Enjoy the CDU Newsletter
Published: Wed, 10/19/16
520
14th October 2016
Message Bank
I used to get asked, "what do you think about on your
long trips". It's usually a hard question to answer.
I mean I could have been paddling 12 hours a day, every day
for 3 months. That's a lot of thinking. This morning however,
on a much shorter paddle up to Success Hill to check out the
kingfisher that's usually there, I got thinking about Sandy
Robson on the way back. I look at myself and think, yea I've
been out there and done some cool things and been chased by
crocodiles and sharks etc, but Sandy's experiences on her
paddle from Germany to Australia (Saibai Island) retracing
Oskar Speck's amazing journey is so out there it's even hard
for me to imagine what she has been going through.
If you have read some of her latest posts you will know she
is nearly home and although she has been having it pretty
hard time paddling Papua New Guinea, this week has been much
harder. Sandy's courage portrays extreme fortitude, her determination
is out of this world and her passion and love she has for
the people she meets is truly inspiring.
Below are a couple of snippets from Sandy's diary entries;
Sandy's diary reads ..... I departed
Kerema, the seas were big out the back of the river mouth.
The current was pushing me out faster than I liked and it
was hard to avoid those big breakers at the back. Eventually
one nailed me! I had a swim. I got back in, boat full of water,
I was pumping it out, more waves were threatening to break
but the current pushed me to safety as I pumped out my whole
cockpit. Read more below or take a look at her facebook page
or website.
Sandy's diary reads..... Soon
I got endo'd by a massive wave and then another. I had a huge
swim in over the sand banks in the surf. My hat went over
my face and freaked me under water, I ripped it off and had
it in my hand a while, but I was also trying to retain cargo
carried in my cockpit and hold the paddle and kayak as waves
thrust me toward shore. I did a self rescue, got in the boat,
needed to bail fast between waves, my lunch dry bag seemed
great. I ditched what was in it and was using the bag to bucket
out the cockpit but got smashed again by a set. Swimming was
easier! something touched my foot, twice, was it a croc? No
it's the bottom, I could stand in some places.
Sandy has faced everything on her journey, her
book and lectures are going to one of the most interesting
paddle adventures ever done.
Sandy with some of her friends she has met
along the way
Oskar Speck
Oskar Speck with canoeists from PNG gulf in
1939.
I was just happy to finish the Classic Paddle
(Perth to Fremantle) race! The conditions were pretty testing
in parts.
Photo Jane Dooley
The line up at the Collie Adventure Race.
Photo Jane Dooley
A very strange looking boat cruising the Swan
River
*************************
Don't forget
Bevan Dashwood Dash
this Sunday
Sunday 23rd October 2016 - Kent St Weir
Sponsored by "Canoeing Down Under"
Get your entry in. It's a great race.
Late Registrations on day of competition incurs a late fee
of $5
Classes set on Thursday evening prior to Event
Enter here:
http://slalomwa.canoe.org.au/2016/09/22/bevan-dashwood-dash-sunday-23rd-october-2016-kent-st-weir/
*************************************
Indian Ocean Paddlers Downwind
Race
22nd October
Race 2, sponsored by Vaikobi, is comin' at
ya this Saturday.
Relax - its a only a 'quick dash' from Swanbourne
to Sorrento. Piece of cake.
Training & Courses
Monday Night Training
is on.
Hinds Reserve
Garrett Road Bridge
5.45pm
*******************
Saturday Morning Fitness Training
7.15am for a 7.30am start
Sandy Beach Reserve, West Road,
Bassendean
*******************
Did you know that paddlers in NSWs have to
wear a PFD when paddling alone or at night.
If you are going off-shore
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Stories
Perth to Fremantle
2016
Classic Paddle
It had been another wet, windy Saturday, just like the Saturday
before and many other Saturdays this winter. Sunday was going
to be better but there was still going to be strong winds,
not the best for paddling.
