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The Epic Paddle Continues
Thursday morning: If you were up at
5.30am - 6.00am you might have seen the electrical storm
light up the dark morning sky. It was quite awesome
watching it as I paddle towards the city.
A little later when the sun came up,
reflections were at their best. I can't help but stop
and admire the scenery even if it is a forest of flooded,
dead trees.
The clouds soon pass over bringing a
brilliant sunny morning, like most of the morning I
have been paddling in over the last 35 days. Ibis roost
on the huge dead trees at Ascot Waters. The weather
in Perth this time of year is just about perfect for
paddling.
I passed Claughton Reserve and spotted
one of Ascot Kayak's Club skis floating without a paddler.
I expected it may have been left on the beach at Ascot
and floated 600 metres downstream. As I started pushing
it back upstream to Ascot I just hoped that the paddler
was safe at home.
An Osprey peers down at me as I pass
by just upstream of Sandy Beach Reserve.
Downstream of Fishmarket Reserve, over
the last two weeks I have been watching this immature
cormorant grow from a tiny baby to the size of a near
adult. It hasn't yet ventured from this tree. I will
miss the morning bird life when I return back to normal
training.
A school group at Fishmarket Reserve,
Guildford practises capsize drills and deep water rescues
as the teacher keeps warm by watching from the bank.
At Lilac Hill, Guildford a Egret is
on the prowl for breakfast.
Further upstream a little upstream from
Marshall Park, two little Pied Cormorants and a Egret
take in the morning sun.
As I approach Cavensham House a pair
of gargoyles protect the grounds from intruders. One
or two clouds start to move in.
A few hundred metres further upstream,
on the corner just before Sandalford Wines the Swan
River Trust is repairing the riverbanks.The cloth secures
the banks and then reeds and trees are planted in the
cloth.
Further upstream near Reg Bond Park
a rejuvenated section of once eroded riverbank is looking
exceptionally good.
I turn at Middle Swan Bridge and retrace
my steps back to Bassendean.
Dead trees along the river bank just
downstream of West Swan Bridge. The clouds start to
increase further as 11.00am approaches. By mid afternoon
a storm hits Perth.
This is just one day in the life of
a paddler who has been going up and down the Swan River
for several hours a day over the last 35 days. Only
2 more big days left.
Back in Bassendean the Over 55 Club
cruises down the river
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