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Sea caves and scorpions

We had decided to explore Memory Cove, in the Pt. Lincoln National Park for a few days.  The park, which is one of my favourite parts of South Australia, starts a few kilometres from Pt. Lincoln, is over 70 sq. km in size and includes a number of islands that I have visited by kayak in the past.

The park boasts some spectacular coastal scenery, and features the vast Sleaford-Wanna sand dune system, as well as the offshore islands.  Access to the cove is via a 15km 4WD track and only 5 vehicles are allowed camping access at any one time.

Matt decided to drive the track fearing that I might get us bogged again in sand dunes, however the drive is more rocky than sandy.

memcove 1

We set up camp just metres from the beach and launched the kayaks.

Cove view

After being greeted by the local sea lions we explored the coastline.IMG_0013

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and found some sea caves to poke around in.

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Everywhere is luscious underwater growth with large abalone growing on the rock walls.

underwater

The warm evening was enjoyed along with a few cold beers.

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The next day an approaching storm kept our exploration landlocked.

storm coming

We travelled a sandy 4WD track that hadn’t been used for some time…….

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and we found out why.

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Matt and Kathrin did some rock climbing and explored a deserted beach. If you look closely you will see them on the beach.

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Back at camp that night, while enjoying dinner and a red wine, Matt found a couple of unwelcome visitors heading for his tent. He quickly despatched the Scorpions back to the bush on the end of a shovel.

Scorpion

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Surf kayak review–Jackson FUN

I eventually finished a more formal review of the Jackson FUN having paddling it as a surf kayak for over 4 months now. Initially it took some time to get used to, as it is much looser than surf kayaks that I have been into for years. It was like returning to my origins in surf kayaking when we paddled any kayak in the surf, not what was specifically designed for ocean wave surfing. See my first paddle comments here.

IMG_3291    Easy take-off   Fun on small reef break waves

The beginners perspective.
If you are just starting out in surf kayaking this kayak is a really a winner. It is stable and easy to get out through the break with reasonable directional stability for a playboat. When paddling out through broken waves the FUN maintained stability and allowed you to lift up and over the white water simply by leaning back to raise the bow.

On a wave the the FUN was easy to get into the wave take-off area and quite predictable when dropping down a steep face. The beginners who paddled the FUN started off on smaller waves to get the feel of the kayak but were soon confident on larger waves. The kayak has a flat, planing hull design meaning that aggressive leans or stern rudder strokes may cause the stern to break loose. An unintentional 180 degree spin into a back surf is a little disconcerting for beginners but soon most paddlers have it under control.

Intermediate perspective
The Fun is just that, a lot of fun. The comfortable cockpit and easily adjusted outfitting means paddlers are happy to stay out for hours, pulling 360 spins, backsurfs, cartwheels (intentional and unintentional)  and generally having a great time.

This playboat is easy to handle and allows you to try lots of manoeuvres with confidence and when it doesn’t work the FUN is easy to roll. As with most playboats the low volume stern and bow allow ease of manoeuvring, however you still need to drive this kayak or it will break loose on larger wave faces.

top turn and over     Nice top turns

Comparison to specialised surf kayaks

It really does come down to what you want to achieve in surf kayaking. If you are looking for a kayak that equals a surfboard or wave ski then you need to look at the specialised craft. This is a white water playboat being used in the surf and is an excellent craft for playing in waves and having fun. Just a fantastic kayak to paddle when the surf is not so good and you’re looking for a way to have fun and get wet.

Jackson Kayak Specs.
Length 2.03m     Width 68 cm     Volume 238 litres     Capacity 75-100 kg

Paddler 1
Height   170cm
Weight   90 kg (or more after Easter)
Experience  Many years paddling sea kayaks and surf kayaks

Great Fun kayak. A great change from more specialist surf kayaks but especially good when surf was smaller allowing me to still have fun on manoeuvres like 360 spins, catwheels and backsurfs not possible with other surf kayak.

Pros
Loved the ease of adjustment on the backrest and the Happy Feet footrests.
Lots of fun to be had even when the surfs not so good.

Cons
Backrest cords are a bit of a pain dangling on my legs, but I would soon fix that.

Conclusion
Lots of FUN. Very comfortable outfitting and would recommend to anyone.

Paddler 2
Height 175 cm
Weight 76 kg
Experience  Beginner in playboats and surf kayaks

Had great fun every time I paddled out. Started on smaller waves and soon got the hang of the FUN. I was able to get some nice waves and 360 spins as well great slides down larger green wave faces. Thoroughly recommended as a great FUN kayak.

Pros
Very predictable and forgiving handling when the wave closed out on me.  It is easy to roll which gave me confidence to go for bigger waves or faster manoeuvres. Loved the easy adjustment on the backrest making it easy to do a quick launch, paddle out and then tighten backrest.

Cons
I would put some sort of grab loop on the rear handle as it was hard to hold onto as I climbed over rocks to get back up the beach.

Conclusion
Very impressed with this kayak in the surf. Just lots of FUN and will definitely be looking to purchase.

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Sand tracks and stingrays

Our cunning plan was to leave the Calca Peninsula and move to the Black Springs campsite in the Coffin Bay National Park, where we could launch for Point Longnose and Pt. Sir Isaac.

The Calca peninsula is very sparcely inhabited and provides some great insights into what may have been in the past. The coastline is also inspiring with rugged cliffs and rocky bays.

I think this old homestead building has “gone to God” and certainly someone agrees.

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Others had also gone the same way a long time ago.

