Paddle Report

A mob of CDU members met at Riverton Bridge at 5.15pm. Geoff was joined by his wife, but they paddled separate kayaks, although they drove home together. Dennis had his friend Jan to help paddle his canoe. With Alaine, Linda, Dawn and Joe there, the women outwit, outlast, outsmart and outnumbered the men. By 5.45pm we were heading upriver towards the swamps, and through wide section of shallows. As fish jumped around us we funneled into one of the narrow tightly vegetated channels. A group of pelicans nearby fidgeted as we passed by.

Conversation was varied. With several new members paddling it meant we had many new things to talk about. Young Kim Jones and Chris White should really have been at a Saturday night party, but instead they chose to join us oldies.

Chris led the group through a tight channel that most of the group hadn't been through before. This channel created more interest on the way back when it was dark.

Eventually we reached Kent Street Weir where we stopped and picnicked. We were joined by Kylie, Royd and Shaun who were all injured and unable to paddle. Kylie had had a knee operation, Royd had arm problems and Shaun had shoulders problems after falling out of a shopping trolley while drunk. Linda, who did paddle with us, had a bandaged toe and two other regulars Megan and Joey were also laid up. Megan had a virus and Joey had shoulder problems and didn't want to damage it until after the Rottnest swim. So much for all those fit young CDU team members. They just can't keep up with the fifty year olds.

Having nibbles and drinks sat on beautiful new laid grass, talking and watching the ducks and the moon rising was pure bliss. It was times like this - having a great crowd of people around me, that organising social trips were well worth the effort. Shaun's dog, which seemed to have more manners than Shaun did, was milling around the group, and after being rewarded with a few nibbles mostly by Alaine, lifted his paw and sat quietly. And apparently the dog has more sense than ride in a shopping trolley drunk.

Eventually darkness drifted in, and with the group in high spirits, after such a great stopover we launched the craft and headed back. Unfortunately clouds had moved in shielding the moon and making the night darker than it should have been. But it didn't matter we all had lights and a great sense of excitement.

As we arrived at our cars, Joe loaded her boat on her car, which in fact turned out being Linda's car. She just thought it was hers, but no wonder her key didn't let her unlock it. I don't think you will live that down Joe.

By Terry Bolland