When I woke up and looked at the river it appeared quite calm
but minutes later a squall came through and conditions soon
changed. I have every Epic ski and kayak model in my garage
to choose from but I thought the V10 should be fine as I'm
sure the forecast was for the wind to decrease. Luke who was
staying with me and who paddled the Collie Race the day before
chose the V14. He was very confident and wanted the fastest
ski.
The wind was still howling when we reached the start point.
Luke's mum Jane was our support so for once I didn't have
to do a car shuffle. With limited parking at South Perth boat
ramp, where the boat drop off and registration was paddlers
had to unload and go and find a parking space the other side
of the freeway in South Perth. Before Luke and I got everything
out of the car including our paddling clothes an official
told Jane to move out. We ended up chasing the car towards
South Perth. After several hundred metres she returned, but
didn't see us on the footpath waving so we chased her back
to the boat ramp where we were able to get changed. It wasn't
the best place to have a start of a race but with work being
done to the usual registration and parking spot there was
few alternatives. This race used to have over 300 boats in
it, today there were only 100. I wonder where have all the
paddlers gone?
Only 100 boats took part
this year
All talk was on the rough
conditions. A stand-up paddler hit the water and had a practice
paddle. We watched him battle the wind and get no-where, just
getting thrown around. We all doubted if he would start. I
watched on as an experienced ski paddler had to do a few sneaky
support strokes to stop going over. The conditions out there
must have been worse than it looked.
It doesn't look very rough in the picture but it was.
There was a real chill
in the air but some of the females, not sure if they were
dragon boaters, out-riggers or surf boats, were dressed in
bikini bottoms and rash tops. They were either expecting to
go sunbathing or swimming. In contrast I had a thermal vest,
a thermal top, a short sleeve cag and my PFD as well as long
paddling pants and booties.
There were probably no real beginners entering the race today,
but there were a lot of intermediate paddlers giving it a
go. Most of our group were wearing PFDs but the majority of
other paddlers weren't. The experienced surf/downwind paddlers
were used to paddling without PFDs as most were super confident
and really good swimmers but in open water like today, for
the sake of safety everyone should have been wearing them.
The Surf Boats, Outriggers and Dragon Boaters started to launch
followed by the paddlers. Luke and I carried down our skis
jumped on and off we went, Luke telling me he forgot to change
the foot pedals and they were too far away so he returned
to the beach. Moments later I noticed Rob had capsized and
he was standing close to shore holding his ski. The next thing
I knew a wave had capsized me and I too was in the water.By
the time I came up my ski was skimming across the water towards
shore at a pretty quick pace. Oh shit, why didn't I remember
to bring my leg leash! So now my ski was not drifting away
it was motoring away from me and with paddle in hand trying
to swim, it was difficult to make headway and catch it.
A ski paddler tried to slow it down, but had to leave it to
look after himself. Just before I could stand up John Wilkie
and Darryl Long came along side. It was the first time that
I had ever fallen off a ski so for them to see me swimming
like a drown rat, floundering around and trying to catch my
boat was quite embarrassing. Luckily for me my ski headed
towards Rob who was standing about 6 metres from the rocky
shore and he caught it. I hope I said thanks as I retrieved
it from him. The wind and waves that were continually lapping
made it quite difficult to mount even in shallow water. We
both tried pointing our skis into the wind to make it easier
to get on and paddle away. I was soon on and paddling towards
the start.
After a bit of a warm up
I headed to the start line. It was chaotic as the wind was
blowing strongly and the water was just extremely messy. A
boat was anchored partly across the river forming the start
line and all the paddlers were trying to squeeze in between.
Because of the congestion and the wind pushing us, I asked
if we could go to the other side but the reply was a big no.
We still had minutes to go and it was a nightmare trying to
avoid other paddlers and keep the ski heading in the right
direction. We were all crammed in like cattle in a stockyard
which wouldn't have been a problem on a calm day but it was
far from calm today.
