Enjoy the CDU Newsletter
Published: Fri, 01/16/15
Issue
450
16th January 2015
Message Bank
Special Edition
Well this is my 350th newsletter, which in time would have
taken me at least 700 days, nearly 2 years of work to get
them out. I just wonder if any one has been getting them since
the first edition. With nearly 2000 people on our mailing
list from all around the world, most from WA. I hope the Newsletter
has been enjoyable reading.
**********************************
I gave a presentation on Monday to the Attadale Probus Club.
Nowadays very few people ask me to speak about my adventures
and expeditions but it was refreshing to get a keen and attentive
audience who appreciate what I have done.
This presentation was about my first 100 day solo trip around
the Kimberley coast. Back then there were no satellite phones,
no gps, no tourist boats or helicopters and virtually no one
knew anything about the coastline, so it really was remote.
On that trip I was alone, fighting the swift tidal currents
and being chased by sharks and crocodiles in a remote wilderness
few people had traversed, and at one point having to distill
water to drink. It was extreme adventure, but I loved it and
it still sits as one of my best adventures.
You can read about this trip
and several of my other trips
by going to my website or http://terrybolland.com/
**********************************
Our second flatwater Down River Training session
this morning had 21 paddlers pitting their skills against
the buoys. It's great to see several new paddlers take part
and improve their skills.
We will be having our first Tuesday night
race around the buoys on 27th January. Sandy Beach Reserve.
There will be 3 Tuesday night races at different locations.
Ray a ski paddler, but only his second time
in a wavehopper is trying to keep Bruce at bay
***********************************
Claisebrook Classic
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Registration is at Nelson Road at the back of Gloucester Park
(not Claisebrook inlet)
Distances 13km….6.6km short course…3.6 Guppies
Enter here: https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=34837
Please Note :– All Times have
been bought forward 30 mins to allow an earlier Start. The
day is promising to be quite warm and we are trying to have
all paddlers off the water before 10:30 am ..
Registration – 6:30 to 7:30 am on Nelson Street, behind
Gloucester Park (UBD Map 3 Ref H12 )
On-line Registration will close Friday at Noon to allow paddlers
to be placed in correct Divisions and paperwork printed. All
entries after this will be charged a $10 late entry fee.
*********************
City Beach Sorrento Beach 3:30pm
17 January 2015
Downwind ski race
Sponsored by Canoeing Down
Under
*********************
Champion Lakes
Hi all
As some of you may be aware the lake has been closed to primary
and secondary activities. It is now open to secondary activities
which means that we can paddle on the lake but parents of
younger ones please be aware it is closed to primary still
at this stage. This means no swimming at all until further
notice. The regatta will still go ahead as planned on Saturday.
Cheers Tania Pongratz WA Sprint
Training & Courses
Saturday
Morning Fitness Training
Race Start 7.30am on the dot!
PFD MUST be worn
*********************************
Flat Water Down River Training 'Around the
Buoys' is Back
Are you wanting to increase your paddling
skills. These sessions will help enormously. Improvement is
guaranteed
Friday mornings 6.00am
at Claughton Reserve, Bayswater
Several beginners take
on the challenge
Ann, a ski paddler who
has only paddled a kayak twice without a rudder is doing really
well going around the buoys.
Pity she went on the wrong side of the buoy, but who cares
it's all practice and good fun. Ann's partner, Ray in the
red wavehopper seems a little off track as well. They will
have a lot to talk about whilst having morning coffee!!
Featured Products
Three River
to Tuktoyaktuk
From the Rockies
to the Arctic Ocean - 4000kms
Tony Chounding &
Terry Bolland 4000kms. Alaine Davin & Leonie Cockman 2000km
Three River to Tuktoyaktuk
is an almost 4000km journey along the Athabasca, Slave and
Mackenzie Rivers in Canada starting from the Rocky Mountains
and finishing at the Arctic Ocean. The first part of the journey
Tony Chounding and Terry Bolland paddled the Athabasca and
Slave Rivers experiencing high mountains, swamps and flat-land,
huge rapids, total wilderness, insects, local First Nation
people, big lakes and a multitude of wildlife.
