Us

Cotswolds Watersports Week

For some unknown reason, we decided to have our final weeks holiday in 2007 to be an activity week - and we came up with Water-Sports! Something we haven't done before, but was on our list of things to do before we die :)

We invited a couple of my old Uni friends (Gowry and Tim) to camp with us for the first half, and they joined us in a "pup tent" :)

We found a campsite to stay at, Hoburn Cotswolds, and quite surprisingly we were quite impressed! Facilities are superb, pub/food/shop on site, and showerblocks (well 2 out of 3) appeared new and were spotlessly clean and of high quality. Great showers! Overall the price was c. £90 for 7 nights - 4 people for 4, and 2 for 3. The water-ski lakes were 1.5m away, and the windsurf 2.5m away. 3 other pubs were around 20 minute walk, one in particular, "The Elliot" in South Cerney was great and the food was awesome!!

The plan was:-

Arrive Saturday 12 noon
2pm Saturday 3-hr water-ski lessons (cable-tow)
10:30am Sunday - 2-hr wind-surf lesson
2pm Sunday - back on cable-tow
Repeat AM Windsurf, PM Waterski until we leave...

However.... Things seldom go to plan :)

We all arrived on time on Saturday and went off to the lake for the first cable-tow water-ski lessons. These went well and we all went off on Knee-boards. After about 30 mins, me and Mel were generally sinking and falling off, whilst Gowry and Tim were lapping like Pros! (They had been before!!) They then upgraded to Wakeboards (similar to snow-boards) - and they then fell in quite a lot! Tim seemed natural though :(

On the Sunday, we cycled to the Windsurf lake for lessons, but the instructor was ill and it was cancelled. Great.

Sunday afternoon we went back to water-skiing, and Mel and I continued to try and perfect kneeboards. The boys wimped out and decided to have a lazy day! We did better but weren't experts.... Mel could not make the last corner - and even performed a spectacular "Superman" head-first dive :)

Monday Mel & I went for a run, aiming for 8 miles, and went via the Windsurf place - and found they had another instructor so we booked in for 4pm and cut the run short to 5.2m! Gowry and Tim did some water-skiing and got a lot better on the wakeboard - Tim starting to lap like a Pro.... Mel and I were aching too much to ski!!! We went wind-surfing, but the wind was light, and it was fun - but flippin' cold. Decided to wait till its warmer till we try again as standing on a board, wet, and in the wind isn't exactly warming!!

On Tuesday, as the boys were good on the wakeboards, Mel & I decided to cheat and have some 1-2-1 wakeboard lessons behind a boat. We felt this would give us a headstart for the cable-tow. This was stonking great fun, learning nothing to lapping a lake like a pro (well - more like half laps like a wobbly donkey!). We started holding onto the bar progressing to standing....

Progressing to tow line....

Mel did really well too - got up quicker than me - and fortunately I know how to use the video mode on the camera and Mel does not! See here.....

Afterwards we went to the cable tow, and Mel struggled to launch (as its much quicker than boat), but eventually I managed to get up and get to the first corner before falling in.... (apparently got a cheer from everyone on the dock!!)

Wednesday was the boys last day, so down at the lake again and I'm sure Gowry was determined to make a lap (or get past 1st corner!)! Tim was lapping smoothly like a pro.... They both decided to try to "jump launch" - e.g. jump off the dock and land/tow straight away. Both succeeded first time - I failed first/second/third etc.... :( I was able to get to corner 3 - but ***** hell - if you make the first corner "okay" then the 2nd corner "skin of teeth" - the third corner bites like a bitch and I did an exceptional face-slap that hurt like **** and I'm sure almost knocked me out. Apparently the "operator" laughed at Mel and said "that must've hurt...!" and laughed.... Later on I did the same and cracked the back of my head :( Mel is now able to launch, but forgets technique and falls in after about 100m. I also managed to do a jump-start - but then fall in 50m later.... I decided to alternate jump/fall with 3rd corner/fall! :(

For Thursday we had great plans. 10k run followed by "riding" (the in-word for cable waterskiing apparently!!). However, we were both aching a little and Mel was fatigued - so decided to walk to the shops instead for some provisions. But - as usual - 12 o'clock we were down at the cable ski. Mel opted for a day of rest as she really was aching..... I tried about a dozen jump launches - all ended as expected. On my 3rd sitting launch of the day, I got to the dreaded corner which bites.... and I made it round!!!! Then at the other end, there were 2 more corners, and again - I made it round to cheers from Mel from the side! I completed a 2nd lap and on the 3rd I was thinking "I'll get off after this" - however the nasty corner took revenge and launched me backwards into a solid wall of Water :(. Later, I tried more jump launches which were dire. Then another sit-launch of 3 full laps (and again failing at the nasty corner...)

I was thinking "Wouldn't it be perfect to jump-land, complete a lap, and exit neatly at the beach....". So another attempt at a jump launch which failed spectacularly. Fatigue started to set in and my muscles were crying out :( LAST GO.... And I landed it after a jump start!!!! Bit of a wobble.... Completed a full lap, and a nice neat exit on the beach...... Time to call it a day on a high.... My body is in agony - I have new aches and pains everywhere - but it was worth it. (!!??!!)

Friday morning was tough - I could hardly move!! Neck, hip, thigh, and everything else hurting! So for a rest we cycled 12 miles into Cirencester and back! Had a bag of chocolate brazils and ventured to the lake... Mel set todays target on reaching the first corner... After a few head-slaps and bum tickles (see here for video funny 660kb) Mel seemed to get the launch good, and managed to make it 1/2 way down the straight... Then on one go, she made it to, and round the corner! The photo is evidence of Mel on the back straight! She also made it one other time and had to "drop it" a couple of times due to other fallers in the water (once was me!). So she beat her personal target! I was getting used to the ski more, and was able to jump launch most of the time, and lap a few times - even doing "power exits" to actually "surf" all the way to the beach! Cool! We stayed another few hours to watch the tutors having fun....

Our last night we had a decent meal and a couple of bottles of wine. Great - some extra kilos for Saturday :)

On our final day, the weather was great and we were at the lake before it opened eager to go. We both did pretty well. We worked out the "underwater camera" I had for a birthday present was as good as a chocolate teapot (it leaked and fell to pieces then blew up). Much the same as Friday - but I was starting to try another stunt - a jump launch, one lap, then a "simple" foot-switch. After 2-3 failures I tried again - and made a major head-plant and decided to call it a day. Aching like hell, and think I've either fractured or bruised a rib during the last fall! Got to laugh.....