- SSRKC 30th YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
- BRIBIE ISLAND CAMP 19th – 25th FEBRUARY…
- CLUB PADDLING FUN DAY 9th March 2023
- BOREEN POINT CAMP 15th – 19th MARCH 2023
- TATHRA CAMP 27th APRIL – 13th MAY 2023
- PIMP YOUR KAYAK DAY/FLEA MARKET 6th JUNE 2023
- WHITSUNDAYS CAMP 14th – 28th AUG 2023
- SAFETY WEEK 27th – 30th NOVEMBER 2023
- TASMANIA CAMP FEBRUARY 2024
Fourteen of us met at Donnybrook in very overcast conditions which turned into fine weather within a short time of leaving.
This time we had plenty of water on the launch beach with HT at Donnybrook at 9.31 Winds were very light SW with no appreciable sail assist.
Don was the trip leader and he was well versed in the track we were taking as he had done an exploratory a short time before.
A .. on the chart
We got to Roys Rd a distance of 12.5km in 1hr 41mins at an average speed of 7.5km/hr including the drink stops.
You can clearly see from the graph how our speed remained the same all the way to Roys.
B .. on the chart
C .. on the chart
Again looking at the graph you can see how our speed gradually increased all the time after the hump.
Some of us stopped at Mission Pt for a break while the rest headed straight home.
Trip distance was 26.4km, but with the tidal assist for the majority of the trip it didn’t feel like we had covered that distance.
Those that made the effort to drive down to Donnybrook were rewarded with a most enjoyable paddle.Richard
Preparation Guidelines for an Extended Trip – George Reeman.
George heading for Sandy Cape, Fraser Island.After you have decided where you are going and where you will be camping, check if camping permits are required and if there is water available.
Tide times are very important. This may determine when you go. The further north you go the bigger the tides, and the harder it is to paddle against it.
KAYAK
Make sure the seat and back rest are comfortable.
All hatch covers should fit well, be water tight, and are tied on.
Deck lines must be in good condition.
A painter, attached to the bow, is excellent if required for mooring.
The most common problem on extended trips are rudders. Make sure the rudder is securely attached and the foot pedals operate freely; rudder cables are not worn or frayed. If so, replace them.
Check your paddle and leash.
Make sure your spray skirt fits the cockpit, it does not leak and can be removed easily in the case of a roll-over.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Personal Flotation Devices (PFD)
Make sure it is comfortable. Pockets are important to carry other safety items. A large pocket in the back of the PFD to carry a hydration pack is a good idea.
Personal Locating Beacon (PLB)
This should be carried in a PFD pocket and secured to the PFD. Check if your PLB floats upright when activated. Some do not. The aerial must be upright to send the signal to the satellite.
VHF Radio
Good for communicating with each other. Select a channel that is not common with local stations to contact each other, switch to dual watch so you can listen to Channel 16, the Emergency channel. On dual watch, Channel 16 will tell you which channel to change to for the weather report. You should also have a direct button to Channel 16 on your radio for emergencies. Notify the local VMR that you are in the area, and for how long, and what channel they use. Also, if you return to that area, don’t forget to cancel the watch with VMR. Hand held VHF radios are only good for about 3kms or line of sight, depending on the power of the set.
Remember to make it as easy as possible for a rescue boat or helicopter to find you.
Other safety devices that can be carried in the pockets of your PFD are:
A whistle, mirror, flare, day or night space blanket, and sea dye. Any of these are good for attracting attention.
A short tether line to secure yourself to the kayak is also a good idea, if you are offshore.
Plus, a survival knife.
The above items should be carried on you, not stored in a hatch. Many very experienced paddlers have lost or almost lost their lives because their safety equipment was stored in a hatch or cockpit.
Other equipment to be carried should include:- spare paddle, stored on the deck; emergency tow rope in the throw bag; electric bilge pump, backed up by a hand pump; sponge or bailing bucket. In case of minor damage, it is a good idea to carry a small dry bag containing bits & pieces, such as – small fibreglass repair kit, Dynasteel bog for plugging holes, duct tape, electrical ties, spare cord and a multi-tool.
