Eco & Gecko

On Sunday I bought an Australis Gecko. I have been stalking this boat on ebay for ages because you just can't have one boat and have any cred in the kayaking world it appears. Actually, this isn't the real reason. My wife Sam is dead "keen" to paddle and I have friends who are really keen and don't have a boat. Despite the proximity of Lake Macquarie and the sea (both about 5 minutes away) and some of the best beaches in the world there seems to be bugger-all kayakers about. Well, at least they're never out when I'm paddling. The Gecko is the right size for Sam at about 4.5m. It also gets great reviews from some notable Oz kayakers. It's bloody uncomfortable to sit in, though, and we'll have to install some rubber padding for comfort. Otherwise, Sam fits nice in it.
I had resolved to buy one new because second kayaks hold their value making them only marginally cheaper than a new one. So I was doing a routine ebay browse for kayaks when I saw a freshly listed Gecko for $1000 "buy now" in Woolongong. I bought it immediately and drove to Woolongong to buy it. The Tyronsea paddle that came with it is rubbish but will do until Sam learns to paddle. Good job I say.

Sunglasses

I am blind in one eye and badly short sighted in the other. Glasses to me are like a vital organ you can replace each year. I also have a need for prescription sunglasses. For 10 years I used a fantastic pair of Bill Bass sunnies that were light, snug and damn sexy. Eventually, they became worn out so I bought a new pair of $500 Bill Bass with Nikorlite polarized polycarbonite lenses. These were so good I could see into the future. Unfortunately, the frames were rubbish and kept breaking. One day I was paddling and took a roll into the drink. Now these sunnies are at the bottom of the deep blue sea.

After my sad lamentations my boss (Shillard) recommended Wiley-X SG1's. Since I am a Stargate fan they were the perfect choice. So I ebayed myself a set and had an optometrist fit some great new scripts so that I could see so well I could read peoples innermost desires. Then off for a paddle armed with super tactical Stargate battle goggles...but then...

As soon as I got into a cadence and putting away some miles, the inside of my Wileys became all tropical complete with mist and rain. BOLLOCKS! I can't take a trick. I spent a lot of time trying to keep them clear but they insisted on maintaining a seperate climate. This brought my cadence to a halt and I was forced to paddle home trying to squint 20:20 vision. Reluctant though I was to modify $400 worth of eyewear, I drilled a series of vents through the frame and cut away some of the rubber seals. So far so good. The moral of this story is that I am not the only kayaker or sportsman who wears glasses so why don't manufacturers cater for this. It always costs me a packet because I buy good sunnies and have to replace expensive lenses with more expensive scripts. Typical.

4th March 2007

I took the kids for a swim to Marks Point today because it was hot and humid and they were driving us crazy. I went to Marks Point just inside the channel to Lake Macquarie. There is a great series of sand flats and clean shallow water that attracts swimmers and boaters of all sorts. I got the kids established then put the kayak in the water. Since they are excellent swimmers I could leave them unattended for short periods while I went for paddle. The tide can run pretty fast at times as this is the only exit for the Lake. The varying water depth also makes for interesting changes in surface conditions and the constant stream of power boats churns the water. This made for some interesting paddling as some of the tidal currents had waves up to 2 feet. The Google Earth pic attached is now out of date as the cove inlet nearest the airport has had breakwalls installed to narrow the gap. This deepens the entrance and produces a long sandy swimming beach inside the island and the mainland. The narrow entrance now runs very quickly and this is enormous fun on a kayak. By the end of the day I was carving up these currents and leaning into the waves much more confidently than before. I'm still not ready for the real beach but maybe soon.

I grew up in Marks Point and Belmont and my family connections to the place are deep. Its great to rediscover the place with my own kids and find a new playground. I'll be spending some time here and training Samantha when I get her a boat.