At 6am, the sun fought to be seen through the fog

I’d planned a little trip out through the Heads and down towards Bondi, since the weather and sea conditions had forecast seas under 0.5 metres and only 5-10 knts of wind. But as I left home at 5am, it became apparent that my plans would have to change, since Sydney was blanketed under a layer of fog so thick I couldn’t see further than 15 metres in front of the car.

The sun finally breaking through the fog over North Head

When I arrived at The Spit the conditions were no better, and with the distant sound of fog horns sounding off, I decided to paddle to Manly instead, staying close to the cliffs and well out of any shipping lanes where I was likely to get run over. This is such a beautiful part of the world, I figured the only way to describe it properly would be to show you a few snippets of the morning’s paddle. I hope you enjoy it! Cheers – FP

Setting off into the fog from The Spit amongst the nice yachts!

Paddling with the locals, feeding in the shallows of Clontarf Beach

Coasting through the beautiful green waters of Hunters Bay

Paddling past the cliffs of Grotto Point Reserve and towards Dobroyd Head

The sun finally emerging through the fog over North Head

The return journey from Manly in the warmth of the early morning sun

Catching little runners past Grotto Point

Giving the Crystal-X paddles a burn on the final few kms back to The Spit

Looking for Manly through the fog. Beautiful!

Tags: cliff paddling, fog, grotto point, Grotto Point Reserve, manly

Early morning light, The Spit, Mosman

My paddle session for this weekend was based around testing some different gear, but with a clear weather report and calm seas I decided to strike out for Manly. With a deck bristling with H2O Crystal-X Paddles to play with and review, I paddled off into the waters of The Spit at 5.30am heading for Grotto Point.

Sun coming up over North Head

The marine forecast was for small seas and 5 knots of wind, so I figured it would be a nice to day to head over to North Head. But as I rounded Grotto Point, the swell breaking at the foot of the cliffs looked so inviting I decided to hug the cliff line instead for some fun in the rebound.

Bearing around Grotto Point

Beach, cliffs and clear water lit up by early morning sunshine

As I pottered about playing with the new paddles along the cliffs I noticed that the Dobroyd Head bombora looked like it was breaking as the southern swell peeled into the harbour, so I made a line to the point to get a closer view of the beautiful tubing waves breaking.

Breaking water some way out from the cliff face

Peeling waves with 6-8 foot faces. So cool!

The tide was heading out during this stage and I had to fight the currents from pulling me into the wave section, so after 15 minutes enjoying the show, I turned back to the cliffs to give the paddles a bit more of a workout before heading back. Sydney had turned on another magnificent morning for me, gotta love this city! Cheers – FP

Back to The Spit, with all manner of paddles on board!

Tags: Dobroyd Head, grotto point

Grotto Point bubbles and froth

As Sydney-siders flocked to the eastern suburbs for the annual City to Surf running event, I decided to slip down to the water for a quiet solo paddle to Manly. The seas were fairly calm with a 1-2 metre southerly swell curling in through the Heads to pummel the rocks and cliffs from Grotto Point to Dobroyd Head. After the fun of my recent paddle at Umina, I thought it might be nice to get in amongst the moving water again so I paddled alongside the cliff-face, rising and falling with the swell and enjoying the spray and the bouncy ride. Heading off alongside Grotto Point I paddled in the swell around the bommy at Dobroyd Head (which was working hard with the southern swell) up to Manly before turning around and paddling back. Once back at Grotto Point I slid close to the rocks and just sat there, bobbing about in the wash and waves, before setting off back to the Spit for a coffee at Sydney Harbour Kayaks. A short but exciting paddle to finish up my holidays! Cheers – FP

Water rushing back across the rock edges

Scarlett Woman at the end of the paddle, glistening and happy

Tags: cliffs, Dobroyd Point, grotto point

Grotto Point Reserve, viewed from Middle Head

Sometimes life’s pressures build up and force us to seek therapy. For some, that might involve relying on a friendly shoulder to cry on. For others, it may be a retail session maxing out the credit cards. For me however, it involves time alone outdoors to clear the mind.

On this particular day I’d taken the kayak out for a solo sunrise mission after a week of incessant work, family and other stresses. Pushing off from The Spit at 5.30am in the darkness, I cruised along the shoreline keeping well clear of fishing boats as I made my way to Grotto Point. The swell coming through the Heads was sitting around the 2 metre mark and pushing up a sensational left-hander that was barely visible in the limited light as I passed the Grotto lighthouse, heading towards Middle Head. Decent-sized fishing cruisers were heading out to sea and the water in the sound was nice and confused as I tried to find a good spot to watch the sunrise.

