Bring on the sunrise! Pittwater, looking north-east.

Cold, dark and quiet. This is how we found the put-in at the southern end of Pittwater this winter’s morning. Grumm, The Famous Tim Kennings and myself had met up around 5.30am for a Pittwater paddle, and despite our enthusiasm, we struggled to get ready in the pitch black and icy conditions of this winter’s morning. The water, although much colder now than in recent weeks, felt balmy compared to the cold air around us. But despite all this, we pushed off and head north for Scotland Island and the impending sunrise.

Sunrise. Worth the early start in the cold.

Despite the incoming tide, a blustery southerly wind was pushing us along as well as whipping up some steady wind waves. Us usual, Grumm was fighting to turn his boat more than 5 degrees, and you could see him gritting his teeth in the cold air. But I had found that my boat was starting to ride the wind waves, and with a bit of a burst here and there I found myself racing ahead on the steep little waves.

Grumm and Timbo in the early light

Finally we got the sunrise which we all stopped to watch (it never ceases to leave me stunned!). Then we settled in with the wind behind and quickly made our way up the waterway. By now we were all feeling the need for coffee, so we paddled onto a secluded little spot called Portugese Beach.

Kayaks at rest, Portugese Beach, Pittwater

Portugese Beach, looking south

I whipped out the Trangia and put it to use to make coffee for us all. The Famous Tim Kennings had brought his own coffee cup (as had I), but it appeared Grumm hadn’t received the memo. Rustling around in my dry-bag, I managed to find a spare for him so we could all enjoy a cuppa. And a good laugh at Grumm’s expense.

Coffee kit - a necessity when there's no coffee boat around!

Grumm's coffee cup. Nice mug, ya mug!

We were joined by a very friendly Magpie as we finished our coffee, and then a large Kookaburra flew in for a closer look too. We’d also seen a white-bellied sea eagle earlier, so the birdlife display was adding to a quite magical morning.

The friendly Magpie, who was keen to get into Timbo's muesli bar

The curious Kookaburra who flew over to check us out

Just a random artsy shot I took from the beach

With us all feeling warm from the sun and hot coffee, we set of from the beach hugging the western shoreline for a closer look. Timbo and I paddled between the rocks, adding a few bumps and scratches to our kayaks, but Grumm paddled out to deeper waters as he continued to struggle with the steering of his fast, straight rocket. Finally Timbo had a quick look and suggested Grumm stop using his skeg. The look on his face was priceless as he realised the answer was so simple, and with that his skeg was up and for the first time, he approached the rocky shore and cut through a little gauntlet.

Exploring rocks with Grumm holding off in deeper water

Grumm finally gets amongst it!

With Grumm now in tow we hugged the rocky shores for a while until we came across a fairly hidden mangrove area. Looking closer, we found a channel throught the mangroves that opened up into a beautiful little lagoon, complete with crystal-clear water, a gently flowing waterfall and lush green forest. For a while we just drifted on the lagoon, enjoying the peaceful ambience of this hidden gem.

Timbo in the hidden lagoon

Finally we head off for the final push home. Paddling into 10 knot winds and against the tide, we pushed on with Grumm racing ahead in his faster boat. Pittwater was starting to get busy with numerous big cruisers getting out on the water, giving The Famous Tim Kennings and I a few final surfing opportunities, before making the final run into McCarrs Creek where we had started.

Ordinarily this would be the end of the adventure, except Grumm had one more treat in store for us. He reached the shore a good 30 metres in front of us and to my surprise, looked to attempt a roll right on the beach. Except I realised it wasn’t a roll, but just a brilliant stack into the water as he’d tried to get out. Both Timbo and I cruised into the beach with tears of laughter in our eyes as the now very wet and embarrassed Grumm grinned at his misfortune. A brilliant giggle at the end of the paddle!

Finally, as we packed our kayaks onto our respective cars, we had one final spectacle as a lovingly restored old Ford cruised past us all. Not something you see everyday! Cheers – FP

An old classic

A labour of love

Breaking light and breaking waves

The Famous Tim Kennings and I pushed off into the darkness, hunting the sunrise over North Head. The morning was proving to be the first really cold one for the season, with a biting 15 knot wind and the water temperature having dropped several degrees over the past week. The wind was supposed to be the same as the 2-3 metre ocean swell, coming from the south east, but despite all predictions, was blowing in from the west. All was adding up to a nervous paddle in the dark riding over big swell whilst being broadsided by big nasty chop.

The Famous Tim Kennings bobbing around in the dark at Middle Head

We pulled in on the safe side of Middle Head to stay out of the swell whilst we waited for the sun, but a fast outgoing tide kept sweeping us alongside the rocky shore and out towards the Heads. Timbo had his helmet firmly in place as he played amongst the rocks in the darkness, whilst I impatiently circled around waiting for the elusive sunrise photo.

Timbo, and things that go "bump" in the night!

The Famous Tim Kennings of course is never completely happy unless doing something crazy near rocks, so it was only fitting that after a decent wave rolled past, a huge trough opened up showing a jagged rock that had been hiding beneath. Too late for Tim unfortunately, who’s kayak slid into the trough and clipped the emerging monster with enough force to give him a bit of a rise, but not enough to do any lasting damage. Naturally, I laughed my head off, as Timbo circled around looking back at his stern like a puppy chasing his tail!

Getting light, but still no sunrise

Meanwhile a front coming up from the south had placed a lovely dark curtain in the way of the sunrise, and begrudgingly I accepted the fact I wouldn’t get a decent shot. So paddling out into the swell, we turned and paddled towards Balmoral, catching slow runs down the faces of the building swell. All up it was a pretty disappointing start to the day, until a chance glance over my shoulder and I could see that although late, the sun was finally about to break through the clouds.

At last! The sun emerges.

With the shot finally done, Timbo and enjoyed the rest of the paddle with a gentle ride up to Bantry Bay followed by a couple of coffees at Sydney Harbour Kayaks. Another lovely start to a Sunday. Cheers – FP.

Paddle done, boats ready to be packed up. Lovely!

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

Sunrise over Manly

One of the real joys of getting out early in the kayak is seeing sunrises from the water. There is something magical about a dark horizon turning gold and then watching an amber rising sun reflected off the water, all whilst bobbing about in gentle early morning swell.

Call it a sudden moment of romanticism, but I was looking through past photos and realised just how many sunrises I’ve seen over the past few months. So I thought perhaps I’d share some of those moments. Enjoy – FP

Rising sun reflected in the Sydney city skyline

Dawn from Five Dock (west of the Sydney CBD)

Sunrise over Seaforth

Dawn over North Head

Dawn breaking over Berowra Waters

Sunrise bathing the Sydney city in amber

Sunrise through the mists of Bantry Bay

Stormy dawn, Berowra Waters

Sunrise over Grotto Point

Sydney Harbour Bridge at dawn

Amber dawn over Bradleys Head

Balmoral Beach has a great little kiosk that does excellent egg and bacon rolls. On this particular day I paddled out to watch the sunrise before heading in for breakfast. Yum!