The Shangri-La Fijian Resort from the water

I’d taken my family to Fiji for a Christmas break, where we were staying in a resort nestled amongst the forest on a tiny island separated from the mainland by a coral lagoon. After a few days of R&R and a disasterous test paddle on a tiny single Sit On Top, I decided it was time for a little paddling adventure.

I signed in at the water sports hut and made my way to the water. I decided to take a double kayak out as a single in the hope it would work better for me – on my previous paddle the short single SOT I tried would spin 90 degrees or more with each stroke I took, so I hoped the extra length would help with tracking.  I also chose the most primitive paddle they had, because it was unfeathered like my Greenland paddle. On the previous day I’d chosed the paddle that looked the most modern but had been driven mad by its 90 degree feather!

Paddling across the coral lagoon, heading to open sea

Straddling the double SOT in the middle, I pushed off and head straight out across the lagoon, heading towards the breaking surf on the outer edges of the reef. The longer boat and unfeathered paddle worked remarkedly well together and soon I was working up a decent pace in the wide boat. Before I knew it I was approaching the edges of the coral reef and crashing surf, so I steered away and into a deep channel that major boats used to enter the lagoon. With that I was at sea, riding the Pacific Ocean swell along the coast line.

Before long I spied a deserted beach on the mainland and pushed on towards it. There was significant reef blocking the way but I had just enough water to paddle across the top of it, riding small swells that were rolling across the reef plateau. Then a freakish wave broke behind me, picking up the kayak and hurling it at speed as I toppled backwards into the rear cockpit area!

Coming into the beach, literally seconds before the breaking wave crashed behind me

I washed in next to this piece of "driftwood" on the reef. It was the size of a bus!

Eventually I coasted in through the coral and onto the beach, as small crabs scattered sideways in all directions, leaving the sandy beach completely deserted. I got out and quickly explored before having a relaxing break under the hot Fijian sun.

A sunburnt FP admires his deserted tropical beach

My kayak for the day - the Malibu 2XL. Made quite a reasonable single kayak

I mucked around with my camera for a while (a Panasonic Lumix FT10 that I had borrowed), setting up the timer and attempting to get a decent shot of myself. As I did I noticed a boat cruising outside the reach with two Fijians on board staring at me. They cruised backwards and forwards for a bit before turning away and heading back into the reserve, and I wondered if perhaps I’d done something I shouldn’t. With that sobering thought, I returned to the kayak and pushed it off the beach and back out to the reef ready for the trip back.

The FP, Loud and Proud, on a remote beach in the South Pacific

Of course I’d made a pretty stupid mistake, in that the tide was going out and there now wasn’t enough clearance over the reef to get back out. I had no desire to disturb the reef by walking across it, but with the tide pulling away I’d risk being stuck on the beach until after dark. To make matters worse, I didn’t have any shoes either, and in the end had no choice than to walk the kayak 100 metres across the reef barefoot to get to deeper water.

When I finally got there, I had to negotiate a jump start through breaking waves, and all whilst trying to nurse my now cut and sore feet. I somehow managed to get the boat and myself through the break and into open water, where the wind had whipped up some nice splashy chop for me to paddle across.

Off the reef and back into open waters

As the water crashed over the bow of the kayak, I grinned and laughed at the sheer enjoyment of the paddle. That laughter turned to concern however as a 20  foot motorboat pulling a parasail cruised straight at the kayak, its Fijian drivers calling out “Bula!” but its onboard tourists shouting abuse at me about getting out of their way. The Fijian capain kept his eye on the parasail above and within seconds the boat had collided side-on with my kayak. With a bit of a push I was able to keep the boat upright and continue my way into the beach.

Finally back in calmer waters with the resort now in view

Back on the beach at last, nearly three hours since I'd left

When I finally returned, I walked up the counter to sign myself back in. The older Fijian lady immediately got stuck into me once she recognised who I was.

“You’re only allowed the boat for 30mins” she exclaimed.

“But yesterday you told me I could pay for anything after that?” I responded.

“You can’t go past the poles with the kayak!” she yelled, pointing at channel markers a mere 100 metres away.

