photo upload a no go

I tried to upload photos taken of the silverback section of whitewater, but it turns out the files have all been corrupted. I will have to keep trying... But i haven't been able to get out paddling on my own much-Just as it looked like things were about to settle down, they've kicked up again. I've been working loads- and having a lot of fun with some more intermediate/advanced clients. Its been great because i've been able to push my own skills, in terms of coaching and on the river, and have even managed to do a few video sessions on some of the waves here. It is astounding how much more you gain from a training session by going back through and analyzing video- something i have really seen being put into practice from Lili coach/founder Sam Ward.

Jamie has gone to the UK for 10 days, and Jared has left us to go back to Canada for 6 months, leaving me in charge of KTN daily operations for the past week or so. Highly entertaining.. and good practice if i ever decide to attempt to run my own business! You start to realize how much working managing even a small company like KTN is.

It has been a busy month for much of the kayaking industry, with the World Championships for freestyle kayaking taking place in Thun, Switzerland last week. It has been highly entertaining, and mildly frustrating attempting to follow the news on what can be painstaking slow internet. I had lots of friends over at worlds, and a big crew of Ugandan residents/visitors were over there as well.

One of our guides, Ibra Mugembe, and Paulo Babi one of the rafting guides had the opportunity to compete for Uganda in the kayak championships- alongside another friend and former guide off the Nile.. All did well, With Timmy Flowers taking 76th overall, Paulo in 61st, and Ibra placing 36th, just missing a shot at quarter finals. Anton, one of the video boaters out on the Nile finished 26th overall- showing again how great this river is for training... and of course how much you can do with natural ability...

It was exciting and encouraging to see so many friends do well- the competition and the lengthy amount of time required to check results provided a welcome distraction from the work week. For full results, check out www.kayaksession.com

I have also just learned that Canoe and Kayak New Zealand Magazine has decided to publish an article on the Himalayan River Girls, and the progress they have made. One of the girls, Sussmita, was even able to go and compete at worlds in Switzerland. I'm sure it was an amazing opportunity for her, and a great way to build awareness within the international kayaking community. At any rate, Canoe and Kayak NZ has decided to use one of my photographs taken on the trip as their cover shot! Pretty exciting for me- I can't wait to see a copy.

Thats about it for now Photos to come, internet permitting... sigh..

pretty as a princess

I remember as a kid begging my mom and dad to let me sleep under mosquito netting. It was a short lived phase, as they never acquiesced to my (admittedly) ridiculous requests. I wanted mosquito netting because it seemed so royal- and princess like- at the age of seven. The fine white netting tied in a ring above my bed (note: i grew up in a room with about seven foot ceilings. An NBA player wouldn't be able to stand up straight in there) , floating down around to tuck into my bed cushions to make me feel protected and important. My parents saw fine white netting to get dirty and torn and be one more thing to be a mess in my room. Smart Parents.

Flash forward 15 years or so: I now live in a country where i sleep under a mosquito net everynight. Not by choice, entirely, but as the best protection from malaria. Having just experienced my first bout with Malaria- i am even more a fan of my mozzie net then ever. Instead of being white and gathered- my mozzie net is blue and square, treated with insecticide, and hangs above my bed from a small wooden frame. One of my nighttime rituals has become to makesure it is properly tucked in. "pretty as a princess".

It is funny how used to seomthing to get- coming home to the staes, or sleping somewhere that there isn't a net- i now immediately feel a little exposed. The fact of the matter is- out here, sleeping under an insecticde treated mozzie net everynight is the best way- for us and the locals to protect against malaria. It is the principal Soft Power Health stresses every week when the go out and visit villages, selling their cost-subsidized nets to the locals.

My own bout with malaria (zero fun) has made this even more evident to me.

besides the malaria front, the past few weeks have been a busy time out here as the last of the summer tourism scene makes its way through jinja. Lots of birthdays and celebrations this month as well as lots of work on the river. It is just now starting to quiet down, and i think we are all a little excited about it.

Thats about all for the moment... its gone quiet and time to start some planning for some future missions.

Back in Black

Hard to believe that two weeks have passed already since leaving the States to come back to Uganda. Things are going well, and i hve been reasonably busy with work. There has been work for kayak school the past 5 days- ( i know, its almost like a real job! ) And the rafting trips have been fully booked several days this week. Hard to believe considering how quiet the campsite here seems in relation to my memories of last summer. Where there used to be Overland trucks here almost everynight, ther have been three or four trucks in the past 2 weeks.

The river has been changing almost everyday as well- The boys reported that the diggers at Silverback come right up to the waters edge now, and have caused the rapid to change again. Its frightening how much has been deforested already- and how barren the shore looks. the boys of the raft trip yesterday say that the first wave was almost gone, but the 4th wave made a major comeback. It will be interesting to see how the rapid keeps fluxuating and changing in the next few months.

Im going to try and take advantage of this section as much as possible in the next few months- but we will see. Other then that- things are pretty much the same around here. There have been many new buildings built up around the gate, new shops and chapati stands. There seem to be less boda boda men as well, perhaps in response to fewer kayakers coming to stay and go for Silver back runs. Still, the rafting video goes off in the NRE bar at 9, and life goes on.

Welcome Back

After much deliberation this winter and spring, I made the decision to return to the White Nile River in Uganda to work for the remainder of the summer season.  I'll be teaching kayaking for Kayak the Nile and leading sit-on-top trips for Kayak Cruises. Check out the website to book trips or see what i'll be doing at www.kayakthenile.com

It was a hard decision to come back- but made the choice to be here for the last bit of time before the top section gets dammed this coming year. The river is as beautiful as always, if a bit low.  

I arrived back in Jinja on Saturday, and have worked a few days already, partied a few nights already, and am starting to get back into the swing of things.  

Its good to be back- everyone has been extremely welcoming, from my friends, the people I work with, and even the locals.  Everywhere i have gone so far i have recieved encouraging "Welcome Back"s!  Its always flattering to have felt missed, and also flattering to have people surprised that i left. It feels oddly normal to be back here, though the leisurely lifestyle doesn't seem quite as appealing as it did last year.  All in all, good to be doing something, and happy to get some sun! 

.