A Christmas Offering

With Christmas comes a bit of fun inspiration, I've spent the last couple of days working on this, I hope everyone likes it. For our international friends, feel free to ask for translations of the aussie terms used. :)
If you wish to share, please post a link to this Blog, do not copy and post elsewhere, if you decide to ignore this request then please make sure you keep my name attached.

Santa’s Aussie Saga

With all prepared for Christmas, Santa’s feeling rather bored,

He thought he’d treat the reindeer, with a holiday abroad.

A different view he’s craving, he’s tired of snow and ice,

He spins the globe, sticks a pin, and thinks; ‘Australia might be nice’.

He checks the weather, packs a bag, he’s set to go next morning,

A worldly man like him need read no trav’ller’s tips and warnings.

Reader, take heed if you should choose Down Under for your vacation,

For Santa’s pride will soon result in a costly education.

First to go was Blitzen, when he wandered off the track,

A big black spider, fangs agleam, landed heavy on his back.

Comet next as in the bush, Santa thought to stay

An Eastern Brown ambitiously chose venison for prey

A moment’s quiet for their loss, then to the sleigh made haste,

This bushland Aussies dearly love, clearly not his taste.

A change of scene this vast land, could surely still supply,

A sandy beach upon the coast was just the thing to try.

He lays a towel down on the sand, then strikes the native pose,

Beer resting on his belly, and zinc upon his nose.

The reindeer run off to explore, quick to get away,

A Speedo wearing Santa, a sight just too risqué

The cool blue waters first invited Dasher for a swim,

The only warning sign he got, a large and silent fin.

Cupid played with an octopus with pretty, bright blue rings,

And Dancer found a jelly fish, with a million barbs that sting.

The reindeer gather round at once, to break the fat guy’s slumber,

With a snort he wakes and stares, at their diminished number.

Four reindeer heave a sigh as to the sleigh once more they race,

Santa still not giving up, tries yet another place.

A river’s edge now, cool and calm, a shady bank to rest on,

And sporting at the waters’ edge, a quirky Aussie icon.

An otter’s body smooth and sleek, a bill just like a duck,

Webbed feet and beaver’s tail, it seemed a creature down on luck.

Such a strange and muddled animal, shows Mother Nature likes a joke,

But Rudolph wasn’t laughing, when a poisoned spur returned his poke.

Vixen folds down to the ground, feeling rather sick,

Her exploration of the coast, had found a paralysis tick.

The remaining two now glance around, feeling rather frightened,

‘To the city’! Santa cries, his mood once more has brightened.

They eye the sleigh, the two of them, feeling disconcerted,

Their choice is clear, still pull they must, or risk being deserted.

The city lights draw nearer, as through the air they trudge,

A maniacally jolly fat man, and two reindeer with a grudge.

Their landing in a laneway, a little rougher than was needed,

Our intrepid duo scarper off, Santa’s voice no longer heeded.

Santa gazes blankly round, decides there’s one thing left to do,

He wanders to a nearby pub to consult a beer or two.

The gathered locals listen on, as he pours out his woes,

And pretty soon he’s made firm friends with Dazza, Nev and Jo.

‘No worries mate’ they tell him, and ‘she’ll be right you’ll see’,

‘Just shout us all a few more rounds, you’ll find mateship comes for free’.

Morning comes with bleary eyes, and a pounding in his head,

‘Good onya mate’ Nev shouts out loud and leads him stagg’ring to the shed.

They all squeeze into Dazza’s ute, for the drive back into town.

They swear they won’t give up the search, till those pesky deer are found.

A rumour reaches Jodie’s ears, to a dark club they go together,

There’s Prancer dancing on the stage, with muscled men in leather.

News of Dona now they find, with a tale that’s just as grim,

He’s made friends with a union rep, there’ll be no more work from him.

Santa’s mood swings once again, as he realises he’s stuck,

Survival here, he begins to fear, is only down to luck.

‘Lighten up ya blouse’ says Nev, and lands a manly slap upon his back,

‘We’ll see my old mate Baz, he’s got a farm down Deadmans Track’.

So in the ute once more they go, stopping by for Santa’s sleigh,

Held down with a couple of ockies, it perches proudly in the tray.

They drive for hours in solitude, on the track with the ominous name,

It seems to him monotony might be how it got its fame.

The air is still, the dust is thick, the sun glares fiercely down,

Even the trees look dead to him, all in shades of grey or brown.

Then they crest a hill called ‘Devil’s Thrill’, with a view to set hearts racing,

Too late he sees their lunacy, with each in their own way bracing.

Jo wriggles back on Neville’s lap, her feet braced on the dash,

‘Yeeha’! They cry, and down they fly, he knows they’re going to crash.

From rock to rut, they bounce and bash, the pace is getting scary,

Flat ground at last, they slide and stop in front of ‘Bazza’s Dairy’.

With a resounding thwack, the ockies snap, the sleigh flies overhead,

While Santa pale and shaking, utters words best left unsaid.

They guide his shaky steps inside, and to keep him out of strife,

Leave him in the kitchen sipping tea with Bazza’s wife.

Odd sounds reach him now and then, there’s hammering and nailing,

Then they lead him out the front to see the great unveiling.

The crew stand round their handiwork, their chests swelling with pride,

‘We hope you don’t mind Santa, but we Aussied up your ride’.
Flames are painted down the sides, a sheepskin cover for his seat,

A stereo with 12 inch subs, and an esky by his feet.

But best by far, they’d rounded up replacements for his deer,

‘You beaudy mate’ shouts Dazza , as he handed him a beer.

So when you’re listening out for Santa, forget the sound of hooves o’erhead,

This year you’ll hear the bouncing thud of a dozen ‘roos instead.

Mel Hanley    ©2012

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

I'm Back!!

