Spider Monkeys go........ raft building

 Check out our kit!

 With the outfits in place we were feeling pretty confident!

 We headed for the lake feeling pretty happy... our rafting had begun.

Down the path and onto the lake.

 Before we could get cracking building our raft we needed some more kit- luckily it was not of the giant heavy bag variety and we could help each other to get it down to the lake. Dave (Sparrow) seemed curiously happy to be building a floating craft- we suspect he is part pirate!

 Now we're moving...

 Slight hic-up!

 Slowly...

 Easy does it..

Ok, so we got a little off course but eventually the barrels made it to the water.

Just testing them for comfort.

 Yup... pretty comfortable.

 Now for some poles.

 Paddles

The long walk for more poles- look at the energy (ok, so we picked up pace after this point)

Well... once we'd had a nice little rest (it was sunny after all!)

Then came the planning stage- the phrase too many chiefs did come to mind initially but genius will out and someone soon had a workable plan (Nice one Koutaro!)

 Plan was.... get some poles...add some barrels- how, was a smidge trickier than we had expected but we got there.

There we go! Look at our lovely raft... just needs ropes. Wish we knew a pirate who had rope tying skills. Wait.... we do!

 Concentrate.............

Concentrate.......

 And go!

 Look at us go!

 A pretty smart knot, I think you will agree!

 We soon got the barrels attatched and then we were ready to test our magnificent craft.

Well quite soon... but we were pretty happy with it once it was done

 All is well.... check out our raft. Wait a minute....we seem to be sinking!!!!!!!

 Well not exactly sinking but one barrel had certainly got some independent thoughts in its head and was trying to make its own way in the world.

Luckily we used some judicious jumping up and down to get the barrels back into the fold.

 Look at the balance! We might not be the best builders, but man.... we've got style!

 Ok so we did sink a bit!

But we danced as we sunk!

 Then it was time to swap crew from either side of the boat- swim or walk... its your choice. This is where our formidible balance came to the fore!

 The next challenge was to drop off and then collect crew from the side of the reserviour. Cue a hilarious late taxi gag from our stranded crew member!

 Back abord the highly crafted vessel we then began the jumping off and fooling around section of the day. This again played to our strengths and we had a ball!

Every member of the team (grown ups included) had a leisurely swim and got very very wet! Quite an end to an exciting day.

 Our thanks to Dave 'Sparrow for taking the photos from the safety canoe whist we had fun. Very reliable (for a pirate!)