The hooter sounded and we were away. It was just amazing to
watch the top guys shoot off like rockets as if the water
was flat calm. They were good, but most I suppose have spent
their whole lives paddling on the ocean and the conditions
today were easy for them. The wind waves and wash was quite
crazy and on reflection, after paddling only a few hundred
metres, I thought I was quite crazy paddling these conditions
on a V10 when I had a V10 Sport and V8Pro at home. I have
been in much worse conditions in a sea kayak and loved it
and still do but I must admit I was feeling a lot more vulnerable
sitting on a ski.
The start of the singles.
Photo Jane Dooley
The start was a bit choppy.
Luke's ski about to take off. Photo Jane Dooley
Instead of heading directly
behind the rest of the boats I thought I would head more to
the right to keep away from their wash and hopefully get some
shelter earlier from Crawley Bay. I could see another paddler
ahead who had the same idea but he was motoring at a good
speed and I was only cruising and making sure that I didn't
go over and have a swim. One swim was enough to dent my pride,
I didn't want another. Normally on flatwater I would love
a slippery seat, but in these conditions it wasn't ideal and
having a backside that was much smaller than the seat pan
I was certainly slipping around more than I wanted.
Not long into the paddle I looked over to my left and saw
a dragon boat and all its crew capsized. It was going to be
a difficult rescue. How do you get 20 paddlers in a small
boat and how do you rescue a long heavy dragon boat full of
water? I continued on and a little further another dragon
boat was capsized. Well the rescue boats were going to be
busy today. So now there were about 40 paddlers in the water
and I don't think any of them were wearing PFDs and they certainly
didn't have a lot of clothing on. (Five ambulances attended
them for hypothermia once they got ashore. They even got on
the news.)
With the rescue crews now taken up with the dragon boaters
it wasn't a good time for anyone else to capsize and need
rescuing. I struggled on, it was only about 2.7kms to Pelican
Point where it should get calmer but it seemed to take for
ever. There was no form or pattern to the waves so it was
hard to get into a rhythm. By the 2km mark I had lost so much
time on the rest of the field I didn't really mind what position
I came as long as I got there. It wasn't until I really got
close to Pelican Point that the water calmed a bit and I was
actually able to paddle at a speed I was happy with. That
first section had tested my resolve and although I had been
in a lot more difficult conditions in lakes and oceans I had
been in a more stable kayak and was able to brace myself inside
the craft and have fun. However paddling a ski that was just
a little too frisky for me in these testing conditions couldn't
be called fun, but it was certainly an experience I will never
forget.
Unbeknown to me, several paddlers who had paddled to the start
line decided not to paddle and went home while several other
paddlers, paddled a few kilometres and pulled out. Altogether
29 boats either didn't start or didn't finish.
To my delight there were still a few boats behind me when
I reached the sandbar. Then I saw the double of Alan Moreby
and Steve Coffee pass in front of me and then head to the
beach. I thought they were being sensible and giving up and
going home, but instead they were emptying out. I was happy
at least I passed one boat. I was even happier when the water
calmed and I could paddle at my best. Unfortunately the calm
didn't last long.
Soon after I met up with young Siobhan Martin who had taken
a more direct route and to my delight I managed to cross the
sandbar ahead of her although she did manage to keep on my
tail for a while but must have dropped off in the choppy water
further on. Then I concentrated on catching and passing the
two young outrigger pair of Baily Annear and Beau Haynes who
were just ahead. I was lonely out there but at least they
had each other to talk about the experience with.
Wayne Martin passes outriggers
and a dragon boat at the portage. Photo Jane Dooley
Luke Dooley had no troubles
in the choppy water. Photo Jane Dooley
Dave and Byron Martin
at the portage. Photo Jane Dooley
Young Byron carries the
paddles his dad carries the ski. Photo Jane Dooley
Sam Pilton. Photo Jane Dooley
Peter Liddle. Photo Jane
Dooley
The calm conditions of
the sandbar soon dissipated and the rougher conditions returned
but not as bad as before and the next thing I saw was Alan
and Steve motoring past me in their K2 looking very stable
and confident. I think they took a wide berth so I couldn't
wash hang them. Around Nedlands Yacht Club it got really bouncy,
probably due to the water rebounding off the walls and the
water was still very energetic after the yacht club, which
one paddler found out as he capsized a few hundred metres
ahead and over to my left. Two paddlers went to his aid, his
brother and I think Lloyd Noel. Minutes later Lloyd, motored
passed me on the left. So did a big power boat which steamed
towards Fremantle creating a good wash which became an additional
rough piece of water. For the last few kilometres I had been
chasing a green PRS which I was slowly gaining on but I couldn't
catch it before the Point Walter sandbar where water conditions
were much better. I really needed to pass someone so I could
feel less of a failure.
