redwinekayaks

 The day started with a very basic but effective day hatch repair, I have had a problem with the day hatch leaking the entire trip so have resorted to duck tap to solve the problem. My kayak is so low in the water that the back of the boat spends a lot of its time underwater. A Sea Eagle farewelled us from Burrum heads,  it was the last living thing we saw for four hours of ocean paddling – we both commented that it was like paddling through a liquid desert. 

The surf landing at Elliot heads saw Marty execute a very effective right hand broach, a tough manoeuvre in a kayak weighing almost 200kgs. We both celebrated. 

Tonight we are sitting around a fire with good friends at Bagara, yes another hot shower, great food, some red wine and plans for future adventures. All this is soon to be followed by a comfortable bed, the first for a couple of weeks. Some tough paddling to come over the coming days with northerly winds forecast which will test our paddling skill. The coast has turned from sand to rock, so our planning has to be bullet proof over the coming week.

 You will have noticed the marine maps on my kayak in some of the photos – we plan several days ahead and record weather, wind and tide forecasts on the map so we can plan our trip. I estimate nautical miles covered against our paddling speed to determine where we will likely be in relation to the wind and tide forecasts. Much of the success of the days paddling is owed to the planning that has gone in days before, I am loving ocean navigation. DT

A Bug got in my Sleeping Bag
It had been a long day, we’d paddled away

After dinner we’d early retired

It was two in the morning, I was quietly snoring

It was safe to say that I was tired
How the bug got on through, I don’t have a clue

But I knew that he really was here

When he got in my sack and he ran down my back

And took a great bite of my rear
I let out a Yelp and thought it would help

If I gave it a really good scratch

I searched quick and hard and found aero guard 

And gave a spray round the patch
So some little bug, thought I was a mug

“I’ll get you” I said with a laugh

So I sprayed high and low, then he ran over my toe

Then bit me on the back of my calf
You little brighter I said as I lay in my bed

And I thought up a way to harass him

So I let one go, down deep below

And I decide to finally gas him
Then things went all hazy, the bug just went crazy

I could tell he was really annoyed

He bit me some more, my bag I then tore

And in a rage my tent I destroyed

So I’m standing there in my blue underwear

Looking down at what’s left of my tent 

Then the bug crawled on out, and without even a shout

He walked into the grass and he went.  MS

Last night we got one of the pleasant surprises we could hope for with the visit of Jett’s grandparents… Margaret and Peter. They were in the area and had been following our tracker when they realised we had landed just down the road from us so walked on down. To have such friends like this come and see us was wonderful and made day especially. 
Today started serenely as we left the tranquil waters of Hervey Bay but turned more lumpy as we rounded Point Vernan and headed north. A strongish southerly lifted us and we worked hard to ride it, though at times we didn’t seem to be making the progress we wanted. Many turtles lifted their heads to wish us well and as we neared the coast we crossed behind another bar and then scooted aLong nicely in the shallows. Though my speed was assisted when Dean scared a black tip reef shark under my boat. Following a moment of thrashing about I upped my pace. But it was only a baby really. 

When we approached Burrum Heads we faced an out going tide and many deceptive sandbars. We knew that we had to get to the main channel on the other side and so chose a small channel which seemed to lead us there.  It got narrower and then shallower. We had to get out and drag our kayaks through the shallows. Just as we were almost there we ran out of water. Damn. We had two choices… Turn around and paddle out to sea and the long way round… Or lift our gear and kayaks 15o metres over the sand. We chase the latter. We crossed the channel and tonight sit snug inside the dunes eating spaghetti bollanaise and drinking black coffee. Heaven. MS

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The day started calm and beautiful on Fraser Island – after tracking some dingo footprints we set off on our first crossing of the day to Big Woody Island. As seems to be the case with all channel crossings the weather quickly changed and we were chased by a rain squawl and fresh gusts of wind into the eastern side of the island. We found a rocky, sand free, spooky looking coastline that quickly became our favourite island of the trip so far. Huge donut corals were centremetres under the kayaks and the northern end looked like the an Opel had exploded with every imaginable colour in the shallows, shadowed in the distance by a very dark rain front. It was beautiful.

We got smacked in the face by rain and wind half way across to Hervey Bay so took shelter on Round island, pretty much a great big sand dune in the middle of the ocean. It was perfectly placed and we were very thankful it was there, so 20 minutes later we were rested and on our way again. The great Hervey Bay sand bar at five kilometres long took us both by surprise but treated us with a dolphin display – the video footage above doesn’t do them justice – they were born to have fun.
The paddle into Torquay beachfront campground seemed to take an age as we both had sore arms and had skipped lunch. An unbelievable day with so much crammed into a few hours – love the great sandy straights, Fraser Island and Hervey Bay. DT

Our worlds are certainly changing as we spent the last two days in the inner waters of Fraser Island. This island was a military training base during ww2 and as we pass ship wrecks and delapidated old wharves I wish I knew more about the history I am seeing. The life around us is plentiful, yesterday as I was head down paddling across a strong wind in the shallows I hit a submerged huge turtle with my paddle. It got really upset and in a flurry of splashes went crazy escaping under my kayak and away. Must admit, it gave me a bit of a wake up too.

