Early morning at The Spit. Is it really Winter??

This week Team Fat Paddler was graced with Grumm’s sister Andie, up on a holiday from Radelaide.  As we had promised some months earlier, we loaded her into the car and took off for our Sunday paddle session.

Arriving at The Spit at 7am it was hard to believe it was mid-Winter, with sunny conditions, low winds and glassy waters greeting us. A quick fit-out in one of Sydney Harbour Kayaks‘  composite kayaks and Andie was away, choosing not to use the rudder which we all nodded our approval at.

As we paddled up Middle Harbour, we entered a trash zone where recent rains had washed debris out of drains and into the water.  I managed to scrounge a few tennis balls out of the drink to throw at Grumm, and in return he fished out an apple which he returned fire with – and poorly at that. Andie decided to get in on the action and, with a good lean over the side of her yak, attempted to scoop up the bobbing apple. Of course she went over too far and I had a close view of her teetering on the edge of the boat desperately flailing to stay upright before the inevitable spill into the drink.

Choking back the laughter, I paddled over to her and walked her through an assisted rescue; hold onto your boat, now move around to mine, now I’m pulling your boat over my bow so I can drain the water, now move back around ready for entry… and so on and so on.  Within a few minutes, we got her back into her relatively empty boat, before we all burst into fits of laughter at her expense!

With Andie shivering a little in her now fairly wet stage, we made a bee-line for Sugar Loaf Bay to intercept Garry and his Coffee Boat. With his arrival, we rafted up and enjoyed the first hot coffee of the day.

Grumm and a wet Andie enjoying their coffee.

With the coffee out of the way, and Andie now in a somewhat warmer state, we moved off into Scotts Creek for yet another magical paddle through the mangroves, cliff overhangs and scrub.

Andie, in amongst the trees

Mangrove reflections. Beautiful.

Once back out of the creek, we skirted the edges of Sugar Loaf Bay looking at small waterfalls and a couple of stingrays in the shallows, before turning for the trip back to The Spit and another coffee. And of course plenty of reminiscing of Andie bobbing for apples (haha!). Cheers! – FP

Andie, still paddling around looking for apples!