Kayaking update
My paddling has improved! Tuesday and Thursday mornings up in the dark, at the creek just as the sun starts to show - the other mornings I ‘lie in’ till 6.00 and ride to work.
Launch off the pontoon and paddle down to the Brisbane river. Some days I venture up or down the river, dependent on tide flow, for a few hundred meters, before returning to the safety of the creek. I’m becoming more confident and stronger so my limits are expanding, not long now (as my dive instructor used to say many, many years ago) before I am out on the river. It’s OK when it’s not windy, but a bit hairy when there’s a chop on the water.
Anyway I normally turn at the river mouth and head back up the creek going as far as I can with the time I have available. Last Saturday I went as far as I think I actually can go, although with a dropping tide, I’m not entirely sure. That round trip took me about 1 hour 15.
Most mornings I see the three ‘Gods’ of the creek – usually 2 girls and the same older male. They power up and then back down being very focused and in racing mode. I use my Discman and listen to Pink Floyd or Mike Oldfield, watch for misguided ducks and concentrate on maintaining as straight a course under as much power as I can.
It’s lovely when the water is so flat it’s like glass and it’s not too cold. It’s better when it’s high tide, but still good when it’s low and the mud and mangrove roots are exposed.
Bird wise – added 2 new birds this morning – actually on the river, rather than the creek, but still within sight of the creek… Caspian Tern and Silver Gull. On Saturday I had a Brown Goshawk along the mangroves, most days I see Striated Heron and Sacred Kingfisher flitting along the river banks. Neither allow close approach, keeping well ahead of the kayak and hiding in the mangroves. There are a few feral ducks among the Blacks and this morning a flock of domestic geese had just gone for a paddle when I came around the corner. It looked like they were being herded along as they all paddled faster looking over their shoulders watching me and where I was going.
Then it’s back to the pontoon, lift the kayak out of the water, wash it down with fresh water to avoid damage to the roof of the jeep, dry it off, change and it’s back into the traffic for the 10 minute drive to work. The biking and the kayaking are keeping me sane - just.
Launch off the pontoon and paddle down to the Brisbane river. Some days I venture up or down the river, dependent on tide flow, for a few hundred meters, before returning to the safety of the creek. I’m becoming more confident and stronger so my limits are expanding, not long now (as my dive instructor used to say many, many years ago) before I am out on the river. It’s OK when it’s not windy, but a bit hairy when there’s a chop on the water.
Anyway I normally turn at the river mouth and head back up the creek going as far as I can with the time I have available. Last Saturday I went as far as I think I actually can go, although with a dropping tide, I’m not entirely sure. That round trip took me about 1 hour 15.
Most mornings I see the three ‘Gods’ of the creek – usually 2 girls and the same older male. They power up and then back down being very focused and in racing mode. I use my Discman and listen to Pink Floyd or Mike Oldfield, watch for misguided ducks and concentrate on maintaining as straight a course under as much power as I can.
It’s lovely when the water is so flat it’s like glass and it’s not too cold. It’s better when it’s high tide, but still good when it’s low and the mud and mangrove roots are exposed.
Bird wise – added 2 new birds this morning – actually on the river, rather than the creek, but still within sight of the creek… Caspian Tern and Silver Gull. On Saturday I had a Brown Goshawk along the mangroves, most days I see Striated Heron and Sacred Kingfisher flitting along the river banks. Neither allow close approach, keeping well ahead of the kayak and hiding in the mangroves. There are a few feral ducks among the Blacks and this morning a flock of domestic geese had just gone for a paddle when I came around the corner. It looked like they were being herded along as they all paddled faster looking over their shoulders watching me and where I was going.
Then it’s back to the pontoon, lift the kayak out of the water, wash it down with fresh water to avoid damage to the roof of the jeep, dry it off, change and it’s back into the traffic for the 10 minute drive to work. The biking and the kayaking are keeping me sane - just.
