Mates
by Peter Fitzgerald
I went to Syd's Rapid this year to support a mate and his daughter in her first Avon with her father. My mate, Andrew, a long time paddling mate, is a veteran like myself. All I had was a spare paddle, some fluid replacement and some chocolate for . . . whatever. Syd's rapid can make or break anybody's Avon, it can be fearsome for the unitiated and just as deadly for the experienced as well. Many Descenters over the years have had their dreams as well as their paddles smashed at Syd's. Hence I went to Syd's to support Andrew and Emily, No. 950, double plastic kayak. Andrew and his beautiful daughter handled Syd's with consummate ease and my support was not needed.
So I stayed on to see my testoterone fuelled nephew in the 8 hp powerboat. I don't know why the boy went wrong, considering he came from a family of paddlers! Lazy, I suppose, didn't want to do the Avon in glory by paddling, took the easy way down in a powerboat.
Whilst I was waiting a surf ski came to grief, one of many, but this poor fellow had smashed his paddle. He did not have a spare and to him his Avon was over. He had the shattered look of defeat and despair, our eyes locked, I knew the fellow, we had paddled together in past Descents, his name I did not remember but I knew him. I threw him my spare paddle; he said, "Thanks, mate!" I hope he finished.
My nephew 145 came first in the 8 hp class; Andrew and Emily finished and posed for the press by swimming under the bridge at Bell's.
Myself?
I am kicking myself, ringing in my ears are the words I had uttered all through the past months, "Nah it won't rain, it's another dry year." Next year I'll be back. Fitzy will be back.
P.S. Pete told me that the fellow standing next to him on the same rock at the bottom of Syd's soon after gave his spare paddle to the next paddler who came along with a broken one! Seems like Pete started something on that rock! - Robyn
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