We are defined by what we do, both by choice of occupation and by leisure activities. When there is a sudden restriction placed on our activities, we are affected not just by the lack of a favoured pasttime, but can feel like a large part of our lives, or of our self, is missing. With a long term back injury flaring up earlier in the year, plus some other health issues, it’s been a few months since I’ve been able to get on the water. Wayne, not to be upstaged has just had surgery with the removal of two discs and the fusion of three vertebrae. (He won the race to the neurosurgeon, going from consultation to surgery and then to a follow up visit with the surgeon coming up this week, while I am still waiting on a second appointment for my specialist with some slightly worrying MRI results that left me a number of interesting words to google J). While Wayne’s recovery is going well, and the outcome has been a lot better than we had hoped, it will be some time before he is allowed to do anything too active.

Without my weekly kayak fix I’ve realised just how big a part of my life it has become. My kayak, too long to fit in the garage, has its own room in the house, and has been sitting in silent judgement each time I pass it. While there have been many times I would have loved to go out, the simple inability to lift the kayak has left me spending the last few months pondering the question - just what do non-paddlers do with their time??

Sometimes, it seems that all the planets have aligned for once, and some opportunities cannot be passed up.  When you get a winter’s day that is sunny, pleasant, and with barely a hint of breeze, the call of the kayak just can’t be ignored, combine that with the fact that I actually made it through a week at work without aggravating my back and I just had to give it a shot. Wayne urging me to get out there and managing to sound only a little jealous helped too.

With the wonderfully intelligent street design in our suburb,
 I beat Wayne to the park.

A bit of interesting planning had to go into getting to the water, with both of us limited on lifting (Wayne can’t do any lifting, and I can’t lift anything above about hip height), there is no way we can currently get the boat onto the car’s roof-racks, so alternative plans had to be made. I was able to manoeuvre my boat onto a cart and out of the house, from here I was hoping the walk to the water would be manageable (distance is not too bad, and downhill all the way J). This would allow me to get to the water, but there is no possibility of fitting the cart into the Tahe’s tiny hatches. Solution - my gear was loaded into the car as usual, which gave me less to haul. I then walked my boat through the streets, while Wayne drove down to meet me at a park we used to use as a regular put-in when we lived a little closer to the water. Once I was set to go, the cart went back in the car with Wayne and he would come to meet me again later.

Absolute serenity! A perfect day for a return to the water.

 The moment I dipped my paddle in the water I felt like I had returned home. It was both reassuring and satisfying to feel the paddle finding the perfect angle as it entered and passed through the water, to feel the familiar, comforting rhythm of paddle-stroke and leg drive and to be able to gaze out at the sunlight dancing on the water. I have always loved paddling in winter, on most days you have the water pretty much to yourself and on a calm day, everything seems that little bit crisper and clearer.  With no offence intended to Wayne (he got me into kayaking and we have paddled together for many years) I love paddling alone, there is certainly enjoyment in paddling with the right people, but paddling alone is a very different experience and I enjoy it for so many reasons. Being out there on my own this time gave me a sense of reconnection with the natural world that I love. It is sometimes hard to explain to non-paddlers some of the things I love so much about kayaking. We have spent a lot of time walking lately as an alternative that we are both capable of, and while I love bushwalking and our walks on the amazing beaches we have nearby, as a walker I feel a little more like a spectator. Being in a kayak gives me a much stronger sense of connection, I am not just looking at a scene, I am part of the scene. I have heard it described as bushwalking on water, but I think there is something much stronger, much more personal to kayaking than bushwalking.

Wayne drove onward to surprise me as I passed a jetty shortly after my start,
 on my own after this.

I have found some interesting changes in my paddling since I started in Greenland rolling, I had always felt that kayak guides who insist on rolling during every trip were just showing off, but since spending so much time in the water rolling, sculling and generally having far more fun than you would expect to have just staying in one place, I have discovered that every time I’m paddling I have an overwhelming urge to roll. The water calls to me as I paddle, almost like a partner inviting me to dance and it can sometimes be a hard urge to resist. I realise how much of a disservice I was doing to a number of people over the years – they weren’t really showing off, rolling is just so much fun it’s a constant temptation to simply lean in and dance with the water. I resisted the urge this time, while nowhere near the temperatures our Canadian friends endure, the water is still a bit chillier than I like at this time of year.

About a hundred Cormorants who were occupying a rocky reef,
usually a favourite spot for Pelicans, but it seems to have been invaded.

I spent the next couple of hours being pleasantly reminded of so many of the things I love about kayaking. With no destination set, and knowing I would be nowhere near my former speed, I took the chance to just cruise and enjoy, stopping to take a few photos, or watching the many birds who seemed to have emerged in numbers to enjoy the spectacular day. My company included Ducks, Pelicans, Cormorants, Sea Gulls and Terns, a pair of Sooty Oyster Catchers watched me warily and gave their shrill cry as I paddled past their rocky perch and a pair of Black Swans surprised me as I rounded a small island and found them gliding along on glass smooth water in their own private little retreat. The call of a Whistling Kite drifted across the water, one of my favourite birds, but I had to be content with just its’ voice today as it remained out of sight. It was such an enjoyable day, even the unseasonal appearance of a pair of jetskis failed to annoy me. 

The breeze picked up as I headed back and I got to enjoy a very rare experience for me – a tale-wind (it doesn’t matter what the forecast, or where we are heading, we almost always get headwinds J).  I returned to the put-in feeling pleasantly fatigued, a few muscles reminding me that perhaps I’m a little out of shape, but not feeling too bad. The GPS reading gave me a modest 11.8km, a distance I would previously have scoffed at, but was quite happy with today. I also had the walk back to look forward to – did I mention that the walk to the water had been all downhill? Wayne played shuttle for my trolley and gear again, meeting me at the park once more and I admit to feeling just a little guilty after having so much fun while he can’t paddle, but it was just too good a day to let guilt spoil it.

