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The Avon Descent
Part One
Northam was full of mist
when we arrived. We expected it to lift as soon as the sun
rose but it didn't, so the 8.00am power boat start got delayed
15 minutes, then another 15 minutes. Just as we were getting
excited it was delayed yet again. Over the next hour the fog
stood its ground so the start kept getting delayed. This delay
was making the novices very nervous because they were afraid
they wouldn't make the cut off times.
T2 and his two daughters
and one daughter's fiance, waiting for the fog to lift. Photos
Doug Hodson
For me, I was here not just because
I really enjoy the Avon Descent and love chatting to all the
paddlers that take part, but it is also important for me to
keep challenging myself, keep my skills up and see how fast
my body will recover. On some of my really long trips I am
usually paddling 8 to 14 hours a day every day for 3 months
of more so if I can't paddle the Avon Descent there is no
point doing any more big trips. I would have to do what most
other old people do and start going on cruises.
Simon O'Sullivan and
Craig Metzke waiting. Photos Doug Hodson
At last the start was announced and
it was all systems go. The power boats were off and the paddlers
started warming up. Being on the third grid meant it wasn't
long before I was entering the water and trying to put my
spraydeck on, even with the help of Alaine, who was my support
team, I was having difficulties. I just hoped I didn't need
to put it on again in the race.
The first grid of about 30 of the fastest
paddlers took off. That was a lot of paddlers heading for
the weir. It was said that we would be going off at 1 minute
intervals but I'm sure it was more like 30 seconds as I and
many on my grid weren't near the line when the starter said
go. So much for a good start!
I knew that I didn't have the fitness
of many of the younger paddlers but the good thing about having
paddled for many years is that I can still do the Avon Descent
with much less training and still get to the end feeling good.
By the time I reached the weir there was a blockage of skis
sitting just after the lip. I paused as I didn't want to ram
them but I just couldn't sit there as I had others coming
up behind. I plunged over the concrete lip and onto the concrete
which had little water flowing on the first part. I came to
a standstill as the group of boats around me tried shunting
down the ramp. I felt like grabbing the boats beside me and
using them to pull myself forward but I thought that was bad
sportsmanship so I just kept shunting and using my hands to
lift me along. Eventually near the bottom the water lifted
me but at the same time someone clipped my tail, (Peter Pavlinovich
admitted to that the following day) and I spun out at the
bottom.
It wasn't the best place to be spun out as boats were pouring
down the weir and I and two others were directly in their
way. I knew I had to get out of there pretty quick so I backed
across the stream seeing Patrick Irwin half capsized and looking
me straight in the eye. As I just about cleared the area a
ski couldn't stop and T -boned me on the side. It wasn't his
fault. There was a nice cracking sound but the kayak seemed
okay.
I soon straightened up and was urged on by the crowd. A pile
up a little further destroyed my chances of getting away cleanly
to follow the deeper left route, instead I was forced to go
to the right of the river and into the shallows strewn with
rocks and sand bars. It was slow work getting through but
I managed without getting out. A few hundred metres further
I saw Samantha on the bank doing something to her ski but
before I reached her she was off. Sam had started two grids
behind so that didn't help me to feel good about myself.
At last there was deeper water and I could chase all the others
in front of me. We all weaved around the shallows trying to
find the deepest water but the odd ski or two would end up
sitting on a sand bank looking silly. I was just hoping it
wasn't going to be me as I had already had my turn at and
beyond the weir, to look silly.
By now several of the paddlers who started in the grids behind
me were in front of me, although once I got into a rhythm
less paddlers passed until the team paddlers started filtering
by and some were paddling so fast they were impossible to
keep up with.
My heart virtually stopped when I saw
Dave Tupling in front of me. Dave who was probably the oldest
paddler on the course doing the whole distance is a very fit
65 year old paddler, but it was the fact that he was in a
slower short plastic Wavehopper and he started in a grid behind
me that bothered me. He seemed to be travelling at the same
speed as I was and he took some catching.
Eventually I did pass him, (thank the lord,) which pleased
me no end but he stuck behind me for sometime. Soon after
I had a Spirit PRS riding my wash. For some reason it kept
creeping over and putting its nose in the path of my paddle.
My paddle hit it's nose, I didn't say anything but Dave was
most annoyed and I heard him start shouting at the guy to
leave me alone. It just showed me how much Dave respected
me. I think he would have fought for me. I had to smile when
I heard him shout, "leave Terry alone" a couple
of times.
I can remember when Dave came into my shop about 10 years
ago and bought a Finn kayak only a short time before the Avon
race. There was no ifs or buts about waiting for next year's
event, he took to kayaking and was ready to tackle the Avon
straight away. He just loves paddling and apparently this
was his 10th Avon. He did mention later that this was his
last one but we have heard that before. For me I will keep
doing them as long as I have the fitness and skill. Once I'm
a danger to myself or others it will be time to be a support
crew or do it in a team. A shuddering thought!
