Domestic dispute 1:
Submitted: Sunday, Jul 20, 2014 at 19:52
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Tas-tourers
Hi everyone!
Peter and Katrina from Tassie here.
Next July we will travel up to
Cape York, then spend 7 months zigzagging our way back down the eastern half of the big island.
We can't agree as to whether or not it is worthwhile carrying our kayaks for this trip? Opportunities to use them versus time, versus space and weight?
Any
feedback (preferably supporting the wife's argument lol) is appreciated
Reply By: Les PK Ranger - Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 08:49
Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 08:49
Depends :)
Kayaking is a LOT of fun around the coast up there, especially as you get north of say TOC and the weather gets warmer.
If you're a bit of a fisher, they allow you to get to some nice spots too.
Only you know if your roof racks are clear enough to take them, and if the wind resistance is worth a bit extra fuel.
I think it's your regular kayaks, rather than inflatables, as why buy more stuff, and time to inflate is wasted time (you just wouldn't bother using them as much as you would dragging them off the roof).
So which of you is pro and which against ?
If you like paddling in Tassie, you'll kick yourself when you see some of the beaches and coves up north, and don't have the boats.
AnswerID:
536359
Follow Up By: Tas-tourers - Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 13:26
Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 13:26
Thanks! I agree, and water temperatures will definitely be warmer than Tassies no matter where we go.
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Follow Up By: Les PK Ranger - Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 13:32
Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 13:32
No worries Tas.
Just a thought, you may want to leave them somewhere in
Cairns if possible, and pick up on the return leg.
I'm just not sure if my first trip to
the tip I'd be willing to paddle in any waterways further north anyway.
Even around
Townsville through to
Cairns you'd be best asking before paddling beaches or waterways.
Just something about being a possible menu item that puts me off taking too much risk up there :/
Others might have advice on that.
FollowupID:
820449
Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 09:55
Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 09:55
Katrina,
What's the consequences for Peter if he wins the dispute? :-)
If you've got 7 months to spare, then I'd take the kayaks. There's plenty of
waterholes, and some dams (
Lake Moondarra &
Lake Julius near Mt Isa & Chinaman
Dam @
Cloncurry) out west, as
well as Fairbairn??
Dam @
Emerald.
Thomson River @
Longreach, as
well as numerous 'holes on Barcoo River.
Plenty of other dams along the east coast as
well. Don't know whether I'd be too keen to go paddling anywhere north of
Cairns though :-)
Do see a lot of travellers heading north, to
Darwin etc, with kayaks on roof bars. They must be planning to use them somewhere?
Sounds like it will be a magic holiday.............once the domestic is over.
Bob
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Tas-tourers - Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 13:36
Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 13:36
Peter wins the chance to unload the kayaks off our Cub spacevan when setting up
camp...lol.
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Follow Up By: deserter - Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 17:18
Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 17:18
Plenty of crocs
well south of
Cairns too. Right down to
Maryborough.
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Follow Up By: Les PK Ranger - Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 17:32
Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 17:32
That's what I thinking about deserter . . . best to ask locals and use caution, even down fairly central QLD.
Oh heck, they're going on the Cub ?
Oh yeah, not sure I'd be keen to take em off each night and reload each day either, for a whole seven months !! :*
Maybe they can be put on top of the vehicle instead ?
Besides, getting eaten by a prehistoric like creature MUST be starting to pray on your mind just a little by now ??? :D :)
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Follow Up By: Tas-tourers - Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 20:04
Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 20:04
We will be staying clear of snapping handbags as much as possible.
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Reply By: mbw650 - Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 20:36
Monday, Jul 21, 2014 at 20:36
G'day Peter & Katrina,
Come down to
Dover and launch your kayaks from our back yard, travel upstream into the forest until you reach a
rock shelf and stop for a break and soak up the solitude of a truly beautiful place.
Then return downstream past " The Narrows " into
Esperance Bay, paddle around Faith, Hope and Charity islands and if you are that way inclined drop a line in and catch a meal. Then leave the kayaks at our place so we can have a lend while you travel around that big island up north !
Regards and enjoy your trip.
Mark
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Cheryl & Ian (NSW) - Tuesday, Jul 22, 2014 at 19:31
Tuesday, Jul 22, 2014 at 19:31
A number of years ago we also went touring to different parts of Oz for 7 months. We took our canoe with us and used it many, many times and loved the adventures we had in it. We
bush camp where ever we can and that often means camping by a river/dam/lake or coast, so plenty of opportunities. When we did the
Mitchell falls we left the canoe at Drysdale station.
The trouble with hiring them is that you have to be somewhere that is populated. Our best adventures are usually on the smaller tree lined rivers away other people.
Cheers Cheryl
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Follow Up By: Tas-tourers - Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 at 12:57
Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 at 12:57
Hi Cheryl! We will be
free camping as much as possible and its true what you say many spots are near waterways of some type. Now I'm confused and hubby thinks he's won already...bugga!
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Reply By: Member Kerry W (WA) - Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 at 00:55
Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 at 00:55
I Agree with Michelle on this one. We share a similar sense of Adventure.
7 months allow you to do some amazing things with a Kayak handy.
Why ...You could spend 2 weeks just exploring the
Noosa River from Teewah Creek at Coops Corner down. Or up and down again. Trust me there are things and
places there (both on the river system and within a pleasant walking distance) for you to discover that even very few locals know about.
Very few people have truly experienced the Noosa Everglades reflections at that special but short time of day when the colour of the reflections in the water match the reflections above the water - for that you have to be there at dawn or dusk and preferably not mid summer. Sure the reflections are amazing any time the water is still but when you glide through them in a Kayak and you cannot distinguish reflections from reality it becomes quite mesmerising and actually seems so unreal you dont want it to end.
Mind you I had 25 odd years to ply that area in rain hail moonshine and cyclonic conditions. You cant beat a moonlight paddle from Lake Cootharaba to Harrys Hut and beyond, paddles bumping fish - fish jumping around the kayaks...Similarly Kayaking some of Northern NSW's sand lakes is equally inspiring. Lake Arragan for some reason can be ripple free even when a strong wind blows. A moonlight paddle on Lake McKenzie (Fraser Is) where the white sand below you is illuminated like a fluro light and trust me you will have the place to yourselves because visitors these days (unlike the hardy fishermen of the last generation) do not venture from the safety of their camps at night for fear of all sorts of perils which seem only to have sprung up in the last 20 years none of which common sense and simple nouse cannot abate.
Kayaking the outgoing tide through mangroves in
Bowen, visiting
beach huts on the sand bars at the mouth of the Elliot River. (As for the Crocs - just ask the locals) Running the rapids in the Nymboydia River, or the tranquility of a billabong in Western Qld. Lethebrook just south of Proserpine is a pretty distraction on the way south. Baroon Pocket
Dam has some beautiful inlets and in winter you may be treated to the Ghost falls in which mist overflows the valley in a surreal mass of falling damp air. Cruising down the upper Maclay River or visiting the upper reaches of the Bellengen will show you how majestic the Northen Tablelands once were... A great way to see million dollar mansions from the canals on the Sunshine and Gold Coasts Heck you could even drop into the
Darling River for a few hundred ks with all the rain we might get this year.
I can see why those who have never experienced this type of magical experience would have you leave your Kayaks in the shed.
hope this helps...
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