It’s mid week. It’s too early in the morning. The tide is wrong. The surf is dumping. It’s freezing cold but still we decided that it would be better to get wet than sloth around drinking coffee and staying warm.
Here’s a little taste of our “late take offs” and other dumpings. Come share our madness !!!
This one is “gunna hurt”
It was just before dawn when I heard the central heating start up. Hmm…must be a cold morning. A quick check and I found the outside temperature was 5 degrees C. I saw the phone blinking at me with a “Surf Alert”, announcing clean conditions on the mid-coast this morning. The Winter Solstice is a couple of days away and this may be our last chance to get in a “Solstice Paddle” so out of bed and on with the kayak.
We arrived at the beach in superb calm conditions and a small but diminishing swell, however, we never miss an opportunity to paddle with friends to celebrate the Solstice and the promise of better weather.
The estuary mouth reflects the houses on the cliff
Ibis mirrored in the water looks like a painting
Of course we were not the only ones looking forward to the warmer weather to come. A pack of friendly dogs were on the beach chasing balls, running in circles, sniffing bums and rolling in something that smelt like dead fish.
Rolling in something that smells like dead fish
No better way to celebrate than to catch a wave with a fellow paddler.
Ian heads out
Steve follows him
Ian gets a few clean rides
Steve works along a small dumping wave
As the tide changed the waves became more dumping and we found ourselves buried in freezing water.
Steve buried in freezing foam
Ian gets dumped again
Playing on the same wave
Having a quick game of tag
When Steve was not looking, Ian seized an opportunity, and surfed up on to his back deck.
Well maybe kayaks can sniff bums too.
Now where did he go ?
My hands were frozen and my ears stinging from the cold but it was still a great paddle with a Steve King (of England). Looking forward to the better weather and less thermal layers.
Happy Solstice….Ian Pope
Stay CALM. The winter weather pattern is starting to set in. When you talk about Winter in South Australia you automatically imagine SW swells battering the coastline, driving by high winds.
I remember the calmer moments of winter mornings. The stillness as the fog slowly lifts; the clear crisp mornings on the beach and especially the calm winds of early morning.
Reflections in the still waters of the Onkaparinga River mouth
The bridge to the beach
Sure we have lots of mornings of driving rain and un-paddleable seas but they pass over bringing back the CALM. The bonus is that certain beaches that are normally “wave poor”, pick up a nice set on the lower tide. Such is the “Trough” surf break. I remember in my youth that it was a dirt road along the top of the cliffs that led to the beach, known as the “Trough” due to a sheep water trough on the farmers property. Now it’s in the middle of suburbia and a place of dog walkers, surf boats and the occasional kayak surfer.
Out for a morning trott along the beach
It’s amazing the entertainment a small piece of rubber can bring a dog
Today was a low tide with light northerly wind, winter morning and three intrepid paddlers set forth for a little calm winter play.
Ian and Steve push off into calm-ish waters waiting for Ian B to launch
Robyn shouted a final instruction. “You guys play nice now…Ian B may not be used to your antics.”
Ian starts with a nice small wave
Steve follows up with a similar size wave
……and shows how it’s done with a drop off the wave crest
Ian B follows with a nice ride
There are a few hazards when on a wave……
A surf boat barrells through to the shore
The main hazard for Ian B was Ian and Steve who love playing games.
Look out for that rogue wave Ian.
That scared him !!!!
Over the falls he goes.
Ooops. I think he’s practicing his roll.
“We didn’t do it on purpose Robyn. It was an accident ” Steve said, smiling.
Another great morning on the water.
Robyn and I have been wandering the west coast of South Australia enjoying the last of the autumn weather with some paddling and Fatbiking.(Our Fatbiking photos are here ) and return to Adelaide for some winter paddling.
Hope you enjoyed the photos.
Paddlers and kayaks
Ian Pope (green), Steve King (purple), Ian Brunning (orange)
Photographer
Robyn Pope
We had been on the bike for nearly two hours along a corrugated rocky road. I don’t know why but a classic Spaghetti Western soundtrack, The Good the Bad and the Ugly, had been going around in my head. Maybe it suited the landscape all around or was I expecting Clint Eastwood to step onto the road, or was it just another guitar piece I needed to learn.
We were approaching Hammond in the Flinders Ranges a place long lost.
As we crested the last rise I thought I could hear the slow drawl of organ music. Strange indeed as the most probable place to find an organ was at the Hammond Catholic Church, but it was boarded up some 20 years ago.
We rested on an old church seat and surveyed the town. A main street with intact buildings and a grid of streets around it with ruins. Down the street was a Bank of Adelaide building and next to it a general store. We had a wander past them whilst lunching.