“Where does it say that?” I reply, “I don’t see anything saying that?”.

“You can’t take the kayak out of the lagoon!!” she yells even more angrily, as I realise she’s getting seriously worked up.

At this point I realised I’d pushed this Fijian to the brink, so I did what any self-respecting tourist does under the circumstances – I offered to pay something. But the woman was horrified at the suggestion and instead calmed down, laughed, and said don’t worry about it. And with that, she was fine again – the Fijian rage had lasted all of about 45 seconds!

More angry Fijians.....

For the rest of the day I took it easy, staying well away from the kayaks and concentrating on other activities that would cause the locals less pain. Like fire dancing – haha!! Needless to say there’s always more to do when you’re in Fiji. Cheers – FP

Tags: Fiji, Lumix, Panasonic, Panasonic Lumix FT10, Shangri-La Fijian Resort

My dead Panasonic Lumix FT1

When I first picked up the paddle early in 2009 I decided to record the journey via photos on some sort of website. I needed a waterproof camera and after doing some research, bought myself the new Panasonic Lumix FT1 the day it came out. The website launched a week later – it was the birth of FatPaddler.com. Since then the camera has seen over 1000 km of Sydney waterways. It’s taken over 20,000 photos and well over 100 hours of video footage. It’s been from Australia to Alaska and back via California and Chicago. It has been underwater with stingrays, seen my first rolling sessions, and travelled with me on two Hawkesbury Canoe Classics.

Last weekend after a rolling session it finally gave up the ghost and died. When it refused to turn on I noticed water sitting behind the lens. Continued weekly immersion in salt water had finally corroded its way into the camera’s core. I was able to extract its final moments of video and photography from the memory card, but the Lumix itself was done for.

To honour my old friend, I’ve put together a brief collage from its library of images. Goodbye my old friend! Cheers – FP

It's first waterborne photo. Dawn on Middle Harbour.

First visit to the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Incredible dawns on the Berowra Gorge

Middle Harbour locals

Misty mornings on Bantry Bay

A trip to the other side of the world - glacier fields of Alaska

Hanging out of a moving train for an amazing sunset near Anchorage Alaska

Summer paddles on crystal clear Sydney waters

Early morning Blast paddlers at Balmoral Beach

Team Fat Paddler training for the Lifestart Kayak for Kids

Early morning paddles by Sydney's Heads

A few post-paddle parties as well - haha!

Underwater with the stingrays during our many night paddles

Two Hawkesbury Canoe Classics

Last Photo Ever - Clear waters on Middle Harbour. Then I rolled in them!

Tags: Lumix, Panasonic, Panasonic Lumix

Panasonic Lumix Life Photography Exhibition, Sydney

I recently submitted ten of my Alaskan kayaking photographs to a competition and won a place in their final exhibition, held in the Global Gallery in Paddington, Sydney. For a whopping four hours too – haha! I took my family down there to have a look and it may well be that we were the only ones who saw it, so to make sure some other people saw it too we took a few photos. So here it is – and a huge thanks to everyone who voted online for me, I know I harrassed you all too much!

Bloody big Panasonic flat-screens with photos of Alaska

Exhibitor collage - my photo of the Alaska Railroad featured prominantly

A perfectly nice picture spoiled by some fat bloke...

Tags: Alaska, Alaska Railroad, Folbot, Folbot Cooper, kayak, Lumix, Lumix Life, Panasonic

Fat Paddler entry in the Panasonic Lumix photography competition

I received a random note via Twitter that perhaps I should submit some of my paddling photos to the Panasonic Lumix Life photography competition (I use a Panasonic Lumix FT1 waterproof camera). And since I’ve just returned from my paddling expedition to Alaska, I thought it would be great to put in a selection of these photos for public viewing, and hopefully full public display if I get in the top 50 entries.

Please have a look at my gallery and click the “Full Screen” button to see them in their full un-edited full-rez glory (the only time you’ll ever see the Alaskan shots at this resolution). And then if you like them, please click on the Vote button (looks like a Tick) and give me your vote.

Remember, one vote can make all the difference. Thanks kindly!

Tags: Alaska, Lumix Life, Panasonic, Photography, Photography Competition