitter Lemon Krest Driver Steve Kalagala Falls Looking back up at Kalagala Neil Caption competition, entries on an email! Vengeance Eagle Nile Special Neil surfing at Nile Special Hicksy throwing down a big end Neil Hicksy The usual spectators Breaking into Nile Special Hicksy and Neil at our Hairy Lemon banda Me and Neil HQ for 3 days Me bouncing around Nile Special Pat Camblin Dale Jardine Pat Camblin Ben Brown Dale Hicksy View of our beach and banda from the river The boat store Late afternoon sun over Nile Special Hicksy contemplating his next move One of the spectators Sunset over the Nile Dragonflys Sunrise over the Nile Sunrise

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]]> Fri Nov 25 2005 White Nile, Uganda - NRE basecamp http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c780946.html A superb trip to Uganda to paddle the White Nile with Neil & Hicksy. Warm water and BIG waves! Sunday 20 November 2005: A superb trip to Uganda to paddle the White Nile with Neil & Hicksy. Warm water and BIG waves!

Final preparations Sunrise over Africa Heading for the equator Coming into Entebbe Airport collection - the first matatu of the trip Busy traffic in Kampala Anyone for the Kampala marathon? Nile Special - the beer of choice First view of the White Nile from NRE Hicksy tries on his new helmet, courtesy of British Airways. Boats lined up at NRE Day 1 - Starting off at Owen Falls Dam Floating down the Nile Hicksy Our guide, Rita, and Neil Hicksy, Rita, Neil Playing on Back Wave Cooling off Back Wave Getting stampeded off the path by a small herd of cows Excuse me Miss, I wish to register a complaint! Neil trying to get a surf at Silverback Loading up the boda-boda's Sunset over the Nile from NRE Relaxing at NRE Day 2 - Loading up the matatu Bottom of Itunda Middle of Itunda Falls - the Pencil Sharpener Top of Itunda Falls Neil stretching his dodgy back Dale Jardine Hicksy on Vengeance Me backsurfing Vengeance Me More floating... Hair of the Dog Neil heading in Hicksy breaking in Hicksy going for a blunt Me breaking into Hair of the Dog Bouncing around Neil getting a face full

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]]> Sun Nov 20 2005 Saunton http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c758777.html Weekend in sunny Saunton with Liz, Kev F, Alice, Tim, Vicky and Amanda. Sunday 29 May 2005: Weekend in sunny Saunton with Liz, Kev F, Alice, Tim, Vicky and Amanda.

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]]> Sun May 29 2005 Snowdonia Paddling http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c755897.html A great weekend of paddling with Alex, Blair and Kev with good water conditions. Saturday 5 November 2005: A great weekend of paddling with Alex, Blair and Kev with good water conditions.

Sunny Colwyn, near Dragon's Tail The Breaker, ABerglaslyn Gorge Upper Colwyn Kev Kev Alex Alex Colwyn - lead in to the diagonal drop Blair and Alex in the eddy below the diagonal drop Colwyn gauge at 6. Floating down the Glaslyn Aberglaslyn Gorge in high water Aberglaslyn Gorge

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]]> Sat Nov 5 2005 Hurley Regatta http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c661901.html Lard and I went down to the Hurley Regatta to see bathtub and raft antics on the Thames. More clotted cream, sir? Saturday 20 August 2005: Lard and I went down to the Hurley Regatta to see bathtub and raft antics on the Thames. More clotted cream, sir?

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]]> Sat Aug 20 2005 Sea paddling - Poole harbour to Lulworth Cove http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c577769.html A scenic trip along the Dorset coast with Kev, Ashley and Mark. Saturday 11 June 2005: A scenic trip along the Dorset coast with Kev, Ashley and Mark.

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]]> Sat Jun 11 2005 Hambledon http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c496455.html 1 gate at Hambledon on a sunny Sunday morning, with and without ramp assistance. Photos by Liz. Sunday 10 April 2005: 1 gate at Hambledon on a sunny Sunday morning, with and without ramp assistance. Photos by Liz.

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]]> Sun Apr 10 2005 Guernsey - Surfing at Vazon http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c389573.html A big gathering turned up to celebrate the New Year with some more messy surf. Photo credit goes to Liz. Sunday 2 January 2005: A big gathering turned up to celebrate the New Year with some more messy surf. Photo credit goes to Liz.

