Easter Paddling - Day 1 (Good Friday)

Easter Paddling - Day 1 Good Friday - Crystal Cascades

Easter 2010 set us for an adventurous journey. The crew had planned for an interesting set of paddling, starting from hardest to dead easy. At this age....yes we all relished the thought of toning down the skill level as we progressed through the long weekend.

First up was Crystal Cascades. In my absolute ignorance, the crew and I gazed with sheer terror upon the grade of the Crystals flow. In memories now in a distant haze, we all remember the flow of Crystal Cascades being a charming set of rapids that one could float down dreamingly on a tyre tube.... NOT THIS DAY.

As we walked up the path listening intently to the ominous roar of water upon rock, our hearts sank to the depths of despair when we realised that paddling this Grade 4 stretch of water was beyond our scope. However, we obeyed the first rule of kayaking, and reasoned that we should stay firmly within our skill level.

The intrepid crew of Mulgrave paddlers (Flounder, Adro, Bonnet Boy, Dano, and Tarzan) were joined by four gods of the water, being Callum, Zack, Dean, and Debra. All of whom went to just about to the top of the grade 4 rapids at the infamous "No Fear" jumping area.

Our crew, with wide eyes watched in wonder, as Zack being first in the water with his boat, was soon first out of his boat, slipping over 2 raging ten foot waterfalls.

Debra who was still on the track, organised the rescue effort like the slick professional that she was....hand signals directing Callum and Dean to ensure Zacks safety.

Meanwhile, Zacks boat had slipped into an eddy in the midst of tumbling water and huge boulders (photo opp). Zacks boat rescue was underway with Dean and Callum undergoing the problem solving processes on how to get Zacks boat out of the perilous eddy and back into his hands.

Our intrepid crew then , having making sure that we were not needed, then proceeded back down the track to gather our boats at the bottom pool. The prior exercise had only confirmed our fears.....yes....it was not for us, THIS year.

On coming back down, we re-checked ourselves and with astonishment, realised we could possibly do the drop of the top pool. However, what lay below, seemed like (as Adro delicately stated) Death on a Stick.

The problem lay between the top and the middle pool. A nasty jumble of twisted rock garnished with the odd log to act as strainers not of this world. We hastened along the track yet again.

Upon reaching the middle pool, we were adament that we were doing the right thing by entering into the bottom pool. However, doubts started to trickle into our minds that we could possibly have a go at the next slide...with a little less water.

However, we reasoned that if we ended up doing periscope dives, then it would take a supreme rescue attempt to secure our lost boats downstream.

Thus, without further adieu, we descended the stairs to place our boats into the bottom pool to await the gods descending from the gorge (which actually was not long).

In all reality, each of the crew did look long and wistfully at the bottom slide into the pool and possibly thought to himself, that he could attempt that flow of moisture.

For warm up practice, the guys then had to get used to the cross currents and practiced the art of surfing a hole.

The journey downriver did not deliver any unknown territory to us. However, we did follow the track fo the gods and not our usual safety route, in which Flounder and Dano found most displeasing coming adrift of the boat in the sharp rocky precipes of the Boulder Garden.

Time was against the gods so they then departed to further their adventure downriver. Their destination was the Crystals Bridge.

Our journey down to the Crystals Bridge was amazement for the likes of Adro and Dano whom hadn't seen that part of the river as yet.

The bottom flow of Crystals is said to be a lot of fun amongst the paddlers with a number of lesser Grade 3 drops and swirls and the main part of the river Grade 2.

Upon reaching the main drop for that part of the river, Flounder ensured everyone had a look at the approach and flow.

Flounder portaged so he could set up cover, and it was decide that the other adventurous quartet would run the rapid two by two.

Amazingly, the crew had polished that rapid off fabulously. All and sundry had agreed that having water buffeting the bottom of the boat was indeed a thrill and made for slightly easier paddling.


Morning break time and the bridge crossing was reached with no further hassle. To up and coming adventurers, the water pipes that run adjacent to the bridge, give a fairly good indication as to what to expect as a river level for the above journey. When the water is at the bottom of the pipes, it means for good water. If the water is flowing OVER the pipes....go home...it's Death on a Stick.

This part of Freshwater Creek was very familiar to us all. However, that did not mean that we didn't have our share of problems. Flounder, fell out in the Slip Past...Bonnet Boy the Hang Vine, Dano in the Boulder walk.... and Adro in the mists of the swirls at the Wall Rapid.

Actually , Flounder was amazed at Adro....since having his new dagger boat.....actually seemed to disappear in a whirlpool at the Wall rapid right in front of his eyes. An event that Flounder is entirely gracious for. It's usually Flounder that does that trick.

Uneventful passing of the Freshwater Weir ensued, since the crew had paddled that to regulation....heading down the extreme right. Memories flooded back for Adro as last year, this was his first taste of paddling and promptly went "Duck up" in the holes of the weir. We all still have a chuckle at THAT thought.

There were a lot of rest and respites along the way whilst hanging onto vines, tree roots, and the cane grass.

Reddy Valley bridge passed by without incident. Further down, Adro being proud of his boat, managed his first nosestand along the way....much to the bemusement of some young teenagers horseplaying at waters edge. It was onto the Rocks Bridge we went.

In all, the activities of the day were tiresome. There was little thought about revisiting the bottom slide at Crystals....but the idea of having a cool ale at the Red Beret beckoned. Unfortunately that turned into a coffee at the Golden Arches ....after all....it was still good friday !

Tomorrow was a rest day, but the rest was onward and upward!


Remember : when paddling the fabulous natural watercourses of this great country, please do not leave anything except for footprints in the sand, and take nothing but photos and memories.