At Hay River on the Great Slave Lake they met up with Alaine
Davin and Leonie Cockman who paddled the second part of the
journey across part of the Great Slave Lake and down the longest
river in Canada, the Mackenzie.
There were now 2 canoes and 4 different personalities which
made it interesting.
254 colour photographs, 260 pages and 4 maps. Printed in WA.
It's just not a great story but also a Canadian wilderness
colour picture-book.
Price $34.00 SPECIAL
PRICE $20.00
****************
A Race Along
The Way
Yukon River 3300kms
Ed Van-eer & Terry
Bolland
This is the story of Terry Bolland and
Ed Van Eer who paddled the entire 3300km length of the Yukon
River from the mountains to the sea. Along the way they also
took part in one of the Worlds Longest Canoe Races and came
a credible 6th place. When other paddlers returned home to
rest, Terry and Ed continued the long wilderness journey to
the Bering Sea.
It's an easy and enjoyable read with full colour images and
well worth buying.
108 colour photographs, 181 pages, 7 maps. Printed in WA
Price: $ 28.00 SPECIAL
PRICE $20.00
****************
The Gorge PFD
Lightweight and Comfortable
Liz in her Epic 16 kayak
and sporting her Gorge PFD.
The Gorge is exceptional value with
ripstop fabric, adjustable shoulders and sides, heavy duty
YKK zip and two secure pockets. The contoured slab design,
with quality buoyancy foam helps with comfort, something that
cheaper PFDs don't give. With it also being a lightweight
PFD with lots of freedom around the arm area it is one of
the most comfortable PFDs and one of our biggest seller.
Easy to put on and take off.
Deep cut armholes for freedom of movement.
Multifit design. Side straps and shoulder straps to adjust
different body shapes and sizes.
Lanyard attachment point.
Two pockets- one zip pocket, one side release clip pocket.
Rear bladder pocket
This is one of our most popular PFD and used on all our courses
and training programs.
If you want a relatively cheap but quality PFD with comfort
and adjustablity make sure you try this Gorge PFD on before
you buy anything else.
Australian Standards: AS 4758. 6kg+ upward thrust
Fabric: Buoyancy- Slab Corex. 150Denier Ripstop.
Colour: Safety Gold/Black
PFD Type 2
Price: $125.00
Stories
Kimberley Kayak
Expedition 1
100 Days Solo
From Broome to Mitchell
Plateau
Although I could see the
big whirlpools well ahead I felt at that moment I was sliding
in safer waters as the channel widened and was less disturbed
so I tried to get some film footage with my 16mm camera mounted
on my front deck. I drifted and realised I was going faster
than I normally paddled. As I concentrated in getting the
camera going I was swept towards a developing whirlpool over
to my right. I then desperately tried moving over to the left,
but because the water was being deflected from the rocky shoreline
it pushed me back towards it again. I avoided it and some
rapid water but then I noticed the whirlpools ahead were huge
and full of boils that erupted a metre or more like miniature
volcanos. The whirlpools were alive with whitewater, boils
and smaller whirlpools. It was something that I had never
seen before and it looked terrifying and I was heading into
them. Although I was nearly pooing my pants I was calm, I
had to be no one to help me out here. I paddled hard to gather
extra speed with the idea of sneaking to the right of the
big turbulences to avoid possible disaster........
****************
Heading south-east I passed
Lavoisier Island without a shark following which was a change.
Bigge Point, in the distance looked very uninteresting and
flat. I paddled on and then it struck me with the power of
a bull. My kayak was lifted and I was thrown off balance.
I quickly regained my composure and turned to see the large
shark that had just rammed my rear left side.
I was horrified, the shark was at least
3 ½ to 4 feet across, but I couldn't determine its
great length as it faded under the ocean. Oh no, there were
two! A six footer, looking like a midget compared with the
other one that was directly behind my rudder. I stopped. The
closest land was about 3 kms away. I needed to get there,
but dashing off could make my position worse. As I powered
forward again a large shape suddenly came into view. The big
beast was leading the field so I braced myself for the worst,
maybe another hit, but thankfully nothing happened.
The waiting game was nerve wracking.