Chris and Nick (yellow boat) Surfer getting air

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]]> Sun Jan 2 2005 Surfing at Portinfer http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c380374.html A much better day for photography!! :o) Monday 27 December 2004: A much better day for photography!! :o)

Portinfer car park Ash undercuts Chris Random surfer Ready for take-off Another exit move? Clear spray Mega-advert Clearing the lip Pop-out Ash Chris trying to squeeze into a mini-tube Pleinmont Pleinmont

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]]> Mon Dec 27 2004 Surfing at Vazon http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c376866.html A windy, messy day at Vazon. Thursday 23 December 2004: A windy, messy day at Vazon.

Windsurfer getting air Vazon Bay Simon Helena Chris losing contact with the wave Chris Ashley

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]]> Thu Dec 23 2004 North Esk (lower) http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c330110.html A high water autumn run down the classic North Esk with Alex and Hicksy. Sunday 31 October 2004: A high water autumn run down the classic North Esk with Alex and Hicksy.

Slowly faffing, hangovers brewing... Alex The obligatory Field and Trek pose Hicksy tries sledging to the river. Get-in of the lower North Esk Gorgeous autumn paddling Alex mystery moves his Spud (yes, he is in there) Alex lining up for the Rocks of Solitude Alex punching his way through the Rocks of Solitude rapid Hicksy Alex Myself lining up.. ...all going well... ..until my borrowed Inazone subs-out... Not the BCU approved method of river running. Nick's hangover cure was a tad unusual. Lard and Hicksy inspecting a trib

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]]> Sun Oct 31 2004 Wet Wales http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c322095.html Noah and his ark visited Wales last week, bringing lots of rain and flooding. So I joined Tim for 2days of paddling in Snowdonia. A great warm-up to a new paddling season! Saturday 23 October 2004: Noah and his ark visited Wales last week, bringing lots of rain and flooding. So I joined Tim for 2days of paddling in Snowdonia. A great warm-up to a new paddling season!

Middle Llugwy - Get in below Pont Cyfyng Tim floating down the Llugwy - note the river at bank level. Upper Conwy at 9 on the guage. Toilet stops are not easy when wearing salopettes. Upper Conwy, above the A5 road bridge. Upper Conwy Ogwen Bank From above Ogwen Bank Falls Ogwen Bank Falls - 10mins later this was run down river left, taking the main flow of waer to the right of centre. Get-in below Ogwen Bank Falls. Looking down the Gunbarrel Gunbarrel Moody skies in Snowdonia Tim, Neil & Dave at the bottom of the Gunbarrel Looking back up the Gunbarrel FLoating down the Ogwen BCU Safety couse paddling the Ogwen, en masse! Looking down towards Fishermans Gorge Start of Fishermans Gorge Somewhere in the gorge. Great boulder garden paddling Tim and Neil Weir near the get-out

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]]> Sat Oct 23 2004 4gates at Hurley... in May!! http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c172559.html Unseasonal recent rains provide a rare chance to sample Hurley on 4gates in warm daylight. God bless global warming... ;o) Friday 7 May 2004: Unseasonal recent rains provide a rare chance to sample Hurley on 4gates in warm daylight. God bless global warming... ;o)

Jim Hicksy

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]]> Fri May 7 2004 Hurley on 2 gates http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c166962.html Evening paddle, very busy but always fun. Thursday 22 April 2004: Evening paddle, very busy but always fun.

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]]> Thu Apr 22 2004 Shepperton Weir http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c111127.html The Thames was high and 10gates open on Shepperton weir. This was my first visit, and it was fantastic! BOOP BOOP!! :o) Tuesday 3 February 2004: The Thames was high and 10gates open on Shepperton weir. This was my first visit, and it was fantastic! BOOP BOOP!! :o)

It feels like it looks - fast! Thurs 5th Feb - Paddler1 Thurs 5th Feb - Paddler2 Nick going for a blunt (not entirely intentional) Nick - more blunting! Mr. Burns, I presume?

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]]> Tue Feb 3 2004 Surfing at Saunton http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c93377.html Clear blue skies and a clean 3ft - a nice relaxing afternoon at Saunton to recover from the New Year excesses! Friday 2 January 2004: Clear blue skies and a clean 3ft - a nice relaxing afternoon at Saunton to recover from the New Year excesses!

