Paddle Report

Moonlight Paddle, Middle Swan - 15 March 2003

It was a special night for Dawn. Only an hour earlier she had built up the courage to purchase a beautiful yellow Gecko kayak. A kayak she knew would give her the most pleasurable experiences for years to come. As we met at Ray Marshall Park she was ready and eager to put the kayak in the water, and go where no women has ever gone before.

Patrick on the other hand, who had bought a new purple Finn Kayak a week earlier, was still wondering if he had done the right thing by taking up kayaking. How would he now mix married life with golf and his new sport of kayaking. Saturday morning has become very hectic for him. He's out at first light, leaving his family to sleep on, while he hits a few white balls around a big lawn full of sand pits and trying to get them in a hole before his friend does. (I can just feel the excitement).
Then, after his balls spend more time under the bushes and amongst the sand, he's realises that he's playing a stupid little game and drives quickly to Sandy Beach Reserve. Here he joins real man and women who are preparing to pit their skills, fitness and endurance against a wild, unrelenting. river

So the paddle begins. A small band of paddlers with the same goal, but with different backgrounds paddle away along a beautiful narrow waterway towards the moon. Within minutes we met up with Peter and Heidi (Ascot Kayak Club members) on a houseboat anchored upstream. I couldn't believe my eyes. Two canoeists hiring a houseboat! They were extremely happy. It was Heidi's birthday and to get away from it all to sit, relax, eat, drink and sleep on the river, they said was just perfect.

We left the love birds and vowed to have wine with them on our return. The new sandstone structured of Cavensham House looked more like an Italian mausoleum. Unfortunately the waterfall that is usually flowing was not turned on. On the east side of the river a recent bushfire had scared the small forest of trees. Several huge trees riddled with white ants had fallen.

We were soon amongst the grape vines and sheep paddocks. The parrots and other local birds were in full song and flight. Their echoes rebounded from the huge river gums. As we turned a sharp right hand bend a group of birdwatchers were walking along the riverside trail. They imitated each other by outstretching their arms and pointing into the trees, before in unison placed their binoculars to their eyes.

Our group decided to paddle further than planned to reach the Middle Swan Bridge. Here we decided to stop and eat our nibbles. We embarked at a narrow concrete ramp and lifted our kayaks from the water. Kevin though had other ideas. He decided that stumbling and wading in the water up to his chest was more fun than just getting his feet wet.

We took over a picnic table and each of us unloaded our nibbles. Some were pretty basic including mine, but Mario had spent the afternoon preparing his big spread. It was great that he had done more than he could eat so I could pick at it.

As we talked, drank and ate several other kayakers were arriving and readying themselves for their own moonlight paddle.

With lights shining we moved away from the picnic spot and headed downstream following the shadows created by the overhanging trees. The water was still and the moon was elevating slowly behind us. We were full of chat, but suddenly Alaine momentarily lost the social feeling and gathered speed. I'm sure she was thinking about racing this years Avon Descent. The group kept up the steady rhythm until we all realised that we were turning into racers.

We slowed. I was thankful and I think Dawn was also. We cruised on, each saying some thing sloppy about the incredibly beautiful evening that we were experiencing. Peter and Heidi were on their boat porch when we passed, eating a meal and drinking wine. I stopped briefly, I didn't want to spoil their romantic evening.

Within minutes we were home. How lucky we are to live in such a beautiful city with such a beautiful climate.

By Terry Bolland