A dragon boat that didn't capsize. Photo Jane Dooley
Paul Devonport did extremley
well in an Epic V8. Photo Jane Dooley
Surf boat. Photo Jane Dooley
Reaching the sandbar, Jane
Dooley was taking photos. She said Luke was way ahead, in
fact he would have finished by now and have his feet up and
wondering what had kept me. Don't you hate it when the juniors
not long out of nappies leave you for dead! But today there
were a big range of paddlers leaving me for dead. I tried
not being too emotional about the fact, I will get them back
one day.
Coming up to the Point Walter sand spit. Photo Jane Dooley
After the portage and in
the narrower river the wind was still strong but the water
was calmer. Lloyd was now several hundred metres ahead and
the green PRS was just ahead. I eventually passed Jonathan
Hatfield in the PRS which created a high point of the day.
Yes, I have passed someone! I felt like partying but if I
did Jonathan would pass me again so I kept paddling.
The field was extremely spread where I was. I could only see
three boats ahead, the majority would be having their hot
dog and drinks but I didn't care just paddling that last section
to the finish was the reward I wanted and there were still
a few hot dogs left.
John Wilkie who won the
race averaged 11.1kms, Travis England first vet 35 averaged
10.7, Ramon Anderson first vet 45 (yes he is getting old also)
10.1, Jamie Roberts first women averaged 9.7km, Kim Bingham
first 55 averaged 9.2, Luke Dooley 16 averaged 9.1kms.
Daryl Long. 1st in the K1. Photo Jane Dooley
I have paddled this race
many times before and it is the roughest I had paddled it.
In the old days Canoe WA (ACAWA as it was back then) used
to run the race from Fremantle to Perth which a lot of paddlers
would have loved to have done today. The majority of paddlers
back then used to be kayakers and the race eventually folded
when organisers feared for paddlers' safety. A capsized kayak
is more of a liability than a capsized ski and getting enough
volunteers to man safety boats was almost impossible. There
are only a handful of kayak paddlers paddle the race now,
most paddle a ski.
Today the organisers really had their hands full. It was if
the moon, the sun, the stars and every planet came together
creating a very testing race for organisers and paddlers,
yet they kept their cool and did a great job considering the
trying circumstances.
The race and its conditions was a learning experience for
many intermediate paddlers.
See...young Luke does
tire
*****************************
Sandy Doing
It Tough
What happened to me in
the last 8 days ? 8oct (part 1): I departed Kerema, the seas
were big out the back of the river mouth. The current was
pushing me out faster than I liked and it was hard to avoid
those big breakers at the back. Eventually one nailed me!
I had a swim. I got back in, boat full of water, I was pumping
it out, more waves were threatening to break but the current
pushed me to safety as I pumped out my whole cockpit. I didn't
lose my cup of tea.... How I don't know.
Sandy is so close but
it's not going to be an easy last few days
What happened to me in
the last 8 days ? 8oct (part 2): As I paddled away from my
capsize at Kerema River mouth I wondered how much water had
leaked past my dodgy bulkheads. I used my Tek towel to soak
up remaining water in the cockpit quickly. At 8am I got a
late incoming weather text that further out at sea the winds
were 20-25knots. (This was network error that the message
came through late, not the fault of the weather man sending
it). Inshore it was less than 20knots, but the fetch slowly
increased the swell as the day proceeded and winds built up.
I had a fast run under sail from Kerema to the Vailala River.