Blair Neil Kev Hicksy Sunset over Saunton

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]]> Fri Jan 2 2004 River Erme, Devon http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c93374.html A classic Grade 4, done on New Years Day in low levels with Neil, Jim and Blair. All good fun, apart from Jim's brief head-first inspection of a weir. Thursday 1 January 2004: A classic Grade 4, done on New Years Day in low levels with Neil, Jim and Blair. All good fun, apart from Jim's brief head-first inspection of a weir.

Final rapid of Erme gorge The blind drop in Erme Gorge Rapid at the top of the Erme gorge, with the rocky weir in the very far distance. Looking down under the viaduct into the Erme gorge Mssrs Wheeler and Levick at Harford Bridge (or so I'm told). Jim above the rocky weir. This is the last known sighting of his black Schlegal paddles! The end of Neil's boat can be seen on the far left, as he carries out the inspection of the river left drop. The rocky weir. Jim's paddles are possible stuck in the right side of the River Left channel. Jim models the latest in weir-inspection injuries. Jim, Neil, Helen (hiding) and Blair.

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]]> Thu Jan 1 2004 Surfing in Portugal, Day 4 - Praia da Bordeira http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c81460.html Another fun day. Waves approx 3ft+ and clean, gloriously sunny and 6hrs at the beach. Sunday 7 December 2003: Another fun day. Waves approx 3ft+ and clean, gloriously sunny and 6hrs at the beach.

Jim taking off Loser - cold pool swimming. Saunton it isn't - 20C and a mile long beach to ourselves. Blair finds yet another clean lefthander. Neil P pokes his head above the soup. Lunchbreak! Vicious man-eating beastie nibbles on Jim's foot. Dino, newly tamed team mascot. More rubgy Mike PLF to catch a wave. Final sunset. Big suitcases.

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]]> Sun Dec 7 2003 Surfing in Portugal, Day 3 - Praia da Bordeira http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c81457.html Waves dropped to 3-4ft, but the sun was out all day and the waves stayed clean. Beach rugby was needed as a post-lunch warm-up, causing more injuries than 4days surfing! Saturday 6 December 2003: Waves dropped to 3-4ft, but the sun was out all day and the waves stayed clean. Beach rugby was needed as a post-lunch warm-up, causing more injuries than 4days surfing!

Blair PLFs to make the drop-in. Blair catching a shoulder Tim taking off with a look of pure concentration. Jim in the soup. Jim tries an extreme way to fit into his playboat. Squashed by a giant vat of cheap plonk. Punishment for drinking righthanded at the wrong time. Boat convoy. Jim in the soup again Tim in the soup. Blair taking off. Tim taking off. Curling shoulders. Post-lunch warm up. Tim gets taken down. Showdown - Blair vs Hicksy Caption competition available for this photo. The violence spills off the pitch into the sea Sambo and Jim give Hicksy a good dunking. Late afternoon surfing. Surfing til sunset Blair and Neil D waiting Moon over beach.

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]]> Sat Dec 6 2003 Surfing in Portugal, Day2- Praia do Amado http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c81453.html Second day of the trip, sets reaching 4ft+ and a bit of sun - nice! Participants were Nick, Neil D, Blair, Jim, Hicksy, Tim, Mike, Sambo, Scott and Neil P. Friday 5 December 2003: Second day of the trip, sets reaching 4ft+ and a bit of sun - nice! Participants were Nick, Neil D, Blair, Jim, Hicksy, Tim, Mike, Sambo, Scott and Neil P.

Fitting uprights onto the Italian piece of s***! Faro Airport 5boats, 5paddlers, 7paddles, 1car. No problem. Jim, Sambo, Hicksy, Neil P - pensive mood after a long day. Lefthander point break at Praia do Bordeira. A bit rocky. Boom! Praia do Amado beach break. Neil charges a nice lefthander. Neil P and Jim out back. Waiting out back Hicksy prepares to return to the water after lunch Blair and Hicksy paddle out. Blair takes off.

Published in Nick's Paddling Gallery

]]> Fri Dec 5 2003 FINS!! http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c71336.html I must be mad - drilling holes into my one and only playboat!! These are from the "construction" phase; photos of the finished job still to come. Sunday 9 November 2003: I must be mad - drilling holes into my one and only playboat!! These are from the "construction" phase; photos of the finished job still to come.

