We are doing this again!!? It might be cold
Tho’ it never rains; So we’ve been told!
The fifth time we’ve entered. The team is antique.
And sadly, oh dear, the forecast is bleak.
Pack the raincoat and brolly and hope the kayak doesn’t leak.
Wipers on full throttle as we slide into Kalkite
Mist and rain – but wait! It’s getting light
Helen’s afloat and swims with the best
Jean’s off down the lake - (so far we’re blessed)
The rain has let up, the brolly is spent
Jean (the Machine) Stars! How she went!
Sue’s ready and waiting and dancing about
Transition is smooth, Sue’s off. There’s no doubt
She’s aiming to crush her time
From 2 thousand and nine
“The hill’s seemed to be less – the track more benign”
Her record is smashed and she’s nearly TOO quick
Peggy just makes transition from run to mud (thick)
Granite boulders wizz by and right on time
Peg rides the big dipper, tags Helen the flipper
Simmo the Supporter, brought the kayak around
So Jean can keep Helen from running aground
Hel sliced through the water. Her time? It is fab - ay!
And before she is dry, Jean’s near Hatchery Bay
(Oh joy - the rain - it is staying away)
But where are the other teams of the day?
The Quinn has gone AWOL, no Baldwin to play
No Fox Hunt this year-the Vixens home in the den
the Pankcake and the Stuffers? We do miss them
Foges, Sue and the knot of Bullfrog Croaks
are here for the race in the new ponds and the soaks
The “JARS” from Congo can’t stay away
The “Last Minute” boys are here making hay
“The Cougars Hunters” are having a punt
Are we the Cougars? (Hmm - just now the old girls are in front)!
Back to the story – Jeannie is fast
Peggy’s second ride is a blast
Sue’s crossing the river and bounds up the incline
While Sue’s running swiftly – (of age there’s no sign)
Peg’s washed off the mud, had a last stretch of the spine.
While waiting for Sue at Sawpit creek
We witness the Bullfrog’s crowd pleasing technique
Transition from daughter to dad comes with a kiss and embrace
Aaaawwww! A sweet moment of the race
And Dad’s speedy ride’s an impossible chase.
The last ride is long and it’s tough and its up
Its rutted and boggy and steep and a cow
“Abiding cheerfulness”-where are you now?
(It took a shortcut, straight down the Snowy
Avoiding the vertical mountain and plain where its blowy)
Nearly 3 hours later when Peggy emerges
The other girls, now well rested, are ready for surges
The last ride transcendence in style
Now it is Hel’s turn to swim the last mile.
The wind and the chop are starting to gather
The Divas Alina sees only foam and lather.
The tail wind assists and the following sea
Jeannie’s last paddle rushed along, “paddle paddle! Whoopee!”.
Well done Alan (from the UH and F Team)
The chase down the lake really made Jeannie beam.
But where are the Diva’s – the purple and red?
Surely they can’t have managed to slip ahead?
Alas for them, the choppy lake took its toll
But Sue wasn’t going to make it a stroll.
We finished in the rain just as we began
A wonderful day. Lots of fun, sweat and pain.
Would we do it again?
You bet!!
……
Huge thanks to the organisers, marshals, KNP staff, SES, land-owners, other teams and the solo athletes.
The Go Go Girls @50 +
Sue Archer
Helen Douglass
Jean Douglass
Peggy Douglass
