2019 Reccy Paddle
Date: Saturday 3 August 2019
Route: Wellington to Ponto Falls
Attendees: Julee Hunt (Gecko), Doug Swain (Fibreglass Kayak), John Jannis (sit on top "Ocean Kayak" Malibu 13ft xl), Jim Dutton (sit on top Cobra Tourer 4.5m), Christine Bright (Double Dagger), Henry Bright (12 YO) (Double Dagger), Alan Buck (Riot)
Support Crew: Pat Swain, Anthony Bright (husband of Christine), Katie Bright (9 YO), Lewis Bright (7 YO) Max Bright (5 YO), Peter Sheridan
Weather: Sunny and 17 degrees
River Flow: 321 megs (released Thursday) Friday 187 release (realtime data NSW water)
Report: The seven (7) paddlers started at 9.40am and experienced three portages by the time we arrived at morning tea. At the point Christine and Henry Bright stopped (as Christine had worked night shift on Friday night and was without sleep). A great effort to come across from Carcoar. Alan Buck (who is not doing the WDN and was returning to paddling after a 20 year rest) also finished at morning tea. The other 4 paddlers continued onto Ponto Falls. The below screen shot is for the Wellington to morning tea paddle.
Portages: Before Deshon Farm there are three portages which slowed the rate of paddling substantially. After Deshon Farm there is only one portage which made paddling substantially faster. The portages all look exactly the same as they did in May. The first portage was at the 1km mark where you could just scrap through if you really looked for the deeper water. The second portage was at 2.5km where you have to aim 2/3 of the way along a log not to tip out. The third portage had the river running under a tree in a tight bend in the river. At 500 megs you can just get past the tree avoiding both the bend in the river and the tree.
Timings:
Wellington to Deshon Farm: 1km 19.42 (Portage and getting everybody paddling); 2km 14.41; 3km 9.44; 4km 13.34; 5km 17.46; 6km 17.59; 7km 12.20; 8km 8.54; 9km 14.05; 10km 13.55; 11km 9.07; 12km 12.35; 13km 10.43; 14km 11.27
Deshon Farm to Ponto: 1km 8.00; 2km 11.42; 3km 10.15; 4km 9.40; 5km 12.22; 6km 10.17; 7km 11.01; 8km 11.42