Enjoy the CDU Newsletter

Published: Thu, 11/18/21

19th November 2021 CDU Newsletter 725

Terry 0417977330

terry@canoeingdownunder.com.au (email)
https://canoeingdownunder.wordpress.com (website)
https://www.facebook.com/canoeingdownunder/ (facebook)
https://terrybolland.wordpress.com/ (trips & achievements)

This week I paddled 303.49 kilometres bringing my total in the last 24 weeks to 5200.78 kilometres.

It was last Saturday when I passed the 5000 kilometres mark. So I have 1800 kms to go to reach my main target.

In the last 4 weeks I have paddled 1118.20 kms. So things are going better than expected.

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I had a bit of a scare Wednesday evening. My Garmin watch went blank and I couldn't get it to work despite it being fully charged. I have recorded all my kilometres on it so I really didn't want to go and paddle 16kms without it being recorded. I was also thinking oh-no I will have to buy a new Garmin.

But I had to paddle, I couldn't sit around and not paddle so I thought I would paddle a known distance, despite it not being recorded on my Garmin.

Before leaving the bank I tried to get it working again, but with no joy so I took off without watching those kilometres tick by on the dial.

I felt naked or should I say strange not being able to watch the clock so after one and half kilometres I thought I would stop and give it one my try. I nearly wept with enjoyment when I heard the familiar sound and numbers started appearing on the watch face. It was back. I eventually clocked up 16.54 kms which meant I only lost 1.1/2 kms. I was a happy man knowing that it was just a glitch, my kilometres were registered and I didn't have to buy a new Garmin.

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It looks as if we may get the Australian Masters Marathon re-instated.

If we do that will be great.

Competing in an Australian Masters may only happen once in your life and to have it in Perth, it can-not be missed.

Ron Courtney Island.

When I'm on the water and I watch the sky change colour and experience its moods I find it hard to head to the bank and go home.

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Ron Courtney Island is a small uninhabited manmade river island in the Swan River, located in the suburb of Ashfield / Ascot. It was named in honour of the first chairman of the Swan River Conservation Board, which was formed in 1959.

The island was formed in 1969 after a channel was cut through Garvey Park in an effort to alleviate the erosion caused by the flow of the Swan River. It is one of only four islands in the lower Swan River, the others being Kuljak Island, Heirisson Island and the island in Elizabeth Quay.

Have a good look.

One of the young darters has his head inside its parents mouth to get a feed.

A cute little rat in his den using an old tree stump.

Albany Sea Kayaking
Progressive Racing Group
John O'Sullivan
Bevan Dashwood Race
Sunset Down Wind Race
West Coast Downwinder
On My Paddles - Birds Along the Way
Pairs Enduro Race

Albany Sea Kayaking

Picnic at Hanging Rock!!
Photo Chris Fry

The Cave.
Photo Chris Fry

Progressive Racing Group

Getting paddlers into grids to ensure all paddlers arrive back at a similar time.
Photo Steph Bedden.

The faster paddlers are catching up with the slower paddlers.

Brett Young passing Ray Smith senior.

John O'Sullivan

Paddler/Photographer

Thank heavens for John O'Sullivan.
His great photos showcase WA Paddling

Bevan Dashwood Race

I arrived early at Kent Street Weir so I could do a few kms before the race started. After 4kms I returned to find paddlers arriving.

Because of the narrow river only 6-8 paddlers were sent off at one time and it started with the fastest first, although the doubles were in grid 3. I and the Wild Water Kayaks were in grid 4. As it turned out there were only 5 WW kayaks and it included two of the fastest WW paddlers in WA Luke Dooley and Harry Langley. The other two were Peter Gigengack and Peter Liddle so it didn’t look good for me, although I did beat Peter Liddle last year.

David Burdette, Connor Jacob & Francis Nolan.

Photo Sue McDougall.

Matt Jones, Martin Watson, Darryl Long and Joe Dowse

Photo Sue McDougall.

Josh Richards. Brett & Julie McDonald, Ramon & Marie Andersson.

Photo John O'Sullivan.

Isabell Combe & Steph Bedden.

Photo John O'Sullivan.

Harry Langley and Luke Dooley.

Photo John O'Sullivan.

As expected Luke and Harry took off like wild men with Peter G on their tail although after a few hundred metres Peter dropped off. I managed to keep up with Peter L but wash-riding him was difficult especially when gusts of wind came through. It was a very windy day which made paddling that much harder.
We soon caught up with Peter G and Peter L started wash-riding him 2 waves back. When I got the opportunity I made a break and powered over his main wash and sat right behind him. That meant we were in a line with Peter L wash-riding me. This as how it stayed until we had moved under Riverton Bridge and then as the gusts of wind made us paddle at an angle and making it difficult to wash-ride, Peter L made his move and came up beside me and overtook just before the Shelley Bridge turn.

Peter Gigengack,

Photo John O'Sullivan.

Me & Peter Liddle.

Photo John O'Sullivan.

