It's been a big week of paddling and doing more duties around the house than usual as Jenny has her arm in a sling. As you know I paddled 70 kms on my 70th birthday and since then I have paddled on average 23 kms a day bringing this weeks total to 212kms.

Most weeks from now on though I expect to be paddling 140-150 kms a week unless I go on an expedition on which I should do more.

Not only did Jenny spend 9 hours in the ED she brought home a cold which she has kindly given me. 

Not much racing went on last weekend unless you were in Albany or up at Kununurra where they raced on 2.6 metre sit-on-top kayaks through the Carlton Ranges on the Ord River. I don't think anyone got done for speeding.  

Training in the rain even the cockatoos didn't like the cold wet conditions.
 

Surrounded by pelicans.

Albany sea kayakers out for an easy paddle!!
Photos Chris Fry.
 

To The Rescue of a Darter
 

This is the tree that the Darter with the tangled line around its beak was on.
 

The Darter with the tangled line.

The day after my 70^th birthday I was back on the river. My hope was to catch the darter that I saw with the tangled fishing line around its beak the previous day, but as I have found out before that wasn’t going to be easy. I had already tried twice to catch it but failed. Today I carried a plastic bag so if I did have the luck to catch it I would have something to put its body in whilst I cut the line around its beak.

Passing Ascot Kayak Club I met Marco who wanted to do a long paddle so he joined me. When we reached the place where the darter usually perched I slowed down and it was there again on the same tree.

I managed to grab the Darter and put it under my legs.
 

I took it across the river to a beach.

I accelerated from a distance and let my kayak coast slowly towards the tree the darter was in and trying not to make any movement. There were 4 or 5 other darters in the same location and they didn’t seem afraid, they just stayed there, although they had a wary eye. Usually they fly away but I stayed still as a statue. The bow of my kayak slipped between the branches of the dead tree overhanging the water and I got incredibly close.  

Then the branches stopped the kayak from going any further, but I was close enough to raise my hand high and have a grab at the darter so I did and I got it. Within a split second I had the darter in the bottom of my kayak and under my legs which were spaced so it couldn’t get out. I held it down with one hand at first but I couldn’t paddle across the river with one hand so I let it go and just held it down with my legs.

I’m not sure what Marco thought, it did happen very quickly. I managed to get it across the river without it escaping and was able to take it out of my kayak. I grabbed the plastic bag from my kayak and attempted to put it in the bag. A man on shore with his dog asked if he could help so I got him to hold the plastic bag and I put the darter inside leaving just its long neck out of the bag. With it immobilised it was much easier to hold.

We managed to place it in a plastic bag so we had better hold on it.

 

I managed to cut the line from the top beak.

The man knew me because we worked at the same place some 40 years ago, unfortunately I didn’t remember him and like he said there weren’t many people in paddling in Perth who have done so many strange trips. Back then when he knew me I did several 3 months trips to the Kimberley.

I took out my knife and started cutting the line from the top beak, the upper mandible while the man held it. Progress was good but the line around the lower mandible was really tangled and mixed with some sort of gunk. My knife was okay, but I felt a pair of scissors, which I meant to bring along would be better. At least I brought my glasses so I could see what I was cutting. The man looked to see what he had in his car and his motor boat but he found nothing, so he offered to go to the nearest house some 200 metres away. (I forgot I had a pair of scissors in my First Aid Kit).

The man returned with a big pair of scissors which wasn’t very sharp but they worked okay and I slowly managed to cut all the line and the gunk from its lower mandible to free it from its burden. With all the line gone it will be able to feed and eat again, to be able to catch fish and have a happy life until it gets tangled in the next fishing line.

With its upper and lower mandibles free it opened its mouth showing its amazing throat. I could see why they could eat big fish. We had to be careful not to let that long neck and long beak get too close to us, a poke in the eye wouldn’t be good.

The lower beak then had to be untangled.
 

At last it is free from the fishing line.
 

It seemed appreciative!

When it was time to let it go it walked away, entered the water and then as it started to swim off lowered its body until only its long neck could be seen. A moment later it dived and after a minute it surfaced on the other side of the river, flew up onto a stump, stretched its wings and was happy to be free of its burden. It was a great sight.  

Time to let it go.
 

It waddles in the water.
 

Time to swim away.
 

It finds a log to perch on.

Pelicans Targeting Fishermen
 

A pelican stays closely around a fisherman to accept any offerings.

It also went for the bait when the man cast his line.

Another reason why pelicans get hooked with fishing line.