Life has certainly become much simpler and the small pleasures of a birds call, a dolphin’s fin, a warm coffee, the colours of a sunset, replace beating an amber light or a Broncos win. Loving this. Hey 1 yellow…. I miss you. MS

Day ten was thirty five kilometres from Garry’s anchorage, lower Frazer island to an unnamed beach toward the top of Frazer. A very windy day with 20 plus knots of wind from the southeast which was fantastic at our backs but very difficult during the short legs where we had to paddle into it to get around sand bars and islands. Dugongs and Turtles kept us company the whole way up. When rounding one point there were so many Turtles Marty bonked one on the head with his paddle – they can move really fast when upset and cast off a big bow wave when doing so, I am pleased it chose to go away from my boat and not through it.
Standing on a beach with no other human footprints is a wonderful thing. When we got up this morning we saw the footprints of a Dingo who had quietly come and gone during the night checking us out. He didn’t disturb our sleep and took nothing with him. I suspect though that if we had left any food laying around it would have been gone.

Today we paddle from Frazer island through to Hervey Bay – from complete isolation to busy tourist centre. We have been trying to locate camp sites within our days paddling range but so far have had no luck. We are hoping options become clear the further on we go. Does anyone know anyone living in Hervey Bay on the water who wouldn’t mind a couple of scruffy fellows camping in their front yard?

The repair on my kayak his holding well. The wind is starting to drop today which will be lovely, I am a bit over wrestling the boat in the wind, I am looking forward to some gentle cruising for a few days. 

As you can see from the cheeky photo of Marty above we are eating very well, home made porridge with fresh strawberries – great paddling fuel. Will post tonight from somewhere close to civilisation. DT

The paddle from Inskip to Frazer island was a two kilometre bucking bronco ride – heaps of fun in 25knots of south easterly  wind with metre plus waves to surf across. Standing on Frazer felt like we had started a new and more complex part of our journey north. The island has the most beautiful vegetation with palm groves and rainforest trees reaching the beach. The bird life is diverse and beautiful. Two Eastern Robins sat watching me unpack my kayak completely unphased by me being there. A Dugong popped up for a moment just ten metres off the front of our kayaks, we saw very light grey Dolphins – different to those down south, we suspect they must be a different species. On our way into the camp ground this evening we passed at least a dozen large turtles munching away in the shallows, some of them were huge. My favourite of the day were the three Beach Stone Curlews who flew in formation, screeching as they passed no more than two metres over our heads, just before we set off this morning.

So far on this trip I have broken a paddle coming through the surf at Caloundra; drowned what was supposed to be a waterproof speaker (it couldn’t swim) so we have no more music at night; and today cracked the day hatch bulkhead which allowed water to fill my cockpit so this evening I have been drying out Black Magic so she could be repaired with fibreglass. I now smell like methelated spirits and resin.

I figure that is three breakages done and dusted so from now all equipment will remain intact for the rest of the trip! We are well equipped with spares and repair equipment which is just as well. 

We have very poor coverage on the island at this evening so cannot upload any photos of the day, will do so when the coverage improves. Riley, Jake – thanks for my porridge wishes, they are awesome. DT

Worlds Apposed
Sky is bright with screaming gulls

Wind caresses cool and free

Feeling every change nature pulls

Life upon the ocean sea
Juxtaposed the sea below

Ripples hint at things unseen

Images dart quick to and fro

Surface seems so serene 
Gifted with moments in time

Pushing through natures door
Happenings no reason nor rhyme

Join us they implore
Worlds below allow us through

Becoming part of this unknown

Tides and currents we travel too

My inner soul is ever growing
The moods of sea she daily shows

Like a youth with emotions high

We share her calmness and her woes

Her quiet moments hear her sigh
My body pushes on each day

But beauty’s presence affects my soul

Worlds apposed seem to say

All life has a greater goal. MS

With 25 to 30 knot winds and 3 metre oceans forecast for the next five days we were faced with a tough choice, 1/- paddle and risk having to be rescued if we got into trouble, 2/ – sit in a caravan park in Noosa for five days, 3/- jump in a car and drive  the 50 kilometres of dangerous coast up to Inskip so we could continue paddling north on the inside of Frazer Island. Despite being somewhat crazy we quickly eliminated option 1. Noosa is a beautiful place but having only been going 7 days we did not want to lose a weeks paddling for the sake of 50 kilometres of open beach, so we eliminated option 2. So option 3 it was, and being so close to home our lovely family came and picked us up and transported us to safe water so we can continue north. This of course will not be an option further into out trip. Tomorrow the tracker will be back on – we are entering Dingo country behind Frazer Island … Will post from Fraser Island tomorrow if we are in reception. DT

Dicky beach camp ground was a fantastic place for a day of R&R. Arriving just before the thunder storm the evening before meant we did not have the time to set up our tents, a tarp covered the equipment while we supped coffee in the caravan annex of two awesome travellers Rhonda and Ken from Victoria – they were great. Marty feeling a bit under the weather ended up sleeping in their annex, Greg and I waited for the rain to pass so we were setting up our tents at 11 o’clock at night. The facilities in the caravan park were new, clean and the people were very friendly. When we left this morning we had Maryanne and Brenton fellow sea kayakers, Adam the life guard and a fresh of the boat English couple Rose and her partner came and saw us off at the beach… Brian who is soon to paddle in Alaska gave us some great advise. The visit was so good I am thinking about buying a caravan! 
Today we paddled 56 kilometres from Dicky Beach through to Noosa – we had a 7-8knot southerly forecast for the day which should have blown us up the coast very quickly but as with all weather forecasts sometimes they are wrong. At 1pm the wind shifted to easterly which slowed us by hitting us on the side, at 2pm the wind turned north east and was coming straight at us. We are all very sore and tired and ended up landing on the Noosa river camp ground right on dark. We have just eaten and are all making funny noises each time we move. Mudjimba island on the way up was absolutely beautiful with crystal clear water and beautiful vegetation- a real highlight. We saw Dolphins and several whales breach on our way up today – they were great to see. An exhausting but fantastic day had by all… DT.

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