My sail up haul line kept slipping in the cleat so I tied
a slip knot in the line to keep it up. As I got closer my
support dinghy staff started yelling at me that the weather
was no good, they seemed annoyed and afraid. Bakia put on
2 life jackets! They thought I intended to go on further.
I reassured them I wanted to land here at Vailala too. I went
to put the sail down, the slip knot would not slip! It clamped
tight. I tried a while then gave up and cut the cord with
my rescue knife. The waves over the sand banks created by
the river were massive. It was hard to find the line in. My
dinghy skipper thought he knew the route but it wasn't clear
to me in the kayak. I tried to follow where they went, finding
the lowest waves to surf in. The dinghy could move position
in the surf fast. I could not. Soon I got endo'd by a massive
wave and then another. I had a huge swim in over the sand
banks in the surf. My hat went over my face and freaked me
under water, I ripped it off and had it in my hand a while,
but I was also trying to retain cargo carried in my cockpit
and hold the paddle and kayak as waves thrust me toward shore.
I did a self rescue, got in the boat, needed to bail fast
between waves, my lunch dry bag seemed great. I ditched what
was in it and was using the bag to bucket out the cockpit
but got smashed again by a set. Swimming was easier!something
touched my foot, twice, was it a croc? No it's the bottom,
I could stand in some places. The dinghy came back to me.
One guy got in the water and assisted me. I got in the swamped
boat and paddled it to shore. Everything in every hatch was
soaked through by this time, except my electronics bag and
my Pelican case. One dry bag of clothes and my passport also
survived unharmed. I had now lost one wetsuit bootie, my Tek
towel, my hat, my sunglasses, my bailer, my sponge and my
ditched lunch items. My camera had water inside. Amazingly
I still had the cup of tea, my water bag and my phone in the
aquapac was dry. My rudder was Also not damaged. The villagers
at Vailala West took me in and helped in the process of drying
everything out. Huge thanks to Reverend Jordan and family,
Helen Maea and my support crew from Sport Fishing PNG. They
were all great at that tough time! Note to self! Strong south
easterlies and River mouth shoals may be treacherous on this
coast. Avoiding big wind days now.
Oct 14. There is only so much
a person can take, stiffening of your jaw to steel yourself
against what is happening, stress, putting walls up in your
mind to block what is happening like an abused child does.
I was finding everything tough. I was having trouble to see
the way forward. Nobody seemed to be able to tell me a way
forward through Baimuru River mouth and Kikori Delta. I had
a lot of warnings but no solutions. I woke up with all of
this to face as well as the crew issues. I was feeling like
I might just give up. Just get on the dinghy and get it over
with. I couldn't handle more angst. I cried because I was
sad the journey had become this way. Outside my tent I heard
the calm voice of the pastor reassuring me, "don't cry,
you are almost there, you just have a short distance to go,
you can do it". I told him that I was not sure in myself
any more that I could do this part. When I got up to face
the day, the crew member who had yesterday lost the plot,
he told me the three of them, he, his brother and the skipper
were all going to go back (via Kerema) and that the Kapai
boys would bring back the dinghy and I could get myself a
new crew from here. We had the painful process of check listing
the cargo, from which I realised what was missing, lost or
stolen from items I had bought in Port Moresby. Half way through
the process of checking things he snapped once again. Later
I realised he was actually concealing that he was stealing
the two crew tents when he did that. Several items missing
he blamed on the sick skipper who went off with TB to the
doctors. I'll never know the whole truth. Life for these guys
in PNG is really tough, a certain amount of theft seems to
be somehow just accepted, "it's PNG, they are like that".
Hmmm. The dinghy left. The skipper before departure confided
he was coming back to guide me, he just wasn't letting these
boys know it. I would move on with him and 2 Kapai crew. ....
At 6.15pm they had not returned with the dinghy. It got dark.
The pastor and his wife worried about their son's life went
out at 8pm and searched by canoe in the dark on the sand bars.
The dinghy was not found. They did not return. I went to sleep
wondering what would happen next...
Oct 15th (part 1).
