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

Blakesleys 3/4 Moon Paddle
Date: 19-01-2008
Launch: 17:15 Victoria Point Ramp
Tide: 14:35 LT
Brisbane Bar
Distance: 19km
Conditions: Wind SE-E
Deja vu was out and about for this moonlit paddle to Blakesleys for dinner. It was deemed a melon free event as it was shaping up for a grand turnout total of three (again). With the wind blowing around 15Kn and no indication that it would ease from 15 - 20Kn on the BOM website, I too would have piked had we not done this before in similar conditions.

The mobile rang late in the afternoon. It was Nev. He would be camping at Blakesleys. On arrival we saw an unfamiliar vehicle cruising around with a couple of sea kayaks on its roof. Turns out it was Patrick and Peter who had come for water respite after day of landscaping. To our surprise we found Chris and Carol waiting in the car park. Yummm. With the kayaks on the muddy sand next to the northern boat ramp at Victoria Point and Patrick and Peter hovering offshore, we waited. Waited for the one early confirmed starter, Brian.

Heading over was slow going with yet another SE blow. However, it was not as strong nor as rough as the time before. The sunset disappeared into a grey morass just before we landed on the beach. Having paddled for two hours it was at the top of the tide and this time around there were many more yachts and cruisers anchored for the night.

With some intrepidation we pulled out disposable BBQ number four (with a gas stove for backup). Well it was really numbers four and five combined into one BBQ bonza event as we did not want to repeat the cool affair of Potts Point. After a slow start the foil base was attacked with a can opener for air flow. As it started to crank up, Chris fanned his BBQ into a smoke signaller. Seems these BBQ do best with a stack of fuel and plenty of time (probably an hour) before they are ready. Time is needed for the BBQ to get hot enough to burn off the kerosene, paraffin wax and any other imported toxic flavourings and form the embers. By then they can be a great cooker and put out heat long enough to cook several meals followed by marshmallows. Probably best left for camping weekends where there is time to kick back enjoy a few sundowners, smoke out the insects or warm the tootsies.

At the end of the meal Carol produced a glorious chocolate cake with a rich smooth icing. It had been demarcated into kayaker size portions with strategically placed pieces of by now melted chocolate. While it was followed by a sticky caramel plait butchered with a fish slice, some clearly deprived cake eaters just couldn't resist another serve of that cake. By now the wind had dissipated and the bay was silent.

Climbing back into wet lycra is never all that great, but it didn't take long to warm up. The water was cloyingly still and the air thick with humidity. It was so still as to be oppressive. The slightest disturbance in the water was easily seen by the light of the three quarter moon. By now it was high in the sky and backlit the cobblestone clouds. A few ruffles started as we approached Potts Point. Brian was having a Mitch moment and buggered off. His light could just be seen heading towards the northern side of Coochie. He finally rejoined us after talking with some fisherman off Coochie. They were catching small reef shark and were anchored in the place where Mark had seen shark's gills broach the water on the way across. All they had to say was that there was no way they would be out on the Bay in a kayak.

The ruffles got a little larger, but what was giving me the heebies were the red and green lights heading my way. Out on my own with a sputtering front deck light I turned the headlamp onto flash and directed it at the sail. That white light in the middle was very high up, the red and green a long way apart and expanding. I cursed the Aquapac safety beacon light for having given up the ghost between home and Victoria Point (what can you expect from a bargain bin of a liquidators store). Paddling like the clappers I only got relief when blasted by the glare a powerful spotlight. Brian got the same treatment and soon after the engines revved and the ferry cruised over to the Coochie terminal.

Brian and I got out next to the boat ramp two hours off the bottom of the tide. Not a good choice. The squishy mud almost claimed our shoes. The end of the concrete boat ramp wasn't at all slippery.

To perfect this trip all you need is a mirror so you can paddle away from the City glow and into the moonlight. Murmurings were heard about a night paddle to Moreton Island. Whilst an adventure it could be become decidedly hairy should that wind begin to blow.
Waiting for Brian
Setting out
Passing Potts Point
Back light
Grey morass
Top of the tide
Ferry fodder
Kayak lights
By the light of the real silvery moon
 
Blakesleys 3/4 Moon Paddle Map
GPS Trackfile (OziExplorer .plt)