Enjoy the CDU Newsletter

Published: Thu, 12/02/21

3rd December 2021 CDU Newsletter 727

Terry 0417977330

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

Six Months – 5795 kilometres.

This week (Thursday to Wednesday) I have paddled 285.5 kms bringing my total kms in 26 weeks to 5751.44.
So yesterday it had been six months since I started to paddle 7000 kms in my 70^th birthday year.
In that time I have paddled every day for 183 days bringing my grand total so far to 5795 kms.

No doctors, no physios and no massages.

With 1205 kms left I should have my main challenge finished in 6 weeks.

But it doesn’t stop there I still plan to paddle just 20 kms every day until the end of my birthday year.

Paddling for Prostate Awareness.

Have you had a check-up!

I met Thomas Pawlowski Wednesday morning near Fishmarket Reserve, Guildford. He had just paddled up to Barkers Bridge. He stopped and we had a chat and he mentioned my bird photos in the newsletter. As we were chatting a Kingfisher flew over. Although he paddles this section several times a week it was the first time he had seen a Kingfisher. I would say that very few paddlers have seen Kingfishers as they are concentrating on paddling, looking forward and not looking around them. There are dozens of Kingfishers along this section of river so when you go paddling next time, see if you can spot one.

All my bird photos are taken in my kayak. I don’t have a tripod to steady my hand, in fact at times it’s hard to keep the kayak still. In the mornings I take two cameras, my trusty waterproof Olympus camera and I have just bought another pocket sized camera, a Canon SX 740 but it’s not waterproof so I have to be careful not to capsize or get it wet. Although the Canon has a good telephoto the LCD screen can be very difficult to see through, which makes it more difficult to pinpoint a bird at a distance.

Some birds like the Darter tend to stay still, but birds like the Kingfisher don’t stay still very long especially when I get close. I take my camera out to get a shot dozens of time, but most times the birds fly away before I focus on a shot.

I have paddled many rivers in Australia, the US and Canada and it’s hard to tell you of a river that has as many birds on it as the Swan River. Winter is probably the best times for birds but even now there are enough to keep me interested and keep me going.

Three weeks ago there were 3 small chicks in this nest. Two survived.

This week two of them have flown and grown up to be this size.

I ran into this snake Thursday morning near Lilac Park.
Luckily it just slipped along my kayak and didn't lash out.

Kris & Steph
Marie, Patrick & Junior Squad
Happy Birthday Isabel
Greg Bartons Birthday
Jane Pankhurst - Australian Paddler of the Year (non Olympic)
Hunter Florisson - Junior Paddler of the Year (non Olympic)
Lesmurdie SHS Canoeing
Race or Not to Race
On My Paddles
Coming Events

Kris Smith & Steph Bedden

Kris & Steph on a training paddle.

Tuesday PRG race.

Steph has been trying to beat Kris for 6 months.

She finally beat him on Tuesday.

This Sunday is the Pairs Enduro so paddlers race in pairs.

Marie Andersson on a morning training paddle.
She will be paddling with Ramon on Sunday in the Pairs Enduro.

I met Patrick Irwin and his dog that swims like Ian Thorpe Thursday morning.

Patrick and his wife are musicians, singers and guitarists and have been paddling about 20 years.
He used to participate in many CDU programs.
He loves paddling the Avon River.

On his general paddles around Midland his dog loves to run or swim after him.

One of Ascot's junior squads.

Happy Birthday Isabel

Isabel's son and girlfriend Tomas and Bella organised a stunning, delicious cake.

Isabel Combe is an amazing women. She is inspirational.

Izzy inspires every one with her get up and go attitude and her warm loving, caring, sensitive, considerate manner.

Izzy loves paddling and encourages everyone to love paddling.

Her slogan is:

Kindness Matters.

Greg Barton's Birthday

2nd December - 62 year old.

Clint Robinson’s won a gold medal in the K1 1000 at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, at the age of 20.

Greg Barton was 3rd in this race and they have stayed very good friends ever since.

Greg & Clint.

Photo Rambo 2015.

Greg Barton from Epic Kayaks (born December 2, 1959 in Jackson, Michigan) is an American sprint kayaker who competed from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. Competing in three Summer Olympics, he won four medals with two golds (K-1 1000 m, K-2 1000 m: both 1988) and two bronzes (1984, 1992: both in K-1 1000 m).
Barton also won six medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships.