The shallows of that first section wasn't half as bad as last
year but when we did hit some shallows they helped me get
away from Dave which I really needed to do as I was in a faster
kayak. Dave like many other paddlers is a good bloke, so it
was a shame to leave him behind!
I'm all alone but being chased by others. Photos Doug Hodson
Then from out of the blue
the nose of a green PRS came between me and another PRS. Then
I heard Bonnie McDougall say sorry as she clipped the other
paddler's paddle. Bonnie had been training with our Saturday
morning crew for the last 2-3 years. Since last year she has
really got a lot quicker, but she has never been as fast as
I am, so I was deeply shocked to see her beside me.
Bonnie Mcdougall coming
up from behind. Photos Doug Hodson
I knew I must have been
going slower than I usually race but I didn't think I was
going that slow. The 4 weeks off with a strained back and
cold must have affected me more than I had realised. I knew
that being 62 was a bit of a disadvantage but it is quite
hard to accept when you feel fairly fit. So here we were,
Dave and I two of the oldest paddlers on the river doing the
entire course being harassed and nearly passed by a beautiful
young women who has only been paddling 2-3 years. To make
matters worse Amanda Bowman another beautiful women was beside
me as well. As any man can imagine being passed by women,
who are usually slower than you, is very hard to take. Imagine
all the ribbing at the end of the race if they should leave
me behind!
Thankfully, Bonnie and Amanda didn't pass me. They either
felt sorry for me or I put a spurt on that they couldn't match
as I never saw them ever again, although I do believe they
were close behind up until the T trees. So at least there
were only 3 women in front of me but they were faster paddlers
than me so that wasn't so bad.
Katrine Bridge came into sight which is always a pleasure
to see. There were lots of people shouting my name and Alaine
was on the bank asking if I needed something, which I didn't.
For a while on the way to Glen Avon rapid I was alone but
not too far from it a bunch of paddlers started passing which
was a real pain as they would get to the weir rapid just before
me. There wasn't much water going over the lip of the weir
shelf and with exposed rocks downstream it stopped paddlers
in their tracks. Here I waited to allow the others to get
free then it was my turn to get wedged between the rocks.
Being in a kayak I didn't have the pleasure of standing up
and pulling my boat clear, I had to pull, push and lift with
my hands to get it free. Thankfully I got free before another
boat hit me from behind. I have never liked Glen Avon rapid
as it has very sharp quarry rocks and one slip and a rock
could easily slit the kayak open so I was thankful when I
got down without too many bumps.
It was a relief to pass Glen Avon as there wasn't any other
rapid on the course that could damage my boat although when
Peter Van Maanen sailed by his Molokai ski was bowing in the
middle as it had broken its back and it looked doubtful if
it would finish the race. I saw him several times that day
and it was still holding up.
Simon O'Sullivan being
chased by a firey. Photos Doug Hodson
For the next few kilometres
we weaved and raced through some meandering and lively channels
being helped by a fairly swift current before entering the
long pool before Extracts. I knew that I wasn't going to paddle
down extracts so I had nothing to fear. When there is a lot
more water, there is always a chance to paddle the weir but
I do it very rarely as I don't want boat damage or be stuck
half way down and it doesn't take me long to run around it
with my 13kg kayak.
The portage was much better laid out this year than previous
years. In other years there was a fairly steep slippery drop,
this year it was a bit longer but the ground was much more
even and it was easier to get back into my kayak. On my run
around I got a good rap from Neil Long who was on the microphone
letting spectators know who was on the course. I taught him
and his brother Darryl how to paddle back in the late 1970s
and spent a lot of time taking them to the whitewater.
I left the weir with a mouth full of 32GI Chews and an energy
bar in my lap. I just had to keep up a consistent pace to
make sure the girls and other paddlers who had trained with
us didn't pass me. Up to that point I think I only saw Derek
Amy and Ron Mckenzie who were flying. Derek and Ron have been
paddling for about 3 years so theywere accustomed to the event
and hard training. And Derek is not that young either. There
are certainly some good strong paddlers in their 50s.
Simon Roll, Josh Kippin
and Hank McGregor. Photo Simon Duggan
Simon & Josh. Photo
Simon Duggan
The river was running nicely
through a myriad of channels to Toodyay. The odd paddler would
pass and leave me alone for several minutes before another
would eventually catch up. This year solo paddlers had solo
under their number so I would check to see if it was a team
paddler or a solo paddler who had passed. I didn't mind team
paddlers passing.
At Toodyay, Lawrence Greed was on the microphone and he gave
me a good rap as I was passing under the bridge. I could hear
a multitude of voices shouting Terry but it was hard to know
who they all were. It spurred me on for the next few kilometres.
Young Nick Turley, a very quiet person who paddles with us
on a Saturday morning passed me by. Again I wondered why as
he has never been as fast as me in any race. Nick and his
brother Fred paddled the Yukon Challenge a couple of years
after I did it. I think they were inspired by an article I
wrote to do it, now here is Nick saying see-ya at the end
Terry.