I knew the bigger shark could overturn me like a matchstick
and my chances of doing the Eskimo roll before it started
chewing at me were pretty slim. I imagined them going into
a complete frenzy and tearing my head off if I capsized.
I couldn't bear it, the thought made
me shudder and I immediately stopped to put my helmet on!
I attempted fastening the buckle with one shaking hand, my
other was firmly grasping on the paddle keeping my kayak stable
and ready for any action that might evolve.
My trembling hands failed to do the
strap up, so risking a capsize I let go of my paddle and used
two hands. I didn't know what good the helmet was going to
do, but somehow it felt safer!
Go to -
http://terrybolland.com/kimberley-kayak-expedition-1/ [ http://terrybolland.com/kimberley-kayak-expedition-1/ ]
*********************
Kimberley Kayak
Expedition 2
54 Days Solo
Lake Argyle to Mitchell
Plateau - Solo
About 10 kilometres before Cape Bernier
a reef jutting out seaward was being battered by breaking
waves. The wind was extremely strong and there was no place
to land so I was forced two kilometres from the coast to try
to round them. Soon after monstrous waves surrounded me. In
the troughs of these monsters I was often several metres down.
I gripped the sail line and rudder. The rudder was not working
properly but I was unable to check it. The waves pushed me
around like a coke and as I surfed down the huge waves reaching
incredible speeds. A wave crashed down on my deck, caving
in my spraydeck and for a few moments water poured in. Time
and again I plunged into huge troughs, seeing only an enormous
wall of water flying in front of me. I could hardly believe
that the kayak was taking so much punishment but the outriggers
gave it great stability. It was one of the most frightening
times of my life, but after 40 terrifying minutes the water
became calmer.
Go to - http://terrybolland.com/kimberley-kayak-expedition-2/
*********************
Kimberley Kayak
Expedition 4
Derby to Prince
Regent River & returm to Broome
Ken Cornish &
Terry Bolland
We moved further down the coast occasionally
being hit by sharks and although fearing crocodiles more than
sharks we were forced to make a detour up a tidal creek to
find water. After about 1 kilometre our route was barred by
thick mangroves so we had no choice but to tie our kayaks
to mangrove branches and walk the last 200 metres to a shallow
pool in a rock hole which gave us all the water we needed.
On our return the tide had risen and
stranded our kayaks 10 metres from the cliffy shore. I didn't
fancy swimming out to them but I had no choice, crocs or no
crocs. I slipped carefully into the water and gingerly swam
out to them trying to create little splash. The ropes fastening
the kayaks to the mangroves were well underwater so I had
no choice but to duck dive down a metre to untie the knots.
My eyes stung as I fumbled with the ropes beneath the surface.
Through glassy eyes the drowned mangrove
limbs waved with the currents and bubbles created by hidden
crustaceans rose to the surface. It was a silent underwater
world, a magic mystery that I would have cherished in safer
waters. I eventually got them free and towed them to the shoreline
and we quickly jumped back in.
We paddled out of the creek as threatening
storm clouds eased their way to our evening camp site on Helipad
Island. Thunder, lightening, strong winds and then a violent
downpour bombarded us. We rigged our spare tent fly in a hollow
and within minutes we had collected a heap of water. Now we
had too much water and we couldn't carry it all.
Go to - http://terrybolland.com/kimberley-kayak-expedition-4/
*********************
Kimberley Kayak
Expedition 5
Around the Kimberley
Marathon
Kayaking, Backpacking
& Cycling 3500kms
Ewen Macgregor &
Terry Bolland - Support Dennis Sproul, Duncan Hepburn
On June 8th, with 200kms of our 700km
paddle behind us, Ewen and I toiled against large relentless
waves, south-east of Koolan Island. It was a pleasure to be
close to an island after being rammed by a shark and battling
the elements for 3 ½ hours. Exhausted, we paddled in
silence along the rocky shoreline slowly creeping towards
a semi-circular pebbly beach both eager to step ashore to
have lunch and rest.
Suddenly with no warning there was an
enormous splash close to Ewen's kayak. I glanced over and
was confronted by the most chilling sight. The open jaws of
a crocodile were gripping the stern of his kayak. "Croc
paddle fast", I bellowed. Ewen let out a shout of terror
and accelerated.
