A midday high, light SW in the morning turning to strengthening SE in the afternoon – this was shaping up well for the Sunday float to Caniapa. Maybe there would be wildflowers like those seen on the guided walks around Lake Weyba, Marcoola and on Bribie Island last weekend (Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival).
A colourful assortment of nine kayaks left Weinam Creek. With most flying sails, the SE made for an easy passage across to Garden Island. Susan and Carol chattered and lagged. Only an approaching ferry forced a spirited finish to join the rest of the crew parked up at the picnic table. An appreciative hush dimmed the conversation as we munched a piece of Carol’s freshly baked apple and pecan loaf.
There was a rapidly dwindling beach at the base of the sand dune at Caniapa. A tumble of concrete pipes revealed rusty steel cables which provided convenient hitching points. We headed up to the clearing for lunch where a light breeze kept the midges away. A bright yellow gompholobium (Wallum pea) declared the wild flower season to be in swing. After a leisurely lunch a decision was made to head to the summit, and in true group style, three parties went three different ways, leaving at three different times, ending up in three different places. A bit of cooee and we all admired the view of the ocean and bay from the same dune. You would not know that a fire had been through a couple of years ago. THe wild flowers were amongst those seen in the dry wallum heathland last weekend. Just as beautiful, some, in particular the boronia even more spectacular.
The return was aided by a touch of the promised SE. We scooted by Jock Kennedy Park on the northern end of Russell Island to a live band playing Yothu Yindi’s ‘Treaty’ as a part of the closing ceremony of the Four Islands Festival. Next it was play dodgem ferries in the W’s with the ebbing tide making for close sharing. One passenger ferry did not slow pushing up a rapidly cresting three foot wave with friends.
The backlit sails floated like butterflies as we drifted north of Pannikin Island towards Weinam Creek after classic September day on the water and in the bush.