Ready for the walk home - Uphill all the way :) 

The excitement of being back on the water and the enjoyment of such a perfect day has given me a new drive to get out there again, and nature has worked her magic and left me feeling a lot more positive.  I still have an upcoming appointment with my neurosurgeon, and have to hope for a simpler fix than Wayne’s dramatic surgery, but I intend getting back on the water as much as I can (and I’m sure Wayne will be joining me as soon as he’s allowed J). As they say, ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ and my time off the water has given me a much stronger appreciation for the many, many magical experiences I have had paddling over the years.

Of course, it hasn’t been all doom and gloom since my last post, we have still had our share of fun and I hope to make amends for my neglect on my blog with a bit of a catch up on some fun events in my next post. For those sitting at home making excuses about the weather, or too tired/lazy/busy – Get Out There! There will be times when you are unable to and you will regret every time you rolled over and slept in on a cold morning instead of getting your kayak fix J.

Some of my companions for the day.

Greenland Rolling Day

 When I first started exploring Greenland rolling and paddling skills it was purely for my own enjoyment. Initially, my goal was simply to get a more reliable roll, then I discovered just how much fun it was and I began pushing myself to learn more and more techniques, finding that the more I learned, the more it improved other paddling skills and added even more enjoyment to my paddling. My love for tradition and culture led me to explore further and I love learning more about Greenland and its surrounds and the culture that gave us the Kayak. My desire to learn more led to making contacts with other Greenland enthusiasts overseas, which in turn gave us the opportunity to participate in some amazing Greenland paddling events in Canada and Japan.

When I began that journey, my goal was simple – learn as much as I could in the short time I had so I could bring those skills home and continue working on my own progress. These events had some extra lessons in store for me, which I wasn’t expecting. What I encountered at each of the events made me realise Greenland style is about far more than just learning techniques. At each event, we made friends with an amazing group of people. There is a strong sense of community that goes with Greenland style, a friendly, open atmosphere that promotes a sharing of knowledge and experiences. It was the people, rather than just kayaking skills that made these events unforgettable.

In Australia, Greenland rolling or even just paddling with a stick is fairly new. There are certainly pioneers out there who have been doing their own thing for quite some time, but interest has been slow to grow. Instead of the open, sharing sense of community that we encountered overseas, we have scattered individuals or small groups practicing in relative isolation, with little or no contact with other enthusiasts and a somewhat dismissive attitude from other kayakers. My goals began to change, instead of just pursuing my own interest, I wanted to share the warm, friendly atmosphere we had encountered overseas, and see the growth of Greenland paddling in Australia in a positive way. There is of course the option to just sit back and complain about the attitudes of others, but complaining never changes anything. If I want things to change, I have to be willing to take action myself, and so I found myself facing some new and unexpected challenges.

I have always been a very private person, with a dislike of being in the public eye and a hatred of photos and videos of myself. With camera shyness and nervousness to combat, it has been an interesting journey J.

When we were approached by Mark Sundin of Expedition Kayaks with the idea of having a free Greenland rolling day, I thought it was a great idea and was more than willing to be involved. With Cheri Perry and Turner Wilson of Kayak Ways coming to Australia shortly, he thought it would be a good way to generate some interest and get more people to take advantage of the rare opportunity to train with some of the world’s best teachers. With Expedition Kayaks and Greenland Downunder teaming up for the event, we would be able to present a variety of techniques, share our own experiences of Greenland kayaking events, and hopefully see everyone have a lot of fun. It would seem our video clips, blogs, and incessant talking about Greenland rolling have caught people’s attention and I was very surprised when Mark told us a week or so before the event that some people were signing up just to come and see me, I was definitely feeling a bit nervous as the day approached.

Gathering on the beach

With a three hour drive to Sydney, we were off to an early start, loading boat and gear in the rain hoping the weather would improve as we drove north. It rained almost all the way, giving us some cause for concern, but it eased off as we neared our destination. We arrived to find a crowd already waiting on the beach, with more still coming. As we waited for the final arrivals, I spent some time chatting with a few people, surprised to find that there were some attending from as far away as Newcastle, with two people travelling all that way just to watch. It reminded me of the reasons why I travelled all the way to Canada, there are so few opportunities to even see Greenland rolling here. It was very humbling to know people had travelled so far just to see our little event.

With a few concerns about the weather and unfortunately, water quality (something we never suffer in Jervis Bay), we braved the conditions with 20 people in the water for three hours of rolling and fun. We began with a quick chat and an introduction from Rob Mercer, then it was into the water for a demonstration.

A great group of people

After injuring my back a month ago, I have not been able to practice as much as I would like. Feeling a little nervous, I plunged ahead with my demo, wanting to give everyone a good understanding of the basics as well as being able to show some of the more advanced rolls. While a few of the rolls felt a little stiffer than usual, all went well until I got to the elbow roll, one I have had a lot of fun with and have been very confident with, but this time just wasn’t going to happen. It is impossible to not feel disappointed when things don’t go to plan, but none of us are perfect, and I certainly don’t claim to be an expert yet. Having a roll fail before an audience is embarrassing, but I have seen some of the top names in Greenland rolling blow a roll and shrug it off, these things happen, mistakes keep us humble.