O'Fish'l finbox and interchangeable fins. Using tape to mark up the boat Looks about right... ...start the drill! Cut out the slot Push the fin box into place Ready to drill bolt holes. Sanding the Riot Neil heat-treating the plasti

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]]> Sun Nov 9 2003 Chertsey (again....) http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c42019.html 100deg F. in London - scorchio!! Saturday 9 August 2003: 100deg F. in London - scorchio!!

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]]> Sat Aug 9 2003 Chertsey http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c40456.html Chertsey Tuesday 5 August 2003: Chertsey

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]]> Tue Aug 5 2003 Chertsey http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c38876.html A busy evening down at Chertsey Thursday 31 July 2003: A busy evening down at Chertsey

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]]> Thu Jul 31 2003 Paddling in the French Alps http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c24137.html Paddling with Neil & Blair. All photos taken on one of those not-so-great disposable cameras and then digitised using my not-so-great scanner. So apologies for the photos showing a tiny blob of a kayaker in the background!! Saturday 17 May 2003: Paddling with Neil & Blair. All photos taken on one of those not-so-great disposable cameras and then digitised using my not-so-great scanner. So apologies for the photos showing a tiny blob of a kayaker in the background!!

Ants in Blair's pants... literally. Start of Durance Gorge. Durance Gorge lead-in. Durance Gorge lead-in. Durance Gorge. Durance GOrge, just below Slot 'n' Drop. Durance Gorge, exiting Middle Guil, looking at Trois Chutes. Middle Guil, Staircase boulder garden. Neil paddling the new Lowering boats into the Guil Gorge. Start of the Guil Gorge - a bit Start of Guil Gorge. Guil gorge/ Drop in the Guil Gorge - Nick. Drop in the Guil Gorge - Neil. Drop in the Guil Gorge - Blair.

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]]> Sat May 17 2003 Kayaking on the Thames weirs http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c16141.html various paddling antics at Chertsey with Blair and Mapledurham with Neil and Blair Thursday 1 August 2002: various paddling antics at Chertsey with Blair and Mapledurham with Neil and Blair

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]]> Thu Aug 1 2002 Kayaking in the French Alps, Jun 96 http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c16136.html 2weeks kayaking in the French Alps with Neil, Alex, Phil, Ali and others. My first Alpine trip! Thursday 6 June 1996: 2weeks kayaking in the French Alps with Neil, Alex, Phil, Ali and others. My first Alpine trip!

Alex disappears into Upper Biasse valley Biasse valley, near the end of the grade V run. Biasse canyon Peugeot diesel Alpine cruisin' Chateau Queyras gorge. Paddlers include Phil in his sickly Stunt Bat Spiky Mike runs the grade V above Trois Chutes, Middle Guil Neil disappears on the Durance Gorge Durance Gorge Exit of the Durance Gorge. Paddlers include Nick and Neil Exit of Durance Gorge Get out of the Middle Guil, in a torential rainstorm. Alex lives up to his nickname and fries fruitcake in lard. Neil paddling a very high and brown Ubaye racecourse Neil on Trois Chutes, Middle Guil (nick in foreground taking photo). Phil and his sickly Stunt Bat - Trois Chutes, Middle Guil Phil looking nervous on the via ferrate above the Gyronde valley Topo duo in the Chateau Queyras gorge. Topo-duo in the Chateau Queyras gorge - Alex hand paddling up front, Neil in back Dave O'Hooligan on the top drop of Trois Chutes High and brown Ubaye racecourse Phil on the via ferrata, Gyronde valley

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]]> Thu Jun 6 1996 Kayaking in the French and Italian Alps, Jun-Jul 97 http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c16133.html 5weeks kayaking in the French and Italian Alps with Neil, Alex and Phil etc. Included 2 trips down the spectacular Verdon Gorge. Friday 6 June 1997: 5weeks kayaking in the French and Italian Alps with Neil, Alex and Phil etc. Included 2 trips down the spectacular Verdon Gorge.

