February 2004
Click pictures to see the full-size photos.
Race Results since the beginning of the statistics. CS=Claudia, PK=Peter. Each with Kevin as partner in the double
Wednesday Night Time Trials. Kevin now needs a new paddling partner for the Wednesday Night Time Trials on the Lane Cove. Peter fills the gap. Before the first race, he still asks naively "How fast should we take it"? The answer comes quickly: "Full on". In preparation of the races, Peter precisely monitors his food intake on Wednesdays and eats a last banana cake at 4:30pm. During the 12 km kayak race, one doesn't speak no breath left. One drinks sports drinks from a hydration system with a tube directly in front of one's mouth, in order to not miss a single stroke. Not seldomly, one gets cramped in the back, the legs, or the feet during these races. The day before her surgery, Claudia and Kevin achieved the fantastic time of 67:11 min. To be faster than this is Peter's goal... What shall we say, he does it: 66:47 min. That is 24 sec less! Thus, the competition between Claudia and Peter (each with Kevin as partner) is opened. Peter's following times are 65:48 min and 64:58 min. Since we started these races in September, at that time with many interruptions, the double team gas gone ever faster. Question: When will the going-faster ever stop? And at what time? Is 60 min feasible in our Mirage 730?
Rehabilitation. The condition of Claudia's shoulder improves with every week. If the first two weeks after the surgery were still necessary to cope with the sheer physical challenges, after this time, she re-learns to catch a bus and to move around in the crowd. The arm is supposed to be in the sling for six weeks. Admittedly, it isn't. However, the humerus is never actively used in all this time. Only during the exercises twice daily recommended by the physiotherapist, the arm is lifted (with Peter's help who develops into an excellent reha-hand) for the sake of that the shoulder doesn't "freeze" completely. On February 25, the first 6 weeks post-operation are over and Claudia is allowed to train her arm again. Be careful, training means: Re-learn to lift the arm, to open a door with the left arm, or to lead the fork to the mouth with the left arm. But at least, all this is allowed from now on, the worst frustration phase is over, and there are little victories every day. From now on, the regular swimming nights in Milsons Point Pool under the Harbour Bridge start again: 50m-laps, salt water, outdoor. During her very first session still with life vest and snorkel, later only with snorkel so that the head doesn't need to be lifted and the neck is more relaxed. After two weeks "almost as normal". As early as November, Claudia got the nickname of Nemo in a different context. Now we can say "Nemo is back in the water"!
Wisemans Ferry. On the week-end 21./22. February, it is hot. Very hot, about 40 degrees C. We book into a cabin on a camp ground in Wisemans Ferry on the Hawkesbury River and make a trip into the past. More details and photos can be found in our photo gallerie Wisemans Ferry.
Plans for Germany. Peter is called over to Germany by his company, preferably instantly and for two months duration. Due to Claudia's shoulder surgery in January, he can delay the departure until March as well as break the two months duration down into two packets of one month each: March and June in Germany. One week before his departure, Claudia's arm is strong enough again to guide the gear stick in the car...