Kayaking Through The Mangroves

Nestled along the coast near Al Khor is a beautiful mangrove forest and one of the best ways to access the forest is by a kayak. So, kan-yak guess what we did today?

A half team photo, notice the smiles on our faces...they didn't last long when we realized quite how much rowing we had got ourselves into.

Here is Maxine, striving to be in-front of all of her opponents behind her.

Maxine was ready, looking a little larger than life. 

Karen and B were ready.

Ready. Steady. 

Kayak!

With Maxine in the lead (I, too, am totally baffled as to how that happened) and everyone else in a swamp behind. (ha. get it!)

Maybe this would be a good time to have a look around and take in the mangroves around us, which might I add were beautiful...as far as a swamp goes that is. And if anyone lives in Doha, this most certainly doesn't look like it, you feel as if you're in a totally different world.

Maxine has fallen behind, but trying to pick up the pace as she can see a drink stop ahead. (and no, to her despise, it wasn't a glass of Rose)

Here she comes!

Joined by Marie and her friend. 

Our drink stop called for a snap. Because why not when you're in the mangroves.

These two slow coaches caught up, unfortunately not taking the lead. Karen most certainly does not look like she is struggling, while poor B looks as if she has run a marathon!

We had reached the finish line, totally swamped with how much rowing we had done. 

Thankfully, it was cooling down and my mum and I managed to race off so we had a leisurely row back. I bet my upper body won't agree with the term leisurely when I wake up tomorrow though.

Maxine clearly took this opportunity to sneak off ahead, but don't you worry I caught up. Unfortunately, just after I snapped this moment, I didn't catch it with my camera, but she somehow managed to go head on into a bush. Picture this, half of a kayak in a bush, with a crazy lady (sorry mum) screaming "how do I  stop?!". I didn't help, it was far too amusing.

She escaped! Maxine: 0, mangroves: 1.

At this point we all felt like salty sea dogs, but the beautiful sunset made it worth it. (and touring the mangroves of-course).

Here we are; some might say ordinary rowers, we prefer the term champions. Beating the rest of the group by a long way, that's right ladies and gentlemen, the Rees ladies killed it. But we also killed our muscles and I am sure we will know about it in the morning...

Because of our glorious win, one photo just didn't cut it.