The croc released its grip but the respite
was short lived, seconds later it exploded from the water
and struck again, its open jaws bent on crushing the kayak.
My rifle was strapped on the back deck in a watertight case
so it was of no use and if I turned around in the cockpit,
my unstable craft would capsize, then I would be in deep trouble.
It was terrifying and I was helpless
to assist my friend. The predator's jaws were locked around
his kayak's stern. It lifted its head high out of the water
and, with a tilt, tried desperately to put the kayak into
a death roll. Looking at this horrific sight fear was shaking
my body, I was icy cold, and my heart raced out of control.
My mind tried to refute what my eyes were seeing, but this
was no Jaws movie or Crocodile Dundee, it was real.
Ewen never looked back to glimpse his
predator but he felt its strength. His arms pumped like windmills
and his kayak, although heavily laden, ran swiftly through
the water. The croc lost its grip again and disappeared under
the murky water. Several frightening seconds ticked by. When
or where would it attack next?
I now had to pass the area where the
croc had submerged so I was now concerned for my safety and
in my mind urged Ewen to come back as it was his croc.
Go to - http://terrybolland.com/around-the-kimberley-expedition/
*********************
The Murray River
From the Source
to the Sea - 2500kms - Solo
I soon realised that to achieve my goal
and a record I had to paddle into the night. This didn’t
seem too much of a problem at first, but when I started averaging
3-4 hours sleep a day it was difficult to keep awake. By 11.00pm
my eyelids were beginning to falter. The strain of looking
into the darkness was overwhelming, and the river snaked and
slithered across the country. Trees that had crashed down
on bends were like giant antlers rising up out of the muddy
waters, creating dangerous hazards and difficult to see. At
every twist in the river, I chanced being speared by the snags
if I ever took a short cut.
When I looked upward into space, I could
see the bright stars and constellations and a world alive
with shooting stars and satellites. Back on earth, trees flanked
the river, silhouetted against the brighter sky. As the river
narrowed, the sound of the current cutting through the snags
increased my anxiety, as I had no idea if I was heading into
them. Paddling till 2.00am, sometimes later and sometimes
completely through the night, became a regular pattern. Three
hours sleep was my maximum relief, which kept me on target
to beat the record.
Night paddling was hazardous. As well
as all the snags protruding from the water, I couldn’t
prevent myself from dozing off. Then there were the shadows!
Trees created shadows. Shadows created problems, extra problems
I didn’t need. I saw shadows as objects; objects that
I thought were logs, trees and rocks. Startled, I would flinch
and my heart would leap into my mouth, when I thought I was
going to collide with these imaginary solid things in front
of me.
As the days flew by, the moon became
my only friend on the river. It rose like a giant guardian,
brightening my world and giving me a glimpse of the river
outside of my imagination. This new insight made me feel happy
and content, as I watched the huge glowing sphere move slowly
across the sky. But every time I glanced up, wanting to observe
its mysterious craters some 384,400 kilometres distant, my
balance became shaky. Eventually its reflected light would
finally fade or merge into the day, leaving me inspired and
eager for its return.
Go to - http://terrybolland.com/the-murray-river-from-the-source-to-the-sea/
*********************
The Blackwood
River
From near the
Source to the Sea - 460kms - Solo
I approached the concrete crossing
slowly and carefully, readying to beach my self on the concrete
road. My bow hit the concrete and stopped. The kayak then
refused to climb onto the slab due to its heavy weight. Within
a split second the current had pushed the kayak sideways,
capsized me and before I could think how great my life had
been, I was sucked inside the culvert and completely helpless.
The culvert was dark and full of water, I sensed no air pockets,
I remember thinking, “what if there’s bars or logs
at the end of the pipe, I could end up like grated cheese”.
I had been sucked out of the kayak, like a crumb being sucked
down a plug hole without any awareness of it happening.
