Data #3 Camp Gulag Training Camp 2011
Brief History of Gulag(Something I should have researched before the weekend)
The Soviet system of forced labor camps was first established in 1919 under the Cheka, but it was not until the early 1930s that the camp population reached significant numbers. By 1934 the Gulag, or Main Directorate for Corrective Labor Camps, then under the Cheka's successor organization the NKVD, had several million inmates. Prisoners included murderers, thieves, and other common criminals--along with political and religious dissenters. The Gulag, whose camps were located mainly in remote regions of Siberia and the Far North, made significant contributions to the Soviet economy in the period of Joseph Stalin. Gulag prisoners constructed the White Sea-Baltic Canal, the Moscow-Volga Canal, the Baikal-Amur main railroad line, numerous hydroelectric stations, and strategic roads and industrial enterprises in remote regions. GULAG manpower was also used for much of the country's lumbering and for the mining of coal, copper, and gold.
Stalin constantly increased the number of projects assigned to the NKVD, which led to an increasing reliance on its labor. The Gulag also served as a source of workers for economic projects independent of the NKVD, which contracted its prisoners out to various economic enterprises.
Conditions in the camps were extremely harsh. Prisoners received inadequate food rations and insufficient clothing, which made it difficult to endure the severe weather and the long working hours; sometimes the inmates were physically abused by camp guards. As a result, the death rate from exhaustion and disease in the camps was high. After Stalin died in 1953, the Gulag population was reduced significantly, and conditions for inmates somewhat improved. Forced labor camps continued to exist, although on a small scale, into the Gorbachev period, and the government even opened some camps to scrutiny by journalists and human rights activists. With the advance of democratization, political prisoners and prisoners of conscience all but disappeared from the camps.
The Journey Begins!!
After receiving many coded emails from Heathy the day finally came to head to Camp Gulag for our team camp. I picked up Stuart Cowin and we begin the trip to our first meeting place, Willowbank Raceway, with clear instructions to be there by 3.29pm(15.29hr). We arrived there early just to be safe and not long after where joined by Sam, David D, Matty and my new found son or brother(depending on the circumstance) Adam. Heathy then arrived with Reuben, Bruce and David C. The time finally reached 3.29pm and Heathy gave the second set of instructions which was to head to Warwick . I note, Terence, Nikolai, David M, David B, Nick and Martin failed to show however we managed to catch them in Warwick. Terence then led the way to our final destination, Aloomba Lavender Farm in Liston.
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev was the sixth General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, serving from 1985 until 1991, and the last head of state of the USSR, serving from 1988 until its collapse in 1991.He was the only Soviet leader to have been born after the October Revolution...
Friday Arrival/Evening
The excitement grew amongst us all upon seeing this beautiful B&B location in the middle of nowhere.
Heathy then called us all together and opened the back of his vehicle exposing a number of bags. My excitement grew even further as I anticipated those bags to contain our new Data #3 team kit. However that excitement quickly left my body with every word that Heathy said. The bags contained five tents which would be our home for the next 2.5 days. Heathy pointed to an area and said “set up over there”. He then added an additional incentive of “no chores” to the first team setup. I looked over at the beautiful B&B and kissed that dream goodbye.
After setting up the tents we headed over to the farm house for dinner which was amazing. Heathy took the opportunity to welcome everyone, outlining the objectives of the weekend and introducing” the sniper” Mark. Nikolai was then asked to talk about the Saturday morning and afternoon rides. I thought he was joking initially as he outline a 3.5 hour intensity session like nothing I’d heard before. I was expecting a nice 4 – 5 hours tap socialising with the boys but no!! Another dream shattered.
We then had dinner in the farm house and headed out back to the tents where a nice fire had been lit. Everyone sat around and chatted for a while then headed off to sleep.
Saturday Morning
The morning soon came as many of us felt sleep deprived due to deflating mattresses, strange noises and/or the cold. Bruce!!
However we had breakfast and kitted and departed for the 110km smash session awaiting us. As we embarked on the ride it was not long before the pace was at break neck speed with legs screaming. Then as quick as the pace died off it started again, this time at break neck speed with my legs not just screaming at me but also at Dave Brown who went nuts on us. After about 1.5 hrs we hit the turnaround point and proceeded to return to camp. Again the pace was on and off as we TTT’d to Stanthorpe. This is where I found part of my legs Dave and some of the boys tore off earlier. Nikolai then added we had a sprint point somewhere close to camp so this is where I planned to take my revenge. Keeping a careful eye out for the sprint point and despite an initial attack by Nikolai then Stu I got the timing right and got there first!!! This was my very brief moment of glory.....
With ride one completed we had lunch and all tried to sleep with no luck except for DeMarco I believe.
Saturday Afternoon/Evening
Before commencing our afternoon recovery ride Heathy presented us with our new team kit which looked amazing. It would be fair to say that everyone took off as fast as possible to try it on and get on the bikes. As we headed out you could feel team the bonding process had begun with everyone proudly wearing and displaying the new kit. The recovery ride was pleasant and full of chat until Heathy had a brain explosion and took off up a hill. He stopped to take some video of us and wasn’t to be seen again.
Upon returning we had dinner and another chat. Again Nikolai was asked to outline Sunday’s ride which he did. Again he had another brutal experience waiting to happen for us all!! Heathy then asked we all head to the fire place where he had something else planned for us. Unfortunately due to confidentiality I am unable to reveal what took place however I can say it was a learning experience for us all. Oh and yes, we did sing the National Anthem.
We then all retired to our tents after what was and exciting but exhausting day.
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