See more of Greg's achievements here:

https://northwest.motion.social/2017/10/18/greg-barton-pedaling-paddler/

Western Australia’s Jane Pankhurst

has been named the 2021 Paddle Australia Paddler of the Year (Non-Olympic Disciplines).

Jane competed with distinction in almost every marathon race this season, a highlight being finishing first in the Avon Descent.
Check the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohSyUPnaseY

Western Australia's Hunter Florisson

has been rewarded for his impressive results this season, in being named the 2021 Junior Paddler of the Year (Non-Olympic Disciplines.)

Check the video:

https://paddle.org.au/2021/11/28/junior-paddler-of-the-year-non-olympic-disciplines-awarded-to-hunter-florisson/

Lesmurdie Senior High School

Students get ready for the capsize drill.

A student is selected to capsize.

Everyone gives it a go.

I wish I was as agile as these students.

Race or Not to Race

Because I’m paddling a lot of kilometres racing always has its dangers. Not a danger of being killed but the danger of over doing it and getting an injury.

So because I have opted to paddle about 40 kms every day for the last few weeks I am a little apprehensive and wondering if I should actually enter a race. Today it was a Saturday morning 10 km race.

But arriving at Sandy Beach after a 3 km warm up I just couldn’t say to my paddling colleagues I want to take it easy today, so I won’t race. How could I do that, what will they be thinking.

Ray Smith, who was timing put me on grid 16 by myself, 1 minute behind Doug, Chris, Nicky, Erica and Kate. Being alone meant I could take it as easy or go as hard as I wanted to, with no pressure from paddlers beside me. Today I thought I would take it easy.

I took off at a reasonable rate, but not as fast as usual and I kept closer to the bank than the paddlers in the grid ahead to try to keep out of the current. After a few hundred metres I just couldn’t help myself, I just had to catch the others who were 1 minute ahead so I put on the speed.

Within a kilometre I could see I was gaining but not as fast as I usually do. The last 10km race I caught up with them by Guildford Bridge but this time I only caught Kate by then. At Fishmarket Reserve the double of Mike Liddle and Sharon and Matt Jones started passing. I hung onto them for a very short time but even faster paddlers came through and ruined all hope of me doing any wash riding.

Doug, Erica, (Bruce) Chris, Kate & Nicky.
Photo Geraint Maddison

Chasing the group in front.

Photo Steph Bedden.

The leaders.

Anthony Clarke, Peter Tomczac, Mark Sedgwick & Francis Nolan.

Photo Steph Bedden.

By the time I reached Barkers Bridge I had caught up with the pack of Doug, Chris and Erica. There were about six boats, including Peter & Jane in a double trying to turn around the bridge at one time with Doug having a little trouble. Being at the back of the group I did a good turn and passed all but the double. As we came out of the Bridge Peter and Jane Liddle were just ahead so I raced to get on their wash with Chris trying to get there as well. Luckily I managed to be more successful to grab their wash.

Being on their wash meant that I should sail away from the others but I would have to work much harder to stay there. So much for having an easy day! Mike and Sharon weren’t that far in front. It looked as if they were slowing which in turn got Peter & Jane excited and kept increasing their pace. This didn’t help me much as I was stretched at their normal pace so when they increased it I was struggling. When we hit the shallows I had to use a lot more effort to keep close as the wash wasn’t as friendly and formed as it was in deep water.

When I started to struggle I had thoughts of letting them go and just paddle my own race but it was difficult for me to allow myself to do that. Although I was feeling the pain I just had to keep on their wash as long as I could. Some how I did right to the end. I will probably pay for it later.

So much for my easy paddle! After paddling 26 kms that morning I went back out at 5.00pm and paddled another 15 kms.

Next race I will take it easy!!

I chased Peter & Jane Liddle.

Doug Hodson and Chris Hollier.

On My Paddles

Wild Life & Birds Along my Way

I paddled into this snake on Thursday morning. Luckily it slid along my kayak from the cockpit and didn't strike.

Not sure what it was - maybe a Dugite?

It swam to the bank and tried to get up the bank. It couldn't at that point so went further along.

I was talking to Margie Jeffery Thursday morning when we noticed two Whistling Kites diving down to pick up a baby duck.

There was a lot of commotion and the parent ducks were chasing them off .

An angry mother.

The Kites had several attempts but the two parent ducks tried to defend the ducklings the best they could. Luckily the Kites were not successful - this time.