This picture shows Alisia, Vera, Dima and me starting out on our second trip down the rapids. Yeah we look very professional and experienced, although actually our rowing was having little effect over our rapid progress down the river. But anyway it was much more exhilarating when we took a wrong turn and crashed into rocks or went over small waterfalls!

The general idea was for Dima to shout orders so we knew which direction to row, but in the general excitement I couldn't understand the russian words.

This excellent picture was taken by Pasha from the cliffs above the rapids on the worst section of river.

On the fourth day we got stuck in the undercurrent here and couldn't get free for ages. Finally we cleared the rapids just as our raft began to break up. Note the crazy guy on the right showing real British spirit!

We were all soaked during the ride down the rapids. Legs and feet seriously numb from cold.

It was definitely an all-round fitness sport - you get a big dose of adrenalin rafting downriver for a kilometre, which gives you energy.

Then you spend twenty minutes hauling the raft back up the ravine to the beginning of the rapids. This exercise makes you warm and thaws out the frozen legs and feet.