Day 6 and 7 - Coff's to Nambucca

Got to be quick on this one as I'm sitting in a chip shop smelling kiosk, I'm tired and the web point is like something out of a 60s Sci-fi movie. It's going to start asking me to call it Hal and then defrost the freezer and short circuit the cold drinks machine, electrecuting me as I try to pull the plug.

Xmas day was very relaxing as we sat round the pool in Coff's, ate loads of food and generally zoned out. Today was a relatively short one of 42kms to Nambucca. we had following winds and so pressed onto Scott's Head after a pretty knackering 2nd half. Even though the winds are behind us know, the chop is heavy and it takes a lot of effort to keep the kayak stable and on course. lots of dolphins, no shark sightings but I've heard since that there were some tiger sharks out there today. Scott's passed out and I'm heading to bed.

Night. ROB

Day 5 - Yamba to Coff's Harbour

Yeahaaa another day from heaven and hell. the morning was great - no wind, sun coming up over the horizon, oily sea, 2 shark sightings and Keggsy was on good form playing a classic mix of indie hits for the first 3 hours. we had a perfect beach landing and coffee break at Bare Bluff then got back into the kayak. Idyllic. We'd been expecting a southerly change but not so early in the day and just as we got off the beach, i felt the breeze pushing the tip of my hat down into my face. Great...it got stronger. Four hours of muscle and ligament grinding later, having struggled straight into this head-on wind and chop, I was tired, my wrist was killing, I'd been in and out of black thoughts 4 or 5 times already...and in my mind, it was all Scott's fault! That's what I've discovered happens when you're under massive physical stress and tired, you blame the nearest living thing near to you, and after 8 hours paddling, that's the other person in your kayak...and they're not going anywhere. Hee hee. What fun. I think Scott was about ready to hit me round the head with the paddle. As soon as you're safe and out of the wind, the mood totally changes the music gets turned up and it's all good fun and laughs again. After 8 1/2 houres, we eventually got into Coff's Habour entrance, which was like a washing machine, and had a camera crew from channel 9 NBN plus Coff's Habour Advocate photographer waiting on the beach. We're in The Tropic Oasis in the sun now sitting by the pool on our Xmas Day off. Mr and Mrs Timbrell have arrived and brought stacks of food and presents. Legends. Happy Christmas everyone. ROB

Day 3 and 4

Yesterday was a beautiful day. I managed to strain my wrist during the first two days of ripping southerly winds and as it was still howling out at sea, decided to knock up the kms by paddling down the Evans River. It was stunning. Today however we were up at 4.30am and back out on the high seas with a gentle NE wind following down the coast. After another shark sighting, a beach break at Brooms Head and some stronger winds, we ended up cruising past our goal of Minnie water and straight into Wooli. We hadn't meant to, but my map reading isn't that good and from 2kms out, it all looks the same. Still, it was 10km more than we meant to do so the paddle to Coff's tomorrow should be more manageable than the 62km we'd planned. There are strong NW winds at the sart of the day turning into SW in the afternoon which could be a shattering way to arrive, so we're getting up at 4am tomorrow instead to try and beat it. Yippee.

Putting some pictures on the blog now. Below are a couple of videos. ROB

Day 2 - Ballina to Evans Head (40kms)

Ouch ouch ouch, lots of expletives and a call out for happy pills. That was another really really tough day. The southerly is still blowing strong, white caps on the water, wind in the face and no time to eat, pee or check the radio. From Ballina to Evans Head is one long open stretch of endless beach with the only landmarks being so far away that you just don't feel like you're moving or getting any closer. It's a real test on morale. After 5 hours head on into the wind, we made the call to do a beach landing (something we've been advised not to do if possible) as the strain was too much and my arse was shouting at me to stand up and walk around, which isn't advisable or possible 1km off shore in a rocking kayak. Jesus may have done it but then he hadn't been paddling for 33kms without peeing.

