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

Old Woman Island
Date: 13-08-2008
Launch: Mooloolah River
Distance: 23km
Conditions: Calm

While a warm bed is particularly delicious on a cold morning, an ideal forecast was beckoning for a paddle around Old Woman Island. Being Brisbane's Ekka Showday the traffic promised to be light, and as turned out, so was the company.

It was a clear run up the coast and plenty of parking off River Esplanade where a council gang was enjoying a leisurely morning break. They slowly wound up as we paddled off. One pontoon was adorned with a glinting array of CDs - very eye catching but clearly of no concern for the resident cormorant. Discrete cover was provided for Crikey as we slipped passed the whale watching boat from Australia Zoo and out through the river mouth.

It was a glorious day with a cloud streaked sky. The breeze was light and the sail marked time as we headed direct to Old Woman Island on an ebb tide. The sea birds were mainly gannets distinguished by their golden plumage, head splitting dives and ability to remain under for a long time. As you get closer the island develops an androgynous profile. A small swell washed over the platform rocks, which, if you had a plastic boat, looked like it you chose the right wave would deposit you neatly in a great place to get out. Around the northern side people were playing on surf boards while others were out fishing in a few small boats. The water was a beautiful clear deep green and it looked like a place to return with a snorkel.

On the way back to Cottontree a pod of three dolphins came right up to my boat with one diving under before they headed off. No footage as the degree of excitement is inversely related to the likelihood of being able to get a great photo. When we finally worked out where the river mouth was I sprouted a great set of surf chicken feathers. Regular two to three foot waves were breaking at the mouth of the Maroochy River. Given that there was no need to land, the thought of getting wet had me preening vigorously so we headed back for a lakeside landing at Mooloolaba for lunch.

While there were only a few people wandering along the beach, the car park next to the beach was as full as ever. Warming up in the sun we watched a series of yachts, tinnies and fishing boats leave the river mouth. It was so calm that we took a look at the small beach on the other side of the rock wall, an area favoured by surfers which you normally can't get near. About 300m out beyond the rock wall was an officious looking red flag on a pole. Wondering what it might signify made it worth a gander. Appearances can be deceiving - turned out to be a tattered piece of rip stop nylon on a bamboo pole shoved in a white float which had been anchored.

Returning to the river mouth at a casual 9Kph with the flood tide we had the car park to ourselves. As we packed the wind was just starting to pick up at the end of what had been a remarkably still day.

Sole starters
New use for old CDs
Quiet day
Approaching Old Woman (island that is)
Profile
Northeast face
Looking for Cottontree
Lake Mooloolaba
D.I.Y channel marker
 
Old Woman Island Map
GPS Trackfile (OziExplorer .plt)