Navigation
You should always carry a map of the area. GPS is the common means of navigating these days, but a deck mounted compass is always an easy way of checking your heading. There is another device for informing people where you are, called SPOT. This small device acts like a satellite phone. It can be programmed into one or more home computers. If you press the transmit button it will show on the home computer exactly where you are. It also has a help button, if when pressed it will indicate on the home computer that you require help, and they can notify the authorities. There are many small power cells on the market these days that can be charged at home, and used to recharge radios, GPS, mobile phones, and other devices while on a trip. Also small Solar panels.
FOOD and CLOTHING
Most items i.e. food, clothing, camping gear, should be carried in dry bags. Always carry 2 days extra food in case you are held up by weather.
Other protective items are a hat or cap with back of the neck protection, sunscreen, insect repellant.
WATER
For carrying water I find a bag with carry strap, containing a 4lt wine bladder, can be hung in a tree for use. Depending on the length of the trip, additional 4lt wine bladders are ideal. They pack in better than 10l water bags. Always pack your water in the bottom of the kayak. A good place to carry water is in front of the rudder pedals. Don’t end up with your kayak bow -heavy when it is packed.
Carry straps:- For a loaded kayak, you require 2 carry straps. These can be made from seat belt webbing, with a loop sewn on each end approx 130cm. The straps should be threaded under the deck lines at each end, to prevent slipping off. If you have 6 people, you can use a third strap under the cockpit. This doesn’t need loops. This is useful if you need to carry any distance.
The above information is a guide only.
Cheers, George.
Dave Pass, in the company of five others, recently paddled from Urangan to Sandy Cape. All returned safely.
WHEN TO GO.
The tides run strong into and out of Hervey Bay. Ebb tide to go north and Flood tide to go south.
DRINKING WATER.
CAMP SITES.
Woralie.
Awinya Creek.
Watumba Creek.
Rooney Point.
Sand hills predominate between Watumba and Rooney.
Sandy Cape Lighthouse.
Carree, at Sandy Cape.
Good Luck With The Weather!!
A 10 day paddle along the North West side of Fraser Island from the 18 th to 28 th August, 2016.
Day 1. Urangan boat harbour to Woralie creek – 28km.
Excitement as we saw considerable ‘whale’ activity so far south! This turned out to be white water at the sth end of coongal shoal.
Around mid day we hauled our heavy boats up the beach (low tide) to camp at Woralie Ck. (A 6 man lift, 3 straps, made carrying the boats reasonably easy). Lunch/set up camp and a welcome swim in the fresh water creek beside camp.
Day 2. Woralie Ck to Wathumba – 21km.
We were launched by 8.30 and paddling north toward Awinya Ck, our intended smoko spot. Whales in the distance, wind and tide in our favour, happy campers! From Awinya some went wide to use the wind and some stayed close to shore to enjoy the coastal detail. We met at the creek entrance for a hard paddle/wade through shallow out running water (lowish tide) up the creek to Wathumba camp site.
Bob tried the fishing in the creek and Graham offered to top up water bottles at the Nat.Parks water tank across the creek. Others lazed/walked the beach untill happy hour.
Day 3. Watumba to Rooney Point – 24km.
Another perfect day as we paddled out across Platypus Bay. This north section of the bay is where the whales tend to gather, so we were hopeful of meeting some, especially Albert who had not ‘paddled with the whales’ previously. We were not disappointed. We soon had whales around, under and beside us while a DRONE hovered over us! Probably from some whale watching craft beyond our horizon. George tried to keep us on track, but Bob and Albert were all over the bay and Garth was way behind having a ‘close encounter with a whales tail’.
It is quite obvious when out there in our comparatively frail craft, that these huge creatures have no intention of ‘bumping’ into us.
And so it continued all morning, whales constantly in view, sometimes very close and the occasional huge turtle or pod of dolphins for variation.
With such great conditions, we decided to continue around Rooney Point to find a camp site. As we rounded the point, the crystal clear water of platypus bay suddenly changed to ‘soup’; brown thick pulverized sea weed. Bob the fisherman eloquently identified this as ‘snot weed’. Not only dirty and smelly but it sticks to anything it touches, including bodies, boats and sails!
We continued around the point in the vain hope it would at least thin out a bit, but eventually made a careful landing to camp on a pleasant beach under a good cover of casuarinas.
Day 4/Day 5. Rooney Point to Sandy Cape Lighthouse – 14km. (2 night camp).
We were soon in the small bay below the lighthouse and continued on toward the cape a short way looking for an official camp site, found only a ‘no camping’ sign and returned to below the lighthouse.
