People earn their nicknames. It will come as no surprise that Brian is now 'Boy Racer'. With the pace he is setting in his new wooden kayak he is next on the hit list for a UHF radio so we can reel him in. While there is a 'W', an 'N' and an 'M' in Weinam and Wynnum that is about all they share as 'Navman Nev' found out today. A self proclamation later in the day gave his nickname greater and
unexpected relevance.
Eight kayaks powered by nine paddlers turned out for Plan B paddle from Weinam (not Wynnum) Creek to Dunwich and return. It was a still grey day making it a paddle in the true sense of the word. A threatened stranding on a mud bar on an outgoing tide saw
the group split either side of the mangrove island off Weinam Creek. We regrouped for morning tea at Potts Point. By the time Nev was drifting off the beach he was radioed with the advice to head onto Goat Island. Advice which was duly ignored. After
admiring his assault launch sail it was quickly back onto the water to catch the last of the ebb tide.
The bay was still. A curious dolphin came in close, but that was the most prominent wildlife on show. There was no breeze to disperse the pall of smoke that smudged the horizon and yachts had a day motoring. By the time we reached Dunwich the water had
receded. The salads rolls from the the bakery were a mouthful and
possibly a better choice than the wizened pie. While Percy the pineapple looked okay, he was rotten from the core up to a deceptive 1cm from the edge of the flesh.
The rain signalled the end of lunch and bought out the coats on a day which, while cool without the sun, was hardly the depth of a bitter winter. The promising rain clouds did not move away from Stradbroke. A quick radio round up and an affirmative reply earned an icecream on Coochie. However, the UHF are only any use when switched on. We enjoyed our icecream and chips on the beach while Mark paddled into the distance.
In a candid moment 'Navman Nev' may reveal the other reason for his nickname. Then again he might mutter something about SE vs NW lagoon on Mud Island.
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