Achievements

Fantastic Achievements

Hopefully this post is aimed at inspiring you to come and update your paddling skills with us in the near future.

Over the years , there have been a number of people who have paddled with me down the rivers of Far North Queensland. These rivers include :

• The Mulgrave River
• The Little Mulgrave River
• The Barron River
• The Barron Gorge
• Freshwater Creek
• The Upper North Johnstone River
• and Behana Creek
  

Unfortunately, the list below is not fully conclusive, so if I have omitted your name, please accept my apologies and let me know so as I can rectify this post. There will be groups of people of whom I do not know there surname so I will not place them in the list. These may be if you travelled in a group such as Renee's, Sarah's or LJ Hookers Edge Hill's for example.

The achievements are listed as :

Honour Student : This is basically the people whom I have instructed and in my mind, are willing to have a go at anything, have achieved trips in a whitewater kayak in a Grade 3 whitewater environment, have done innumerable trips down various sizes of Grade 2 water, or have paddled a grade 2 river and has never been unseated from the kayak.

Outstanding Achievement : These are the people whom I have instructed who have paddled Grade 2 whitewater in a whitewater kayak.

Highly Regarded Efforts : These are the people whom I have instructed on a Flatwater environment in a kayak, or who have paddled with us in a canoe.

Honourable Mentions : These are the people who are already versed in the ways of paddling a kayak, and have helped out over the numerous adventures that we undertake.

Honour Students : Gillian Corse, David McGill (Macca), Jenny Blomfield (Screech), Nicola Mellick, Colin Moon (Moony), Jennifer O'Connell (Freckles); Michelle Puddles (Puddles); Adrian White (Adro); Shane White (Tarzan); Steve McDermott (Tangles); Felicity Adams (Flick); David Allan (Bonnet Boy); Daniel O'Connor (Dano); Marshall Pedersen-White (Beefy); and Mellissa Spry (Spray)

Outstanding Achievement : Damien Blunden, Victoria Carillo; Benjamin Carter (BC); Warwick Fegan; Barry Gosden (Gos); Jeremy Hodges; Steve Junnison; Stephen Lagerroth; Patricia Lee; Neil Maver; David McKie; Michele Mobbs (Mobbsy); Karen Patrick; Renee Ruthenberg; Katie Taylor; Jacob Toe; Leander Wilson (Wilo); Carolyn Wisby; Peter Zieth; Mike Loly; Rob Baker; Trent Gleeson; Annette Davis Bill Snowden; Maxine Lauriston

Highly Regarded Efforts : Louise Barbour; Lynette Binder; Jordan Blomfield; Reg Cornish; Kathryn Cruickshank; Luke Edmonds; Carrie Goldsmith; Graeme Masterman; Sean McGuiness; Tracey McKie; Kelsey Ormsby; Rachel Wicks; Colleen Wilson; Liam Nicholas ; Dianne Maujean; Kevin Allan; Angelika Ziehrl; Rayleen Silverman; Donald Taylor; Sally MacDonald; Sarah Morrissey; Marika Blohelm; Helena Blohelm; Renee Wright; Kevin Woodward; Julie Fry; Karen Meadows; Rachel Whitla; Scott Knowles; Michael Coots; Steve Lavery; Kylie Lavery; Brett Bowen; Michelle Bowen Brenda Squire; Belinda Thompson; Neil Savina; David Paton; Hamish Paton; Scott Littleton; Danielle Oertel; Frances Cameron; Michael Matthews ; Eloise Kippers; Sonja Aston; Jemma Picco; Eddie Picco; Robyn Lomax; Mark Roberts ; Craig Roberts; John Bergman; Megan Bergman; Luella Thomas; Peter Moore; Elena Carboni; Tony Shehan; Lee-Anne Stevenson; Dallas Speeswood; Helen Chapman; Rayleen Silverman; Georgina Mockel; Deidree Fitzgerald; Mason Bombardieri; Andrew Bombardieri; Sue Bombardieri

Honourable Mentions : Timothy Abinnett (Tim-Me); Andrew Harynden (Canuck); Deborah Bass (Bassy); Denise Hardesty (Hardy); John Forde (Fordey); Jamie Snowden (Highjump); Nigel Kelly (Senior); James Kelly (Junior); Peter Stock (Stocky); Matt Yates (T-Bone); Gavin Yates; Jared Moore; Craig Brown; Terry Reid; Allan Fitzgerald

Congratulations to all and we would like it if you joined us in further adventures to upgrade your already fantastic achievements !

