Kelso Raft Race, down the River Tweed.

Glorious weather, and loads of rafts and spectators. Fancy dress rafts of all shapes and sizes, and others more lightweight and serious about speeding down the course. Water level was quite low, and somewhere along the route there are some rapids or weirs which "tested" and altered the shapes of quite a few rafts. Good fun to be in, and to watch. Lots of bystanders jumping in the water to help push some of those rafts that became stuck in shallower parts, and out of the river's main flow.

Mainly went along to see the team from another Surveyors office in Edinburgh - Jame Gentles & Son. Their raft had a large elephant on it (...no, not a real one!), and was called Gentles Giant.  I was at College with one of the guys in their team.



Ricoh KR-10 : 135mm : ISO 400

Lens: Hoya 135mm f/2.8
Film: KodaColor II 400 (Colour negative)

[Frame : 26]


Extras:
(Lenses used, first with XR Rikenon 50mm f/2; others the Hoya 135mm f/2.8)

 - just after the start, at Kelso.  [Frame : 13]

 - Gentles Giant... with mouse. Some of the dreaded Giant Hogweed growing on the bank in the background.  [Frame : 20]

 - near the start, and a small part of the crowd.  [Frame : 16]

 - Tick Tock? Note the bloody hand (pardon the expression!).  [Frame : 22]

 - canine support on board.  [Frame : 29]