Raid the North - Charlevoix 2004

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	Hey team here is a real good idea, let's make an effective route plan then once we get out on course we can ignore it!
	Quebec is an amazing place, we park on this deserted road in the middle of nowhere at 03:30 and before you know it all these people show up looking to party. What a country (ops I mean province).
	Oh great flash photography, now our night vision is shot! Team from left to right Keith, Manon, Dave and Andre.
	Somewhere between the start and Cp1 I begin to realize that our team likes to bushwack a little too much.
	After an unwise decision to follow trails heading a little off bearing (sorry Keith and Manon) we get back on course and find this deceiving little place. It had a similar size and shape to the location of Cp1 but alas it was not.
	After discussing our location with another team at the shack we head off on a convoluted and lengthy exploration of the Charlevoix area and eventually stumble upon the elusive Cp1.
	Once we leave Cp1 we head out on a surprizingly direct and accurate route to Cp2/TA1. Along the way we come along some very french architecture like this bridge built under the water.
	While waiting patiently for us to arrive at TA1 our support crew/photographer takes a picture of the ski hill that many teams trekked over to reach Cp2. You may notice the mist that hung in the hills that day really making the navigation so much more interesting.
	We finally arrive at TA1 many hours behind schedule but undaunted and ready to attach the bike ride ahead.
	Well okay not quite ready yet, a little food might help the effort.
	Keith, Manon and Andre are ready to go but once again Dave has something missing. We must forgive him, he is old and forgets stuff!
	Hey Manon what's the problem, the sign up here says that it is only a 13 percent grade for just 1.5 kms.
	Dave and Keith discuss the benefits of arriving just past the dark zone cut-off. Negative - we miss the chance to do white water paddling, Positive - we are moved around to the TA3 and continue as a ranked team.
	Carefull you might get your feet wet. What the heck are we thinking, in about ten minutes we are up to our chests in water while crossing a large river.
	Keith demonstrates why you don't bother to try and stay dry in an adventure race while Dave shows you why you should always double bag your camera.
	Manon once again patiently waits for the guys to get ready to head out of another TA.
	Andre, Manon and Keith head out of TA4 on another short bike ride. But hey where is Dave?
	About now Andre turns to Manon and says "I hear that there is a hill or two up ahead". Apparently the course designers though that we would enjoy pushing our bikes up hill for 8 kms this morning. The ride down the other side was almost worth it though.
	Oh here is Dave, must have forgot something again.
	On the way to the rafts we try not to think about the fact that none of us have ever done this before.
	With just hours to go we arrive at the white water rafting put in. As you can see Dave's camera hasn't dried up yet and it is not likely to get any better now.
	Once we finished the rafting we were suppose to follow the trail along side the seven chutes of the Ste. Anne River so that we could enjoy the spectacular view.
	As usual we decided to improvise a slightly different route and arrive at the ropes section from the opposite direction. Manon's calm and relaxed nature is obvious once again even though we are starting to run out of time.
	This wire bridge thing looks fun, let's all do it at once so it will be even easier .
	Look everyone we have spectators, I don't think I have seen that before in a race.
	Just keep looking straight ahead, trust me certain death does not await if you slip. That is what these slings are for, not just to make it easier for the paramedics to pick you up later.
	Andre makes it across but now he has to get down. No problem he has actually done this before, twice even.
	Hey it even looks like he knows what he is doing.
	Yeah he does know what he is doing, remarkable!
	Andre and Manon start the via-feratta just as the rain returns to add a touch of extra challenge to the rock climbing.
	Dave is next down the rappel and wow the experience is starting to show. Hey this is no good, they are not even going to be scared when we sign up any more.
	Even Keith in his first race with a rappel does well, where is the fun in this. I want Chris back on the team, watching him dangle 400 feet in the air upside down in New Liskeard was a hoot, well except for him and the poor guy who had to belay him down!
	Everyone is now safely clipped onto the via-ferrata as Dave leads the way followed by Manon, Andre and around the corner you can just see the top of Keith's helmet.
	This Charlevoix is sort of a nice place to race isn't it.
	Look everybody there is the finish line, on the other side of that is beer!
	And with just 15 minutes to spare we cross the line in an impressive 9th position overall. Not bad!
	Oh it feels so good to be clean but would anybody mind if we just sleep for a bit.
	Wait you did say something earlier about beer, ah who needs sleep anyways.
	Our camera shy support crew guy David Jaremy demonstrates just what it is going to take to keep the driver in line on the way home.
	Four guys, three bikes and all their gear in a little S10 4 door pickup with a four foot box. And they said it couldn't be done.