Rob and Mark helping with Balance Braces

After the demo and a couple of quick drills we hit the water, with Mark and Rob taking a group through balance braces and lay back rolls while Wayne and I took the remainder who were interested in forward finishes or working on specific rolls. With so many people working at different levels and with different goals, it was an interesting challenge to try and make sure everyone was getting something they wanted. I found myself alternating between standing in the water assisting people through their rolls and jumping in my boat to give quick demonstrations and explanations of details. It was great to see everyone having fun, trying out new rolls and running through their own repertoires. The last part of the session we spent helping with an assortment of rolls, from balance braces, to hand rolls and a variety in between. As everyone started to feel the cold, and with some feeling a little fatigued after repeated rolling, the crowd began to thin as people headed off to get dry and warm with the last few eager people taking those last few minutes to spend just a little more time on a few final rolls. Once out of the water, I spent a little time talking to people, happy to answer their questions about our experiences overseas, finding myself one of the last people off the beach. We quickly loaded the boat and gear as the rain made a re-appearance, then we joined everyone in the sailing club for some warm food and good company.

Rolling, rolling, rolling......

Thanks go to Rob Mercer and Mark Sundin of Expedition Kayaks, and to all who attended for a fun day. Good luck to everyone in their progress with their rolls, I am eagerly awaiting Cheri and Turner’s visit and look forward to taking advantage of their expertise, I strongly recommend everyone take this opportunity – they are amazing teachers and great people. Happy Rolling J

Cheri Perry, Maligiaq Padilla, myself, and Turner Wilson at Ontario Greenland Camp 2011

Australia Day Fun!

We Aussies are a laid back bunch; to many outsiders, we have no sense of patriotism, a weird sense of humour, and take a greater sense of pride in our dangerous fauna than our country’s achievements. We look at the enthusiastically overt, flashy displays of patriotism put on by many other nations and respond with a ‘No worries mate, we’ll do it our way’. We do have our own quiet sense of patriotism and pride, but as with our people, it is laid back and fairly relaxed (unless you’re talking about cricket).

Australia Day is a day which does stir a bit of patriotism in most of us, and while there is still some debate over the choice of date for this day, for most of us it is simply a day to celebrate who we are. Unlike other public holidays, where it is perfectly acceptable to have ‘a bit of a bludge’, it has become an almost compulsory part of our culture to get out and do something you enjoy on Australia Day - no matter what the weather J If you’re not at least trying to do something fun, then you are running the risk of that ultimate insult – being un-Australian. Un-Australian includes many cultural faux pas such as - disliking lamb chops or vegemite, knowing the second verse of the national anthem, not scaring tourists with stories of drop bears and yowies or at least snakes spiders and crocs, not helping your mates when they need a hand, not using derogatory nick-names for your best mates, drinking foreign beer,.... to name just a few of our social complexities.

With national pride on the line, we had to go out and find some fun!

Common Australia Day activities include barbecues, back-yard cricket or days at the beach, usually in sweltering heat. Unfortunately, the day dawned rather dim and gloomy. We got up and it rained, had breakfast and it rained some more, spent the morning pottering about with some chores while the rain became sullen and moody alternating between light showers and heavy downpours. Finally deciding after lunch that the weather was not going to improve, we went and loaded the kayaks on the car (in the rain) and headed for the water. We decided to make it a rolling day – the rain wouldn’t be able to make us any wetter.

Living only a few minutes from St Georges Basin (an estuary lake open to the sea via a narrow inlet) has made us a bit lazy and ‘the Basin’ has become our favourite location for rolling sessions rather than driving the fifteen minutes that would take us to Jervis Bay (absolutely beautiful for paddling, but last time I took part in a rolling demo on the bay it was with wind, swell and the water was full of Blue Bottles – still a fun day but flat, calm, stinger free water also has its appeal). We cruised past Palm Beach as a possible location, not our usual spot but it has the advantage of a car park and some undercover facilities. As we approached, the rain began its real assault and for a moment we entertained the idea that this may not be the best of plans. Arriving at the park we found a few sorry looking groups of people huddled under shelters in the rain and wind, some scurrying to pack up their barbecues while making futile attempts to stay dry. A couple of die-hards were in swimming, determined to enjoy their day at the beach, but not looking too happy about it. We decided to drive on to our favourite spot a bit further round the Basin where we would be more sheltered from the wind. As we headed into the national park, we left the rain behind and found our favourite spot to be its usual secluded, calm little hide-away. 

With a trio of Black Swans gliding past, a Grey Heron hunting on the shore and a Pelican cruising the shallows, we felt like we were in a different world. The water called to us and with boats, tuiliks and paddles ready we were going to have some fun! Joined by our new Australia Day mascot, we spent over three hours rolling and playing with bracing, sculling, balance braces and lots more rolling. Playing with a camera mounted on my front deck allowed us to catch some of the fun on video, although after watching the clips, I do have to remind myself to smile occasionally when we film the rolls – really I am having fun!  I’m one of those people who really doesn’t like being in photos or videos, but as my interest in Greenland rolling and paddling has increased, video has been a great way to share with our friends overseas and pick up tips and advice from people who are more experienced, there has also been a bit of friendly rivalry with friends coming up with new techniques and variations and challenging others to try which is a lot of fun. I must admit, when Wayne first put a clip of me on Facebook, I instantly ordered him to take it down, I guess I’ve gotten a little more used to it now, but still need to work on it J

With no serious goals in mind for the day, it was a lot of fun just playing with different rolls and techniques. Recovering from a shoulder injury meant many of the forward finish rolls have been off my list for a while, with no pressure to actually get everything perfect, it felt good to just play with the techniques and get these working again. Towards the end of the day Wayne finally managed to pry me out of my boat and had his first turn in the Tahe Greenland, discovering very quickly that it is a much easier boat to balance brace than his high volume Aquanaut. Deciding to give myself a challenge, I tried out his boat for a while, playing with sculling, balance braces and a variety of rolls. While I have finally acquired a Tahe to make some of the more advanced rolls a little easier, I love being able to challenge myself and try different boats, the Aquanaut is a much higher volume boat than I am used to (and fitted out to suit Wayne) which gave it a very different feeling to roll and balance in, really making me concentrate on technique and not getting away with any of the short cuts that the Tahe allows.

