Natasha and Alison

Today began for most of the team at 8.00am. After breakfast, Geoff headed to the Citroën dealer in Plzen and the majority of the team prepared for a session on the pristine channel (which we believe to be the culprit of Ashleigh's illness)! After the aromas of the course had settled in our nostrils, we attempted to learn our halves courses in the sea of gates that comprise the Prague course… suddenly our numbers grew from 11 athletes to 13 (Scott and Ben H) . Opinions of the session varied, with most of the girls proclaiming their love of the Prague course (after beating some of the boys' times!) and the boys generally leaving the course feeling pretty defeated… perhaps it was the distractions from the explosion near by the course (usually our early morning wake up call).
After completing the huge hike (150m) from the course to our accommodation, we organised lunch and greeted Zlatan, as he has joined us from the Augsburg world cup. We had a brief boat repair session, and then the team dispersed itself through Prague from the remainder of the evening until congregating at the Charles Bridge later in the night for a team dinner. The restaurant (Zlatan's pick) was great… it was hard to tell if the team was more excited about the food or the revolving doors at the entrance to the bathrooms.
In true Prague style, the team visited the best gelato shop in the town (evident by the mammoth chandelier in the centre of the shop). Totally satisfied by the meal and dessert, we chose our routes back to the boathouse (by tram or bus).
Some of the boys are amusing themselves with their purchases from the Prague markets. Others are checking emails (notably josh). And some have decided to lie on the tiles to cope with the heat (Ben M and Jono). The girls are experimenting with hair dyes (Madi and Ros) and Ashleigh is getting all the rest she can, so that she can paddle with the team tomorrow when we head to Roudnice, the sight of the junior pre-world championships.

Na Sheldanou!
(Tash and Ali)