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

Peel Island (An Ekka tradition)
Date: 15-08-2012
The array of kayaks was as colourful as any sideshow at the Ekka. The vibrancy was matched by the intensely blue water and clear skies. Just off Cleveland Point the decision was made to head clockwise around the northern side of Peel. The group soon dribbled out across several Km. Three of the four radios tagged up the rear within chattering distance of each other. As it was the radios were pretty useless for a pair of male gas bags were holding 21 hostage to themselves and their drivel. A curt interruption took the kayakers up to Channel 22 once the tagglets figured out how to do it.

Our sole receiver was Mark somewhere out in front. An initial offer of AM tea on the beach on the western side of Peel was withdrawn as the cake holder was heading north together with the rapidly receding tide. Those who were familiar with these waters also headed north. It was with some bemusement that such a colourful array of boats seemed to be in no hurry to get away from the coral they had ported over. The coral viewing can get very up close and personal as the silvery water around the Lazeret runs very thin very quickly. Radios are handy, and not just for calling cake time, but if no one has one . . .

The visibility was the watery equivalent to the clear blue skies. There was plenty of snotty looking slime adrift in the green. The coral looked like mud castles. The kayak startled an occasional turtle and a small groups of sprats but that was about it. Seemed like the Brahminy perched on the sign would be working hard for a feed, and those fishing were there for the meditation rather than the catch.

The 16 kayaks commandeered Platypus Bay nosing in amongst drifts of cornflake weed the same as that washed ashore on the western side of Moreton on the weekend. The lat tide had left the rock wall looking surprisingly good, but someone said that there had been work done on it. After a casual lunch and more wasabe moral mirth the group then completed the clockwise navigation. It remained very still. Mark and I decided to have lunch at Horseshoe Bay and give the NE a chance to wind up. We played match the beach goer with the boat. Those on jet skis were easy. It was the yachties that were hard to pick - we had them for bayliners.

With little wind and the lat tide about done we wandered off. A verbal reprimand spared some soldier crabs a mindless squashing by two bored young boys and we headed off before copping a squashing from any protective parent. On the way back a solitary dolphin came for a casual looksee. The NW had a bit of life but would have improved its performance by shifting NE and upping the amount of effort it put into it. Apparently it was said that I would whinge about this. Oops, you would get the impression (as some apparently have) that I am a dare devil. I am not, I am the biggest scaredy cat. It is only once I know it won't hurt me that I am less timorous. And paddling is over rated.

We were surprised to find the last few yet to leave. Apparently one paddler went for a swim. As on the way over the group was dribbled out over many Km. The swimming episode happened towards the tail. Fortunately there was another paddler nearby and a third came back to help. There is something to be said about radios. The one time we witnessed an unexpected swim a "man overboard" call was out as soon as the paddler hit the water. The entire group pulled up immediately as there were radios dispersed throughout the group. The swimmer soon had a range of boats to bonk him on the head and there was plenty of help should anyone assisting end up in the drink.

UHF radios. Perfect for cake calls, relaying unexpected changes of course, getting help, quickly, no matter how calm or rough the conditions. They are only worth having if they are out, accessible and useable. That means having a reliable model, with the option of high power transmission (for when conditions are rough or the wind strong) in a dry bag (which usually costs more than the radio). It also means having batteries that work. Mark gave rechargeable batteries the flick years ago - we found them too unreliable for a piece of equipment which can make all the difference. UHF radios, we don't paddle without them.
An Ekka prarde
The dribble begins
Glassy
With visibility to match
Bit of an oopsy in progress
The Wile E took the northern route
Long time looking
Consider this beach taken
Bit of an oops - that was last weekend
This is company with great crew
Scarlet heading out
Some of the rest of the crew
Horseshoe on the lat
Simon, that's a multihuill
Crikey - did you see that !!
Sailing (or trying too)
Home leg