A misty view across the 'Basin'.

With the light fading and our energy dwindling, we called it a day, having had more than our share of fun, playing and rolling and enjoying the amazing wildlife this beautiful location brings – a brief visit from a Stingaree, Sea Eagles soaring overhead, Black Cockatoos, Herons, Swans, Ducks, and ending the day with a lone Kangaroo hanging around quite close to our car as we quietly packed up.

I hope everyone else had a fantastic Australia Day!

The Paddling Tree

There are many firsts in our life experiences that will always stick with us. Most of us have at least a few memories of our first school, perhaps even of our first teacher, and memories of our first best friend. Of course there is the over romanticised first kiss, which never lives up to all the hype of movies and story books. The first car (which is a far clearer memory for most men than their first romance J), first job, first house/flat..... While all these memories will have varying degrees of importance or clarity for everyone, they all pale into insignificance for many paddlers when held against the memory of their first paddling experience. Every paddler remembers their first time on the water, vividly and usually fondly no matter how early the experience, or even if it was not such an enjoyable introduction. For each of us, there is something undefinable that has drawn us to the water, and that keeps us coming back to it. There are people who paddle, and there are Paddlers. For the Paddlers, it is not just a hobby or a fun thing to do on a sunny day, it is a way of life.  When asked by non paddlers (yes, there are such unenlightened, deprived people out there) the question “Why do you paddle?” It is often difficult to come up with an immediate answer. The first response is usually a blank gaze as the Paddler ponders “Why are they asking me such a dumb question?” It’s almost as if someone has just asked “why do you breathe?”

It doesn't get any better.....How do you explain this to a non paddler?

Ask people what they love most about paddling and you will get a broad range of answers. Tranquillity, excitement, exercise, solitude, friendship, challenges, relaxation, adrenaline, escape, nature..... the list goes on. For me, it is all of the above plus some, but one of the things I love most about paddling is the incredible diversity. There are so many ways to enjoy kayaking there is just no way it can ever get old. Unfortunately, it is that very diversity that causes the most trouble in the paddling community.  It is a sad reality that for many, diversity has come to mean divisiveness.

 It is human nature to categorise and label, to judge and compare. Most paddlers like to place themselves in a particular niche. We give each of these niches a label, and with a label comes a sense of identity. Now we have different groups of paddlers, all in their own categories, all wanting to compare themselves against others. To many, the paddling world is kind of like a tree, each person visualises their own particular niche as inhabiting one of the highest branches allowing them to look down upon the other paddlers. And so we have sea kayakers looking down on flat water paddlers, surfers & rock gardeners looking down on tourers, racers looking down on recreational paddlers, white water in a tree all of their own (probably upside down, hanging from their toes and laughing), SOTs universally sneered at, and everyone thinking the Greenland following are just crazy. Then there’s the Expeditioners who many treat with a kind of hushed reverence, perhaps looking upon them as some strange specimen that has left the tree altogether and are performing the unique marvel of walking on the ground.

The trouble is, once you have given yourself a label and a niche, it is hard to step outside of the perceived boundaries that create that identity, whether it is stepping outside your comfort zone, or just being open to new opportunities and experiences. To limit yourself to one narrowly defined category is to miss some amazing opportunities.  I have had so many unforgettable experiences in paddling, many of which I would have missed if I chose to limit my paddling experiences to just one field. Each different environment has its own beauty and excitement;

On Flat Water there is the unique beauty of gliding across mirror smooth water, your boat cutting silently through the reflected images of trees, cliffs and sky. There is the wildlife, a flat water trip is like bush walking on water, with the added advantage of getting far closer to the wildlife than possible on land – I have had amazing encounters with Wombats, Wallabies, Kangaroos, Echidnas, snakes, Goannas, Water Dragons and a host more, not to mention the birds – Wedge Tailed Eagles, Sea Eagles, Swans, Ducks, Cormorants, Lyre birds, Bell birds, Lorikeets, Rosellas, Kingfishers and many more (there was also an encounter with a charging bull that gave a particular spot on a river the nickname of ‘Bull Bend’ but perhaps a story for another timeJ). One of the most unforgettable flat water trips I have had was Lake Towada – an incredibly beautiful lake in the crater of a volcano in Japan. With clouds and mist settling on the surrounding peaks and the vivid green of the surrounding bush, we were in a world of our own as we paddled on the crystal clear water, definitely a destination I would love to return to.

On a windy day, serenity is replaced by excitement, surfing wind driven waves across a lake or putting on the power and pitting yourself against the wind, many people think I’m crazy, but I love paddling into a head wind!

Paddling with friends on Lake Towada, the rain added it's own magic to the day, surrounded us with cloud and mist.

The sea has its own mystical draw for many of us and has so much to offer. I love feeling the rhythm of the ocean swell, or the excitement of punching through a wave, being slapped in the face by spray, there is the adrenaline of surfing or the serenity of cruising on a calm day. I have to admit, I value my boat too much to have tried rock gardening, though I can easily see where the thrill lies for those who do it. I have had the joy of paddling with dolphins, seals, sea turtles, sharks, stingrays, stingarees and an amazing array of water birds. The experience of our boats being escorted by a pair of fairy penguins for about 1km one day was an unforgettable one, as was having dolphins twisting and turning upside down as they passed under our boats close enough to touch, or drifting over majestic sting rays – 5-6 feet across gliding silently through the water. Paddling along towering sea cliffs or over reefs teeming with an incredible abundance of life, or sitting alone, a tiny speck on the ocean looking out to the horizon and knowing there is nothing between yourself and New Zealand over 2000 kms away............ Ocean paddling can be an incredibly humbling experience.