Grave 1

Tiny grave decorated with ancient Abalone shells and a long gone blue flower vase

Grave 2

A wander along the coastline found Sea Lions playing in the surf.

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or sunbaking on the sand

Sunbathers

and talking about girls

sea lion argue

Our journey came to a halt on our way along a 4WD track into Black Springs Well. Bogged to the axles in deep soft sand and unable to keep going forward. Luckily Matt “the shovel” was with us and in around 2 hours we were unstuck and on our way, but this time to a different camp site. Just another minor change in plan for the group.

The view of Mt. Dutton and Coffin Bays from the track above our camp showed the winding series of bays. Matt and Kathrin spent time on the water here while Ian and Robyn investigated the various walks.

Unbogged and going againBay view

Matt left some cool water in the upturned lid of his kayak hatch and had a few thankful guests in the late afternoon.

Birds hatch 1wallaby Joey drink

A visit to the beach meant a swim with another of the Bay’s creatures. A large Stingray kept circling in the shallows, just to stop everyone being completely relaxed on this beautiful beach.

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Dolphins and sea lions

On the road again, this time with Matt and Kathrin who are visiting from Germany. Loaded with 2 double sea kayaks we travelled towards the west coast of South Australia in temperatures above 40 degrees C.

The  trip plan was to spend time in remote locations, paddle the coastline, swim with dolphins and sea lions, see lots of Australia’s wildlife and enjoy a few red wines along the way.Bus stop

Passing through Kimba, know as the town “halfway across Australia” or “middle of nowhere” you just have to have a photo taken in front of the “Big Gala”.Huge flocks of these noisy birds are common in this area.

Big Gala

After two days travelling, we set up camp and Matt and Kathrin enjoyed a relaxing 18km paddle in a shallow protected bay, to check out their borrowed kayak..

Launchig BB.

Next day was Dolphin Day when we swam with a large pod of dolphins and then spent time frolicking with Sea Lions. It sounds easy to film a pod of wild dolphins but the reality was far from that. They were in turbid water and were either going too fast to film or too close to get anything more than a fin in the frame. Still it was a fantastic experience to swim with the wild pod, Although the visibility wasn’t the best we managed to get some photos and video.

The sea lions of course were much easier to film as they played with us however only a few of them seemed interested in our games.

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The 4 P’s of life’s adventures

The 4 P’s.
We have Paddled for many years, Pedalled for lots more and lately we have found an interest in Photography.

Now we have the 4th P – Publishing- with an article published in Lets be Wild magazine about our bike trip along the Copper Trail in the Northern Flinders Ranges.

Publishing
Check out the article of our bike adventures in the North Flinders Ranges, published in Lets be Wild travel magazine, See it here.

Day 1 on the track

Pedalling.
Robyn, Michael, Gavin and I have just returned from the Barossa Valley where we rode in the Tour Down Under Community Ride with about 7000 others who followed the route of the professionals over Day 4 of the race. We stayed an extra couple of days in the Barossa wine region to make it even more enjoyable.
We are now planning the next outback bike trip for this coming Autumn.

Paddling
With the TDU ride out of the way, we can concentrate on paddling the S.A coast again, except for Gavin who has decided that a couple of months exploring the Tasmanian coastline will be beneficial to his health.

Plans are made for February, and March is now full, with 3 weeks paddling  the west coast of South Australia , on the edge of the Great Australian Bight. We will be joined by Matt and Kathrin from Germany, who are keen to swim with seals and dolphins, and will be visiting and paddling areas between Streaky Bay and Pt Lincoln. Hope to visit Sea Lion and Fur Seal colonies around Baird Bay, Pt. Labatt on the west coast and Hopkins Island offshore from the Memory Cove Wilderness area.

The trip should make for some good photos and great paddling adventures.

Should I tell them that swimming in a seal colony in a black wetsuit, near a White Pointer Shark breeding ground might have a possible drawback ?

Happy adventures.

Ian and Robyn

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Surf Kayaking – FUN at any age

Surf kayaking is my greatest kayaking pleasure; well at the moment anyway. I have been returning to some surf breaks that I first tried to board surf at when I was about 16 and then haunted when I was in my thirties. Now a few years later, or maybe that’s decades, I’m still here with an even greater sense of FUN.

Late 1980's. Bells Beach Victoria. 1 car 3 skis 3 white water kayaks

Late 1980’s. Bells Beach Victoria. 1 car 3 skis 3 white water kayaks and lots of FUN. That’s me in the middle.

I owned and surfed many specialist surf kayaks over the years as well as a whole swag of wave ski’s during the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Small day at Pondalowie Bay South Australia.

Small day at Pondalowie Bay South Australia. Marty Williams at play.

As we are the driest state on the driest continent there’s no white water paddling to be had and certainly no playboats in kayak shops, but luckily I was able to borrow a Jackson FUN from a friend interstate . Now this is very much a white water playboat and I am a little heavy for it at 88kg but it is certainly comfortable.

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First paddle. Nice wave peaked up, paddled to take off, dropped down the face and threw my weight into a bottom turn. The FUN spun 180 degrees, I screamed backwards, lent back too far, dug the rear deck into the wave, back flipped and airborne as my head kissed the deck.  Cleaned out the sinus anyway !!!.
Hmmm…. this kayak needs a little more finesse than I used with a finned surf kayak.

Another hour or more in some pretty choppy waves but lots of FUN. I’ll write a review of the Jackson FUN, for surf kayaking, after I get it a little better under control. We shot a little footage but the camera malfunctioned, however you should get the idea.

Cheers…Ian Pope
“The best surfer out there is the one having the most FUN”… Duke Kahanamoku.