Arnd Schaeftlein Italy Tour Part 2

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Day 4

Yet again, we woke up to sunny skies and warm weather. Today's main mission was the Egua, which is the team and individual racecourse for the Teva Extreme Games. After running the main drop multiple times, we made out way down the river and successfully made it through the hole at the bottom of the racecourse that has pulled both Tommy Hilleke and Jason Hale out of their boats.

The Egua Valley

A small village next to the put in of the Egua

Benny on the Egua Slide

Benny, Timo, and Pat on the Egua

Timo on the last drop of the race course

Pat Keller on the Egua

John making it through the sketchy rapid

Our 1st run of the Egua was complete and it was time for a roadside lunch and espressos. With satisfied stomachs it was decided that Pat Keller and Austin Rathman would complete the 1st descent of 2 rapids on a tributary to the Egua.

Pat Keller and Austin making the hike up to the 1st descent

Pat Keller doing the 1st descent on a tributary to the Egua

Austin going 2nd on the 1st descent

Hiking out with success

The 1st descent was a success and it was time to do one last run on the Egua to practice our lines and get ready for Friday's race.

Once more, we had a glorious day on the river and it was time to head back to camp for more of Chef Schaeftlein's gourmet car side food, and of course some beer and wine.

Back at camp grubbing

Day 5
Today would be the hottest day yet, with tempratures getting up to 24C (~78). We would take it easy after 3 long days of paddling. Today's sole mission would be the Semenza, in hopes that the middle section would be running and not be redirected through the power station. Unfortunately we were not so luck and we would have to put on below the power station. The lower section of the Semenza awesome with tight canyons and a much higher flow of water than the other rivers we have been running. The run ended right at our campsite, at the confluence of the Sesia and the Semenza.

A small village next to the section of river we paddled

John on the lower section of the Semenza

Timo on the lower Semenza

Tonight we headed back to the Pizzeria to get another filling of the best Frutta del Mar and pizza in the region.

Day 6
Today’s mission was not so exciting…heading to Torino to pick up John’s long lost bag at the airport.

After 6 hours of driving and errands, it would just be an evening of hanging out that the campground and welcoming the rest of the crew coming in for the event. Tomorrow is the beginning of the Teva Extreme Games in Valsisia.