Jane Liddle, David Griffiths & Stewart Tempest.

Photo John O'Sullivan.

Photo John O'Sullivan.

I kept close to the two Pete’s and at the corner before the short cut channel the two Pete’s were side by side but the wind was blowing them towards the trees and they started clashing. Peter L had a few seconds in the tree branches and as they were trying to get away from each other I made a move and passed Peter L and followed Peter G through the short cut.

Once we were out of the short cut I made a move and tried passing Peter G but we clashed and I ended up in the tree branches but I still managed to get a metre or two ahead. As we were getting closer to the portage I wanted to be the first one there so I kept the pressure up. There were a few paddlers on shore with broken rudders, holed boats so I don’t know which route they took.

I managed to get a good run around the portage and I think I gained a little here. Although the channel upstream was quite narrow the wind still made it more of a challenge. There were also a lot of social paddlers on the water but I didn’t have any issues with them.

At the first T junction the widest channel is to the right and it is easy to mistake it for the main channel and I heard Luke Dooley and Harry did venture down it. To the left the channel was narrow and after passing through a big area of scum with no boat tracks through it I was thinking if I had gone the right way. Although I knew I was on the right path the doubts were there. Eventually I recognised a few features and saw the team of Isabel and Steph ahead.

I take the lead.

Photo John O'Sullivan.

I wind around several corners and dodged a few social paddlers and later saw Geraint on the pedestrian bridge. The two Pete's were now several metres behind but I couldn't relax. I soon started meeting other paddlers, the first two being Dave Burdette and Francis Nolan. I was wondering how Francis had managed to keep up with David.

I met more paddlers on their way home and I eventually reached the turn buoy. It was here that I noticed Peter L was ahead of Peter G and there was still a fair gap between us.

With the current and the wind behind me on the way home all I needed to do was to keep the power on and I would beat the other two. I kept the power on and I did beat the other two.

It was a great race, tough at times and I didn't expect to be 30 seconds in front of Peter L so I was real happy.

At the finish line I turned around to paddle upstream and get a few more kilometres for the day under my belt. When I met the last person which happened to be Nishani Jacob I turned and paddled back with her.
Thanks to Clare Pankhurst and the other volunteers. It was a great race, but I'm not sure why more paddlers don't enter.

Me, Peter Gigengack & Peter Liddle.

Photo John O'Sullivan

Results here:

https://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=260661

SUNSET SURF SKI RACE SERIES #2

Flat conditions for this race from Port Beach to City beach on Thursday evening.

Over cast conditions, with a slight SE breeze.

Paddlers getting ready.
Photo John O'Sullivan.

They are off. City Beach here we come.
Photo John O'Sullivan.

The group is tight for the first few hundred metres.
Photo John O'Sullivan.

They start to spread,
Photo John O'Sullivan.

Rottnest in the background.
Photo John O'Sullivan.

Who said it was flat conditions!!

I wonder what's going to happen next!

Photo John O'Sullivan.

Abandon ship!!

Photo John O'Sullivan.

West Coast Downwinder

November 20th.

Port Beach

The FENN West Coast Downwinder is this Saturday. 2pm start - registrations at Port Beach from 1pm.

Leg Leash, PFD, Phone with Safetrx app compulsory and either PLB or 4 flares also compulsory.

Entries close midnight Friday, NO entries on the day

Enter: https://paddleaustralia.justgo.com/workb.../public/events...

Confirmed entries: https://www.webscorer.com/registerlist?raceid=256406

On My Paddles

Birds Along My Way
I know too many birds!

The two young Spoonbills having a lie down.

An Egret looking for a meal.

Purple Swamphen and their young.

Young Swamphens.

This is what you call a pigeon hole.

A pigeon's nest.

These two young pigeons were loving to quarrel and fight with each other but when the parent entered their den it looked as if they were excepting some food.

Two odd coloured pigeons!!

Kingfishers at different locations.

A tree stump is a great home for a little rat.

Pelican and cormorant.

A family before breakfast.

A new family.

Just a little of the weekend rubbish on the river.

West Coast Downwinder

November 20 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm AWST

Port Beach

Pairs Enduro

5th December

A time trial with a difference. Wash ride your partner approximately 14km from Middle Swan Reserve, passing Ron Courtney Island and turning at Claughton Reserve Jetty to finish at Ascot Kayak Club.

Suitable for all skill levels.
Handicap start so everyone finishes together

MAKE A PLAN, GET A PARTNER AND START TRAINING!!

Register here:

https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=258011

Canning River Race

12th December

Deep Water Point to Riverton.

Rhino Folding S512 J Style Kayak Carrier

The Folding S512 J Style Kayak Carrier is designed to transport your kayak or canoe on the side to save space allowing for a second watercraft to be mounted on the other side of your roof racks dependent on the length of your crossbars. Attached to a S512X extension piece, it is possible to carry up to 4 kayaks or canoes on your roof racks depending on the length of your crossbars.

Usually $264.00 Special $140.00

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