Wayne resting in the shelter of Tollgate Island - A really fun day with
3 meter swell,but otherwise calm, it felt like paddling on a roller coaster.

Of course there is the exhilaration and adrenaline of white water, planning your course, guiding your boat through an exciting rapid and the thrill of being upright at the end. I remember a hilariously fun day many, many years ago when, bored with the grade ones and occasional twos on the river we were paddling, we decided instead to paddle Up each of the rapids. Lining up on each one, picking our route as we approached, then paddling like crazy to inch our way up the rapid and into calm water again. We got some rather strange looks from other paddlers that day, but we had a hell of a lot of fun J Kayaking a river in flood in Borneo tested, and found my limits in white water (a poor choice of guide and very unsuitable boats certainly added an element to that experience, as did the flooding which amped the river up a bit from our expectations), I did make it to the end, a little shaken perhaps, and can’t say I regret the trip having been given the chance to push myself and test my limits, but I can definitely say I prefer rafting to kayaking if we’re going for adrenalin. My hat does go off to the seemingly crazy paddlers who have developed the skills and experience to tackle rapids and drops that the rest of us would see as suicidal.

The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic, (a 111km ultra marathon on a tidal affected river) has given me a great appreciation for long distance events and I have a wish list of events I would love to tackle when time, finance and fitness allow, the fact that many of these events regularly have participants in their 60s inspires me and reminds me that I may not make it to these events as soon as I would like, but it will never be too late to reach for those goals. The Hawkesbury is held at night which adds an extra dimension to the mental endurance needed in this race as you find yourself spending many hours alone on the river, often in complete darkness. I am hoping the trials I have faced on this river will help prepare me for some of the tougher events on my list.

With our strange 'rubber hoodies' and an obsession with rolling,
for some reason other paddlers find the traditional crowd a bit odd.

Then there is the Greenland paddling skills, those who haven’t been bitten by the Greenland bug usually think we’re a strange bunch, it is hard for them to understand, and hard for us to explain. But for many of us, there is a strong draw to history, culture and tradition. Learning about the history and culture that created the kayak adds depth and richness to our paddling experience. I have a strong respect for tradition and believe the origins of any skill should be acknowledged. Kayaking originated in Greenland and the Arctic circle, we may have changed and adapted it to suit our recreational uses, but I still believe in giving credit where it is due, to do otherwise is to rob a people of an important part of their identity.  It may be pointed out by some that we no longer use kayaks to hunt seal or whales, I still find the traditional skills fascinating and a lot of fun to learn, and the rolling is unbelievably fun J.

As I have said, there is an incredible diversity in the kayaking world, I consider myself fortunate that I have had the chance to experience so much of what it has to offer. I am certainly not an expert in any field, but simply have a love of paddling. Even though there are some areas of paddling that may hold less appeal for me, or some that are beyond my skills, I like to think that we are all Paddlers. We may find different ways to enjoy the water, and we all have differing skills or preferred experiences, but we are all united by one thing – we are passionate about paddling. The water is a shared passion between us all whether it be sea, river or lake, and whether the paddlers themselves are rough water thrill seekers, calm water cruisers or somewhere in between.

So maybe it’s time to climb out of the tree and really look at other paddlers, not as someone to compete with or compare against, but as a fellow paddler who shares the same passion for the water. Stepping outside your comfort zone can add so much more to your paddling, for many this simply means being open minded to other paddlers, or other types of paddling. Next time you start a conversation with a paddler, don’t start with ‘what type of paddling do you do?’ Try ‘What do you love about paddling?’ You may find they enjoy all the same things you do, just in a different way.

           A Kayaker's Kristmas

     The time's drawing nigh to load Santa's sleigh,

     But it seems there's a problem, by his look of dismay.

     He's checking things over, to be sure nothing's missed,

     But it's becoming apparent, that some imp's changed his list.

     No teddies, no dolls, no games, bikes or balls,

     In fact, he sees none of his usual haul.

     Puzzled he stands and surveys the collection,

     Trying to make sense of this strange selection.

     Tight rubber 'skirts', an odd dress called a 'cag',

     Bright coloured ropes coiled neatly in bags.

     Gloves, vests and hoods made of black neoprene,

     His cheeks glowing red as he ponders that scene.

     A selection of kayaks, all shiny and sleek,

     A Greenland style paddle looks sexy and chic.

     Dry-bags and pumps and a new PFD,

     A stranger collection, he never did see.

     Meanwhile, the Paddlers are tucked in their beds,

     Waterborne visions adrift in their heads.

     Their booties are hung (they've been freshly cleaned),

     The room subtly scented with wet neoprene.

     And on each sleeping Paddler, a secretive smile,

     They know this Christmas will be - 

                   Kayaker Style.

                                                      Mel Hanley

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Paddling  :)

GUTS 2011. Our Japanese Adventure.

When I first picked up a Greenland Paddle, I could never have guessed where that simple step would lead me. History and tradition have always had a strong draw for me, and of course taking that first step not only added a greater depth to my kayaking experience, it also hooked me on learning more about the history and traditions of kayaking and its origins in Greenland and the Arctic Circle. The greatest surprise has been the many wonderful people I have met on the journey so far. The Greenland Bug has caught on world-wide and there are so many people out there willing to share their passion and their experiences freely with others. Our recent trip to Japan gave me an even greater appreciation for this.

After our adventures in Canada, we returned home via a little detour to Japan. Eiichi Ito, the president of Qajaq Japan, had kindly extended an invitation for us to attend their annual event – GUTS (Greenland Users Trial Stages). I have visited Japan a number of times, for martial arts events, and as an assistant to youth delegations through our community’s Sister City Link. Japan is an amazing country and its culture, history and traditions have held a fascination for me since I was a teenager. It was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up.

