This week I have paddled 282.52 kilometres bringing my total to 9300.02 kilometres in 38 weeks.

No rest for the wicked!

Paddling for Prostate Cancer.
If you would like to give a donation to Prostate Cancer, big or small it will be most welcome.
Go to: https://fundraise.pcfa.org.au/fundraisers/terrybolland
 

Don't forget to enter the Australian Masters Canoe/Kayak Marathon.

They have extended the Early Bird entry period to Friday 11 March 2022!

So get your entry in.

The Pelican looks pretty comfortable.
 

Kookaburras singing in the moonlight.
 

• Sydney Harbour Bridge to Beach
• Who's Out There
• The Masters Games Are On
• Paddle WA School Program
• Pinjarra to Ravenswood Race
• On My Paddles - Birds Along the Way
• Products
• Coming Events - City Lights

Who's Out There
 

Sean Killen

Sean started paddling in early 2004 when he took part in my CDU Sat morning paddle sessions. Through this training he then got into other outdoor sports and paddling at the UWA Outdoor Club. He met his wife Tanya at the Outdoor Club which eventually resulted in them getting married and having kids. Now the kids are older he is back into paddling.

His first ambition is beating me and every time he doesn't he donates $20.00 in my Prostate Cancer fundraising.

It's going to be a costly year for him!!!

John Carrol

Another paddler who started with CDU at the Saturday morning training sessions.
When John started his paddling was a little shaky on a PRS ski but he soon got the hang of it. As well as being a good paddler he is an even better runner and cyclist. He loves a good hard multisport challenge.
 

John Dinucci

John has been around for a while. When CDU ran whitewater courses John was one of our instructors. You could always rely on him rescuing capsized paddlers.
John is a tough character (in a nice way) and he is just as tough sea kayaking, white water paddling or racing. He is a couple of months older than me so I have to compete against him and he is a very tough paddler to beat.

I have seen him out training so watch out.
 

Murray Corp and Lorraine Eastwell
Murray started paddling with CDU in the early 2000s and and participated in a few of our courses including the Avon Descent training. Although he used to race I think he prefers the social side (well he certainly does now.) 

Lorraine has been at the Ascot Kayak Club for several years. She loves social paddling. You will usually see her with a bunch of paddlers heading up or down the river.
 

Paddle WA Schools Program
 

Paddle WA instructors Leone Cockman & Noah Boldy create a bit of fun.
 

Photo time.
 

Pinjarra to Ravenswood Race.

The morning felt just perfect as I went to paddle a 6km warm up before the race. The tall trees were shading the river which appeared fairly high and I don’t know if I was imagining it but the tide seemed to be going out. It was either that or I was so strong going downstream it appeared that way. I checked out a few corners for snags just in case I had to cut the corner to pass someone and then headed back for the briefing.

Doug did his usual excellent briefing and soon after the outriggers that were going off first slipped into the river, although the 6 person outriggers needed a crane but they managed with 6 strong paddlers.

I put in soon after so I could do another km or two before the race started. Although I was one of the fastest over distance in division 3 there is always a dark horse amongst the group. My first race of the season the Island to Island I was coming first after Richard Lowther capsized and then I was passed in the last 500 metres by Gordon Lentz and beaten to the line by a nose. In the Canning Race Chris Watson, Erica McKnight beat me so did Sean Killen by a nose. At Lake Leschenaultia I did win my division but Ed Negus was so close behind and in the Ascot races Kim Mahony has been extremely close. Today Ed wasn’t there, Kim was in Division 2, Gordon was paddling doubles, Chris was paddling doubles, Richard wasn’t there, but Sean and Erica were there ready to beat me.

Every time I beat Sean in a race he has put $20.00 into my Paddle for Prostate Cancer fundraising page so it was costing him a bit. He has been training hard to beat me and he was getting faster so I was worried. Sean started paddling in early 2004 when he took part in my CDU Sat morning paddle sessions. Through this training he then got into other outdoor sports and racing at UWA outdoor club where he met his wife Tanya, which eventually resulted in them having kids. Now the kids are older he is back and after my scalp.

I certainly have to watch Erica. Her other hobby is weight lifting so she is super strong and she always beats me on short distances in sprint. Will I be able to beat her in this 16.5km race? Then there was Alastair Fox who is fast off the line and getting stronger, so I had some good competition.

As our grid took off I was in my usual position and that was behind the leaders. Agnes Pajor, who was a good sprinter led the way. Bugger I now have to think about Agnes. So it was Agnes, Alastair, Doug, Erica, Robin Jacob and then me. When they came together I ended up behind them struggling to keep up. Sean was close by on my left. We turned a couple of corners and when the speed of the group eased I waited for my time and a right hand corner where I cut it and got beside Robin. It wasn’t long before I accelerated and took the lead. I think Erica and Sean came with me. I was hoping to split up the group which I think I did.

