Your old friend 'experience' will tell you exactly how your taper should go, but with the Avon there is more to it than you may think.

Here are some of my notes on approaching the last week.

Train as per normal on the last weekend. Don't go up to do either the Valley or the Trees, as it's too crowded & things get silly. Not to mention that you're better to let the power boaters go through the trees before you do your final run mid week. They tend to 'clean things out', so go in after them.

Monday. Train as per normal, firm session, but not too hard or long.
Tuesday. Light paddle, and if possible, get a massage.
Wednesday. Do a dawn run to the trees. This is so that I can get a confirmation of the actual tree routes, and confirm travel times to the start of day 2 (note that I used to come home after day one & travel up in the morning). If possible, use your spare boat for this tree run.
Thursday. Pack & check all gear. No paddling. Sleep really well tonight. Start carb loading.
Friday. Head to Northam early. Check out Extracts & then Katrine. Do a shake down paddle from Katrine to Glen Avon. I've always thought that Glen Avon was an easy way to end your Avon, so take care. Head to the start line, and walk the river from the Start line for a good kilometer or so down stream. Knowing this is vital, even more so in low water. Drop in boat, then drive home.
Saturday. Drive to Northam, eat & tape hands on the way. Stop 3 times on the way for mandatory toilet stops. Arrive with plenty of time for another toilet stop (OK, I get nervous, but it works for me...) & chat with mates. Eat more. RACE! Fix boat at finish line & sugar load / rehydrate, then drive home as soon as possible.
Sunday. Drive to start line early. Eat & tape hands in the car. Get into paddling gear in car park, toilet stop on the way to collect boat. Check start grid on the way through. RACE!!

I'll do another post on my eating & drinking plans during the race, as this is another topic.

Hope that helps!

Cheers, WP.