Safely through the small surf to the open area at the base of the track up to the light, we checked the many national parks signs and found no “ no camping” sign, and so began the procedure of carrying the boats up. As we did so a 4×4 pulled up near the boats and ‘NORM’ stepped out. He must have been a Norm as his generous belly, wrapped in a broncos tee shirt proceeded him, and his big hand had a firm grip on a can of XXXX which he was inhaling through the gap where a front tooth used to be! A most friendly bloke who soon produced 6 coldies from the fridge and insisted on taking our group photo on everyones camera!
Lunch and camp organized we were about to set off for the walk up to the light when Ranger Matt and his apprentice turned up. He was quite astounded that we had appeared from nowhere and made it quite clear that we could not camp here. ‘Pack up and move to the official camp site 8km further on at Sandy Cape’ was his greeting. He had no chance! A compromise was reached, we would stay tonight and move on tomorrow. We parted company on good terms, but this gave the group a dilemma. Some considered the lighthouse to be a satisfactory terminus and had planned a rest day for tomorrow while others felt that anything less than the actual cape (8km further) was a cop out. Discussion resulted in the solution that Albert, Graham and Dave would take the easy option of a 16km paddle, wind and tide assisted, back around Rooney Point to find a camping site somewhere near the point. George Bob and Garth would take the tough option, a 32km paddle in which tide (and wind as it turned out) would turn against them and they would beach and launch through the soup for a break. Added to their difficulty was that Rooney point can get a bit rough with wind over tide conditions.
Not an ideal camp site as the sand hills extended well around the point into platypus bay. The second weary group arrived around 1.30 having made good time in some difficult conditions, but in the bay it was calm with whales often passing close in to our camp. This was just too much for the novice whale paddler Albert, who could not raise any enthusiasm for a group to paddle out to the whales. Off he went, dragging Bob across the beach to launch and spend a special time with just him and whales around and under him. ‘What a buzz’ was his comment.
Day 6 / Day 7. Rooney Point to Awinya Creek – 30km. (2 day).
The forecast was for strong winds, nth/w to S/W, for the next few days, so we pegged the tents down well and were grateful that it was a planned rest day tomorrow .At least we had shelter among the casuarinas and clean soft grass under foot, not to mention the fresh water ck behind camp.
Day 8. Awinya c k to Coongal Point. 15km.
Day 9. Coongal Creek to Uranban Harbour – 20km.
George led us through the entrance as he ‘logged off’ with the Coast Guard.
‘GOOD ONE GEORGE’ I heard Albert mutter as we entered the harbour.
A collection of Richard’s paths travelled at GKI
The Lighthouse Walk Thursday 30 May 2013
A small group of around 10 people headed up the bitumen track at the back of the camp with the aim of making the lighthouse at the other end of the island.
It started off as an easy walk on the flat, but after a few km the track was washed away by a stream and it required walking through long grass and clambering down a bank to get across. This was enough to deter most of the group and only the diehard walkers continued determined to get to the lighthouse.
Don, Jan, Richard and Jane ventured across the stream and the others took another track to walk to Leeke’s Beach. The track soon headed steeply uphill to reach a plateau with the group getting a good cardio workout. Once on the plateau we had magnificent views across to Humpy Island, Masthead Island, Heron Island and the many small islands between us and the mainland. We were now within striking distance of the lighthouse and the final few km were downhill across a windswept ridge devoid of much vegetation, before making our destination the lighthouse. The wind was blowing strongly from the SE as we sheltered behind the lighthouse and ate our lunch. It had taken us 2hr 40 to walk the 8.8km. Don commented that we had better leave by 2pm to ensure we got home before dark. So after a short lunch stop in which we took in the fantastic views we started on our return journey. It was a long hard slog uphill to reach the plateau and then it got easier with most of the walk downhill. On the way home we got a wriggle on, ensuring that we made it before sunset and arrived at 5pm. It was a challenging 17.2km walk, but well worth the effort and we were all glad to rest up after close to 5hrs on our feet.
The following are Google Earth images of the Murgon Dams with GPS pathways of the paddles undertaken by club members.
Look closely. You will notice that the tracks are shown on dry land.
No….they did not have wheels on their kayaks. The present dam levels are much higher than when the images were taken!
Thanks to Jim for the GPS images.
Click on the images for a larger view.
Lake Barambah – Northern Section.