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Dragon Boat Canada


IDBF


Canoe Kayak Canada

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[paddleboy]

 Well I arrived here in Prague today for the 2009 Worlds and haven't slept in over 24 hrs trying to beat the jetlag and follow the hours over here . Just getting my paddle here has set me back an add't $100 1 way for exccess baggage charges so far ......on the way back when they charge me again I think I'll ask for its own seat for that price ....I could have left my paddle behind and bought 1 here ,lol

  Taxi drivers here in Prague are on the crazy side ..............my experience was my driver deciding to take some shorts cuts down 1 way streets heading the wrong direction and just waving at the people who look annoyed....it was actually kinda of a blast,lol .

 I got into my room to find no a/c of air movement of any type from the fan unit so I headed down to the lobby and asked for some assistance and up came this biker looking guy about 300 lbs who spoke no english . He look annoyed even before I said something about the room being very warm and glared at me and looked at the thermostat and hit it a few times and then glared again and saw I had opened 1 of the windows to let cooler air in and he walked over slammed in shut and said "NO !! " or at least  I thought it was no and looked at me like I caused the problem ......I only opened it because the thermostat room temp said 29 degrees .He said something that I think mean't  " wait " and disappeared and about an hour later reappeared leaving me in the room w/ all the windows closed and temp moving upward .This time he reappeared w/ another guy and he looked at the thermostat and said " ok " ,not sure what that mean't because he did not do anything and then the biker maintence guy noticed I opened the windows again and he said something and I have no idea what he said but it wasnt good and he went back over and slammed the windows shut and I smiled and said " ENGLISH ? " ,he glared and left,lol but hey the a/c kinda worked ...I think he scared the crap out of it

 So after all this I decide its time for a protien shake .....I mix it with water ,shake ,shake ,drink and then grab some things about Prague and it says " DON"T DRINK the TAP WATER " ......my luck

 Practices on the site start Friday  both mixed and men's, the men's team will finally all get to train together mixing up with guys all across Canada .I'll try to do updates for all as time allow and as long as I can find wi-fi .

 Thats it for today ...I need sleep  

[Special K]

Your sooooo high maintenance my dear brother. It's generally a good idea to not drink tap water when travelling abroad as one's system may not be used to other countries water. You may want to visit the local pharmacy and get yourself some Pepto-Bismal  .

Please keep us posted on the results. Glad you got there safely.

Your sister

PS: don't forget to bring me a souvenir 

[paddleboy]

PS: don't forget to bring me a souvenir 

  I'll bring you the maintence guy ! I'm so nice 

[Illuminate]

don't forget to post pictures!

[paddleboy]

 I have my iphone with me and will try but its kinda hard to film while you're paddlin your ass off  

 2000 meter race start next weds :


2000m races
 
16:00 hrs ( 4:00 pm) premier open - Canada starts 12 of 18
 
18:10 ( 6:10 pm ) premier mixed - Canada starts 14 of 15 ( Canada -fcrcc went gold last time IN AUSTRALIA)
 
 Senior women 2000m - Canada starts 6 of 7 (senior,junior and GD women are all in same heat) at 13:00  ( 1PM )

[paddleboy]

 website to watch for race grids and possibly results - 2000 meter race grid is up

 http://www.dragonboat2009.com/

 http://www.dragonboat2009.com/programme-of-races-wednesday-26th-august

[Special K]

Some helpful tips (I've also emailed these to you):

 Dos & don'ts in Prague and the Czech Republic


Avoid the taxi drivers waiting at ranks in obvious tourist locations. Hail a moving cab or call one of the services listed below. Make sure you are getting into an authorised taxi and the driver turns on the meter. It is safer to agree a fee before you get in the cab.

The main crime problems are petty pilfering from cars and pockets. Prague`s worst problem are the pickpockets. They concentrate in tourist areas like Wenceslas Square, Old Town Square, Charles Bridge and the Castle, also when getting on or off a tram or train in the metro. A favourite time for them are the crowded summer months. Always remember to keep your bag closed and avoid carrying your passport, wallet and valuables in your back pocket. Never leave valuables in your car. Park your car in an underground car park. When in Prague Main Station, never leave your bag unattended, even on the train. Thieves are now boarding the train while it waits in the station and stealing luggage.

Always make sure that your hotel room/apartment is locked whenever you leave! Always keep your hotel/apartment address and important phone numbers with you.

