D4DR Rafting/Rescue action weeks 5 and 6

So we awaited the arrival of Geriant, which was to be quite a few hours after the departure of Leo. Geriant arrived and wasted no time in slipping past the welcoming committee and heading straight toward the nearest McDonalads, which is where he text the welcoming committee to let them know. With his meal out of the way it was the short trip to Trnovo. The following days were spent in the raft, usually on the section from the Prijon shop down to Trnovo. Spending our time on the trips going though various exercises and manoeuvres, such as leading the raft down correct lines, flipping, and retrieving of lost paddles and people. During the course of the week we also covered lots of the SRT whitewater rescue technician programme and stopped off at various times during our trips to practise these things, such as swallow water crossing, swimming (both defensive and aggressive), live bait and many different types of rope rescues and knots. I would highly recommend this course to all whitewater paddlers.
During the week there where some unplanned instances of practising these newly learned techniques, such as late in the afternoon whilst rafting down from Srpenica 2, Martin spotted some kayakers in the distance going though an interesting line around some large rocks and asked if we could follow them, Geriant wasted no time in replying yes of course and instructed me (seeing as I was the one guiding the raft at that point) to follow them though the gap, which seemed just a little tight for a raft. Geriant's last words as we set off after them was, “bet we be stuck here till flipping midnight”. We managed to hit the rock and wrap the raft totally around it without hurting anyone. Martin got washed into a nearby eddy, leaving me, Deb and Geriant scrabbling up the rock. Luckily for us as we were trying to sort out unwrapping the raft, the raft did the job for us and come unloose. And so we leave for Austria, with it's bigger volume runs, and the only thing I can think about, is not to listen to Martin's suggestion when guiding!!!