Although I could have been experiencing
a near death experience I was calm, my journey, sliding through
the pipe into the abyss felt surreal. There was no sense of
panic, I just let myself go, and thinking if death was near
it was quite a nice feeling. Suddenly I shot out of the tube
into daylight, bumped over a cluster of rocks and into a pool
that washed me downstream with the current. It was like taking
a ride on one of the water slides at Adventure World, and
I didn’t have to pay! Now I knew what novices went through
after each capsize, and it really didn’t feel good. It
had been a long time since I had capsized in white water so
it took me by surprise and after that experience, I hope it
never happens to me again for another 15 years.
Go to - http://terrybolland.com/blackwood-descent/
*********************
The Zuytdorp
Cliffs
A 205km paddle
along the cliffs - 172kms without landing
John Dinucci, Tel
Williams & Terry Bolland
After kayaking 600 kilometres from Perth,
averaging 60kms a day we pulled in to Kalbarri after having
a great days paddle along a stunning cliff line. It was in
Kalbarri that we were to have a two day rest to prepare for
one of the longest, wildest nights that we would ever encounter.
The trip up the coast had been full of excitement, but it
was the next section along the Zuytdorp Cliffs that we had
all been longing for.
At 6.30pm and 82 kms behind us we took
the opportunity to attach cylume light sticks, strobe lights
and torches to our heads. This proved to be a difficult task
in the rough conditions. As we moved off again the sun was
setting on the horizon, but we gave it little attention. Normally
we would have been oohing and aahing and saying how beautiful
it was, how lucky we are, and isn’t it great to be out
here in the wild. Tonight we were really in the wild with
a 3 metre swell and 3 metre waves and lots of rogue waves
trying to capsize us so somehow the sunset wasn’t our
main focus. We reached the halfway mark, so the closest safe
heaven was 85 kms away. The cliffs prevented us from landing
before then. Within two hours we would be passing Womerangee
Hill (287m), and the highest point of the cliff line (260m),
but unfortunately also by then it would be dark and we would
only be able to see the cliff outline in the moonlight which
would later disappear.
Go to -
http://terrybolland.com/zuytdorp-cliffs/ [ http://terrybolland.com/zuytdorp-cliffs/ ]
*********************
The Mississippi
River
From the Source
to the Sea - 4000kms 35 days - Solo
Within metres I was out of sight of
Lake Itasca my starting point, slicing through the shallow
clear water and around the first corner. I ducked under two
footbridges and startled a young deer drinking from the stream.
Minutes later a road intersected the river and the water fed
through a narrow culvert. The banks were impenetrable so unwilling
to portage I decided to risk the culvert. It was too small
to paddle through, so I leapt out of the kayak and started
pushing. Crouching low, I started my descent through the tube
and then noticed the light at the end and a worrying small
rapid beyond it. But it was too late to turn back; the grade
steepened, the water accelerated and I lost all footing on
the slimy bottom. I held onto the kayak's stern, dragged along
completely out of control, shot out of the culvert and splashed
into the rapid.
Before me were miles of narrow channels,
beaver dams, log jams, swamps, rocky rapids and leaches and
mosquitoes that latched onto me whenever I portaged. At times
the current flowed freely around boulders but then the river
widened into swamps with a multitude of narrow channels that
often led nowhere. I periodically became wedged between bushes,
reeds and narrow bends which were too sharp and impossible
to portage because of the soggy swamp. Spiders and leaches
dropped from the overhanging reeds and foliage into the boat.
I could feel them crawling all over me. The river continued
to widen, zig zag, meander and then narrow again. Reeds metres
high often blocked all passages and left me guessing as to
how I was going to fight my way through them. It was a frustrating
time, often I was working hard but getting nowhere.
This was the first day
of my 4000km journey down the Mississipi River.... I averaged
114kms a day for 35 days.
Go to -
http://terrybolland.com/about/11-2/ [ http://terrybolland.com/about/11-2/ ]
*********************
Kimberley Kayaking
Around the King
Sound
Gary Nixon, Pam Riordan.
Don Kensit, John Dinucci, Tel Williams & Terry Bolland
It was the day of the highest spring
tides in the year and the tides in the Kimberley are the second
highest in the world attaining more than ten metres in height
and current speeds not seen anywhere else in Australia. Crossing
the King Sound would be like ferry gliding across a swift
river, 13kms wide.
