Calendar


Trip Diary

08-2012 Peel Island (An Ekka tradition)
08-2012 Moreton Island
07-2012 Rocky Point
06-2012 Blakesleys
06-2012 The Bedroom
05-2012 Breakfast on Karragarra
05-2012 St Helena
05-2012 Perigee Bedroom
02-2012 Queen Mary II
02-2012 Mud Island
11-2011 St Helena
11-2011 Shorncliffe to Redcliffe
10-2011 Weinam Ck to Dunwich
10-2011 Peel Island
10-2011 Breakfast on Karragarra
10-2011 St Helena and Green Island
09-2011 Wivenhoe Dam
08-2011 Fraser Island
08-2011 Canaipa Passage
08-2011 Karragarra
08-2011 Stradbroke Island
07-2011 St Helena
07-2011 So long, and thanks for all the fish.
05-2011 Green Island
05-2011 Wivenhoe Dam
04-2011 Upper Noosa River Weekend
04-2011 Easter at Woodgate
04-2011 Mud Island
04-2011 Karragarra for Breakfast
02-2011 Bongaree
02-2011 St Helena
01-2011 Weinam Ck to Blakesleys
10-2010 Moore to Blackbutt Rail Trail
10-2010 Whitsundays
09-2010 Mud Island
09-2010 Redcliffe
09-2010 Girraween
08-2010 Upper Noosa River
08-2010 Potts Point
08-2010 Peel Island
08-2010 Gateway to City Bike Ride
08-2010 Mud Island
07-2010 Blakesleys Afternoon Paddle
07-2010 Kedron Brook to Scaborough (and return)
04-2010 Colmslie Beach
04-2010 Brighton Park
01-2010 Nundah Creek
01-2010 Blakesleys
01-2010 Upper Noosa River (with a difference)
01-2010 New Year Paddle
12-2009 Potts Point
08-2009 Raby Bay to Peel Island
08-2009 Wynnum Creek to King Island
07-2009 Sandgate to Redcliffe
05-2009 St Helena
04-2009 Wellington Point to Peel
04-2009 Breakfast on Karragarra
03-2009 King Island
03-2009 Mission Point
03-2009 Mud Island
01-2009 Morning Tea at The Pin
01-2009 Circumnavigate Macleay Island
01-2009 New Year Recovery Paddle
12-2008 Caniapa
12-2008 Pine Rivers
11-2008 Coochie Night Paddle
10-2008 Breakfast at Karragarra
10-2008 Girraween
10-2008 Coomera Falls Circuit
09-2008 Hinchinbrook Island
09-2008 Manly Harbour Festival
09-2008 Linville to Blackbutt Rail Trail
08-2008 Weekend at Blakesleys
08-2008 Old Woman Island
08-2008 Circumnavigate Macleay Island
07-2008 Upper Noosa River
07-2008 Weinam Creek to Dunwich
06-2008 Scarborough to Bongaree
06-2008 Wellington Pt to St Helena
06-2008 North Stradbroke Jazz Weekend
05-2008 Point O'Halloran to Blakesleys
04-2008 Upper Noosa River
04-2008 Aquatic Paradise to St Helena Is
04-2008 Eprapah Creek
03-2008 Paradise Point to Moreton Island
03-2008 Wynnum Ck to Tangalooma Point
03-2008 Amity Point weekend
03-2008 Bremer River
03-2008 Brisbane River - Gregors Ck to Barneys Rocks
02-2008 Play Day - Coochie Mudlo
02-2008 World Wetlands Day Paddle
02-2008 Brisbane River night paddle
01-2008 Australia Day Week
01-2008 Blakesleys 3/4 Moon Paddle
01-2008 Shorncliffe to Nudgee
01-2008 Brisbane River - Barneys Rocks to O'Sheas Crossing
12-2007 Raby Bay to One Mile via Blakesleys and Potts Point
12-2007 Diamond Head to Tipplers
12-2007 Wynnum Ck to Green and St Helena Islands
11-2007 Bike Ride Bay Islands
11-2007 Tingalpa Creek
10-2007 Potts Point Night Paddle
10-2007 Return to Gilligans Island
10-2007 Salt Water Creek and Coomera River
09-2007 Elimbah Creek
09-2007 Scarborough to Caboolture River
09-2007 Fraser Island Whale Watching
09-2007 Circumnavigate Russell Island
08-2007 Pine Rivers Night Paddle
08-2007 Linville to Blackbutt Rail Trail
08-2007 Brisbane River City Reach
08-2007 Peel Island
08-2007 Brisbane River
08-2007 Green Island Day Trip
07-2007 Pine Rivers Night Paddle
07-2007 Mooloolah River
07-2007 USS Kitty Hawk in Brisbane River
06-2007 Black Tie on Peel Island
05-2007 Harrys Hut Camping Weekend
04-2007 Theodolite Creek
04-2007 Upper Burrum River
04-2007 Circumnavigate Big Woody
04-2007 Walkers Point to Toogum
03-2007 Boat Passage to Big Sandhills
12-2006 Woodgate to Mon Repos
10-2006 Fraser Island Whale Watching
04-2005 Keppel Islands
12-2004 Fraser Island
10-2004 Munna Point Camping Weekend
10-2004 Mooloolaba to Maroochydore
09-2004 Coochie Mudlo Island
08-2004 Karragarra Island
07-2004 Wellington Point to St Helena Island
06-2004 Noosa River Camping Weekend
05-2004 Brisbane River Night Paddle
04-2004 Budds Beach to Moreton Island
10-2003 Bulwer to Tangalooma
05-2003 Eatonsville to Harwood Island

