Author: PaddlingSouth

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Kayak Cross

It’s 8.30 a.m. on an overcast Sunday morning and I’m not sipping coffee or catching up on the News App as usual. I’m heading along a river path, passing a gaggle of kitted out young kayak paddlers, to collect my race bib.

It’s been a while: actually a long time since I lined up to collect any sort of race number so this feels rather odd, especially since there is no veteran or masters class available, You are either Junior or Open class and I’m over 70 !

The event was originally planned for the King River, but low flows prompted a change of venue, to a dam release river and a Kayak Cross style event. A 4 paddler heat launching off the bank, then negotiating around poles each side of the rapid, and finally crossing the rapid again to touch the finish line banner. Seems easy enough, except the river is flowing at around twice it’s normal volume.

My heat arrived and I made a slow start but was happy to get around all the gates, no capsize/roll and came in 3rd. That’s me in the Green Exo kayak.

In the starting position
Negotiating the top poles
dropping into the waves
stay upright !

I was next in the repechage, with the winner moving to the semi finals. I had a better run this time, but only managed a 4th place.

A little faster on the start this time
that water is cold
about to be passed
I was ahead going into the turn and behind coming out

That gave me time to watch the real paddlers, both junior and senior before preparing for the long course, mass start race. Here’s a few photos of the action.

The long course mass start was rather chaotic with wash from so many kayaks combined with the small rapids. Not only did I have all the others to contend with, but I still had to get around the gates used in the sprint course. Luckily I managed to stay upright and finished the course.

Some of the front runners

I had great fun, improved my skills and enjoyed being amongst fellow paddlers. Thanks to all the volunteers and officials who made this possible. The only downside was the 2000km round trip from home !

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Still Life

Still life photography is a genre of photography used for the depiction of inanimate subject matter, typically a small group of objects. Similar to still life painting, it is the application of photography to the still life artistic style. (Wikipedia)

That’s the Wikipedia definition , however, our definition is “depiction of subject matter, typically a small group of objects, often in an outdoor environment”, which gives us a lot more scope when we are travelling the countryside.

Of course it may just be a solitary object.

Pontoon Reflections

Not always in the traditional presentation, but certainly outdoors. Taken in a different mode the trees take on an eerie feel and depict the density of the forest.

The deserted forest

Certainly Still Life, under our definition, doesn’t have to be inanimate objects.

Definition: adjective. not animate; lifeless. Synonyms: dead, inert, mineral, vegetable, inorganic. spiritless; sluggish; dull.

I’ve been called a few names, but I hope inanimate is not one of them. After more than a month banging around the Mountain Bike Parks we return home to catch some more Still Life, actually more like Frozen than Still. Frozen that moment in time and Frozen because it was damn cold on the water.

Maybe the waves are looking “inanimate” : dead, lifeless
Then they spring into life
Berny tames a small wave
Steve tries his luck on a small barrelling wave…and loses
Ian tries a forward loop…and fails
Berny proves he can work a small wave…whilst holding his breath
Steve slides into another nice one

We call it Still Life Outdoors, which can take many forms, although don’t stay Still for too long or you will become another one of Berny’s “hit and run” victims.

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The Old Beechy- riding not paddling

“Busted flat in Baton Rouge , waitin’ for a train.
When I’s feelin’ near as faded as my jeans.”
Janis Joplin 1943-1970

Sometimes a song just jumps out of the shadows and into your head. There is no stopping it, no getting rid of it, no stopping the urge to hum it and no respite from the only lines you remember.

It was mid-morning and the fog had lifted enough to see the track more than a few metres ahead. Janis was banging around in my head, at least until I nearly rode off the leaf covered track and into a tree. That smartened things up a bit.

We were riding the Old Beechy Rail Trail in Victoria, a 40km mountain bike trail along the disused rail corridor. Camped at Gellibrand we were riding out and back towards Colac to avoid logging work that had closed part of the trail.

The morning started a little above freezing and stayed there for most of the ride. The fog was like soup for the first hour and then lifted enough to admire the view across the ranges. Janis was back to replace the fog.

There were minor creek crossings and lots of climbing to reach the 103 mile marker on the train line. Great views on either side of the track and a few startled kangaroos who jumped out in front of us. Anyone would think they had never seen a bike rider before. Actually, we didn’t see any other bike riders either.

