So yesterday I paddled the bottom 23kms of the course into an incoming tide – the river is beautiful, cliff faces down to the water on one side and large mangrove estuary area on the other.
I decided to wear a light merino bush shirt to paddle in – this has been my plan all along as it will be down to 10 degrees over night – I have not worn this shirt to train in as we are so much warmer in SEQ. Unfortunately once wet the wool component of the shirt becomes like sandpaper – after three hours of paddling in it I have four very nasty chaffing spots on my torso.
I of course will now wear the clothing I have been training in and have a different plan to deal with the cold. Hopefully no more chaffing. I am very pleased to have discovered the problem before the event.
We have checked out all support checkpoints and studied the river, I now realise that 111km is a long way.
The map photo above shows the start point circled and the section paddled yesterday.
Two more sleeps.. can’t wait. DT
redwinekayaks 