I woke up early. I could hear the small brother of one of
the missing Kapai guys singing, "It's gonna be alright,
it's gonna be alright, it's gonna be alright...". I was
still worried what happened to the dinghy and crew. They had
not returned in the night. There is no phone signal in the
village. You must go by canoe or dinghy to the beach on the
point to get a tiny tiny signal by which you can send SMS
but no phone calls work. I didn't go there in the night as
I was worried about crocodiles even though the locals said
there wasn't any. I ate some breakfast quickly and then got
in my kayak on the high tide waters to paddle to the phone
place. I sms'd to Jia An Ng in the office to say the dinghy
is missing and can he please report it to the police. In my
mind I am going through scenarios like a fight between the
Kapai and Daru boys, the boat getting stolen in Kerema, the
boat being held up, a capsize in big waves, the skipper from
Vailala running away...etc etc. I was starting to compose
a sorry SMS to Ela Motors (the dinghy sponsor) when the dinghy
emerged on the horizon. Mike who had now paddled over in his
canoe counted the boys on board. We still had all three Kapai
boys that went and the Vailala skipper. HURRAY! They said
the Daru crew would not allow them to depart Kerema until
the PMV (bus) came and then the waves were big so they just
overnighted at Vailala and came early morning. None of them
had thought to let us know. We were Back on track....
Oct 15th (part 2):
So I had a support boat again (yay) and 3 crew, Fiamai from
Vailala West (a very experienced skipper) and two young crew
from Kapai, Mike and Atta. They are nice friendly guys with
good personality and skill for the mission. Atta recently
got angry at someone who moved his solar panels without asking.
The young guy who he got mad at had been bitten on the leg
by a dog, but that fella's father thought Atta had injured
him, so he retaliated by spearing Atta in the leg. Remind
me not to pick any fights with these guys! They are tough
and more important, they know the waterways very well. We
had to pick up resupply of fuel and rations from Baimuru so
that the journey could continue. The sea forecast looked too
rough for me to paddle and I was uncertain of the safety and
distance for trying to paddle in the backwaters. The route
we would take wasn't even on any maps. It turned out to be
a good day. I put my kayak on the dinghy and portaged to Baimuru.
Our new team was forming, I got to reccy the area and get
a better feel for it. Once at Baimuru I realised that I wasn't
getting the right advice from the locals up to now. I could
get through Kikori Delta. They just didn't understand what
a kayak and what I can do. Everywhere we went by dinghy was
routes I could have paddled. There were also many local canoes
out there. I had my answer. I would find the way through.
If the sea is rough I will find backwater routes and get the
dinghy close to me watching out for crocs. Maybe I can do
it in 10 days to Daru. I decided to take a planning day at
Baimuru to pick up forecasts. There will be no phone signal
after here for 4-5days.
Race of the Week
To Dine Alone
It was such a great day, probably the second best day this
spring. It had been a warm 26 degree day a little cooler than
the day before which was 32 degrees. It was at 5.00pm and
a perfect temperature to be outside with just a tea shirt
eating dinner on the balcony. I had just taken Nikky for a
walk around Sandy Beach and seen paddlers Barbara and Bradley
take advantage of the beautiful evening. I envied them and
was ready to get on the water as well but once back at home
I instead decided to cook an early dinner and eat it on the
balcony and take in the beautiful evening from there which
has been hard to do over winter.
I decided to cook Moroccan
Spice Chicken with Rice, a recipe Alaine had sent to me. I
must admit I did so little cooking when I was working full
time, but now I try to cook more often and with Jenny away
I can experiment and if it doesn't taste good it doesn't matter.
With winter and the dark evenings over for a few months I
could see that cooking from our kitchen in the day light was
going to be such a magical experience. With our open plan
living kitchen area and 11 metres of windows looking straight
out onto the river, the view is quite sensational , probably
not as good as a high mountain scene, or an ocean scene full
of islands, but for me with most of my life spent on a river,
it was perfect.
There was always something happening on the river or on the
two paths that run beside it. It's not just the beauty of
the trees, the glistening water or the changes in the sky,
it was also the activity the river creates.