We did come across two local women walking their dogs along the trail, wrapped in long down jackets, beanies and scarves half covering their face. The women that is, not the dogs; they were au natural.

We slowly warmed as the sun hit the trail and we enjoyed the ride and the views.

What goes up must come down, so we certainly enjoyed the return mainly downhill run, although my frozen toes didn’t seem happy. Back in Gellibrand we raided the General Store for coffee and apple pie and later wandered around the old train station and small town.

“Feelin’ good in Gellibrand, waitin’ for a train.”
Apologisies to Janis

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I’m Living in the Seventies

It’s weird when you get a song stuck in your head. Well actually in your brain to be more specific, but you know what I mean. How does that actually happen ? Maybe Mr Google can give me some answers although I’m not sure I can wade through all the advertising to find the answer.

Anyway, moving on I’ve been plagued by this one song recently. “I’m living in the Seventies” by Skyhooks and it was released , funnily enough, in the seventies, 1974 to be exact. Then I started thinking about the reasons it’s embedded in my brain. Well, I was definitely living in the 70’s and apparently survived unscathed despite the Magic Mushrooms, Flared Pants, Body Shirts and Platform Shoes, and it was the era when I moved water sports from Scuba Diving and Freediving to Kayaking. Maybe it’s because I’m now Living in the Seventies in another way. Yes, you guessed it, in birthdays.

Just in case you’re not fully informed in the category of 70’s music here’s a link to Skyhooks Live on Countdown TV show.

Ok, back to reality of some sort, here’s a short video of what Living in the Seventies paddlers get up to.

It’s “Park and Play” which suits more when you only have a hour or two available as the Coffee and Bun is calling. Sea kayaking will be missed this week as the wind is forecast to increase and we also need to fit in a couple of Mountain Bike sessions.

Have a great day.
Ian and “the others”.

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NOT Red Bull

It was a cooler morning for this time in Summer. No blazing sun to bake you in a 40 degree C oven or searing bitumen in the carpark. I scanned along the line of cars to find the rest of todays’ crew. Easy to spot the Old Bulls, amongst the gaggle of young board riders, as they readied for a little ocean playboat fun.

The youngster parked next to me peers out to sea and sighs. No great waves for him today but not so for us. He downs a can of Red Bull sports drink, grabs his board and jogs down the cliff path, hoping the Red Bull will kick into the waves as well. I look at the Red Bull can still sitting on the bonnet of his car, thinking “maybe it does give you wings”. It’s a bit of a climb down the cliff path carrying your kayak and wings would be handy.

The closest I can see of an energy drink is Steve sipping a lukewarm breakfast coffee. I don’t know how he manages to consume it that way. We are here for the fun of surfing a few small waves, no energy drink, no sponsors stickers, no Go Pro. Just a small group of Old Bulls having FUN.

We aren’t sponsored by anyone. Actually, that’s wrong; some of us are sponsored by our Superannuation Funds and others by various side line acts and supported by our wives and partners although maybe they are just happy to see us out from under their feet. I think we actually sponsor the nearby Becks Bakery as we often seem to end up there.

We are definitely Old Bulls not Red Bulls, but we are out there running like Bulls, or should I say Paddling. The surf is “below average” today but the fun levels will be sky high, especially in retelling of exploits at the bakery. Funny how the waves are always bigger and maneuvers more spectacular when accompanied by a coffee and bun.

Here’s a few photos of FUN.

I just realise that I didn’t fit my nose plug

Seaweed Steve always seems to be nearby.

Seaweed Steve on the charge
Just cleaning out my sinus cavity
Berny looking serious but still having fun

You’re still with us !! Well here’s a short video to waste another 90 seconds. I have to go now as I need to check my letterbox for the expected bundle of Valentines Day cards.

 

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Barbie goes paddling

The Barbie movie is about to hit the screen and we took our own “Barbie kayak” out for a splash around.

Well actually it’s a Jackson Rockstar V but with all the pink colour it’s certainly worthy of the Barbie name.

I’m not sure Barbie approved of the weather with a cold 8 degrees C and light rain but what the heck, we were out there celebrating the cold.

Another amazing fact. Barbie and I have the same birthday. When I was younger some people compared me to Ken, but now I think I’m more “Ken Oath” than Ken. (work out the Aussie slang you foreigners. Yes, it’s rude).

Anyway have a great Barbie Day.