Anyway, the beach landing went well (Scott's got 29 years of surf experience), but we were stuck in the middle of nowhere, no houses, no people and no road access, plus the waves looked too big to get back out again once rested. It looked like it could be a long trek. Then, like a mirage from the sea spray, came Dave, a wildlife reserve ranger who was steaming up the beach in a 4 x4 truck checking out the populations of endangered birds; oyster catchers and siberian somethings. We hitched the kayak to the back of the truck with Scott hanging on by one hand and me sitting warm in the front, whilst we sped down the last 7kms of beach to Evans Head, where we continued the last kms of the paddle up the river. Some may call it cheating, some may call it a lucky break, but we're just thankful not to be sitting in a sand dune shivering and checking out the birds (of the lesser spotted feathery type).

The campsite's all set up, bellies are full of fish and chips and we're off to the bowlng club tonight to shake a bucket of cash and raise funds.

I'm praying for North Easterly winds for tomorrow.

A massive thanks Sofia and Leif who've got us into a jungle resort for tomorrow night. Bring on the massage girls. (I'm joking Al x). ROB

Day 1...done!

So after day 1 both myself and Rob are feeling sore, raw and a little disillusioned. Who would have thought paddling 740km down the East Coast would have ben so hard...well not us for one but we have been shown the hard way that this is not the case.
After starting the day in magnificent form with Channel 9 news and the Byron Echo coming along to film the launch we started our paddle on a nice, clear and calm Byron Bay. This however changed as soon as we rounded the corner and headed straight into a Southerly wind that was trying to push us backwards (very unproductive wind and i think i mentioned this to it on numerous occasions with the odd swear word chucked in so it knew i was serious). The wind did not let up and turned our 4 hour paddle into a 7.5 hour paddle of endurance, great way to start!
We did see some marine life on our travels with the first being about 40 minutes into the trip. Now before i mention what we did see i should introduce our 3rd paddler named 'Kegsy'. Kegsy is our bucket of tunes iPOD dock which we aptly had blasting some songs to motivate us on our trip. Now as i was saying our first visitor, was a shark that we saw off to the left of us a couple of times which prompted the question "does bass attract sharks?". We didnt want to test this so we turned it off just in case and promised to Google bass and sharks. Upon returning we have realised that this is the case so Kegsy's involvement on the paddle is in jepoardy for the rest of the trip. Kegsy is understandably upset...
Thanks to Leif and Sophia coming down to see off us in Byron and be sure to go see Leif for any Aveda products you may need when in town and not a couple of skanky cheaper girls who have just opened a salon down the road.
Also a big thanks to Dan, Lisa and little Indy for making the trip down to say hello and see us off, it was much appreciated. Indy and i did not hit it off to well but i do have to say that it is one good looking baby but with parents and genes that she has there is no wonder (see picture below of the happy parents and even happier little girl i am holding, always had a way with the ladies...). Thanks guys and speak to you all soon.
I am off to bed now for a 4am start.
Stay tuned.
(sorry have bad connection so cant upload images but will do so tomorrow).

The start of the trip

So it is 8:13am on the day before the paddle and i am at Sydney airport ready to fly up the coast to Byron to relax and prep for the trip.
The only problem with this plan is that the plane has been delayed for 2 hours so i am stuck and stranded, on a caffeine high with nowhere to go. My main hope is that this does not become a re-occuring theme for the trip....i'm sure we will be fine?
My sister Joanne is roughy about 100km out of Byron and she is kindly driving the kayak up the coast for us so we are ready to go tomorrow morning. Big thanks to her and for her help as she will also be staying on as our road crew for the first few days so big ups big sis!
Stay tuned as i am sure the blog will become a lot more interesting over the next few weeks once we start tomorrow, as opposed to a blog written in a sterile airport from an anxious, ADD riddled person such as myself.
Peace.

Santas drop in with Adrenalin.com.au

As part of our training regime, we've been looking for ways to increase the heart rate and get the fear factor pressure on high in order that when we see sharks on our paddle, we don't freeze and start crying. So when I was given the chance yesterday to jump out of a perfectly good plane, dressed as Santa with full red suit, white beard and hat - I said yes please...and then rand to the car to get a spare change of pants. It was to celebrate the launch of a new range of festive experiences to buy online from Adrenalin.com.au, including amongst other things, a tandem skydive with Santa. Have a look at the footage (I'm the short person who's first out of the door at the beginning).



Adrenalin have been really supportive of our paddle trip. They gave us a kayak tuition experience in Sydney harbour for our charity auction and are potentially using their power boat for journalists to follow us into Bondi on the last stretch on the 9th January.