Raid the North - French River 2004

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	The always cheerful Dennis practices waiting so that he is prepared for his support crew duties.
	Cindy and Manon prepare for the race with the ritualistic braiding of the hair while in the rented cabin. Finding this to be not challenging enough they would repeat the process later in the back of a speeding van while sitting on lawn chairs!
	Team motto. It is better to look good then to trek good.
	While rushing between Cp2/Ta1 and Cp3 we stop to enjoy the view of Lake Nipissing off in the distance. Trust me it is there somewhere beyond those trees.
	After successfully finding Cp3 Dave and Manon head off confidently towards Cp4. Hey somebody stop us we are going the wrong way!
	After many painful hours of extra treking we are glad to be in the canoes and off our feet. What the hell, who put these rapids in the way! Portages are rarely fun under the best of circumstances.
	As the light begins to fade we approach the end of the first section of paddling and Cp6 where we will find the zip line.
	Motivated by the many blisters our trekking is now much more precise and we find ourselves at the rappel eagerly awaiting the swim that is at the end of the rope.
	The always adventurous Manon is first up and ready to go.
	Cindy demonstrates the perfect technique while on her first real rappel. I guess that is the benefit of taking lessons, perhaps I should try that one day.
	Hey this water is nnnot ssoo cccold after all.
	Andre starts his descent and for the a change he does it without falling off the cliff first. He might be getting the hang of this, get it. Okay so it is not that funny.
	Back at our bikes for the short ride to Cp12 and the transition to canoes. The hardest part here is forcing your feet back into your bike shoes, ouch!
	Back at the TA it is time to refuel, rehydrate and get ready for the push to the finish.
	Cindy and Andre return to the water after the last portage of the race. Surprisingly despite his rather akward method of lauching the canoe Andre manages to keep it upright the entire time.
	Cindy and Manon strategize on how to get rid of these two guys who kept following them all weekend. Andre overhears their plans and reminds them that despite the confusion brought on by sleep deprivation they are still in a race and we are their teammates.
	Dennis our support crew guy takes advantage of a rare opportunity to see the team in the heat of the action on the course.
	This is a much more familiar view for him of our buts as we leave. At this point we are within a few short kms of the finish line. Just a short and swampy bike ride left. It just wouldn't be a Raid the North without at least one swamp to carry your bikes through!
	Oh my god we made it! But wait maybe I am halucinating cause I think I see a guy wearing a dress and a white wig?!?
	Yes we did make it and with 45 minutes to spare before they shut down the course. Okay so we were 3 hours and 15 minutes late for the official 36 hour cut-off, but hey better then last year!