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Saturday, January 29, 2011

Australia Day Paddle 2011

Australia Day Paddle 2011

In a time honoured tradition, the crew set sail for another paddling adventure on the high rivers. Last year was a flooded Mulgrave, with this year, rains come and gone for a while, the plans had been set about for an adventure on the mighty Russell River. Unfortunately, due to Adro's unfortunate back injury, and Gunny's domestic Straya Day duty, we had no guide who had paddled the river regularly. Laggy did offer but was not confident due to river levels, thus the location was then changed to the Freshwater Creek, a lovely little play river which, at the right level, provides a lot of fun and frivolity.

The crew this time were : Flounder, Tangles, Tarzan, Lucky, Freckles, Tooey, Snowwy, Sandy, and Laggy. Four of the crew had been through this part of the creek before, and for the other five.....an anticipated fun adventure was about to begin.




The crew met in Crystals Carpark, and compared boats and dynamics of boats. Most of all interest was Snowwy's sit-on-top....for which a many raised eyebrow looked on due to the size and length of the boat.

But to his credit, Snowwy manouvered the aircraft carrier with ease through the Grade 2 Boulder Garden Rapid of which surprise came to us all.



First Stop was the portage and insertion at the bottom pool at Crystal Cascades. Above this point, there lies many a Grade 3+ rapid. A few of the crew decided to have a go at the two drops above.....for which much interest was observed.
Flounder set up safety of which he recognised the first rapid was slightly a bit dangerous for the way the water flows over the slide, it tends to hold the unsuspecting kayaker within it's realm at the bottom.
First down was Lucky with the Mamba which seemed to have enough bouyancy to take him through the reticulating slide.



Next through was the ever-present Laggy. His Axiom , which sometimes resembles the USS Enterprise for it's size and volume, had no trouble negotiating the waters of the middle pool.






Once two were through, only one remained. Young Sandy started his journey for something he had never done before. But all was in place....






Oops....the Perception did not quite have the volume and gave Sandy a good back-somersault. To his credit, Sandy did not panic and did try to roll twice without success due to the churn of the boil.






Flounder deployed the throw bag but was not needed as the two other boys successfully rescued the waterlogged Sandy












The crew then added Tooey and Tarzan to the list at the middle pool, and then Laggy Luke and Tarzan then led the crew through the last drop into the Bottom Pool. All succeeded. Well done to all.

The crew then made preparations to journey down Freshwater Creek....their target being "The Rocks Causeway".



The Boulder Garden was the first rapid. Unfortunately , this rapid was not easily disposed of due to carnage with Freckles Deisel. The boat travelled down the river with Tooey in pursuit and Freckles made plans to hitch a ride with Snowwy and Tarzan. Welcome to the water Freckles.....
Many Grade 2 rapids were then dealt with with no real carnage and the crew settled down to a good team process in that leaders would help out the virgins of this creek.
At the end of this technical part of the river, we all faced the culmination. This was a small drop rapid that verges on Grade 3. With water in the river from previous rain, it makes it easier to negotiate. See the Drop Rapid Video below. Tooey and Snowwy came to grief to add interest to the rapid.

Once the Crystals Bridge was reached, things settled down once again with normal Grade 2 rapids. Rock Drop, hang vine and 1st weir were all negotiated well.

The Wall Rapid provided some interest. Sandy, with much credit to his persistence, went through a successful roll....encompassing some seven tries in a row. We all stopped for a swim....and I am sure Sandy was thankful for the rest.
The main Weir was then disposed of and minor Grade 2 rapids were then disposed of after that.

See the video showing the Redlynch Valley Bridge of an example of a "nice little flow".


Finishing at the Rocks Causeway, the crew felt relief of a longer than normal paddle. The crew dispersed happy with some following other Straya Day plans....and some adjourning to the Red Beret....a local watering hole with beautiful food....and cold, cold ales for all.


In all, another successfull Australia Day Paddle had been completed.

Remember, when paddling the fabulous waterways of this great country, please do not leave anything except for footprints in the sand and a ripple behind the boat, and please do not take anything away apart from photos and great memories of the event.
Blue Skies ....Flounder



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