After a week of rain in Queensland, we were due to go out on a sea kayaking trip, paddling across to an island, spending the night there camping, then paddling back. We were treating this as an ordeal to be undertaken, likely to be wet, cold and difficult. So when we reached the beach on Monday morning, we were amazed to find the sea blue and still, and the sun blazing. Our guide for the 2 days was a rather laconic Aussie called Aaron. He seemed rather jaded, and although he knew what he was doing, his briefing on how to kayak was somewhat cursory.
We were 5 doubles and a single kayak, with Aaron in a motor boat going ahead to show us which direction to travel in. As Leon and I have never kayaked, and couldn’t really manage paddling a canoe along the river Ant at Wayford Bridge, we were apprehensive. However, luckily as the sea was calm, we got into a rhythm and found that we were enjoying it.
The single kayaker, Bet, was quite far behind. Aaron had told us to stay together as a group, so that if there were any problems he could reach all of us. He didn’t seem too worried about Bet though. And in fact when he checked in with her about ¾ of the way across, she was OK. We made it onto the island at about midday. Our inexperience led to an inelegant landing - as I was getting out Leon went to get out as well, so capsized us into the water. But it was beautifully warm and we soon dried out.
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