Jon and I have been paddling twice this weekend, yesterday we took the kayaks up to the top lake to have a look at the bird life on the reed and mangrove beds just beyond the airport, it was easy paddling down because the wind was behind us, but having increased considerably the journey back became more and more difficult and in the end we had to rig up a two man paddling machine that eventually got us back(knackered!) the problem seemed to be that Mikes kayak (which I was using, Mike retired injured through excess mulching and old age!) has a sort of cathedral hull which was being tossed up in the air each time a wave hit the bow this resulted in no progress at all in fact Merimbula bridge seemed to be getting smaller instead of bigger! the final result was that we both got very wet indeed, Jon in the front with his pointed bow and me behind with a rope keeping my bow close to the water, we still had to paddle like hell in order to make any progress and we finally made it but not without some cost, my little point and shoot was in my fleece pocket which was not and should have been in a dry bag! result, dead camera 2! lesson get a dry bag!
Today started perfectly, hot and humid (that's a clue!) and we took Jon's big Canadian canoe down to Blackfellers, the run out was perfect this time with the wind in our favour for getting back we were out for an hour before we looked behind us to see storm clouds building and the ominous rumbles of thunder, this time however we were in luck and arrived back at Blackfellers just as the heavans opened! the perfect paddle!

Labels: News