Wed 3rd Dec: Back in Pucon

I´m back in Pucon to do the hydrospeed again and to break up the journey north. I´m looking forward to getting back in the river. Its very overcast this morning when I get up. I buy breakfast in the supermarket and head back to tje hostel to eat. I get talking to a German windsurfer, Josh, who is the image of Liverpool´s John Arne Riise. He was in Ireland during September to windsurf, staying at Easkey and in Brandon bay. He trots out all the "Oirish" words he´s picked up in Kerry and we have a great laugh at the hilarity of it all!! He´s sound enough but the "Oirish" words come out a little too frequently.

I went over to check if Hydrospeed was on today (You need a minimum number). I killed a couple of hours on the internet doing the blog and "chatting" to Padraig who was online. They weren´t sure so I was told to check back at 1pm. When I called back hydrospeed was off as I was the only interested party. This was disappointing but they said I could try "Ducky" instead which was on for 2pm along the same stretch of river as we´d done Hydrospeed before. Ducky is an inflatable kayak, basically for learners. I decided to go along.

The others in the group were four lads from Luxembourg. They were given two 2-man rafts. I was in a 1-person kayak. There were 5-6 kayakers along for the spin as well. It was a good laugh but I was terrible. I fell out at every set of rapids. At the largest set I missed a very necessary left hand turn and got mashed as I fell into a set of rocks. It was a bit like watching Homer Simpson falling downstairs. Those who saw me winced and laughed at the same time. Apart from a few bruises I emerged at the bottom fine but gasping for air. Its great when there´s no harm done. Back at the centre there were a few beers for us. I found out that the volcanoe climb had been cancelled today due to the weather conditions. Since I left Pucon 2 weeks ago that climb has been cacelled for 6 days straight due to adverse weather so I think I was quite lucky to get climbing it when I did.