The street is wide and open probably to allow horse or bullock drays to turn around.
That tune came again as I wandered towards the old Hotel. What a place this would have been in the past with the street full of people and industry and Hotel full of rowdy customers.
I heard a voice call out in the distance and the banging of a door but on turning there was no one there. I was sure I could hear the clink of glasses and smell a fine beer but nothing and no one moved but me. This is indeed a strange place.
The day had started at Carrieton some 26km to the east where we had camped at the old School. A great place to rest, relax and chat with the locals.
Not a lot happens in Carrieton, at least not whilst we were there. There is a small shop that opens in the mornings for general supplies and a Pub that is under renovation and threatening to open.
I was intrigued by this old building with its leadlight glass above the door. It’s interior has collapsed but the stone walls stand firm.
It even has bike hire available.
Long ago the Catholic Church was prominent on the hill with its’ imposing gateway. You pass the grave of Rev. Richard Doyle the first Pastor of the church upon entry.
The road out is corrugated in patches and has its’ share of fist size rocks strewn about. The main attraction in the town is the annual Rodeo and Campdraft in March. We passed the Campdraft arena which shows a novel use for old tyres as fencing.
The weather was overcast, with forecast thunderstorms and we paused to study the sky ahead.
As is normal for this country we had several kangaroos bound along next to us before diving across the road only metres in front of us. At a creek crossing we disturbed a large Wedge Tailed Eagle enjoying a late breakfast, who nearly collided with us on takeoff. There was the usual assortment of Galahs and Corellas in the big gum trees and a few sheep wandering the paddocks. Luckily it was too cold for snakes.
An interesting 52km ride across some stunning landscape, racing ahead of the approaching rain. We made it back to Carrieton camp safe and dry and enjoyed a celebratory beverage by the roaring fire.
It had been a great ride to a strange place, one that I won’t be visiting in the dark.
Paddling requires two types of energy. Firstly the energy to propel the kayak which in classical mechanics, is called Kinetic energy (KE) . Then there is Mental energy, that undefined force that gets you up on cold mornings to keep training for an event or powers you to a destination.
But what is the DnA of Paddling Energy ? On our travels we called into Tumby Bay on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula and caught a glimpse of this undefined mental energy. In our working life we had a mature age customer who regularly called in after his kayak training, entertaining us with his infectious energy and in the small town of Tumby Bay we found him again.
It’s not DNA but D’n’A. Dennis ‘n’ Ann Peck. They both exude a sort of energy that combined can achieve anything. I paddled with Dennis around Tumby Bay, a place he loves, and enjoyed the running commentary.
Dinosaur Rock. Well you need quite a bit of imagination for this one.
Sea Lions abound along this coast maybe due to the Tuna Fishing Industry not far away
Black faced Cormorants are used to Dennis chatting to them as he passes.
An Osprey nest. Unfortunately the resident flew off before I could raise my camera.
The wind and ocean has sculpted the limestone cliffs into interesting shapes.
There are sharp rocks protruding everywhere just waiting for the unwary paddler.
Dennis competes in kayaking sprints and marathons as well as athletics in the Australian and State Masters Games.
He laughs when he tells you that his ambition is not only to win, but to set national and state records. Then he explains that there are not a lot of competitors left in his age group. This year he turns 85.
We were lucky to spend time with Ann as well at their cottage home overlooking the coast. An amazing place which they both built from local stone. Ann is the steering force and organiser behind Dennis as well as being a powerful artistic person in her own right.
Let’s just say that any couple that built a Boules and Finskas court in their front yard tend to be competitive, but in a good way. After being thrashed at Boules we were introduced to the game of Finskas, an addictive log throwing game, where the aim is to score exactly 50 points. Set up the pins, place the box five metres away and start throwing. A competitive game of skill in which we were soundly beaten.
Dennis shows his prowess with the opening toss at Finskas
After “the games” came a great meal, a few wines and a comforting fire.
Dennis Peck. Powered by Guinness stout I believe.
If you’re in Tumby Bay anytime look out for Dennis out paddling and Ann power walking the beach.
Cheers
Ian and Robyn (the travellers)
Celebrate the Morning with a kayak paddle.
This is the view Sir Rodney (our senior paddler) has just before he launches and messes up the reflections.
Sir Rodney’s view of West Lakes at dawn every morning.
Greet the sun with Sir Rodney. Greet the dolphins and seals with Steve and Ian. Enjoy the seascape and Autumn calm waters because soon Winter will be upon us. The only consolation is that there might be some waves along our local surf haunts as we move into the colder weather.
But in the meantime, here’s a little of our local coastline and friends.
PADDLING SOUTH 