Day 5 – Kayaking

After such a long busy day yesterday, today will just be mostly lazing about and relaxing.

As with most days, I setup the External Solar Panels.  We haven’t been getting the solar I’d hoped on this trip.  The sun is just a little too low to hit the roof top panels well.  The trees all around means the panels are regularly in the shade.  I often need to move the portable panels every hour or so, which of course didn’t happen yesterday.  Every day we’re have a little less reserve than the day before.

Some of the local birds take a wander through the site.

As well as no power, there is also no drinking water here.   We obviously filled the tanks before we left, so that gave us about 180l.  As I wasn’t quite sure how much we’d use, particularly if we had a quick shower, I brought and extra 60lts in jerry cans (from the Simpson trip) in case.

While it wasn’t really necessary, I used a small portable electric pump to put 2 of the Jerrys (40lt) into the tanks. I figure we can all have another shower.  It was as much about testing out stuff for some possible future trip.

Later in the afternoon we go down and hire some double kayaks again.  The plan is to paddle right up to the headwaters, maybe a couple of k’s each way.  When Liam and I did it last time, it took us nearly the full hour hire to get up there and back, with only a few brief stops. So, this time we get the kayaks for 2hrs to give us plenty of time.

The scenery here is just sensational, the rock formations are just spectacular.  We make it up to the park bench we visited on day 1 and have a quick snack.   We think about a swim, but the water is just too cold.

Justine and Liam swap over, so I paddle with Liam while Justine and Caitlin ride together.

We paddle back, stopping at the more impressive rocks on the way back.  Up a small side tributary then as we’ve still got time, we head past the hire place and go further down river.   We get to a small rock we can paddle around and by this stage, I think I’ve had enough and suggest we head back.

My lower back is starting to give out as we make it back to shore.  Maybe 2 hours was a bit ambitious!

Back to the campsite and we setup for the evening.   Liam get a great fire going and as we get the kids “make do” dinner ready, we can see some serious lightning off into the distance.   I get as much as I can packed away or under cover.  

Just as I’m about to start cooking Justine and my dinner, the heavens open up, and we get a really heavy, short but intense storm.   Fortunately, not huge amounts of wind.  It’s mostly all over in about ½ and hour and the fire is still burning.  So, after a little attending and fresh dry wood is roaring again.

I get our dinner back on, and it ends up being a very late feed.