WA Day Weekend

Robyn Khorshid

Hi Terry

I'm back from up north and have had a great trip.  I had a great morning’s paddle on the Ord River. I did not take part in the race, but paddled another craft - much easier for such an ‘old girl’! I am sure you have paddled this in your extensive paddling career.

"Twenty four paddlers took part in the inaugural paddle race for kayaks on the Ord River upstream from Kununurra. It was for 29km, from below the dam wall to Sandy Creek.  As well as the locals there were four Perth paddlers: Rob and Julie Jenkinson, Tim (East Perth Paddlers) and Belinda Stowell who paddles SUP these days (an Olympic Gold Medalist, sailing) as well as coaching sailing at WAIS. The Perth contingent did very well, taking out the top two places, male and female. 

It is a stunning setting for a paddle race, with twisted and eroded quite massive sandstone cliffs dominating the river valley. The water was fresh and clean, coming straight out of the dam and the day pleasantly warm and sunny, normal for this time of year. There was current assistance for much of the course. I am sure they hope to hold the event again next year - the June long weekend. 

It is possible to paddle this recreationally, of course. One can spend several days going all the way to Kununurra and camping along the way or as far as you want - in Canadian canoes or kayaks.  Search for Go Wild Adventures online to follow up this idea."

The gorge.

Photos Robyn Khorshid
 

Lake Argyle to Mitchell Plateau 1983

Ten months after my 100 day solo kayak expedition from Broome to Mitchell Plateau I was ready to complete the second stage of the journey. This was about two-thirds of the distance and involved travelling in the opposite direction from Lake Argyle then Wyndham to Mitchell Plateau, to make use of the easterly winds.

Because of the crocodiles and the shark hits experienced on my previous trip, I decided to take a different kayak which would be fitted with outriggers and a sail. The sail would help to increase the speed of the much heavier kayak. The outriggers would give me extra stability just in case of croc and shark attacks, but because of the outriggers I would have to paddle with a canoe paddle which would make paddling slower if there was no wind.  Because the kayak was so heavy and I strained to lift it, I took a set of wheels which would help when I had to drag it as far as 600 metres up a beach.

My finances were still low so I had no alternative but to hitch a ride in a truck with the son of Robin Butcher, the man who gave me a lift the previous year. When we reached Karratha the old truck that we were carrying on the back of the big truck was off-loaded and a grader tractor put in its place. This meant the old truck needed a driver to get it the remaining 1826 kilometres to Fitzroy Crossing, so I drove it. The truck was pretty old, it had no power steering and a tricky gearbox that wanted to grate every time I changed gear. Once I delivered the truck at Fitzroy Crossing, I then had to get my kayak and gear 360kms to Kununurra so I paid for it to be taken to Kununurra on another truck. Although I was in a fairly remote part of Australia I tried my hand at hitch hiking and I managed to get a lift with an Aboriginal lawyer.

Paddling around Lake Argyle before paddling down the Ord River.

The plan was to have a 7 day canoe trip around Lake Argyle and then paddle down the Ord River to Kununurra to where a quarantine section of the river was off limits. Here I would to transport all my gear around to Wyndham. From Wyndham I would paddle out of the Cambridge Gulf out into the Timor Sea visiting such grandeur places like the Berkeley, King George, King Edward, and Mitchell Rivers, Kalumburu, Truscott abandoned airfield, Cape Londonderry, Cape Bougainville and all areas before Mitchell Plateau.

I managed to get my gear to Lake Argyle where the scenery was breathtakingly beautiful  with high cliffs, mountain ranges and sparkling blue water. Although the panorama was magnificent, the crystal waters glistened, the majestic red peaks probed the cloudless blue skies and kangaroos were plentiful, it lacked the tidal influences that the ocean has so I could hardly wait to start my coastal trip. The lake has a volume of water nine times that of Sydney Harbour. 

Looking down onto Lake Argyle.

 

The Carlton Ranges.

 

A low flying aircraft flying through the ranges.

When I arrived at Kununurra I had to transfer my kayak and gear to Wyndham because the river downstream of Kununurra was in quarantine and no-one was allowed to travel down it. At Wyndham I left the security of the lake and the river and had to prepare myself, my equipment and get ready for the expedition and dangers ahead. There were many dangers, crocs being the most concern. The Wyndham locals did their best to discourage me to take on the journey with stories about man-eating crocodiles. One local thought it would be good for the tourist business if I was eaten, but I had received the same encouraging comments the previous year and had survived 100 days at sea.

After informing the police of my journey they were concerned with my safety and didn’t want me to leave without taking a rifle. After being issued with a permit I bought a .22 magnum rifle. I didn’t know if it would be powerful enough to stop a crocodile though.

