New Paddling buddies first trip - Burrum Wier.

[hairymick]

G'day guys,

been a while since I paddled or posted much so here is a lil trip report from yesterday.

My friend Suzie has two kids, Sasha - 10 and Sam - 14. Niether have paddled a real kayak before and Suzie only has a plastic sit on top.

All have been busting to try my boats so yesterday we put in here and had a lil walk in some sweet (fresh) water

We put in in the middle of a tropical downpour with Sasha and Sam paddling my two lakers

while suzie and I followed in my canoe.

The plan was to paddl upstream, find a nice grassy bank and have a picnic lunch. the rain soon cleared as these types of rain squalls often do

Sasha

Sam

 

[hairymick]

and we paddled about 5 klms to our lunch spot just below the second wier wall

A bite to eat, cup of tea and a chat,

several swims in the warm water,

and Miss Suzie decided she would like to try a laker.

she loved it! and suddenly, I had a new paddling buddy,

Lil Miss Sasha

While Sam was very happy in "his" laker

 

[Steve]

Looks like you had yourself some fun, Mick. . . Good to see ya back in the swing of things on here. . . .

 

[a Bald Cypress]

Mick,

YOu sure do have some pretty water to paddle.


The companions aint bad either. :wink:

 

[hairymick]

Thanks guys, Steve it is bloody good to be back mate.

Just a few more images from the day.

Me & Lil Miss Sasha

My Sasquatch (i love this canoe!)

Heading Home

Miss Suzie

 

[Kayak Jack]

Good on ya, Mate. The kids look like real good ones. Momma is doing a good job of raising them. Hanging around with you, she now has another kid to raise. :wink:

 

[islandpiper]

Looks good Mick......but it might be time to repaint the purple Laker. piper

 

[jdupre']

Nice looking group there, Mick.

Mick wrote :
"We put in in the middle of a tropical downpour with Sasha and Sam paddling my two lakers"

In the MIDDLE of a tropical downpour?! Miss Suzie must have a bit of adventurer in her. My wife would have given me one of THOSE looks if I had suggested that.

Glad to see you back on the water.


Joey

 

[islandpiper]

The real question in all of this is, of course, how do you know when the MIDDLE of the downpour occurs? I could ramble on about this with a dissertation of "downpour event duration" theories and "quantified precipitation" record-keeping and prediction. But, i'll leave that for older, smarter fellows than me. (Take it away, Jack.)

piper

 

[Kayak Jack]

Piper San is right - only he forgot handsomer too. Oh! - and more humble.

Two comments, after it's all done. #1. Half of the folks killed by lightning strikes are reported to have been hit in the half hour before rain started, and the half hour after rain stopped. #2 I'd probably be a bit leery of the undertow hydraulic up next to that dam. They are deceptively quiet, but recirculate a body and don't release it readily. Might want to teach the kids to stay a distance from that kind of situation.

Oh, comment #3. Who is the handsome devil who snuck into the photo (that's American slang for piccie) standing there with Mz Susie?

 

[hairymick]

Thanks a lot guys.

All your nice comments are really appreciated.

Miss Suzy is a rare breed. English born, Travelled the world in a yacht including extensive cruising up and down your East Coast and an Aussie by choice. She has her own kayak and camping gear and love to "go bush" or go to uncivilised places and camp rough/ A true gem. Her kids are great!.

Jack, there was no lightning in the lil rain squall. Just heavy rain. Re the hydrolic, absolutely correct and they were suitably cautioned. I kept a close eye on them too. .

Oh yeah, the "handsome devil" has gotten fat in recent months and bloody white too. Gonna have to work on both of those things.

 

[oldsparkey]

With all of that beauty in the picture , the guide smiling back at us and that beautiful canoe in the background I guess no one noticed the Trianga Stove set up over on the other side for a hot beverage or snack.

Or it could of been that very fashionable hat the Guide was wearing .... :wink: The best thing is everyone sure looks like they had a great time from your report , paddled some good boats and having fun , it does not get better then that.

Sure looked to me like you made a great day for the kids , especially Lil Miss Sasha when she was being escorted/guided by a well know paddler , camper and boat builder. Not even thinking about Sam out there on his own having a grand time.

Welcome Back Mick. I think we might have to call you the Ambassador of handcrafted wood boats and everyone having fun.

Chuck.

 

[Steve]

. . . My wife would have given me one of THOSE looks if I had suggested that. . . .

Joey. . . my Susie'd would give me that look, too, just like your wife . . . but, then, maybe if'n I sweet talk her some, she might (notice I said 'might') give in. . . :lol:

 

[tx river rat]

Mick
I have a question?
I never use my Laker 13 since I built the Cuda, so I have been thinking about giving it to my grandaughter (10 ) years old
But I have been hesitant because as you describe the Laker she is livley, and I wondered if the light weight would make that worse.
How did Sasha do in the laker or what would you recommend?

Ron
X2 on painting the yak,still need my sunglasses when I look at her

 

[JEM]

good to see the purple one getting wet again!

 

[hairymick]

Mick
I have a question?
I never use my Laker 13 since I built the Cuda, so I have been thinking about giving it to my grandaughter (10 ) years old
But I have been hesitant because as you describe the Laker she is livley, and I wondered if the light weight would make that worse.
How did Sasha do in the laker or what would you recommend?

Ron
X2 on painting the yak,still need my sunglasses when I look at her

G'day Ron,

As far as i know, Sasha has never before paddled a real kayak. Her only experience has been in her Mums wide, very stable, stable sit on top. Sasha took to the laker like a duck to water. She is 10 years old and only tiny and weighs in around 30kgs - if that. She showed no sign of tipping or finding the boat in any way unstable. She just got in and took off.

Really mate, I just can't think of a better kids boat than Laker. - perhaps a laker hull in open boat configuration like a pirogue only with sealed, water tight compartments each end to make them safer. A mini pirogue with a V bottom
Gonna think on this a bit more.

Seriously, i think this hull with open cockpit and big sealed compartments each end is the ideal kids play boat. particularly so in warm waters like here. the lil tackers could fall in and out as often as they like, learn the basics of self resue and at the same time have a great boat they can grow into.

 

[catfish]

hey mick i cant think of anything else bad these geezers haven't throw-ed poked or said about you . :wink: :lol: all i can say is great pics . the water looks nice.thanks for sharing.

 

[tx river rat]

Mick
That is basicaly what configuration I built my Laker in

Thanks for the info and a great looking trip as always.
Ron

 

[hairymick]

Mate,

I was thinking something a little more like this set up only based on a Laker hull.

Or perhaps even a small version of this boat, say at around 10 feet or so.

 

[graybeard]

Great boats, great company. Looks like a great time.

Kids of friends are even better than grandkids, especially before the teen storm hits. They still think they have to be polite and respectful