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.

Blue Skies , Flounder

Available days for activities - hiking and paddling - July and August

For ease of access and a bit better planning, I have mapped out July and August for possible activities for the crew and others who wish to come along. Please remember, if you are paddling the first time in a kayak, please ensure you have been through a lesson with me. Please view the post " A Flatwater Lesson with Flounder" dated 22/03/2010 to understand what's involved. Please also remember that other trips such as the Mulgrave Trip, would be from Insertion at Kearney's to Extraction at "the Shark's Tooth Campground". Basically if you read the post of the "First Trip down the Mulgrave " dated 07/02/2010.

Since June is a write off for activities for myself, I thought it would be better to have some sort of follow up plan. This does not mean that the usual crew need miss out on any paddling....go right ahead guys....enjoy.

3rd - 4th July - Upper Barron River - Koah to Mantaka


This would be a good trip for anyone who has not yet been down this part of the Barron River. Although I am unsure of the river levels at this time, I am pretty sure that it would be ok.

This is generally Grade 2, and depending on levels, a Grade 3 may be thrown in for good measure - I am referring to "The Crunch".

Above is young Victoria on the "Three Ways" rapid.


Moony taking to the "Step Down Rapids".

And Mobbsy slips down the Chicken Shute for "The Crunch"

The logistics for this trip is a meeting place opposite Smithfield Shopping Centre on the Kuranda Highway at 8am. We leave a pickup vehicle at Mantaka, and go forward to Koah township. We will need lunch for this day trip. This will be a kayaks only venture.

10th July - Back to the Barron Gorge

Yep it's back to the Gorge for this Saturday afternoon venture. Probable meeting place will be Lake Placid at 1.30pm.

This is Adro on Maccas Wave

This is Adro cutting through part of the Butchers Knife rapid.

Again.....Kayaks only for this trip.

25th July 2010 - Back on the Mulgrave for a final Canoe Kayak Paddle.

Usual logistics with an 9am start. Advise friends of this one, particularly beginners to fill up the canoes. Most probably 3 canoes available and a range of beginner kayaks from Adventure Equipment. Bring Lunch.

This is Screech on the flatwater leadup to "the Strainer".

Fordey in his conquest of the Canoe on the quiet paddle after the "S-Bend" rapid

7th August - Candlelight Dinner - Behana Creek

To be either held on the bridge if we get permission, or the little swimming hole upriver of the bridge.

This is an event where you either cook dinner by the river, or be able to re-heat something palatable by the river. Examples in the past have been Thai Rissoles, Thai Green Curry, Sumptious Spaghetti, or home made Italian Pizza. This will be completed by wine and the ever-present candleabra of Flick and Tangles.

Here is the view of the swimming hole from the bridge

For this, remember to bring warm clothing.

21-22nd August - Mount Emerald Hike

Ages in coming but a date has been decided. You will need a proper backpack for this one and good hiking boots also. The hike is about 1.5 hours long and gets steep in some places....but it is do-able....even for beginners.

Other items you will need are : a decent sleeping bag or swag; carry your own water; food or share food for one night and morning , cooking implements; torches and a Camera.

No, I am not doing what you think. This was in 2004 looking at the Balloon launch from adjacent to the campsite at 5.30 in the morning

This is the peak and off in the distance you can see the upper reaches of the development at Tolga.

So ends the plan for the next couple of months. Please remember activities can change depending on weather, and other obstacles along the way.

Remember, when paddling the fabulous natural watercourses, or hiking the magnificent walking tracks of this great country, please do not leave anything except footprints in the sand, and take away nothing but photos and memories of your time spent there.