Noosa - Day 3

Monday, 12 December 2016

Today was adventure day! I booked a 1 day self guided kayak tour of the Noosa Everglades which are within the Great Sandy National Park.  This meant a 30 minute drive north of Noosa to the meeting point at 8.30, a bit of stuffing around with gear, then another 10 minute drive to lake Cootharbra followed by another half an hour of demos and information before we were all issued maps, pointed in the right direction and waved goodbye. There were 2 young couples in double kayaks and single Danish girl also doing the trip, which really just meant that we started at the same time and had the same instructions. The route started with a 4.5k paddle across the large lake to the narrower channels which would normally have been nice I"m sure, but  Noosa had put on another grey and windy day which made this leg  quite splashy and arduous. 

I was very glad that it was a self-guided  tour as after about 15 minutes of this choppy paddling, my companions were already a long way behind me (they weren’t at all hopeless, I just had a lot more experience and technique).  So it was really good to be able to do my own thing at my own pace. 

Finally making it across, I entered the beautifully calm canals and smaller waterways which needed to be navigated (thankfully with the help of lots of signage on the river banks), to get to  Noosa Narrows.

 

The Noosa Narrows is where the upper Noosa River winds quietly through rainforest palms and gums. It was really nice.  I paddled up the river to a place called Harry’s Hut - 10k from the start point and gave myself a leisurely 1/2 hour break and half my lunch.  People come this way for 1 or 2 night trips which would be fun to do with Jon and the kids sometime. 


After checking out the local wildlife including a huge goanna I jumped back in the boat and paddled 5k back down river to Fig Tree Point which is where our official lunch stop was. I ate the rest of my lunch on the jetty, relaxing and chatting with the other paddlers.  

 

 

Back in the boat, the return trip across the lake was even harder as the cross wind had picked up and rainy squalls were passing through. Everyone looked pretty glad to make it back to the launch point - and for those who hadn’t done much paddling before it was a pretty impressive effort to cover at least 14k with 9 of it in trying conditions.  My shoulders were feeling pretty tired - it’s probalby been a year since I’ve been paddling but it was really great to get a solid 20k done in such a lovely area.


Back on land there was further stuffing around loading boats and great then everyone headed off while I stayed to go for a run on the track network surrounding the launch area.  

 

 

 

It was mercifully flat and easy running so I racked up a very slow 10ish k before scraping my tired self back into the car and driving home, exhausted. Oh - on the way home, in fact just a few kilometres from the launch area, I drove past the kayak I had used lying battered and bruised on the side of the road - it had clearly fallen off the top of the trailer rack that we had loaded it and another 4 boats on to. Thinking back I don't remember seeing the driver tie the straps on that one, and I do remember thinking to myself at some point that there were so many straps and ties on the trailer it must be hard to work out what's tied on and what isn't. I was right.   Anyway it was an hour since the trailer left so I drove back to the initial meeting point and let them know about it - they hadn't even noticed it was missing yet. 

 

2016summary
Christmassy Photos Friday, 30 December 2016
Noosa - Day 5 Thursday, 15 December 2016
Noosa - Day 4 Tuesday, 13 December 2016
Noosa - Day 3 Monday, 12 December 2016
Noosa - Day 2 Sunday, 11 December 2016
Noosa - Day 1 Sunday, 11 December 2016
Being Bothered Pays Off. Sunday, 11 December 2016
Swimming tour of Brisbane part 2 Sunday, 11 December 2016
Paver Project Wednesday, 23 November 2016
Swimming tour of Brisbane Wednesday, 23 November 2016
The end of an era Tuesday, 8 November 2016
Snowvember Tuesday, 8 November 2016
Tramp-a-bag Monday, 31 October 2016
Mt Wellington Monday, 31 October 2016
Online Only Challenge Monday, 31 October 2016
3 Capes Monday, 10 October 2016
Packing Regrets Wednesday, 5 October 2016
Fantasy Amazing Race Tuesday, 4 October 2016
Before and After then After that #37 Monday, 3 October 2016
Before and After #36 Zali's Room Take 2 Monday, 3 October 2016
That's DR McComb to you.. Friday, 26 August 2016
'Mrs', 'Miss', or 'Dammed feminist'? Sunday, 14 August 2016
Who is really paying for the bake sale? Friday, 12 August 2016
Running Sunday, 31 July 2016
The Kettering Incident and Why I am the Smartest in the Room Friday, 29 July 2016
Before and After Sneak Peak Tuesday, 26 July 2016
Vacuum Cleaner Update Tuesday, 26 July 2016
How not to go to the movies Tuesday, 12 July 2016
How Not to Sell Vacuum Cleaners Monday, 11 July 2016
Melbourne Mini Break Monday, 27 June 2016
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #35 Thursday, 23 June 2016
Treasure Chest Cake Thursday, 23 June 2016
Shark House! Saturday, 11 June 2016
Before and After #35 - CD Tower to Mirror Tuesday, 31 May 2016
Maths - it could happen to you. Thursday, 19 May 2016
Power Tools Tuesday, 17 May 2016
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #35 Friday, 22 April 2016
Sheffield Rail Trail & Derby Thursday, 21 April 2016
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #34 Wednesday, 20 April 2016
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #31 & #32 & #33 Wednesday, 20 April 2016
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #29 & #30 Tuesday, 19 April 2016
Creatures of Habit Thursday, 7 April 2016
Let me count the ways.. Wednesday, 30 March 2016
Canberra 2016 Friday, 25 March 2016
Un armed.. Wednesday, 16 March 2016
Full day of activities Sunday, 13 March 2016
Dumped Saturday, 12 March 2016
Double Tromble Friday, 11 March 2016
Million Dollar Lane Wednesday, 9 March 2016
2nd International MFSC Tuesday, 8 March 2016
Tip Run Tuesday, 8 March 2016
Blackberry Season Thursday, 3 March 2016
Packed Lunches Wednesday, 2 March 2016
so yeah.. Sunday, 28 February 2016
Cradle Mountain Run Curse Tuesday, 9 February 2016
Last Pictures Tuesday, 9 February 2016
All the kids Tuesday, 9 February 2016
Overland Track - Day 7 Monday, 25 January 2016
Overland Track - Day 6 Monday, 25 January 2016
Overland Track - Day 5 Sunday, 24 January 2016
Overland Track - Day 4 Wednesday, 20 January 2016
Overland Track - Day 3 Tuesday, 19 January 2016
Overland Track - Day 2 Tuesday, 19 January 2016
Overland Track - Day 1 Monday, 18 January 2016
Overland Track - Day 0 Sunday, 17 January 2016
Slow Progress Thursday, 14 January 2016
Pakning på, opp og stå, ut og gå Monday, 11 January 2016