Prostitution is not legal in the Czech Republic, though police generally turn a blind eye. If you walk down Wenceslas Square any time past 10pm, you will see prostitutes at every corner on the streets leading into the Old Town. Please don't pick up any girls from the street and take them back to the apartment or hotel, especially if they are not native Czechs! It's very dangerous !

Don't park in the blue zone, if you do you will be clamped. Also, the town police now tow, they will take your car away if you do not pay the clamp fine quickly.

Don't change any money with people in the street !

[paddleboy]

 funny about the cars .......the hotel brochure says if you want guarded car protection its aval but for extra charge .................so does that mean if I park down below in the parkade and I don't pay but say another guy does a few stalls over and a thief comes in and breaks into my car the guard for the other car will just watch ??  Hmmmmm

[mo]

I got into my room to find no a/c of air movement of any type from the fan unit so I headed down to the lobby and asked for some assistance and up came this biker looking guy about 300 lbs who spoke no english . He look annoyed I even said something about the room being very warm and glared at me and looked at the thermostat and hit it a few times and then glared again and saw I had opened 1 of the windows to let cooler air in and he walked over slammed in shut and said "NO !! " or at least  I thought it was no and looked at me like I caused the problem ......I only opened it because the thermostat room temp said 29 degrees .He said something that I think mean't  " wait " and disappeared and about an hour later reappeared leaving me in the room w/ all the windows closed and temp moving upward .This time he reappeared w/ another guy and he looked at the thermostat and said " ok " ,not sure what that mean't because he did not do anything and then the biker maintence guy noticed I opened the windows again and he said something and I have no idea what he said but it wasnt good and he went back over and slammed the windows shut and I smiled and said " ENGLISH ? " ,he glared and left,lol but hey the a/c kinda worked ...I think he scared the crap out of it

i was waiting for the part where they took out the handcuffs, lube and chainsaw.

Good luck in your races!

[NFW]

Keep updating us Paddleboy, it's an interesting read.

Yea, the norm for tap water is always NOT to drink it if you are not in North America.

don't forget to post pictures!

+1

Prostitution is not legal in the Czech Republic, though police generally turn a blind eye. If you walk down Wenceslas Square any time past 10pm, you will see prostitutes at every corner on the streets leading into the Old Town. Please don't pick up any girls from the street and take them back to the apartment or hotel, especially if they are not native Czechs! It's very dangerous !

So this advice is for Paddleboy specifically??

Good luck over there!

[Illuminate]

So this advice is for Paddleboy specifically??

all of the FCRCC boys really 

[Special K]

Paddleboy where are you??? It's been awhile since your last post, did the water get to you???

[paddleboy]

  I'm busy touring the city ,geez ...... 1 of our team members got pick pocketed today !! Damn they are super fast ,he turned around and the guy was like gone ...............I tried to run him down to see if he wan't to paddle ,has a great start !!

  In the hotel we have the ozzie's ,Hong Kong and Iran ............yes Iran ..... this should be interesting

 Weather has been smokin hot ( awesome for the black uni's ),the city is amazing .It's too bad it was decided not to hold the 2000 on the river under the tourist bridges because they are packed w/ people

 The team is pretty much all here now and practice starts tomorrow ,twice a day .The men's team looks great ,the eastern guys add alot of braun & size to the team .....we all  can't wait to paddle & get a feel of the power ...it should be awesome !!!!

 anyway thats it for today ,its 9:15 pm and have to be up early
 

[Special K]

What if you caught the guy you were chasing and he ended up have a knife or something??? Not worth the risk. Hide your money in your socks or other dark scary areas.

Thanks for the colourful update, keep 'em coming.

PS: Tell Kamini George says 'hi' 

[paddleboy]

 As I sit here right now typing ,it's 8 pm on the 22cd and Australia and Iran have just arrived in the lobby from their flights .We spent the day on the race course with mixed practice first followed by the mens a couple hours later.It takes abut 45 minutes to travel to the site from the hotel but it sounlds like our place is a 5 * compared to where the New Zealand & India teams ended up........Its apparanty like a bunker leftover from the war ,lol

 The boats are just larger versions of the new 10 mans ,bracing is similiar in the middle and they tend to bounce up and down so we need to stay way forward . These boats really show left /right imbalances and its something we have been having to work on . They make huge bow wakes ,much bigger than BUKs

 Some of the Euro teams were on the water and definately using a much different stroke but the seemed to move the boat very well .

 I have pictures of the race course but no way of attaching them so I will send them to sis and maybe she can do it for me