It mightn't have been a box of chocolates, but we thought Huey helped go one better by pulling a simply magnificent day out of the hat for a Mother's Day paddle to St Helena. Ever since Mark's Mum (Ann) decided to put the Platypus in Theodolite Creek at Woodgate, she has been afflicted by the kayaking bug and we have wanted to take her to St Helena. With a promising forecast, a tour arranged of the St Helena ruins and a dog of a double booked, the stars were lining up for a paddle as a way for Mark to celebrate with Ann a Mother's Day with a difference.
The trailer was needed to haul the green plastic Beaste to Whyte's Island where we found Graham waiting with his exquisite strip timber kayak. You couldn't have got two more different craft, but once in the water they both moved quickly.
Most of the photos were of everyone's backs. On the way over Graham spotted a small loggerhead turtle, which I also saw only because the creature was clearly unwell and moving very
sluggishly.
We pulled up on Green for AM tea and to make the seating in the kayak more comfortable for Ann. In the end it meant removing her life jacket, something which didn't worry us as there was no wind, very little boat traffic and the Bay was fast becoming one giant millpond.
On St Helena we were delighted to be greeted by Ted who had arrived some 30 minutes before. He had been approached by Mark, the National Park Ranger earlier asking if he too was a Mark, to which Ted said, "no, but I know who he is". Talk about having your reputation precede you. The ute came back down the track and we were given a lift to the ruins where we were privileged to a small group tour of the site. There has been a lot of work done since we last went on a tour and it was with interest that I learned the second hand bricks I have with a "W" in the frog were made by prisoners on St Helena before they sourced bricks from the mainland. Ann
satiated her fascination with old graveyard head stones and was surprised to find that the prisoners only had their number engraved on the headstone.
The conditions remained calm but the tide was on the way out. When we were down to a paddle blade depth Ann was given her paddling orders as this was not the time to take a break. However
we all made it to the channel without getting our feet muddy or having to take a look at the Darcy light. It had been a magic day filled with things Ann enjoys - her golden haired boy, paddling, a picnic, historic ruins and tombstones.
|