A long flight, a train and a Shinkansen (bullet train) later and we were finally at our destination

Stickers produced by Qajaq Japan to raise funds
for the victims of the earthquake & tsunami.

After the earthquake and Tsunami that struck Japan in March this year, GUTS2011 was made a charity event, raising desperately needed funds for the victims of the tragedy, making their theme for this year: Coexistence, Kayak and Sea. The culture and identity of Japan is so closely interwoven with the surrounding sea it is impossible to separate them. Those who spend time with the sea, either for pleasure or for work, gain a healthy respect for the power of the ocean, but when something this devastating strikes, it is hard to imagine living in harmony with such a force. The Sea surrounds us and supports us, it provides for us and, for an island nation, offers protection. It is all too easy to forget how important it is when it has delivered such a terrible blow to the very people who depend on it.

During the event, there was a talk and slide show given by Soma-San who worked as a volunteer in some of the stricken areas. To see even a fraction of the devastation witnessed by these people is heart breaking, to volunteer in such a situation takes enormous courage and strength and I greatly admire Soma and all the people who worked so hard to help those in need. The catch cry taken up by volunteer groups and fundraisers throughout Japan is the word “Kizuna” which in a rough translation means ‘strong bonds of friendship’, and Kizuna was a word we used often through the weekend, I felt honoured to be friends with such a great group of people.

Our bedroom for a few days - we stayed in the
library, while Helen had the principal's office.

With two typhoons sitting off the coast, we saw a lot of rain. Some plans were changed, but everything was kept rolling along smoothly. We stayed in an old school which was about 125 years old. After being closed down when it was down to only eight students, it is now rented from the local government and is the sight of a Nature School. Making it more interesting, all the old school equipment is still in place, complete with student’s artwork and photos on the walls, giving the impression that at any time a bell may ring and a crowd of laughing children are going to appear out of nowhere to attend their classes. We were told that sometimes people who attended here in their childhood still come back to visit and see their old school, revisiting fond memories of their school days.

Qajaq Japan has left its stamp here, with skin on frame kayaks suspended from the ceiling and a classroom converted to a boat building workshop, complete with notations and instructions on the blackboard. The gymnasium also made an excellent place to dry our gear on ropes stretched across the hall, and provided an indoor lecture room when the weather took a turn for the worse and one of our lessons became a theory class instead of braving the weather to get on the water again.

Beautiful Skin On Frame kayaks under construction.

The instructor for the event, and judge for the competition was Helen Wilson, who we had met just two weeks earlier at Thunder Bay in Canada. Lessons with Helen had been heaps of fun, and had helped me greatly with my progress, seeing me get my first Hand Rolls and Forward Finishing Rolls, with a number of variations thrown in. The Greenland interest is slowly growing in Australia, but it is not organised. With individuals or small groups scattered across the country exploring on their own, there is no one teaching these skills on a formal basis in Australia. Our trip gave me the opportunity to learn from some of the most dedicated teachers out there. I was looking forward to more lessons and fun with Helen.

Language of course, can often be a problem when travelling, but we were fortunate to have the help of Natalie, a translator working for the local government, who did an amazing job, and worked hard for the whole event. We also had help from Miklos, a Hungarian kayaker who teaches English studies at a university in Japan and was participating in GUTS. It is unfortunate, and a little embarrassing, that over the many years I have been interested in Japan, I have not been able to learn Japanese. It is almost impossible to find a teacher of any language unless you live near a city. If you live in a small town, you’re on your own. With a handful of phrases, a rather random selection of words, and a lot of martial arts terminology, it is frustrating to not know more. Each time I return from a trip to Japan, I have a renewed drive to learn this rich and complex language. In the meantime, we had the help of our translators, and a lot of patience and understanding from our Japanese friends.

Our first lessons and practice sessions took place on the beautiful Lake Ogawara. We were appointed to our teams by random draw and then hit the water for some lessons from Helen and a lot of practice to get the required rolls for the competition. These sessions were a lot of fun, with a wonderful, inclusive atmosphere. This wasn’t just an event for the experts but included paddlers of all skill levels with some getting their very first rolls during the weekend.

Participants practicing on the beautiful Lake Ogawara.

Instead of the whole rolling list, each team would demonstrate a set of three basic techniques, considered some of the most important ones, - The Standard Greenland Roll, Side Sculling, and the Storm Roll, with an additional two rolls randomly drawn from a list of more advanced techniques. I thought this was a wonderful idea as it encouraged everyone to take part. I was very fortunate with my draw, my team leader was none other than Eiichi Ito, president of Qajaq Japan; expert roller, boat builder and avid paddler. Now I was under pressure to lift my standard J Helen led a session on forward finishing rolls which helped me improve my storm roll, then we practiced with our teams.

Wayne, under Helen's expert guidance,
with Natalie standing by.

While Eiichi-san helped another team member with his rolls, he recruited Nao-san, last year’s champion, to help me. I was determined to get my elbow roll, one of the more advanced rolls (a variation on the hand roll with one hand held behind the head). With a couple of demonstrations, and a lot of expert assistance, I achieved my first Elbow Roll! Not satisfied with just one success, I spent the next 20 minutes or so practicing over and over again to make sure I had it.

Participants of GUTS 2011. Group photo at Lake Ogawara.

When we had first found out the event was to include a competition, we had thought maybe we could just go along as spectators. I still consider myself a newcomer to Greenland style kayaking, there would still be plenty to learn from watching the competition without the risk of embarrassing myself. We weren’t to be given that option. J After learning so much in Canada, I was feeling a little more confident, but our choice of rolls had me worried. Our draw had given us the Armpit Roll (one I can easily do) and the Brick Roll, having only gotten my hand roll two weeks previous this one had me nervous. I had done a hand roll with a small rock but the competition requirement of eight kg is a bit daunting.

