Eton 1st viii at Roodeplaat

African Sunsets

THREE MEN AND A BOAT?

ON THE WATER

In the PM, the squad moved to Victoria Lake in Germiston, for the first outing on the water. There was the opportunity to spar with the Gauteng (Provincial) Junior Squad who were also training on the lake - and of course the experience of training at high altitude.

MORNING TRAINING

After a night of tremendous African thunderstorms rolling across the veld, we woke early on Wednesday morning and headed back into Johannesburg for a morning training session at the well appointed gym at St. Benedict's.

WELCOME TO SOUTH AFRICA

Day One. 7.05am. The overnight flight from London arrives on time at Oliver R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

After collecting the bags and the minibuses, first up is a meeting at St. Benedict's College, with Master of Rowing Sean Tangney. Eton will be using St. Ben's boats and equipment during the Gauteng leg of the tour. Although the boats are less than a year old, it's quite sobering to think that these are the first new boats St. Benedict's has had in a decade......

We also recced Victoria Lake in Germiston, just south of Johannesburg - where St. Benedict's and the provincial junior squad are training - as a possible alternative venue (in case of hyacinth infestation at Roodeplaat - see, it's dangerous in Africa......) We'll probably conduct a training session here tomorrow.

Then, a little later than planned, we finally headed off overland to the tranquil Wagon Drift Lodge and Savanna Bush Lodge. Well, it was tranquil until the squad arrived anyway.....

Wagon Drift Lodge & Roodeplaat Dam

Martin has just come back from a recce of Wagon Drift Lodge and Roodeplaat Dam.

Here's a look at where you'll be staying and training.