With the winter on our doorstep, it was time to have a holiday in the tropics. Fraser Island looked like the place to go. Having never visited this area, the planning was well under way to ensure this was going to be a well organised and successful holiday.
I mentioned my plans to one of my paddling friends ... and then there were two!. I was not going alone now!. Having paddled with him over the years I knew he enjoyed the extended camping/kayaking style of paddling. Within a few weeks we had six rearing to go! .. It was time to put a limit on the number... "That's it, no more!".
Eight of us departed in August 2004 at a town on the East Coast of Queensland at a place called Boonooroo. Talk about a mixed group. With an age span of around 40+ years!, my plan had changed somewhat, but I was still determined to have a holiday regardless.
About the group.... They were all friends that I had paddle/camped with over the years and still do. They could all paddle > than 20 km per day. They enjoyed paddling and camping. So I felt some solace in having this group to share in what was now our "adventure/holiday". (It is generally easier to create an adventure rather than a holiday when sea kayaking with a group of 8).
The ~ 7 km crossing from Boonooroo was uneventful . Gary's Anchorage saw our arrival on the island. In good spirits, we headed north to Ungowa, our first camp site. On route we were making 6 - 7 km/h with tide and SE trade wind assist. Hence we could stop and explore more frequently on route it also allowed a couple of our group (the older ones), to have their afternoon beauty sleep while the rest of us explored.
After an early night at Ungowa. In some part due to the copious quantities of red. Some of us were awoken by the howling of two dingo packs which had surrounded our campsite. Those who managed to sleep through the howling were abruptly awoken by a horrendous scream in the middle of the night, when one of the group thought he had a dingo in the tent.
It was off to Woody Island - the tide was good. A few hours of paddling saw us at the resort for some additional supplies... like some more red grape ballast..... to ensure the correct boat trim was maintained on route. |
Not mentioning any names but one of our group had the hide to walk up to a couple at the resort bar and ask his partner for a dance! He was still in his kayaking gear! Including his neoprene style dancing shoes. She was less than half (being polite) his age. She accepted.... I knew it time to leave when he put a $10 note down the front of his pants....but that's another story. We picked up supplies and moved on to Woody Island with smiles all round.
From Woody Island to Woralie Creek on to Wathumba... the fun continued. Eight days and ~ 180 km of good weather, paddling/fishing and whale watching. It was an unbelievably successful trip.
So what made this trip so successful?
- The people you paddle with. This group was a great bunch of paddlers with similar skills and interests. (Excludes packing up camp in a reasonable time J )
- With the group participation in planning. It became "our" paddle as a team.
- Close monitoring of paddling speed and paddlers during the trip, ensured rest breaks were taken at appropriate times.
- The short 20 km limits set for each day ensured plenty of time on the island for land activities/fishing etc.
Ask yourself how the group will get along with each other after 8 days? Generally a few weekends camping paddles with the group will give you some idea. Also some good low down on equipment selection.
- The thorough briefing prior to the paddle. The many e-mails on hey why don't we do this or that? ensured everyone new each others expectations before departure.
Would I do it again with this group? As quick as you can say "Whitsunday Island," our next adventure.
A special thanks to the South East wind god Apeliotus.
Henry Van der Kolk is an avid paddler, keen photographer and a great person to paddle with. If you get a chance to accompany Henry on any of his trips, you will have memories for a life time.
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