I love the colours the sun creates on the trees and vegetation
in that last hour of daylight when the light is so sharp and
crisp and the sky has that orangey, purple, blue tinge colour.
Tonight there was silence, just the birds chattering away
and a faint hum of a distant plane. Paddlers, walkers and
cyclists along the two paths were enjoying the spring weather.
Unfortunately our stove
faces away from the view, a mirror is really needed to reflect
it, but when I prepared the ingredients on the island bench
I could see everything outside. I peeled and sliced an onion
as two red K1s from the Bayswater Club paddled by. My eyes
watered for a while from the onion but dried when I started
to slice the chicken, putting aside a few bits for Nikki.
My next move was to sauté the onion in a frypan, add
the spice and garlic and throw in the chicken. When the onion
and chicken were ready I transferred them into a pot and added
a tin of apricot nectar. A few walkers went by and the sun
rays deepened in colour on the leaves and a shadow started
creeping up the tree trunks. I could see paddlers from the
side window racing around Ron Courtney Island. For a moment
I wished I had been there with them but I knew there were
many other nights ahead and tonight, with Jenny away, it was
a romantic dinner for one on the balcony. I had the wine,
all I needed was some candles.
With the rice being cooked I added a tin of drained apricots
to the chicken, onion and nectar and let it stew which was
a good time to pour a glass of wine, lay the table and prepare
Nikki's dinner. I should really have had a crowd of people
join me, but tonight I would dine alone.
More paddlers, dog walkers
and cyclists passed before me all taking the opportunity to
be out on one of the nicest nights since May. We are so lucky
with the weather in Perth, even our winters are pretty good,
although this one has been rather cold and wet. Places like
England would experience very few days like today but we are
destined to have many more days like it this year. We are
not just the lucky country with the weather, look how free
we are from war, starvation and national disasters. In WA
we only have the sharks to worry about.
It was now time to serve up, place Nikkis' bowl on the balcony
and sit down to eat. The sun was still bright and high in
the trees but more shadows were created lower down as the
sun was blocked out by the buildings. To my surprise the chicken
was tender and the taste and texture of the dish was pretty
good. The Moroccan spice and the garlic added a tang, a zing
and a zest. What a success, although the presentation wasn't
the best it was definitely a dish capable of winning Master
Chef. With no judges to differ my opinion, I scored it a 9.
I should cook more I said to myself after getting a 9.
The summer nights are
going to be glorious
I drank a little wine and
checked out 3 paddlers passing by. I thought I knew most paddlers
on this section of river but I didn't recognise them. The
moon was above the trees and slowly retreating to the west.
In a few days it will be full moon which I always look forward
to. There have been so many wilderness places I have camped
alone with just the moon to gaze at, to give me thought, inspiration
and to give me light. I've even written in my diary with just
the bright moonlight shining.
I had tucked into to my big plate of food but Nikki must have
been too comfortable on her bed to give her dish a try. She
probably didn't realise how good I had cooked her pieces of
chicken but eventually she smelled the aroma and joined me.
I mixed my rice in with the rest of my dish and let the juices
seep into the grains and give it flavour. I'm usually a potato
man, but there was a beautiful tangy taste of the orient in
the rice. I didn't need conversation, I had my thoughts, my
memories and a scene in front of me and of course I had Nikki
who was back happily lying on her bed, her nose twitching
and her ears pricking up and a bit of a stare whenever a dog
would walked by. It was a peaceful evening and thankfully
Nikki doesn't bark even when a dog goes by which is great.
I watched on as two skate boarders were skating on the footpath
on the other side of the river. I have never tried skateboarding,
maybe I should.
Nikki my dinner date
My plate quickly emptied
and although I probably had more than my share I went for
seconds giving Nikki some rice to make sure she didn't feel
left out.
A solitary bird flying high was headed west. Ducks weaved
through the trees and into the river corridor joining a bunch
of white cockatoos that could be easily recognised by their
screech. When they had passed I could hear the high pitch
chirping of the Osprey pair on the island and the call of
the Rosellas as they criss-crossed the river.