We were only minutes away from starting and Josh Kippin and Sean Rice past me. There was no way I could wash ride them, they were gone and it was a while before the next div 1 paddler came by.  I powered on hoping I had left Sean and Erica but I think they might have been close behind me. When young Mitchell Tamblin came by I managed to wash ride him for a short time but he was just too fast.  Most of the div 1 paddlers were too fast to get onto and the first few div 2 paddlers were as well. Grant Pepper, who I beat in the Avon (hi Grant just a reminder) was flying. I managed to wash ride Matt Jones for a few seconds but he was trying to keep up with a faster paddler and they were soon gone as well.

Eventually I could hear the doubles of Ramon and Marie Andersson and Sharon Cobley and Francis Nolan catching up. They were encouraging me to get on their wash which I did and lasted a few minutes. Ramon said Sean and Erica had been behind me but when I tried looking behind they were several metres back. As long I was on Ramon’s wash I could keep them at bay but Ramon and Marie decided to take the lead and accelerated too fast and I lost them.

I was alone again and pretty vulnerable. Sean and Erica would have a target on my back and about 2 kms before the finish I felt someone get on my wash. It was a blue boat, it was Sean. Now I was in trouble as if he could catch me he would have the strength to pass me and I don’t like saying it, but he would probably beat me. I was dreading seeing the green boat of Erica but it never came. Sean powered up beside me, (bugger) so for a while me were neck and neck. I thought Erica had caught up but it was the K3 with Pat Tullock, Vince Linardi and Glen Stewart. I was relieved. Spencer King was tailing them.

Sean let the K3 pass without trying to get a ride and when it was about 10 metres away he suddenly sprinted off leaving me a little shocked at the sneaky move. I gave chase but they were too quick for me to get beside them in fact I ended up being several metres back but I never gave up trying and eventually I got back on their rear wash and on a corner I got on to Sean’s side wash. Phew that was close.

I settled in on Sean’s wash and rested just a little, but he was on the K3s wash so he was going faster than usual. At the last real corner near the boat ramp Sean let the K3 go wide and leave us behind. I was now expecting to be with him for the next kilometre and have to fight tooth and nail to the finish. But that didn’t happen. Sean let the K3 get away from us and then suddenly sprinted off again to get on their wash leaving me behind. Dam another sneaky move and I wasn’t expecting it, I must be getting too old and trusting. This time, although I tried my hardest I couldn’t catch them, but only look on as they and Sean got further and further away from me. Sean wouldn’t be giving my charity $20.00 today.

I crossed the line 26 seconds behind Sean. He had outwitted, outplayed, and outlasted me.  Damm. As I needed to do some more kilometres to make up 26kms for the morning I turned my kayak and paddled back upstream to meet the last person in the race. I met 6 paddlers in div 2 who I had beaten in time which was quite amazing as I would have been the slowest paddler in div 2 if I had entered it. Peter Pawlow holed his kayak, Hunter Florisson somehow capsized, Ron Clarke looked exhausted, Simon O’Sullivan said he thought he paddled well. Not sure what happened to Andrew Hewlett. Martin Watson had lots of excuses, too much weed, rudder problems etc etc.. All these paddlers are usually faster than me.

Ross Burdett and Johan Dreyer had back problems so they were struggling at the end. I carried on further meeting several paddlers in my Progressive Racing Group who were bringing up the rear, Byron, Jon, Chris, Jeanette, Jane and Veronica.  

It was another well organised race so thanks to Doug and all the volunteers.

Veronica Haarmann on the last kilometre.
 

Paddlers leave Port Beach.

Photo John O'Sullivan.

They are on their way.
Photo John O'Sullivan.

Paddlers passing Cottesloe.
 Photo John O'Sullivan.

On My Paddles

Birds Along the Way
 

Trying to find a Brown Goshawk.
 

A Darter watches on as I take photos of a Rainbow Lorikeet.
 

Rainbow Lorikeets.
The rainbow lorikeet is a declared pest in Western Australia. It is a small, brightly coloured parrot that was introduced to WA during the 1960s.

There are a lot around at the moment.

They used to cull them but I'm not sure if that now happens.
 

A Darter
 

A Darter on its nest.
 

Love is in the air.
 

An Egret.
 

An ibis high in a tree.
 

A coot. 
 

An Egret.

Epic Paddles

Club Carbon - $460

• 737g
• Carbon fibre blade, Green oval shaft
• Fully adjustable length & feather
• Includes Paddle Bag

Epic 18X Sport (Ultra)

I paddled 6300 kms across Canada in an Epic 18 kayak.

WA Sea Kayak Festival 2022
25th - 28th March 2022 | Camp Grace, Busselton

Registrations are now open for the 2022 WA Sea Kayak Festival!

 Busselton and the surrounds is a wonderful location offering paddles of all adventure levels, from the calm waters Geographe Bay to more challenging paddles off the coast.

Experienced sea leaders are there to support each trip. Qualified instructors will be available to help you learn new skills and experience the wonderful world of sea kayaking. A range of presenters (depending on Covid travel restrictions) will talk on their kayaking adventures. The Fest is a great way to be immersed in all things sea kayaking.

Registrations close on Friday the 11th March 2022.