Flounder

Easter Paddling - Day 2 (Easter Sunday)

Easter Paddling - Day 2 - Little Mulgrave River



After a layday from the first day's paddling in the Grade 2-3 of Freshie Ck, it was good to enter a clear clean flowing creek, smelling of all of the usual scents of the rainforest and fresh rain.


On this trip were the usuals, Flounder, Bonnet Boy, Tarzan, Tangles, Dano, and with the days addition of Fordey and Snowwy.


The Little Mulgrave river was up , and we found what we expected......a lot of standing waves and eddie swirls. Fordey and Snowwy tried their new boats from Rays Outdoors....with Snowwy actually getting a proper deck/skirt...rather than using a sheet of clear plastic from his last trip.

With the Little Mulgrave River, it is only accessible for paddling when there is heaps of rain as the creek is a shallow brook most of the time.

However, when it floods the creek, under the river you have a number of obstacles creating various river dynamics, which in turn gives you a lot of standing waves in which to surf on. This fact was enjoyed by the boys who at every opportunity, took the cahnce to enhance their surfing skills.

Dano and Tangles had experienced at every hole, the skills update of targeting the waves of each.

At most stages throughout the creek though, there was plenty of flat travelling spots and the general banter of the day was enjoyed.

There was even a chance to slander Fordey's choice of headwear.....which was an abseiling helmet covered by his non-descript fishing attire....

Flounder enjoyed the chance to camoflage his helmet with various ferns so he could blend more into the background.

Next was Snowwy's aptitude in making new friends on the river. A delight that when mentioning the words of "Dinner's up..", the floating menu then took their leave.

The trip for the day was actually completed twice for paddles up to 2 hours each

The pleasing aspect about the Little Mulgrave River is the fact that you actually finish at a particular watering hole called the Mountainview Hotel.

Please remember, when paddling the fabulous natural watercourses of this great country, please do not leave anything behind except for footprints in the sand, and take nothing out except for photos and memories.

Easter Paddling - Day 3 (Easter Monday)

Easter Paddling - Day 3 - Babinda Creek

Yep, the rain continued to fall but a little less than the other days. Today was the day that the intrepid group planned to explore. There were only the 4 of us, Flounder, Adro, Bonnet Boy, and the irrepressible Tarzan.

Today we decided to tone things right back to paddle a flooded Babinda Creek. After finding our way up Stager Road to the end, we had found that the creek was not too far from the access road. However, to spice things up, we decided to enter the creek via a drain....something that Tarzan was scolded for for mentioning that we should do it. However, enter we did,and found our way to a beautiful flowing mountain stream. The top of Babinda Creek was truly a fantastic area and I would assume it is a haven of locals. The water was crystal clear and only murkied up once we got well and truly into farmland....one for the river conservationists arguments.

The paddle itself was a blessing in disguise as the group generally does not paddle more than twice a fortnight in most cases. It was rather pleasant just floating and going at a speed of 5 k's an hour without pulling through the water.

Along the way, in the first half of the trip, we enjoyed the necessity of relaxing from the last couple of days. This gave the boys a chance to experiment, with Adro trying out his new boat whilst trying to do nosestands, and Bonnet Boy trying to perfect his roll.

Tarzan was just happy to complete the picturesque snaps with his kayak mate. For once his camera was not on his helmet.....due to the fact that he wore his unbelievable German War helmet for the trip. Flounder did manage to whinge, though due to a guava thrown to him by Adro, and getting a rock hard seed stuck in his teeth for the whole trip down the creek.

On our way down the creek, we did notice a few outstanding facets of the north queensland nature. A flowing waterfall existed above on the range. We surmised that that flowed into the creek that we were now traversing....having come from the Boulders area further upriver.

It was a chance to observe closely a couple of Jabirus who seemed oblivious to our presence only when we reached an impertinant 3 metres away, only to fly away into a clouded mist....yes it started to drizzle once again.

Once gaining the main highway bridge after a couple of hours of floating, it was discussed amongst the group that a seal launch off an old cane tram bridge (3 metres off river level) may be the go....but in the nature of the paddle, no-one was really excited to do such an energetic exercise. However, once passing the highway bridge, the group then presumed their efforts of a now imposing "croc watch". Yes, we were in fact, not that far from the Russell River. And thus, a closely observed paddle thus ensued....except for the period of "Grid Iron Kayaking" that occured with some sort of tree seed pod.

Indeed a few parts of the river were eerie....

We soon reached the township of Babinda and proceeded to extract the boats from the flowing exodus. However, Adro still wanted to try a seal launch down a muddy embankment and succeeded to do so.....all 15 metres back into the clear river. Onto the pub we went....only finding that in the country town, people still celebrated Easter with the respect it deserves, and no meals were served in the town at any of the establishments. Onwards to the cafe we went....to finally decide that we would then head back to Ways Bridge on the Little Mulgrave River for a bit of Surfing practice.

Easter Paddling - Day 3 - Little Mulgrave River

The group agreed to continue their skills on the river. A spot that we had located the day before became the ever-present practice area. This gave the enjoyment for practising everyones surfing skill. At this stage, we now enjoyed the company of Flick and Tangles, who decided to get some time on the river.

A matter of swapping boats ensued, and Flounder declaring he was too old to play late in the day, and volunteering to take the pics and the vids for the group, and the group played late into the day.

An enjoyable time had by all, the intrepid group of adventurers then retired to the Mountainview Hotel for some well earned refreshment.

So ends the tale of a wet Easter in the North.

Remember, when paddling the fabulous natural watercourses of this great country, please do not leave anything behind except for footprints in the sand, and take nothing away except for photos and memories.