How perfect was the night for everyone. Even the magpies looked
happy as they busily foraged on the ground and then flew up
to the high branches of the trees right in front of me. They
have a nest up there. A Galah starts to chew on the scars
of the biggest Marri tree 15 metres away. It's a beautiful
tree where the birds love to be, but I'm a little worried
that it has a disease as the bark is peeling and some of the
branches are dying. Several other big trees along the shores
of the river had died.
I had another sip of red wine which I thought was West Australian
wine but I noticed it was from South Australia. Never mind,
at least it was Australian and pretty tasty. I relaxed and
waited for the dark to seep in. What a night. All I need now
is a little disco music and I would be away. Roll on summer.
Race of the Week
Bevan Dashwood
Dash -
Sunday 23rd October 2016 - Kent St Weir
Sponsored by "Canoeing Down Under"
Race the scenic route along the Canning
River.
Enjoy the beautiful surrounds at Kent St Weir
There is a course for everyone;
Long Course 12km: Kent St Weir to Shelley Bridge, then to
Hester Park & back to Kent St Weir, portage at Kent St
Weir.
Short Course 6km: Kent St Weir to Shelley Bridge & return.
Slalom and Guppy Course: 3km
Bring your whole family; and support the Slalom Cafe
Complete Registration Form Below - Entry Fees - Includes Sausage
Sizzle & Drink - Extra Food will be for sale on the day
for non paddlers
Australian Canoeing Members Fees - Under 18's $15, Adults
$20
Non-Australian Canoeing Members Fees - Under 18's $25, Adults
$30
Race Number Allocation and Late Registrations are from 7:30am
- 8:15am
Race Starts 9.00am
Late Registrations on day of competition incurs a late fee
of $5
Classes set on Thursday evening prior to Event
Enter here:
http://slalomwa.canoe.org.au/2016/09/22/bevan-dashwood-dash-sunday-23rd-october-2016-kent-st-weir/
*********************
Sprint Kayak Regatta
dates for this season
Regatta 1- Saturday 8th October - Champion
Lakes Cancelled due to bad weather
Regatta 2 - Saturday 5th November - Bayswater
Regatta 3 - Saturday 3rd December - Champion Lakes
State Champs - 14th - 15th January - Champion Lakes
Regatta 4 - 26th February - Champion Lakes
*********************
Ocean Warriors
Downwind Race
Congrats to all the paddlers who got took on the challenge
of Race 1 and the overall winners Brendan Rice and Caitlin
O'Shea. The wind came to the party in the end. Apparently
some people even had fun - the evidence is in the Jenko's
race cam footage. Results are online for your dissection at
https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=83944
No time for resting on your laurels though. Race 2, sponsored
by Vaikobi, is comin' at ya this Saturday. Relax - its a only
a 'quick dash' from Swanbourne to Sorrento. Piece of cake.
The races will be wave starts with self grading into Aspiring,
Experienced and Elite categories. The usual safety kit will
be required for participants. PFD, leg leash are mandatory.
We ask that you consider wearing a bright fluoro green/pink/orange
cap to help water safety spot you out amongst the white tops!.
Race rego from 2:15pm. Please check in at least 30 minutes
before the race to confirm your attendance.
You can enter online at Webscorer or via the race link on
our website event page to enter. Use your membership number
as the discount code if you are a current member of IOP to
get the discounted race fee. Please note that the CWA membership
rego system is not linked to the webscorer race rego system.
So if you register with CWA and then go straight to the race
rego, your discount code will not be immediately available.
PM us on Facebook (@IndianOceanPaddlers) or email us at iopevents@canoe.org.au
if you have any issues.
The committee may change the course depending on the forecast
conditions closer to the day. Please check with Facebook or
our website event page for any updates to the event.
You can check out who's already entered at https://www.webscorer.com/registerlist?raceid=84046
Looking forward to doing it all again this Saturday . See
you at Swanbourne in front of the Surf club!
*********************
Races
2nd Hand Boats