Rob Jarrett cutting through
the channels near Toodyay. Photos Doug Hodson
Alaine was waving at West
Toodyay Bridge to see if I wanted anything which I didn't
so I paddled straight passed. I was now on my last leg and
I knew if I got to the T trees before anyone else I would
beat them through. At the team change-over at Wetherall Reserve
team members were eagerly hanging around to leave as soon
as their team member arrived and just as I passed through
Ryan Goodchild in his wild water kayak flew by me. I just
wished I could have kept the pace that he was doing but he
was only doing one leg to do so he was fresh as two daises.
Peter & Jane Liddle
at a team change over. Photos Doug Hodson
The start of the T-Trees
I entered the first section
of T- trees just after two other skis and within seconds I
was in front of them because they took a longer route. I was
soon through Alby's Ford and the first and second lot of trees.
I then followed a ski through the trees where there were two
S turns. At the second and most difficult S turn the guy on
the ski fell off which allowed me to get by without a problem.
It was just before that I heard Grant Pepper shout directions
to which way I should head and it wasn't the right way!
Taking the right path
through the trees was critical
I was now alone much of the way with
the odd ski around me. The dynamic duo of the Clancy-Low father
and son team had been just in front of me for most of the
day but I soon lost sight of them when they strayed into a
channel of trees that led into a forest. The trees are so
much easier than they used to be but I didn't get too cocky
with my speed as I didn't want to make a mistake and capsize.
Because of the lower water levels there weren't too many short
cuts that I could take that others didn't know, although knowing
where to go did ensure that I didn't go a longer route or
get lost.
Hugh Trivett was suffereing
from wrist problems. Photos Doug Hodson
The day was still perfect as I tackled
the first 5.5kms of the trees which brought me to Jimperding
Brook where Dave Boldy was sitting in the middle of the river
cheering paddlers on. Last year in the double plastics he
was one of my competitors, this year he was taking it easy.
With only 6kms left, I still had to
negotiate the formidable section of trees of Death Valley,
1km ahead. Death Valley is a section of T-trees that had two
running channels which near the far end was chock-a-block
with trees. In higher water there is a safer rocky channel
to the right but the water today was too low to use it. This
was a section I thought I might have the most trouble and
may have to portage if there were lots of paddlers in front
of me as the tight passages and trees capsized many paddlers.
Coming up to it I knew if I could run
it cleanly I would be much quicker and with only one paddler
in front of me and a couple of skis behind I decided to risk
it. Once in the trees the paddler in front got himself jammed
and was off his ski. The paddler behind me took the right
channel which led to a huge fallen tree. As I came up to the
two fallen trees that virtually blocked my channel I was able
slide over them instead of following the channel around them.
It worked well. I could hear crashing and banging in the other
channel so the paddler in that channel must have got off his
ski and was dragging it over the rocky channel which works
when there was more water.
One of the routes through
Death Valley
I couldn't believe how
much clearer and easier this section was to do considering
how it was a few days ago but the power boats must have broken
the branches and cleared the channel a little when they came
through earlier. I was pleased I didn't portage.
When I left Death Valley I knew everything before me was going
to be a doddle. The next T Tree section, the Kyber Pass, with
a swift current in places used to be another difficult section
but it too has opened up and is now a lot easier than it used
to be and with no one to halt my progress I soon slid down
a small rapid, a clear channel and then down between the narrow
walls of the main drop dodging tree branches without incident.
Nick Turley who had passed me earlier on in the day was following
me from a distance. Several others attempted to follow me
but I managed to lose them. I also had James Coad pass me
by in the long pools but at the water level gauge he was swept
into the trees and was floating around not far from another
ski. I left them to wade in the water and sped off hoping
not to see them again. James had passed me several times that
day.
In the long pool before
Deception Alley, James passed me again. By the time we reached
the alley he was 20 metres in front. I smiled to myself when
he carried straight on instead on doing a sharp right and
taking the right passage. I did the turn and paddled with
the swift current down the channel to see him hooked up and
capsized in the trees. He muttered a few words about the trees
when I passed. I only had one more tree section to go before
Leatherhead Rapid and with no one in front of me I was clear
to head home with Nick chasing.
As I approached Leatherhead rapid I saw a paddler who seemed
to be a little confused to where to go. He took the steeper,
rockier left side which gave me a clear run on the right rapid.
I cleared the rapid where a few spectators were standing and
raced to the finish which was only a few hundred metres away.
As I hit the pool I looked back to see young Nick paddling
strongly behind me but I managed to cross the line before
him.
I pulled up to the take out point and one of onlookers mentioned
that I come in later every year. He was right, once-upon-a-time
I was one of the first 20 to finish. ..... Now I'm just an
old man and my story is seldom told…….
Although I had a bad start and I wasn't as quick as I would
have hoped the run went quite smooth so I was happy.
Many of our Saturday morning group members came filtering
in. Josh had done well coming third and only seconds behind
the leader. Samatha was up with the female leaders, and T2
who's training is disrupted because of working up north had
gone well.
Second part of the story next week.
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