We had banked on leaving by 6.30am,
but the current was so fast and the water so turbulent that
it was impossible to leave our island making us prisoners
for a while. We sat in an eddy and as we were eager to leave
I paddled into the fast current to see if we could make headway.
It was too wild so I ferried back into the eddy and sat with
the others. I waited for a few more minutes and paddled back
into the current again but it was still too powerful. If we
tried to escape the island at this time we would probably
be washed into the islands and rocky reefs close by, so we
waited longer. On the third time out, the current had eased
to a speed that I thought was safe enough to leave. I had
to be sure though, because ahead we had 13 kilometres of swift
currents, waves, standing waves and overfalls to endure before
we reached the safety of East Roe Island.
Go to -
http://terrybolland.com/kimberley-kayak-expedition-6/ [ http://terrybolland.com/kimberley-kayak-expedition-6/ ]
*********************
Geraldton to
Carnarvon
Kayaking &
Backpacking - 610km - Solo
I glanced up squinting
tiredly through my salt encrusted eyes. I focussed momentarily
on a reef that had just appeared. I glanced again and the
reef had gone. Jolted by the surprise I lifted my posture
and checked around me more thoroughly. Suddenly a whale rose
like a submarine, lifting water that then spilled off its
back and into the ocean. The huge whale crashed down leaving
the ocean stirred and confused. Spellbound and surprised,
I just couldn’t believe my luck, what a spectacle! Moments
passed before the whale disappeared and the sea calmed. I
scanned all around me wondering with some apprehension where
the whale might surface again.
Go to - http://terrybolland.com/cliffs-reefs-and-remote-islands/
*********************
Yukon River
Quest
Yukon Race 750kms
- Entire Yukon River Challenge 3300kms
Ed Van-eer & Terry
Bolland
We turned a corner and
there it was. We could hear the roar and see the water funnel
down the channels between the high cliffs. Two towering cliffs,
one from an island the other from the right shore, channelled
the water into a funnel. We looked beyond it to see the water
join together and create large standing waves to bound downstream
and then swirl and bounce into a frenzy. The power in the
water looked awesome.
I focussed beyond Ed's shoulders and
suggested that we keep the boat straight, don't change paddling
sides, follow the tongue and try to miss the highest waves.
We suddenly slipped down the drop at a great speed following
the large volume of water to the base of the large V. The
rapid was actually bigger than it looked from the top and
when we hit the collection of big waves I just concentrated
in getting through. No fancy tricks. Ed's end of the canoe
sky rocketed as it bounced off the first big wave. I could
tell from the yell he gave that he loved the thrill and the
experience. Wow! "This rapid is not to be messed with,
just keep the canoe straight Terry", I said to myself.
What a ride! Although the rapid wasn't technical, the waves
were big. One slip up and we could capsize. How would I live
it down if we did?
*********************
Alaska's Glaciers
& Mountains
Between Fire and Ripple
Coves I landed on a rock ledge to have a pee and stretch my
legs. The tide was high and the water calm. I climbed out,
letting the boat float next to the ledge and peed. Suddenly
a small waved lapped up the ledge and sucked the kayak away.
Instantly I stopped all proceedings and attempted to grab
the kayak. It was less than a metre away and sitting just
out of my reach. With my paddle being in the boat I couldn't
use it to help bring the kayak back. I waited for the next
swell to push it back towards me, but it didn't and the kayak
was drawn further away. The ocean was freezing, but with no
option or hesitation, I leapt in to retrieve it. The cold
was intense and as quick as you could say "Jack Robinson"
I was back on the ledge with kayak in hand. Phew that was
a close thing! I had never done such a stupid thing before.
Good can come from a near disaster though as I woke up and
felt much fresher and raring to paddle on to warm up.
I could hear the glacier cracking, thundering and shedding
ice from afar. It looked a stone's throw away but again it
was a never-ending paddle to reach it. I was tiring; I wasn't
as comfortable in my hired boat. When I reached the glacier
I sat, watched and listened to the rumble, the cracks and
the thundering. Ice was falling at regular intervals, mostly
small but then a huge block from the face started to cascade.
