Paddle Report

Canoeing (for the first time) Down Under
January 2003

A Pom in a kayak is not, as you may mistakenly believe, an unusual occurrence. Not at least if you are fortunate enough to stay in the home of Terry Bolland. As we all know Terry has been traversing the globe in a kayak for many years, so when I arrived in the 'land of plenty' several weeks ago I was promptly handed a paddle.

My first voyage was on the Swan River and merely encompassed managing to cross from one side to the other, up a little bit and back, but it was a lot of fun. Paddle strokes were the order of the day getting me started in a sport that had I the places back home to enjoy, I certainly would.

In a matter of weeks I had been promoted to second in command and taken out on my first sea-kayaking paddle. Terry, Jenny (Terry's wife, my cousin) and myself drove south of Perth and unloaded the kayaks onto a beach looking out onto Penguin Island. I looked out and wondered if a paddle across to the Island was enough, even for me. As it turned out this was a fantastic day out.

We first paddled straight over to the island, just to get us warmed up. A lone figure was swimming to the island, while others were walking and wading along the sandbar. After having lunch on the island and watching small fish swimming in the shallows and pelicans soar overhead, we headed out around the island in a clockwise direction. We were nature spotting along the way and managed to follow and watch a seal for a short time and then photograph a fairy penguin sheltering under a limestone overhang. The water was clear and calm and you could see the weed and coral beneath the water clinging to the reef.

Further on around the island, where waves were surging over reefs, and beyond a hill riddled with pelicans, we spotted a fin cutting through the water. Like most tourists in this part of the world I was very keen to see dolphins, but terrified of the thought of running into sharks. At that moment we were not totally sure which it was.

As the fin moved closer Terry proclaimed my luck on being as close as never before to a dolphin. It was one of those amazing memorable moments of seeing the mother and her baby cut through the water beside us. I really did have tears in my eyes. For about five minutes we watched with wonder as the dolphins circled and surfaced close by. It was then that I decided to fulfil a dream and get into the sea in an attempt to swim with the dolphins. I donned a mask and leapt out of the kayak leaving Terry to look after it and take photos. As I swam in the big blue ocean gazing at shadows and shapes before me, I couldn't help acknowledge that this was one of the best experiences of my life, and for hours, if not days after I was on a high. For minutes there, the excitement had overshadowed my fear of sharks and as the dolphins slid away from me, time came to re-enter the kayak.

I jumped back in with joy, screamed with delight, and shouted to Jenny and Terry that is was a great moment. After settling my excitement we paddled on around another island, saw more seals wallowing on the sand and later navigated through a pass, which required some coaching. Returning to the north end of Penguin Island, snorkel divers were searching for their own perfect paradise beneath the water, and pelicans roosted, took off and landed on the nearby hill.

Many a photo was taken for posterity and we returned to the beach rich, having had a new experience.

All this, in a small number of times in a kayak, with teaching and boats courtesy of Terry and I am left with a new sport to enjoy and memories that will never fade.

Thanks Terry.

By Kate Greenwood - from London