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