Early morning light over North Head

Sitting just off to the side of Middle Head I got to watch some good sized waves battering its cliffs, and in the distance I could see the southern cliffs of North Head taking a pounding. The wind was icy but the water balmy, and I relaxed in the messy waves with my Adanac paddle held over the side as an outrigger to keep me stable. As the sun started to rise the colours around me took on pink and orange hues which reflected off the moving water creating rippling firey effects about the kayak. In this mesmerising start to the day, I could feel my mind unwinding and the stresses ebbing away with the tide.

The sky is on fire over North Head

Only the day before of course, these waters were chaotic. The 16 year old Jessica Watson had completed her incredible solo sail around the world by passing through the Heads and onwards to Sydney to meet 50,000 odd fans. But she’d done it surrounded by a flotilla of boats escorting her in, which had churned up the Harbour into a giant washing-machine. But now, there was hardly a boat out here to be worried about and I could just enjoy the moment alone on the water.

Dawn's first rays of sunlight

Finally, after about 45 minutes bobbing around Middle Head, I turned back and paddled off into Middle Harbour. With a clear head and a semblance of peace found, I indulged in a little rock-hopping and a fast cruise up to Sugar Loaf Bay before pulling back into The Spit for a coffee with the team at Sydney Harbour Kayaks.

Sometimes modern life throws you a few curve balls and it’s easy to get beaten down by stresses that pile up on each other. Fortunately the outdoors is a great leveller, putting the world into perspective and reminding you that you’re alive. It may not remove the stresses from your life, but it does let you know that they are just little tiny things in the big wide wonder that is life. Cheers – FP

Tags: dawn, Ella's Pink Lady, grotto point, Jessica Watson, Middle Head, North Head, stress, sunrise

The rising sun and a lone kayak fisherman

Autumn is such a great time of the year. The morning air is cold but the water is still warm, so you get all kinds of wonderful weather effects. Low cloud and fog feature heavily at this time of year, which can create incredibly vibrant sunrises if you are up early enough.

So with that, I climbed out of bed at 4.50am and head off through a thick fog for an early paddle to Grotto Head. On the water with Timbo before 6am, by the time we passed Grotto Point the sky was a deep amber, with the sun just minutes away from rising over North Head. The view from the water was just breath-taking, with the whole scene bathed in golden light.

FP watching the sunrise

North Head in the background. What a magnificent way to start the day!

I was also taking the opportunity to test out my “new and improved” Elver Tour paddle. This is the locally-made light weight Greenland paddle I used to complete the 111km Hawkesbury Classic last year, which I had unfortunately broken during rolling classes. The maker of the Elvers, Tom Nicholson, had been kind enough to take it away and repair it, and had returned it with new Purple Heart tips in an effort to keep them from splitting again. So I was enjoying the super light weight and feel as Tim and I cruised over to Manly.

Once we got close to Manly we started to paddle in close to the shore, enjoying the crystal clear waters and watching schools of big fish swimming amongst the rocky ledges underneath our kayaks. The call of the rocks nearby was getting stronger, but big rocks call for a brutal weapon, and with that I put the Elver away and pulled out the trusty Adanac.

A little rock gardening? Don't forget your trusty helmet!

Once ready, Timbo and I dashed across the ferry path to the inner shore of Q Station, where we tracked along the rocky shores heading for the southern end of North Head. As we tracked south the swell started to increase as the cliffs become more and more imposing, and I knew it was time to don the helmet as I explored the chaotic waters washing amongst the rocks.

The south end of North Head. Cliffs and swirling water.

Probably not the bext place to fall out.

North Head. Crazy place, but beautiful in a rugged way!

After a little fun off the cliff, we turned around and saw the magnificent spectacle of fog rolling over Sydney Harbour. A thin layer of steamy whispy fog was swirling above the waters around Grotto Point giving the whole area a magical whispy appearance, whilst to the south the main body of Sydney Harbour was shrouded in a thick blanket of fog hiding the city from view.

Timbo looking at the fog over Sydney Harbour

The swell and chop was building and it was time to head back, so Tim and I struck out for a direct crossing through the lumpy waters of the Sound to Grotto Point, enjoying the sea spray in our faces as we bounced around in the lumps created by charging Manly ferry wake running into the large swell starting to roll in from the Tasman Sea. Then rounding on Grotto Point, we cruised along the rocks of Hunters Bay, laughing at our mishaps here the week before.

Both of us managed not to fall out in the rocks this week!

As we rounded the final point of the paddle, we came across the New South Wales Sea Kayak Club preparing for a Grade 2 session on Middle Harbour. After a quick pause to look at the various boat sand to say gday to faces we knew, it was back to Sydney Harbour Kayaks for a coffee before the final trip home.

NSWSKC preparing for their Middle Harbour paddle

The mornings paddle was a fairly short and quick affair, but we did get to see a magnificent sunrise, paddle the cliffs of North Head and get a hot coffee once finished… and all before 10am in the morning. What a great way to start the day. Cheers! – FP

Tags: Adanac, Elver, grotto point, North Head