Rafting Photos and Leaving Party.

Two days before I flew back to the UK we comandered a raft from Nile River Explorers and headed down from Bujagali all the way to the Hairy Lemon. Why? For me it was a chance to get some shots of the rapids for a new set of Operating Procedures the raft companies are bringing out. For others it was a free lift down to the Lemon, and for others still it was a chance to have a go at Rafting. With a waterproof camera in hand we headed off, nursing hangovers from the night before, but stoked to be fooling around on the river with friends. In the raft was Sam - (nominated nupty client in his pax jacket and helmet), Morgan (beat down legend), Jim the Brave, and me - selfishly not paddling at all so I could take photos. We had a safety crew of Hot Anna 3, and Kanami, who after the first few rapids got the hint that they should be in front of the raft and not flollowing behind.

First we had to launch the raft. This was done with precision and grace...

With that sorted we were on our way. With a long way to go we obviously needed an early start to the day. Something like 1.30pm?! Not great, but we were confident we could get to the Lemon before dark... ...maybe.

-Below Retrospect-

-Dropping into Vengence - Anna getting beaten in the distance-

-Sick surf on Nile Special!-

Just before dark we made it down to Nile Special. Having not flipped in Bujagali, Silverback or the Bad Place (all the massive rapds), we were keen for a surf - so we paddled back up the eddy and headed back in!! With a little deflation of the tubes we got in for a great surf and floated down to the Island stoked with the day.

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As we puled in to the Hairy Lemon we were met by a giant Mud Wrestling arena and an island full of merry English men & women having a final party before they flew home. As I was leaving in a couple of days I felt compelled to stay and we even managed to persuade Hot Anna the 3rd to stay for a party. Woop-woop!!

Not even out of my paddling gear I somehow ended up testing out the mud. It stank pretty bad and was a little 'abrasive'!! But the company was good so I didn't mind...

And who did we have to thank for the mud?


The big man himself Marky-Mark Birbeck - ladies watch out...


First up the girls, rules - hold your opponant on their back for 10 seconds...

-Laura, George and another mud coverered Laydee going hard-out-

-The Money Shot-

In a close final it was the crazy Kiwi and nun-wannabe Laura who came out on top so to speak, but in the grand spirit of goodwill the top prize of a night in the sugarshack (The most luxury accomodation on the island) was given out to all three of the ladies for their sterling efforts, and mostly because after them, everybody else wimped out.


So with the Mud wresting behind us the party really kicked off - shooters were mandatory, we drank all the beer, work the next day was cancelled and some of us even managed to party through until sunrise.

-Hot Anna the 3rd (with borrowed clothes)-


-Shake Faces - Laura, George & Jenny-

-Tastey stuff-

-The party getting started-

After a while it seemed standing around wasn't enough, and we started dancing. Hands up who's seen Davey O'Hare dance?!! Not a regular occurance by any means but the Scottish jig was out to play this night, and it was funny as hell...

-Anna & Davey show their skills-

-Get in!-

-I'm going to get beaten up for this photo, but it's just too funny-

And that's about it. I'm now back in the UK, I think we've all sobered up, tomorrow I head to France for a bit of snowboarding. First stop is Val D'Isere for a night, then Morzine and then Switzerland. I'll let you know how I get on.

Easy.

Film Mission + Paddles Mag Photo-Shoot

A few weeks ago we managed to get a big crew together for a few days of filming and photos down the river. The plan was Sam Ward's idea to make a short film about what is going to be lost with the building of the Bujagali Hydro Power site. We started off on the furthest 'back channel' Blade Runner.

-Woop Woop-

-The boys looking at the lines from the top-

With heaps of lines to choose from it was a sick start to the day, and with everyone being handed at least one big beat down in the bottom hole it was hugely entertaining for everyone watching.

-Karl Moser behind the lens-

-Max Bilbow dropping in from the top-

-Sick montage of Ibrah firing up the middle line-

-Wise words from Jared Taylor-

-Sam recovering from yet another blast in the bottom hole-

Then when we thought the day was getting off to a good start Karl and the girls were about to go for a blast only to find their paddles were gone. We figured the thieving little kids who took them couldn't have been far and for the next hour we went looking for them, until we eventually found one.

-Interogating our prisoner-

It was a pain in the arse, and it was only two weeks later after guys going to jail, witchdoctors, and a lot of African nonsense the guys eventually got their paddles back. It spoilt the day and dragged out what would have been two hours of paddling into the whole day.

-Anton after getting bashed up on the middle line-

We still managed a little more that day - filming the boof line on the left of the hump and some different angles on Bujagali falls. We were also putting together a 'playspots guide' for the next issue of Paddles magazine and wanted some different shots, so we played around on the Bujagali waves and also down at 50-50.

-Jared Taylor, sweet spot, left of the Hump-

-Ibrah-

-50-50 fourth wave-

-Sam and Anton both rockin' the 8kg Gui-Gui Prod-

-Top Wave 50-50-


-Wrestling Hole Bujagali-

-Bujagali lead in wave-

-See you later bru, Sam about to get violently wet on the right of Bujagali-

All in all it still turned out to be a great mission, it was great to get on the water with such a big crew and enjoy the magnificent rapids of the upper Nile. No one really knows how long it will be until these rapids are lost forever. Some say by August we wont be allowed through Silverback. We certainly still have time for everything around Bujagali, and my guess is that it will still be two - three years until we really see some big changes at the very top. All we can do is enjoy it while it lasts, and hopefully we'll share some of this enjoyment with you. I can't wait for the new mini video from Sam. I'll post it as soon as it's done.

Peace.