I've had little time to get this newsletter together this week so it won't be a big one.
It’s been an exciting week though. My week starts on a Thursday and last Thursday I joined 5 others to paddle the Avon Valley at a very high level. Friday I paddled 12kms and went to Northam for Avon registration and on Saturday I paddled the first day of the Avon Descent paddling a plastic Ace 415. On Sunday it was a day that every paddler will remember as the ride down the Avon Valley was big and a complete crash zone. I managed to get down cleanly with no spills and beat a lot of paddlers that I shouldn’t have beaten.

Monday I paddled 22 kms, cut the lawn, went to Woodbridge Pub for celebrations and visited the vet. Tuesday I paddled 24 kms, and Wednesday I went with Pam Riordan, James Earl and Giesla Cannon to paddle 37 kms from Beverley to York.
That means I have paddled 269.58 kms this week bringing my 11 week total to 2162.58 kms an average of 196 kms a week.
 

Paddle for Prostate Cancer Awareness - Do yourself a favour – Get Checked

This weekend I will be heading to Bridgetown for the
WA Wildwater Championships.

The Avon Descent
 

Darter in Distress
 

A Trip from Beverley to York
Wednesday

With Pam Riordan, James Earl and Giesla Cannon.
Pam and James, being white water instructors used to help me with my Avon Descent white water courses and trips.
 

Most of the way it was calm waters.
 

Pam going under an old bridge.
 

There were sections of trees.
 

A big guard dog.
 

at Devil's Slide

Photos John O'Sullivan

Photo John O'Sullivan.
 

Photo John O'Sullivan.
 

Photo John O'Sullivan.
 

Photo John O'Sullivan.
 

I bet this paddler had something to talk about after that.
Photo John O'Sullivan.
 

Leonie from Water Wanderers taking a shool group from Bassendean to the city.

Kimberley Kayak Expedition 6

Tuesday

We had to get up early so we could get our boats on the water before the tide went too far out. It was decided a 4.00am roll call was needed to get away by 5.30am. We nearly managed it. Water draining from the sand carved deep gullies in the beach.

We were ready and off by 5.35am executing a big ferry glide towards Mermaid Island. Instantly we drifted north-west. Wall Island was soon passed but although we were making headway we were slipping fast. Within 2 kms of Mermaid we changed tack and started ferry gliding across to Wood Islands. A reef that was exposed ran for a kilometre or two so we needed to get behind it and be out of the main current. As we ferried across we passed over a messy set of overfalls. Just as we were going okay another current started pushing us back the other way. We paddled hard towards the reef hitting currents that were opposing us. After battling to the exposed reef which was a good two metres out of the water the current changed and then eased. In the breaks in the reef water was gushing through the gaps with enormous power and much faster than we could paddle.

The tidal current was extremely strong between the islands on the highest of Spring Tides.

 

Don, Tel & Gary hiding from the swift current behind a long reef

 

Gary hiding from the swift current behind a long reef.

We sat around in the shelter of the reef waiting for the current to subside a little and then tried to fight our way through the gap. We manage to fight our way up the first section but there then was a bigger rapid. John and I had a few goes at ferry gliding up it, but it was one mass of confused currents that went everywhere. We eventually managed to work ourselves up to a beach, but when Don checked it there wasn’t enough room for all the tents with such a high tide. We waited again to let the current subside a little more before attempting to fight the current again to get to another beach. When we managed to fight our way to that beach the tide was 300 metres out so we decided to wait for it to turn and rise again.

The current was streaming in as we reached One Tree Island.

As we waited reef sharks could be seen combing the reef for a feed. When the tide reached the base of the beach we landed and started unloading. Don turned over a big rock and touched a worm which left hundreds of small spikes in his fingers. Tweezers were bought out and what couldn’t be plucked out, he just rubbed his hands in the sand.

There were few places to camp on Tree Island due to the high tide but we all managed to squeeze in. Tent erected I walked up the hill to look at the rapids that were spread right across the sound and even more scarier closer to, where several reefs and small islands were scattered.

While walking Tel had a rock break and move under his feet and he ended up having grazed legs. In the afternoon we tried fishing, I caught 3 fish and then a shark but my line snapped. Tel managed to catch a shark and Don caught 3 fish so we had a feast that night. It had been hard to get out of the burning sun, but a cool breeze cooled the evening and it was perfect.

Pam trying to take out lots of tiny spikes out of Don's hand.
 

Tree Island. A calm cove surrounded by massive tides.
 

Fish for dinner – again.
 

The string currents around Tree Island.

 

We had to cross King Sound in the morning. It wasn't going to be easy.

Bassendean Birds
 

This Spoonbill couple have now made a nest so I expect we will see some young very soon.
 

The Yellow-billed Spoonbill often nests in colonies with other water birds, such as ibises and Royal Spoonbills. It places its nest in high forks of trees over water, or in among reed beds, building a shallow, unlined platform of sticks, rushes and reeds. The male collects the nest materials while the female builds and both sexes share incubation and care of the young.

The clutch consists of two to four dull white eggs measuring 68 x 45 mm. 

The Yellow-billed Spoonbill feeds on aquatic insects and their larvae, using its bill to sweep shallow waters for prey. The spatulate bill has many vibration detectors, called papillae, on the inside of the spoon, which means the bird can feel for prey items even in murky water and can feed by day or night. Once food is caught, it lifts its bill up and lets the items slide down its throat. The Yellow-billed Spoonbill has less sensory papillae and a smaller spoon than the Royal Spoonbill, which means that it catches slower moving prey.

A pair of Shelducks at Point Reserve with their chicks.
The nest of the Australian Shelduck is usually in a large tree hollow, well lined with down. They have also been known to breed in rabbit burrows and in large hollows on cliff faces . Flightless downy young may gather in creches. Only the female Australian Shelduck incubates the eggs, while the male defends the brood territory. This species is monogamous and some birds are known to create permanent pair-bonds.

Feeding in the area that was under water this morning.
 

Darter in Distress
 

I usually see this Darter every time I pass Fishmarket Reserve, Guildford. It was a sorry sight to see that it had some sort of material in it's mouth which will prevent it from eating.
 

It was too far up the tree for me to catch it so I rang the Seabird Rescue Group.
 

I pushed this fridge onto the Bayswater boat ramp the other day.

Is it the one that was in the T trees below Upper Swan Bridge.

If it is it has floated 30 kms.

Slalom Race
Next Race is Saturday 4th September
 

The water is definitely flowing so clear yourschedule and join us for an exciting weekend ofpaddling at our annual Walyunga Training Camp on September 18th - 19th.
The camp is open to all level of paddlers, from juniors (who have had some previous experience on whitewater) right through to our elite and more mature paddlers. We are even catering for adults who are wanting to learn to paddle on moving water or are feeling a little rusty and wanting to refresh their skills.
Camp fees cover all sessions over both days with our exciting guest coaches, lunch on Sunday plus Andy's famous fruit toast served over the whole weekend!
For more info please speak to Beck Florisson. Registrations open soon.