Today's paddle was very much a relaxed affair by majority rule. Brian was a bit off colour and certainly wasn't charging out of the starting blocks, Mark had been unwell earlier in the week and my forearms were complaining about yesterday's
unaccustomed effort around the section (ie yard for you culturally unaware Ockers).
We were all able to score a car park at the end of the road after driving past hundreds of runners pounding a circuit along the Bribie Island foreshore. Looking at the grimaces on their faces and polystyrene cups strewn around the water stations there was a better way to spend a great day with less mess. Five kayaks
left the sandy beach and a decision was made to head for Gilligan's Island. The SE was blowing around 15Kn. Heading straight into it on an outgoing tide made the chop stand up. With Bertha melon wedged in the back hatch and the front empty, I was pleased to have replaced the front hatch cover. Slamming off the back of the chop I reckon the original hatch cover would have stood a good chance of being blown off. Something to be said for those inflatable dry bags when paddling empty.
Gilligan's was marked by cormorants and terns surrounded
by sloppy chop. We came in from the SW for a leg stretch before heading across north of Skirmish Point. With sails up it wasn't long before we were looking at the beach. It was a typical dumping Bribie surf, one wave and you are there. With no need for
an involuntary wash we landed amongst quieter surf on the southern end of the island for morning tea with Bertha. While she looked great, Bertha didn't come up trumps with flavour. Most were about to conquer their kilo share with Bertha's remains destined for the worm farm.
We made an easy 10Kph with wind and tide in our favour back across the southern end of Bribie. A pod of dolphins was seen in close. The one I saw looked more like a shark as it hurtled in a straight line with it's dorsal fin in a continuous breech rather than bobbing.
It was a beautiful day and water felt warm. Tom was keen to honour his family tradition of Fish & Chips on Bribie so we continued on up the passage to the jetty. Kicking back on the grass for lunch in the shade of a Moreton Bay Fig we watched the passage sparkle and people enjoying the foreshore. A kayaker with a Sequel came up for a chat, sounded like the group he paddled with would not be capable of such a relaxed aptitude.
After commenting about having to break out through the rampaging surf along the passage Tom took his swim sooner than anticipated. Maybe he was distracted and thinking about the fishing companion he had seen on the way up the passage, a sight you would have appreciated Dave. By the time the boats were on the cars the sea had reclaimed the childrens' sand castle and brought to a close a classic lazy Sunday paddle.
|