As I loaded my kayak at the boat ramp, not far from the meatworks, a croc watched my movements from the muddy waters. With the sailed hoisted, I passed the famous Wyndham meatworks where dozens of crocs congregated around the works spillway. I soon made progress and ahead there were 20 kilometres of mangroves, which were thickly lined on both sides of the massive Cambridge Gulf which made landing impossible. I was away heading out to the real ocean.

Launching into the Cambridge Gulf at Wyndham.
 

The kayak carried a lot of gear.

SPECIFICATIONS

Length: 21' (6.4m)
Width: 16.9" (42.9 cm)
Depth: 12.6" (32 cm)
Capacity: 300 lbs (136 kg)

Not a ski for novices

Usual Price $4000.00

Special Price $1800.00

Like the Gen 3 V10, the V9 has been optimized for downwind surfing, with increased rocker, and stability. Flatwater speed is a step up from the V8 Pro due to the slightly narrower beam. This is the boat many paddlers have been waiting their whole lives for – the one that launches you onto the swells, glides efficiently across the water, and keeps you in the “zone”.

Length: 5.79 m (19'0")
Width:  49 cm
Depth: 32 cm
Capacity: 120 kg
Ultra 12kgs
$4900.00

Club Carbon $460.00

Midwing Club Carbon construction - 737 grams; comes standard with Epic’s Length-Lock 2™ adjustable ferrule technology.

Carbon fibre blade, Green oval fibreglass shaft.

Fully adjustable length & feather.
Includes paddle bag.

The Footbridge in Ascot Waters
 

The tide was that high this morning that I couldn't paddle underneath the foot bridge. I had to duck low and pull myself under.
 

Will the footbridge be this low on Sunday morning for the race or will we have to have a slightly different course? 

15th-16th August | Northam to Bayswater

Entries for the 2021 Avon Descent are now open!

A series of three races will be conducted to determine starting grids, including the LiveLighter Paddle Challenge, LiveLighter Northam to Toodyay, and Wildwater #4 Race - Walyunga to Middle Swan.

State Flatwater Slalom Course Launch
Saturday 3rd July | Ascot Kayak Club

WA's brand new State Flatwater Slalom Course has almost finished construction, and what better way to celebrate it than an official launch!

The official opening is on Saturday 3rd July at 10am and we would like to open invites to the WA paddling community.

If you would like to attend, please email paddleacademy@paddlewa.asn.au to register and an official invitation will be emailed to you.

Sunday 27th June | 9.00am - 12.30pm | Johnson St, Mosman Park

Paddle WA's next Basic Skills Course is almost here and bookings are coming in hot! This course will be held at Johnson Street Boat Ramp in Mosman Park.

Skills 
- Knowledge of craft & equipment
- Correct paddling strokes
- Correct posture and technique
- Launching & landing your craft
- Assisting with deep water rescues

$120 (adults) or $80 (12-18 years)
Perfect for all ages & paddling abilities
All equipment provided (kayak, paddle, life jacket)
Certificate upon successful completion

IOP DownWind Race Dates

Here’s the IOP tentative 2021-22 summer race schedule.
Some of the dates are still tentative requiring DOT approval.

Winter Race Dates 7.00 am Start. 6.30 am rego.

Sat June 19^th
Sat July 24^th
Sat Aug 21^st

Summer Series:

Sept 18^th              IOP. (Swanbourne to Sorrento). (19^th backup).
Oct 16^th                Australian Masters Games. (Fremantle to Sorrento).
Oct 30^th                IOP. (Fremantle to Sorrento) (31^st backup).
Nov 14^th               Mandurah Duel.
Nov 20^th               West Coast Downwinder (21^st backup).
Nov 23^rd               SSS#1 Tuesday.
Nov 25^th               SSS#2 Thursday.
Nov 27^th               The Doctor.
Dec 1^st                   AOCRA Series Race. Skis invited on the Snapper Course (Wednesday).
Dec 2^nd                  SSS#3 Thursday.
Dec 4^th                  King of the Cut, Mandurah.
Dec 18^th                Christmas Paddle – Swanbourne to Sorrento. (19^th backup).
Jan 15^th                 Gauge Roads. (16^th Backup) (29^th & 30^th also backup).
Feb 19^th                Drummers Run. (20^th backup).
March 26^th           IOP Race TBA.

2021 Australian Masters Games

9th-16th October 2021 | Perth WA

Western Australia will be hosting the 2021 Australian Masters Games later this year, and Paddle WA is excited to announce that we will be offering events across three disciplines to compete in!

Canoe Marathon 10th & 11th October 2021
Canoe Sprint - 13th October 2021
Canoe Ocean Racing - 16th October 2021