Lard's goatee Lard cooking Lard pilfering fruit Bapaume! More crap goatees Broken paddles! Lard Convoy on the Guil What happens if your boat goes through the Guil dam and gorge With Gianni and Paula La Guillotine, L'Ange Guardien, Guil - Neil Cows in campsite Monaco Goatee??? Splendid blag - free hire car for a week! Nick - Les Fresquieres, Ubaye Les Frequieres, Ubaye Phil Phil Alpine lunch spot, Italian Alps La Rascasse, Monaco Neil on Sesia Italian campsite Phil appreciates the art in Turin Alex on Tris Chutes, Middle Guil Verdon Gorge Neil and Lard Neil in cave Entering cave Vedon gorge Verdon gorge When RPM tail squirts were cool... Exiting cave

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]]> Fri Jun 6 1997 Sea kayaking around Guernsey http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c16131.html Various surfing and rock-hopping fun around Guernsey during my school and university days. Wednesday 31 March 1993: Various surfing and rock-hopping fun around Guernsey during my school and university days.

Blair somewhere off Pleinmont in summer. The Unknown paddler seal launching from the Guernsey Harbour Carnival man-powered flight ramp. Lance rock-hopping near Pleinmont. More rock-hopping fun. Guernsey equivalent of dropping into a hole. Evening paddle on the south coast. Moody atmosphere off L'Eree Nick rockhopping near Petit Bot. Summer sunset at Portelet. Incoming swell at Pleinmont. More swell at Pleinmont. Sunset paddling at Pleinmont - it doesn't get much better. :o) Consequences of not paddling fast enough! Sunset over the Hanois lighthouse. Sunset at Petit Bot. Surfing Perelle reef.

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]]> Wed Mar 31 1993 Kayaking in Corsica, Easter 02 http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c16125.html Neil, Hicksy & myself travelled to Corsica in search of technical rivers and big waterfalls.... it didn't rain, so only we found 1 river in condition!! (But it was worth it!) Friday 29 March 2002: Neil, Hicksy & myself travelled to Corsica in search of technical rivers and big waterfalls.... it didn't rain, so only we found 1 river in condition!! (But it was worth it!)

Published in Nick's Paddling Gallery

]]> Fri Mar 29 2002 Kayaking in Austria, Jul 2001 http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c16123.html Kayaking in Austria and Switzerland with Liz, Neil, Blair, Helen, Tim, Kirsty, Ali, Phil, Gaynor, Steve Saturday 30 June 2001: Kayaking in Austria and Switzerland with Liz, Neil, Blair, Helen, Tim, Kirsty, Ali, Phil, Gaynor, Steve

Ali apres-swim Ali backloops under the bridge Driving over a snowy mountain pass Austrian lake Loisach put-in Blair on the Lower Oetz Neil - Lower Oetz Nick - Lower Oetz Phil - Lower Oetz Lower Oetz get-in - slalom section in high water. Lower Oetz Lower Oetz Lower Oetz- Looking upstream from bridge Lower Oetz - Looking downstream Lower Oetz Lower Oetz Ali on a rope - Unknown Swiss Inn trib Ali still on a rope, Phil trying to avoid it! Unknown Swiss Inn trib. Neil and Phil walk back to camp with beer Phil paddling under bridge Ali dropping into a big, bad hole Ali joins the boat-rescue party Neil punching the bridge-hole. Approaching the bridge hole. Take-out of unknown Swiss Inn trib. Upper section of unknown Swiss Inn trib - gnarly! Take-out of unknown Swiss Inn trib Steve and Neil on the Vorderrhein Tim on the Vorderrhein Ali - Vorderrhein, bottom of G3 rapid. Ali - Vorderrhein, bottom of G3 rapid Liz - Vorderrhein Neil - Vorderrhein Neil - playwave on the Vorderrhein Neil - playwave on the Vorderrhein Neil - playwave on the Vorderrhein Nick - playwave on the Vorderrhein Nick and Liz - Vorderrhein Shuttle stop on the Vorderrhein

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]]> Sat Jun 30 2001 Kayak surfing in Portugal, Dec 02 http://gallery15608.fotopic.net/c16115.html Surf kayaking on the south-west coast of Portugal with Blair, Neil, James and Mike. Friday 29 November 2002: Surf kayaking on the south-west coast of Portugal with Blair, Neil, James and Mike.

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]]> Fri Nov 29 2002