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Lookout to Bells
Rapid
The Queens birthday holiday was not
just a good day because I didn't have to go to work but because
I got a chance to go paddling with two of my god children
from the Greed family.
Somehow I managed to become a god parent to 3 children from
the same family. I don't really know why I was chosen to be
a god parent to 3 brothers but somehow I was and I'm honoured
to have been chosen.
Lawrence and Anita picked me up at 8.00am
and we motored to the Walyunga Lookout. It was a pretty good
day with limited clouds and quite a bit of sun. As we drove
up to the lookout carpark we could see the skyscrapers of
Perth beyond a valley in the far distance. It was a beautiful
day but a cool wind was blowing across the hill top. When
we reached the lookout there was a spectacular view down into
the valley. The hills were just a picture and the view of
the river below was just stunning.
The paddle from the Lookout to Bells
is a good paddle with some of the biggest rapids on this short
section. Paddlers love doing this section but they don't love
the walk down to the river as it is all down hill and it's
very steep so few paddlers actually take on the challenge.
This was the first time that Lawrence's
two boys Matthew and Christopher had paddled this section
so it was the first time they had to walk down the hill so
it will be interesting to see if they would ever want to do
it again. I don't mind it, it's just another challenge and
if you keep running away from challenges your life would be
prety boring.
Lawrence's third son Nicholas wasn't
up to joining our paddle today, but his legs hadn't given
out, he was running up and down the hill as we got ready.
Matthew, Nicholas and Chistopher competed in the Nanga Challenge
the week. The Greed Machine was the first junior team and
was 13th overall. With Matthew and Nicholas being 13 and Christopher
15 they did extremely well. Today they had another challenge
to get down the hill to the river without breaking a leg.
We said our goodbyes and left Anita,
her mum Barbara and Nicholas to drive around to Walyunga National
Park via a few devonshire tea places.
Matthew & Christopher
ready to go, while dad Lawrence is still putting his booties
on.
About 500 metres from the
top of the hill I paused to take in the view, it was breathtaking
or was it the steep walk that was breath taking! To my west
were rolling hills and to the east the sparkling Avon River
and service road nestled between vegetated hills with wet
rock outcrops that shone like mirrors. Grass trees were dotted
along the hillside, these are one of my favourite trees,and
for me are just so West Austalian. We are very lucky to have
so many native plants, trees and birds. We are also very fortunate
not to have sparrows, starlings and all those pesty birds
that have invaded other parts of Australia from Europe. There
is nowhere in Australia more natural than West Australia.
What a view I had in front
of me and the exciting thing is, that there are so many more
views out there just waiting for me to check out. It's times
like these that I get ichy feet and want to start travelling
again, to get in a kayak and start exploring and seeing different
things every day.
I have always dreamt about
owning a house on a hill overlooking Australian bushland and
river. I have dreamt about owning a house on a river so I
could just paddle from the front door. The trouble is I can't
have a high view and be next to the river at the same time.
And not being a millionaire I suppose I have to be satisfied
with where I live and just keep visiting these areas.
When I look at a view
like this, I just want to explore and find out what is around
the far corner.
The walk down the hill
was steep but with it being quite dry it wasn't too slippery.
Good footwear/booties were essential as the trail was rocky.
Very few paddlers walk down the hill as it is hard work carrying
heavy boats and most don't like that jelly legs feeling about
half way down, but it is always worth the walk. You get to
know that you have done the walk two days later when all the
muscles in your legs are aching and you feel as if you have
some sort of sickness, (two days later mine were actually
feeling okay so I wasn't as unfit as I thought I was.) The
walk is only 0.7km straight down and 150 metres along a flat
road to find a culvert to walk under the railway line. Remember
always go under the railway line by using these big culverts
and never cross the rail on top. Trains are frequent.
Lawrence, Christopher
and Matthew resting at the bottom of the hill at the Lookout
Rapid.
The hill was steep and
although Christopher and Matthew carried their kayaks down
the steep hill I didn't hear the slightest complaint. Christopher
and Matthew had never paddled this section before so I'm wasn't
quite sure how they were feeling. They didn't seem to have
any nerves or at least they weren't showing any.
After a bit of a warm
up at the top of Lookout Rapid we were away.
Christopher warming up
and getting ready to play in the rough stuff
Below us were the Lookout
drop and big hole. Surfing at the bottom in the big waves
was a hoot
Christopher has no fear
as he takes on the rapid
Ready to ferry glide
across the top part of Syds
This was it. Matthew
hadn't been down Syds Drop before so now he faced his big
challenge
It's me at the top of
Syds Drop
Matthew paddling the
drop as it was just another tiny rapid
It's me surfing the wave
at the Chute
The Team: Lawrence, Me,
Christopher and Matthew
After reaching the Walyunga
National Park the Greed family had other exciting things to
do so I met up with Pam Riordan, John Dinucci and Giesla Cannon
and continued to Bells Rapid. Apart from one lone kayaker
we saw no-one until we had been at Bells for 30 minutes when
three other skis came through. Such good water but few paddlers
were using it.
It was a day of play.
Surfing the top wave at Bells Drop.
It was good to play and
test my skills and nerve. Being over 60 you imagine that the
world that you know is going to stop and you are about to
fall in a big heap. The good thing is- it doesn't!! You may
start getting rustier but you don't seize up completely.
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