Anyone in to kayaking?
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Hi @Brenda5, I love kayaking and used to do so in Adelaide and Coffs Harbour but in Darwin it's out of the question due to crocs and box jellyfish so it's been a while. I might look into dragon boating though. Hopefully all those paddles plunging into the water will keep the crocs at bay.
My trick for an energetic AND relaxing kayak adventure around Coffs Harbour was to put the kayak in at the mouth of a creek on high tide and paddle up stream. Without a tide to battle it was an easy and beautiful trip poking around the mangroves. By the time I was sick of it the tide had turned and I could just gently float back to the mouth on the current. I also didn't need to worry about getting pushed out too far to sea or encountering chop. If there are small creeks around Burrum Heads this technique may be a good way to start.2 -
Hi @Brenda5 I received a kayak for Xmas last year. We used it once. Then I was diagnosed with DCIS on 6th January last year. I had a frantic almost 3 month wait for surgery, when I just couldnt focus on anything, then the mastectomy and then the recon operation in July.
My new boob felt very strange, my arm was sore and I had lost quite a bit of movement. Lap swimming is my sport. I tried in October and could not swim, my arm was too stiff. Last week I had another go at swimming and lo and behold, I was able to complete 500 metres, slowly but surely. I think it is time I had another go in my still brand new kayak, so thank you Brenda and other ladies for the inspiration.3 -
@Imo thanks for that. I was thinking the same thing, an easier way to go up a tidal river. There is only one problem atm, I need a set of wheels to drag said kayak all the way to the low tide mark and our Burrum Heads tide goes out about a kilometer lol. Once I have the wheels (just got a bcf $10 discount to spend) I am sure I will be out in the low tide gutter ready to shoot up the river when the tide changes.
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@Brenda5 i have one that the kayak sits on top of and you strap it on (Glide kayak trolley), and it keeps sliding sideways off of it... so if your kayak has the holes underneath, which i'd say it does, then get the trolley that has 2 prongs to slide the kayak onto so you have more control. That's the type I need/want to get - see the link below
https://www.dragonkayak.com.au/h-kayak-trolley.html
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I went in to bcf but they were out of stock in my store but they said a nearby store has one left so I paid for it, got my discount and they will ring me when it arrives to pick up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXIqKa5py3w 2 -
I went swimming in the ocean with my big 25yr old son this morning. We thought we'd be clever and take swimming flippers.
Lesson one, it is not easy to walk in flippers, not even a few feet to the waters edge. In the end I figured you have to point your feet out to the sides and waddle, like a penguin.
Next problem was walking in the water to a swimming depth. I got my lead foot forward but every time I lifted the other flipper to walk a wave caught it and pushed my leg back lol. We were in gales of laughter so much that in the end I just plopped down in a few feet of water and crawled along on hands and knees.
We had no sooner finally made it to the swimming depth then my old dog waddled down to the beach looking for me. He pinched a nerve in his back a few days ago so he isn't very steady on his back legs. I took my flippers off and walked to shore and escorted the dog for a little wade in the water. Enough to get wet and cool off and then I had to wheelbarrow him back home, supporting his hind legs.
I came back to swim and my son was still out in the water, so I thought I would be clever with the flippers this time and wade out holding the flippers and put them on in the water.
Lesson 2, it is not easy to put flippers on in the water with waves. I asked my son to hold me down so I could not float while putting on the flippers but he was wearing flippers too and it wasn't easy. In the end I had to stand like a Clydesdale horse with my back leg out while my son put on my flippers.
The swim was great. The water which has had dirty floor waters in it for weeks has finally cleared. I even saw a school of tiny blue baby fishes swim past.
I need a nap now lol.4 -
Flippers can be so funny at beaches ... watching others with them!! LOL .... Try putting them on down near the surf line and then just walk the short distance into the water backwards .... feels a bit weird initially, but easier than going forwards.
In the tidal creek, you should be able to catch the in tide going up and hitch a ride on the out tide again! Just one hour either side of the tide would be good.0 -
Hi @Brenda5 - congrats on finding kayak/kayak fishing. It is one of my passions and I love it. I've been doing it for well over 10 years now .... but newly diagnosed with breast cancer now - so have been doing as much as I can in the lead up to surgery & treatment which I hope will be soon. It will definitely be part of my therapy after I am able to get back onto the water!
DEFINITELY - take it slowly & always wear a life jacket and cover up from the sun. Get help loading & unloading the kayak.
I was at Burrum Heads back in 2009 - launching at the boat ramp near the camp ground - I had a lovely time but didn't catch many fish! LOL I don't often go offshore as my kayak is only about 3m/9ft and they bounce around like corks - but if it is dead calm, it is fine!
Maybe try the creek the next time. Just make sure you stick to the edges (the current is too strong out in the middle) and maybe time it for the change of tides or NOT when the BIG tides are running (Full Moon.)
Offshore kayaks are usually a minimum of 4m+ - they slice thru the waves/chop, not so the short ones!
I would recommend that you join a kayak fishing forum (like the one I am on), so that you can head out with others who know the area well - the camaraderie is wonderful.
One day I'll get back to Burrum Heads & we can go out together!
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I am heading out today yakking and fishing and crabbing. Since I am going alone, I will have my
phone and notebook in a ziplock bag to contact hubby should my plans alter in the weather but atm it looks a fantastic day to be on the water. It's low tide in about an hour so I will tow the yak out and ride the current in along the beach up into the river. I have found Teds creek from the fishing map available online and cycled and walked out from Burrum Heads the other day following the overland power poles. It's a great little creek with fish jumping and other fish chasing them. I can, if needs be, land the yak at the end of the track there and walk it home but it would be tough going in the heavy sand track.
Did you know they make crab pots for kayaks now? 50cm mini replicas of the big ones. I tested one over the railing on the veranda last night and had my first catch, a great big cane toad with a funny look on his face when I hoisted him up lol.
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Fantastic @Brenda5 - what a great inspiration about enjoying life you are - Thankyou! PS Small thought - I walk daily and have same keys/ phone issues so bought on eBay a sport armband from Australia -also enables me to plug in an earphone to listen to music as I walk.Cost around $6/7 delivered - has been great keeping my hands free , made of wetsuit material and even adjusts for my tuckshop lady arms.1
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Well I still have yet to catch a fish from my kayak however I did catch a mudcrab but how do you tie a crab from a kayak? I just opened the hatch and he walked on under the yak. It took ten minutes of juggling it up and down to get it out once i got home. It was delicious.
Everything hurts today. It was a long way. It took 2 hours paddling with the tide just to get there. The scenery was just magic.4 -
Well done on the crab!! Maybe leave it in the crabpot til you get back next time?? Take it easy ... start off with short sessions first and build up to longer ones ... 8 am out for 6-8hrs normally!! You are using lots of new muscles too, so they need to be trained. Xx
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