Had the call that the Port Gawler Mangroves were ripe for the picking (well at least the geocaches) and would I like to go for a paddle.

Having bought a kayak 12 months ago and only used it once three weeks ago and not paddled for 15 years – why not.

We arrived at 10:30 as the tide was heading out, leaving an guard at the cars and started paddling.

We paddled for 2 hours covering 4.7 km in four canoes and getting 4 cache finds.

Mutiny on the Bounty 1 – The Bounty

Mutiny on the Bounty 2 – Stores

Mutiny on the Bounty 3 – Treasure

Bligh’s Revenge

I put together a video of the adventure – 2 hours of paddling in 48 seconds 🙂

How hard could it be. After all I had canoed down the Zambesi River in ’98 contending with elephants, crocodiles and hippos and this was just a 200 metre paddle off the beach at Tennyson.

I think where my idea came unstuck was I was 14 years younger back then and at least 14 kg lighter but I was willing to give it a go.

12 months ago I had bought a kayak to tackle the mangrove caches but it has sat in the shed since I had bought it so today was the day to christen it.

The geocache on the radar today was “Fishing for Red Herrings“.

Arriving at the beach it didn’t look too hard but as we were getting ready the tide was turning and the swell was increasing – not the best for some one who hasn’t paddled for 14 years but don’t they say you always remember how to ride a bike. I wonder if that is the same for paddling.

There was a varied flotilla of craft assembled for the trek but in the end there was only 2 that made the journey out through the pounding surf – the floating barge of shonylogic and my untested kayak.

After the third attempt of getting past the breakers, I was finally on my way following in the wake of the barge. About half way out the surf capsized me and it then became a swim to the structure as I had failed to practice the remount in surf procedure.

No good caching story is complete without some blood and I managed to get some while being pounded into the ladder by the swell at the structure.

Cache all signed and I got back on the kayak and paddled back towards land. Again at about half way in, I was capsized again. (there must be a bump there somewhere ) Oh well, time for another swim. It wasn’t long before the barge came out to me and offered me a seat back into dry land.

Back on the beach and it was time to check my stuff I had carried with me. We soon found out that zip lock bags are not that waterproof and hopefully I will be able to resurrect my CB radio.

It was a fun morning and was thinking maybe the kayak belonged in the shed but we then went top West Lakes for another find and it performed perfectly in the calm waters.

I have put together a short 30 second video of the hour long trek 🙂