My camera was within reach so I started clicking. The ice
continued to fall, so I changed cameras and took more pictures.
Then I realised the avalanche of ice had hit the water and
created a tidal wave that was heading my way. Although I was
some distance from the glacier face my heart skipped a little
as I realised the wave was bearing down on me. I put my camera
away and readied myself for a brace. I had nothing to fear
though, by the time the wave had reached me it had dissipated
enough to have little effect on my stability.
*********************
Across Canada
3800kms - 2600kms
Solo
1200kms with Alaine Davin
& Leonie Cockman
Not only did the river
rise several metres in the night and was now swollen, there
were a large number of huge trees, large logs and debris floating
by. It was like a highway for floating trees. As soon as I
paddled away from the bank and into the main flow I was joined
by a large number of big trees, lots of branches and a multitude
of smaller pieces of timber. It was just an amazing sight.
Some of the trees were going faster than I was. They must
have been in a faster current or just fitter than me. The
water was running quick, real quick and at the bends, where
there were waves, standing waves, boils and swirls, the logs
were travelling even quicker. I tried skirting the bigger
waves, but it was near impossible. And I thought this section
of river was going to be easier!
I could hear the rumblings of the rapids
from a long way. It was always a sign to get ready for some
big waves, although some times the sound was created by the
water rushing through branches or the water hitting rock ledges
along the shoreline. It was still a scary sound. Moments later
I saw a mass of waves ahead with several trees bobbing up
and down. It was certainly time for me to give it my full
concentration. I managed to skirt the worst of the waves,
dodge a few trees and move around the bend into less turbulent
water where it felt much safer.
I tried to keep my distance from the
bigger logs, especially near the bank and in the shallows
as some of the trees would hit the bank and rebound dangerously.
Other trees and branches often hit the shallows then spring
up into the air like a javelin, which was quite spectacular
but deadly.
***************************
You can read
about these trips and others
by going to
my website or http://terrybolland.com/
More stories will be posted at a later stage which will include:
Around Australia - kayaking,
paddling & cycling. 24,000kms
Around America - kayaking,
paddling & cycling. 14,500kms
Race of the Week
Slalom
The C2M were the first athletes to hit
the water with Western Australian duo Robin Jeffery and Ben
Pope winning the open age group.
The C1M event followed with Victorian
favourite Christian Fabris winning the open age group in 87.86,
3.95 seconds ahead of Ian Borrows.
Robin Jeffery won a second medal of
the day in third place 0.17 seconds behind Borrows.
Ben Pope continued his excellent day
winning the U23 C1M age group ahead of Tasmanian Daniel Watkins
and Victorian Tim Anderson.
The 2015 Slalom National Talent Squad
(NTS) has been selected following results at the 2015 National
Slalom Championships in Eildon, Victoria.
Athletes will be invited to attend several
training camps and have the opportunity to nominate for the
Development tour to New Zealand in December 2015
WA accounts for 15 of the total of 33
young athletes selected to the NTS.
Please see the official announcement
attached below which outlines the athletes selected.
Congratulations to the following WA
paddlers
Go to -
http://canoe.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/2015-NTS-Slalom-team-announcement.pdf
Race of the Week
Claisebrook
Classic
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Registration is at Nelson Road at the back of Gloucester Park
(not Claisebrook inlet)
Registration 6.30 to 7.30
Distances 13km….6.6km short course…3.6 Guppies
Enter here: https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=34837
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17 January 2015
City Beach Sorrento Beach 3:30pm
Sponsored by Canoeing
Down Under
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Bay 2 Beach to 7th February 2015.
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22-Feb-15 Sunday Marathon # 4 Canning River
Race
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01-Mar-15 Sunday City Lights Long Distance
Event
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07-Mar-15 Saturday State Championships
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08-Mar-15 Sunday State Championships
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15-Mar-15 Sunday Rod Fry Memorial Race, Swan
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22-Mar-15 Sunday Bevan Dashwood Dash, Canning
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Fourth Annual Sea Kayak Symposium 2015
27th February - 7th March 2015
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03-Apr-15 Friday Marathon Champs Canberra, Easter Weekend
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12-Apr-15 Sunday Canning Classic
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