Braving the rain, we all headed to the beach, the competition being held in the waves and swell of the ocean rather than the flat calm waters of the lake. Our turn came about all too soon and I jumped into my borrowed boat, not realising until I paddled away from shore that someone had shortened up the foot-pegs since the quick practice I had done earlier that morning. This made for a tighter fit and made the boat feel a lot more tippy as I paddled out into the waves.

Eiichi and I setting up for a roll.

Eiichi-san and I took up positions and awaited our signals from the beach, performing each of the rolls side by side (our other team member didn’t make it on this day so it was just the two of us). The first rolls went smoothly and it was now time for the moment of truth – The Brick Roll. When I first started in rolling and came across this in the ‘rolling list’, I thought it had to be a typo - 8kg seemed like a lot of brick. I was right about it being a big brick, wrong about the typo. The brick was delivered to me by a paddler waiting nearby. Eiichi directed him to give me the first attempt, I guess he already knew he could do it. My first problem was not the weight, I have really small hands – just gripping the brick was a challenge. I knew how the roll would work in theory, but theory is a bit different to sitting in a tiny boat in the waves holding eight kgs of brick and convincing yourself that you can roll back up. Fortunately the safety line attached to it was enough distraction for me, there was a long length of cord and a float attached to the brick so it could be retrieved if dropped.  I was paranoid about getting tangled in the rope midway through the roll, so I carefully ran the cord back and forth across the edge of the brick so it would come free if I did have to drop it, but would not be trailing through the water as I rolled.

The infamous 8kg Brick!
Source of much anxiety.

Without giving myself any more time to think about it, I positioned the brick, rolled in and was up and breathing again before I knew it. Holding the brick in the air in a victory salute would have had a great dramatic flair, and it is certainly what I felt like doing, but with such a tenuous grip on it, and the instability of my boat, I had to wait for the safety boat to come over and raft up before I could bring the brick back on the deck, I think my smile showed sufficient elation. Eiichi-san of course completed his roll smoothly and confidently, and we paddled back into shore to watch the remaining teams.

Many teams had drawn rolls that members couldn’t do, but they would still get points for the ones they did complete. It was great to see so many people willing to get out and give it a go, not concerned with winning, but just having fun, and giving each other support and encouragement. There were certainly more experienced rollers out there than me, but I was very lucky in both the team selection, and the rolls we were given. Eiichi-san and I were the winning team!

Eiichi Ito and myself. 2011 GUTS Champions.

Of course, not all of our time was spent rolling. There was a welcome banquet at a local restaurant with an amazing selection of Japanese food, local sight-seeing with many wonderful places to see, visits to onsen (Japanese bath houses), evening celebrations at the nature school (one evening leading to a series of ‘in-jokes’ about squid and rockets that has probably had a lot of people very confused since), an auction of goods to raise additional funds for the earthquake appeal, a BBQ feast at a local seafood market, and on our final day a paddle on Lake Towada – a beautiful lake in the crater of a volcano. The light rain, mist and clouds adding their own magic to the day. All of this added to an incredible experience with many, many fond memories.

Paddling with friends on the amazing Lake Towada.

The day of departure came and we were sad to have to say goodbye to our friends. Together with Helen, we rode on the Shinkansen back to Tokyo. Our first shinkansen ride had been at night and so there had been nothing to see outside except the occasional blur of lights as we sped past a city. This time we had daylight and were able to look out at the surrounding countryside as we zoomed past. It was sobering to see the many earthquake damaged buildings still waiting for repair, and the construction sites where buildings had been demolished, too damaged to be saved. So far from the epicentre, this was just a glimpse of the more minor damage that had been suffered.

As we drew closer to Tokyo, the weather worsened, the rain falling harder until any visibility beyond the train tracks was gone. We passed over rivers and creeks swollen with flood water, adding to our concern that Japan was to be hit by yet another blow from Mother Nature. A change of trains and we were on our way to the airport, making our farewells to Helen as we got off at our terminal. After wondering through the shops and taking our last chance for a Japanese meal. We settled down to watch the information boards. After seeing the steadily worsening weather as we travelled, we had our doubts about leaving on time.

Watching the red cancellations appear on the departures board.

As expected, the boards showed a steadily growing list in red of cancelled flights. When our flight came up, it was not with the cancellation notice that others had, but with “New Date” noted next to it. The typhoon had hit Tokyo and all flights were grounded. I quickly came to appreciate the difference between a quality airline and a budget one. We were given our boarding passes for our new flight leaving in the morning, an information sheet explaining everything, and were bussed to a hotel in Tokyo where we had a nice room provided, meal vouchers, and they even pre-booked our 4am wake up call. Those on the budget airline weren’t so fortunate. It was an interesting way for us to get an extra night in Japan J

The Japanese Red Cross are still running their appeal for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami, until March 2012. While the media may have moved on and forgotten about this great tragedy, there are still so many people in need. It will take Japan many years to recover, rebuilding takes time, but that is only one aspect. So many people have lost so much, not just their homes and possessions are gone, but whole communities have simply disappeared. So many people are alone, jobless and missing family and friends to support them as they face the challenge of rebuilding their lives. Please visit Japanese Red Cross at :http://www.jrc.or.jp/eq-japan2011/donation/l4/Vcms4_00002379.html and give your support.

Thanks go to Eiichi Ito, Takuma Togawa, Soma, Helen, Natalie, Miklos and all the other fantastic people of Qajaq Japan who gave us this amazing opportunity and an unforgettable experience.  KIZUNA J