Enjoy the CDU Newsletter

Published: Fri, 10/04/19

4th October 2019 CDU Newsletter 624

Terry 0417 977 330

terry@canoeingdownunder.com.au email

https://canoeingdownunder.wordpress.com/ website

https://www.facebook.com/canoeingdownunder/ facebook

https://terrybolland.wordpress.com/ trips & achievements

Well I’m back from Canada after paddling 1100kms along the west coast for 34 days with John Breed and Luke Dooley. In fact I have been back 3 weeks but I have been quite busy trying to get fit and trying to catch up with all the jobs that needed doing. Plus I have sold 7 boats since coming back.

And I have also written a brief trip report about the Canadian expedition.

Go here to read it or look at the photos.
https://terrybolland.wordpress.com/kayaking-canadas-inside-passage-2/

I’m off to China on Tuesday to take part in the World Masters Marathon Championships so I will be away for the next two weeks.

It’s quite amazing to think that after paddling 30 to 45 kilometres a day, taking 6 to 9 hours, I would be fitter than when I left. Well I might be fitter but I am not faster, in fact I was 1 ½ minutes slower over 4kms when I returned. I’m hoping by the time the race starts in China I will have my speed back.

So hopefully once I get back from China you should see a few more newsletters.

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Open Day

Tomorrow Saturday 5th, Ascot Kayak Club have an Open Day

and a few social races starting at 7.15am.

All welcome

includes breakfast

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On Sunday 6th October there is

SunSmart Classic Paddle

Starts at Deep Water Point

Finish Fraser Reserve, Fremantle

For spectators Race starts at 8.30am

Back Home

On the Swan at Ashfield

I didn't expect to paddle in fog when I returned.

It was like being back in Canada.

It was actually quite interesting paddling in fog for a couple of half days along the Canadian Coast.

Lawrence Greed and Alan Ribbons training for China.

Canada's Inside Passage

read about the expedition or look at more photos here:

https://terrybolland.wordpress.com/kayaking-canadas-inside-passage-2/

3 little bears nearly came for dinner. Photo Luke Dooley

Reaching our camp spot that day was a relief after a very hard paddle against a rough sea. We reached our camp spot and soon settled in, pitched our tents in the trees and started relaxing on the beach which was narrow and laden with washed up logs. I was at my tent when shouts came from John and Luke saying that bears were coming. As I reached the beach 3 cubs were waddling along the beach and Luke was shouting for me to find my bear bangers and bear spray. With all my gear spread on the beach, in my kayak and in my tent I wasn’t sure where they were. By the time I started searching the 3 cubs moved into the forest and headed towards our tents. Then we spotted mother bear striding slowly along the beach towards us.

Momma bear had just walked around us and is now going to swim around us.

Luke was videoing its approach and I found my camera and began taking a few shots. The bear by now was only 15-20 metres away and probably getting too close for comfort but we stood our ground taking in the special moments and not really thinking it would attack. I’m not sure what John and Luke were thinking though. Were they nervous! A few more strides and then the bear, which was a grizzly and more dangerous than the black bear, moved into the forest and around our tents. Moments later the bear appeared on the beach but the other side of us. It looked at us and then entered the water and started walking and swimming in a semi-circle around us. It was quite creepy but I didn’t feel as if we were in danger. Every few metres it would stretch its neck well out of the water and look towards us. Was this a sign to say you are in my territory, a sign it was going to attack or just a sign of checking us out because it hadn’t seen people before.

When it reached the shore it walked a few metres towards us and then walked away before slipping into the forest and around our tents again and back to the other side of us. It looked at us and then just walked off heading away from our camp. A few minutes later it had caught up with the three cubs and the family, apart from the second parent, was walking along the narrow beach and skirting and climbing over the logs away from us.

We really didn’t know if the bears would return but none of us wanted to take our tents down, load our kayaks and go on to try to find another camp so we stayed. However we did put all our food in a bag and hoist it over a tree branch well out of reach.

Watch Luke's bear videos.
Part 1 here: https://www.facebook.com/100004520896119/videos/pcb.1274511849376166/1274547226039295/?type=3&theater

Part 2
https://www.facebook.com/100004520896119/videos/pcb.1274511849376166/1274547809372570/?type=3&theater

Part 3
https://www.facebook.com/100004520896119/videos/pcb.1274511849376166/1274549082705776/?type=3&theater

We found these Black bears turning over the rocks and trying to find crabs and other food.

Mount Denman in Desolation Bay.

Slalom Training
on an early cold morning

Brodie Crawford, Stephen Lowther, Ben Pope are back home after taking part in international slalom events in Europe. They will have a short rest before getting ready for the selection races for the Olympics.

To paddle at their best many of WAs top paddlers have to move to Sydney to train on the white water course in Penrith.

Fishing Lines Are Bird Killers

I was paddling by Guildford Road Bridge and found a white cockatoo tangled in a fishing line way up in a tree. For a moment I thought it was playing like these cockatoos do but when it tried to escape it couldn't go far. The line was tangled around it leg. It was distressed as it tried flying off but I couldn't do a thing about it.

When I got home 30 minutes later I called the Wildcare. By the time a volunteer went to free it, it had some how freed itself. A happy ending.

If you see a bird like this you can phone the
Seabird Rescue 0418 952 683 or

Wildcare 9474 9055

This is what happens if a bird gets tangled in a fishing line and can't get free.

V14 SPECIAL

Less than Half Price $1900.00

The V14 is designed to be the ultimate speed demon for small to mid sized water conditions. It’s faster than V10 and V12 with an even sleeker shape and narrower waterline.

Because the bow of the V14 is much narrower compared to the rest of the Epic ski line it helps the V14 knife through wind chop & small waves.

It is an amazing flat water ski, probably the faster ski on the market and equal speed as that of a fast K1.

If you are a proficient to experienced paddler you will love the V14 on flat water but you will need to be experienced paddler to paddle it on a rough ocean.

The V14 is not for novices.

Specifications:

Length: 6.4m (21’)
Width: 42.9 cm
Depth: 32cm
Weight 15.5kg

Only One Left - What a bargain - Usually $3990.00 Special $1900.00

Vaikobi PFD

Lightweight & fully adjustable

In Hi Viz Orange -Hi Viz Yellow - Blue and Pink

$155.00

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