Links

SEQSK Discussion Group
SEQSK Newsletters
Adventurer Anthony Malloch

Redcliffe
Date: 18-09-2010
Oops. Ray and Carol were waiting patiently at the Sandgate boat ramp when we finally turned up. A night paddle up the Brisbane River City reaches in forecast rain held limited appeal so we put an invitation out for a day paddle. When the phone rang in the back of the car, we had only got as far as Fortitude Valley. Just before Boondall Wetlands the traffic came to a crawl. A pile up on the other side of the median strip had a 4WD at 90 degrees to the direction of flow. Wearing a half ripped off bull bar it was in proximity to a car-less caravan and a melee of other vehicles scattered amongst broasdcast glass. The speed camera 150m to the north was not going to make much money on the first day of the school holidays.

A parade of cars streaming out of Sandgate were sporting high velocity K1s, many in shrouds. Clearly all done and dusted. There was a throng of more speedsters at the boat wash off area. We found Ray and Carol kicking back with a cup of tea - they had decided to wait rather than set out as suggested.

Leaving just before the low we paddled into a millpond. It reminded us of the conditions off Fraser Island with the whale song. We drew up with Ray and Carol as they waited for a paddling silhouette honing in on us. It had a boat profile that made Mark's Marlin look buoyant, the hat of a Patrick, the paddling style of a Patrick and indeed was Patrick in his Sea Bear. He had recently returned from Fraser which after 25 knot nasties had put on a day like this. He had gone 10Km offshore and also felt and heard the whale song. It is truly transcendent and so easy to be mesmerised by the glassy calm and the song. Little wonder we just about pooped ourselves in fright when a couple of whales surfaced about 20m behind the boats. Sounds like some other paddlers had memorable whale watching this year - maybe getting together checking out each other's pics and stories would make for a evening around a BBQ.

After seeing Patrick off the NE started to ruffle in and robbed us of what had been excellent visibility. We went ashore at Margate Beach and were treasured to, yes, get this, a quarter of Carol's banana and chocolate loaf each. It was most welcome and not a skerrick left. I particularly enjoyed all of my quarter as keeping pace with Ray and Carol had devoured the bananas I bought at the markets that morning.

By now the tide had receded and made for interesting paddling through and around the rocky outcrops off Margate and Redcliffe. We headed for the far end of a beach north of Redcliffe for lunch. Coming in required care as it was a rocky shore with sand only at the foot of the beach.

Lunch tasted good too - hard work this paddling when you are not so paddle fit. It was too much effort to retrieve the camera from the boat to capture the two biplanes flying overhead. After an hour of a relaxed lunch, taking in the warmth of the sun and watch the biplanes putter back, it was out to capture the NE with a sail. It was a bit disappointing and needed another 10 knots for a sailing fest. You had to work to catch and keep the little swell it had shoved. Going north all I had seen was a crab, on the way back a couple of turtles.

The day pace had been most welcome, especially seeing this part of the bay fuse into a glassy expanse with the turning of the tide and wind. We cruised back to find the boat ramp deserted, there were no other paddlers in sight. Thank you Ray and Carol - I doubt the speedsters would have been in it for a long wait with a cup of tea.
Pushing off
Into another grey landscape
Silvery calm
Waiting for the stragglers
Satin
Land ahoy
Supreme cake maker
Terns on the rocks
Pulling in for lunch
Sandy beach follows a rocky base
Days end