WEDNESDAY MORNING PADDLE - REPORT BACK

4 of us paddled out on Wednesday morning - the 4 intrepids were Basil, Trevor, Willy (Huge Perception Eco B thing) and I. We paddled to A frame, turned around - to the Lighthouse, through the middle (where Webb falls out) and home. What a beautiful day...

On the way back I discovered an amazing and good thing. A certain Simonstown trip leader is paddling a new Skua! Is this perhaps a subtle and silent admission that they are much better value (read "affordable") than a certain other brand...? Ok, no more inappropriate stirring.

The paddle was followed by the usual refreshments at "Two and Six". We all went home feeling quite happy.

best regards

Paul

MORNING PADDLE - WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 09 - 09h30

Basil is looking for paddling mates on Wednesday Morning.

The weather for a morning paddle looks perfect - light Southerleys. Picks up a little on the late PM. It may be a good idea to paddle tomorrow as Sunday looks a bit doubtful with stronger S'easters.

Basil says he will launch from the Navy dockyard but will look in at Bertha's at 09h30 to see if anyone is there.


Regards

Paul

CLUB PADDLE - SUNDAY 6/12/09

It was difficult to say how many paddlers we had - for 2 reasons. Firstly the group that left the harbour included one of Dereks Trip Groups and the group split up at the Bullnose some going towards Seaforth and the rest - Basil, Hendrik, Silke, Kim, Viv, Margie, William, the new guy, and I - going to Kalk Bay via Fish Hoek.

It kinda raised the question why we always tend to go South (ie right at the Bullnose). The wind? Habit? Nicer Scenery...? The Fish Hoek route can be a bit boring if you cut across the bay over open water but is quite attractive if you hug the coast. The beaches have  nice surf and one can play a bit instead of just paddling to the destination and back. Dont we all need some surf experience? Also - you can stop for a beer or a cup of coffee at Kalk Bay.

On that topic of surf - we chickened out at Fish Hoek. There was a small swell running and the Surf Skiers were running in beautifully. However the beach was jampacked with swimmers and the proposition of flattening a few and being laughed at by the narrow- boat fraternity was not attractive. Like I say - we need some surf practice...

The paddle back was  a good workout for the Fish Hoek crowd as the S Easter had picked up a bit. Some landed at Long Beach and the others at the Harbour. Damn divers colonise that beach and its facilities...Can we not make a better plan with our launching facilities? Perhaps we could approach the yacht club?

regards

Paul

regards

SUNDAY PADDLE - 22/11/2009 - REPORT BACK

This report is a little (a week) late in coming out.

But a falling out (of a kayak) is too good not to report. I am told that a certain member of the Cape Bar went for a swim in False Bay the week before. Apparently the combination of some small swell and his very new (and very expensive) imported (and impotent if you ask me) Kayak got the better of him and while showing off his newly found lack of single paddling skill (his wife normally looks after him in a big flat - bottomed double good quality Kayak), he did an involuntary eskimo roll.

The first pity is that someone fished him out - for heavens sake we have enough Advocates. Its Attorneys that we need. He was of course back again last week. This time his steering cables had broken and no-one would help him fix them. Shame. No - he did not fall out again. Damn.

Moving on from  professional rivalry. The actual paddle was excellent. A good 25km/h SE made for a good workout upwind to Windmill and a reasonable surf back. I think that I have put on weight because my bow now goes underwater running down the swell. A bit scary.

Derek took out some poor misguided (by him) souls on a trip at the same time as our paddle. As you will know the bullnose in a reasonable S Easter looks like the proverbial washing machine. I don't think he told them and the screams could still be heard by the time we were at Windmill. We dared not look back and asked no questions. Derek can be quite scary at the best of times.

The paddle was followed by the obligatory beer and lunch. I think ( no - I know) that Webb only paddles for the beer...

Chiao for now.

Paul

Atlantic Side Paddle Trip 15th November

While we all know that False Bay is still the Atlantic, many of us False Bay paddlers, for no good reason, still refer to the Cape Town side of the peninsula as "the Atlantic". Launch site is at Mouille Point opposite Coastal Kayaks/Kaskazi on the water at 9.30am. Weather forecast looks quite good as it's not yet a strong south easter and "the Atlantic side" should be protected while it may be quite strong in False Bay.