Tag: paddling

SUPing Around

Welcome to my first newsletter.  You are here because you paddle or are paddle-curious. Or maybe you just thought SUP has something to do with food or drink? I will try to satisfy all comers. Perhaps there are recipes we can share 🙂

I recently did a round up of some of my favourite standup paddle locations around Perth so I thought I would start with those.  These are not the only places you can paddle in Western Australia; we are very lucky to have so many spots to splash, and I will continue to review and add places to paddle in future issues.

Claughton Reserve, Bayswater

Looking for a sheltered upriver paddle location. Claughton Reserve in Katanning Street, Bayswater is one of my favourite SUP launch spots. 

💦there’s heaps of parking

💦a toilet block (in fact one of the funkiest toilet blocks I have ever seen!)

💦water fountains for filling your water bottle

💦easy to get in and out of the water

💦coffee stop at Ascot Kayak Club on weekends

It’s a great place to explore up or down the river depending on the winds.  A nice short paddle from there is up river and around Ron Courtney Island.

Ocean Paddling Perth

Perth’s southern beaches; Leighton, South Beach & Coogee Beach are wonderful when the conditions are right.  It’s knowing when the conditions are right that is the tricky part.

As with most outdoor activities in Perth I always go out in the mornings – the earlier the better.

In the Summer months from November to March the morning winds are more likely to be offshore (Easterly) and light.  Once the Freo Doctor comes in it’s too late and too windy. 

Use weather apps such as:

Willy Weather

Seabreeze

BOM

Windy.com

Not only is getting up early to paddle good for getting the right or no winds, but also to avoid the hottest part of the day.

Perth’s southern beaches:

💦are easy to get to

💦have free parking – but can be busy the later you arrive (see, getting up early has other benefits!)

💦have great cafes

💦have showers and changerooms

💦you can sometimes see dolphins, whales & sealions

💦North Coogee has the Omeo Wreck – great for SUPing around but also a very popular snorkelling spot. Pack your gear!

Go with a group or a buddy if you are a first timer on the ocean, ALWAYS use a leg leash and don’t go out further than you are comfortable with.   Be prepared to get wet and HAVE FUN!

Point Walter Reserve Bicton

You can paddle down river from the Point Walter sandbar, up past the cliffs at Blackwall Reach. Depending on the wind it can be quite sheltered through there.

Keep paddling down to Bicton Baths  and turn around or alternatively (depending on wind) do the reverse.

Handy tip: always paddle into the wind on the way out so you get a free ride on your return. It makes a difference

💦parking is usually available closeby  and if it’s not you can drop and park.

💦there’s  a great cafe at Point Walter

💦the scenery is amazing along Blackwall Reach

💦dolphins also love this part of the river

Freshwater Bay, Peppermint Grove

Freshwater Bay in Peppermint Grove is a beautiful spot to get out on the water. There’s usually sheltered waters close to the shore for those venturing out for the first time. Or for the more adventurous, a paddle along the cliff’s edge to the yacht club is a lovely paddle. Dolphins 🐬 are common in this area.

💦the water is clear

💦the shore easy to access

💦parking not usually a problem

💦 cafe close by for coffee and snacks

Some links to previous articles and websites of interest:

Top Water Activities in Perth to Try Today
Choosing the Right Waterproof Bag: Tips and Reviews
Avon Descent Paddle Challenge 2019
All In A Day #14 – Sealion the deal

Interested in racing and SUP events including the SUP Loop check out Perth’s SUP body SUPWA https://supwa.tidyhq.com/

Next newsletter: Kent Street Weir, Maylands Breakfast Paddle, Heirisson Island, Matilda Bay

Choosing the Right Waterproof Bag: Tips and Reviews

Dry bags for wet situations! A look at ways to keep your stuff dry when on the water.

I have used all types of waterproof bags in my paddling life. As a rower, kayaker and SUPer I have worked my way through dry bags, phone cases and plastic bags. I’ve tried waist clips, shoulder clips, board clips and a string around my neck. I have more dry bags than handbags.

Of course it will always be up to personal choice and comfort so there is no perfect solution for everyone. The perfect solution is the one that works for you.

Dry Bags

The good old dry bag is a sure thing. It’s purpose built to keep your stuff dry, and provided you fold the top over correctly (at least 3 times) it will work. I use a dry bag to carry things on my board because I have straps that I can clip onto.

Who doesn’t love an Aldi bargain?

You can buy affordable dry bags anywhere. My faves are a set I got from ‘the aisle of dreams’ at Aldi. I also have bags from Sea to Summit which are more lightweight but just as effective. I have used the heavy-duty bags from Red Equipment – the 30L Waterproof Roll Top Dry Bag Backpack is great for using on your board or on your back.

Dry bags all the way when on the ocean!

Phone Cases & Bags

Since the dawn of the smart phone we have been seeking ways to protect them from getting wet, getting cracks, or getting lost!

Like everyone, I have purchased every new phone case known to woman. I had a great one that used to clip around my waist but the seal eventually gave up the ghost and I resorted to dry bags.

New Equipment

Which brings me to my latest piece of Red Equipment. I recently trialed on my SUP board and while out hiking, the Lightweight Waterproof Crossbody Bag 7L.

Disclaimer: I am an affiliate for Red Equipment but this doesn’t influence my opinions. While I believe in their products, my reviews are my opinions only.

This 7L bag is the ideal size for carrying your phone, keys and a piece of clothing. I carried my lightweight puffer jacket, phone, snack, keys and glasses on my latest hike. I used it as a crossbody bag for a while, before changing it to my waist. I found the waist placement much more comfortable and easier to access.

When I carried it on my SUP board last weekend I used it as a crossbody bag which was better than I thought. I had thought it would get in the way of the paddle but it was snug enough to keep out of the way. In future I will use it on my waist as that is my preference.

I persevered with using it in the crossbody style because that’s what it’s marketed as. It is better as a waist or shoulder bag in my opinion.

The bag does have a separate zip pocket inside for your phone and keys which would keep them dry, but I’m not convinced that your other gear would stay dry if fully immersed in water for any length of time. It has the roll down top used on dry bags which works better the more you put in the bag (if that makes sense).

I am an experienced paddler so falling in is not (usually) on the cards for me (if I chose not to) so I feel comfortable using this bag to protect my gear.

Were I to be out on the ocean or in a situation where falling in was a certainty, I would probably opt for a dry bag on my board or extra protection within the Red bag.

The bag itself is a nice looking bag and it comes in three different colours. It has an adjustable crossbody/waist/shoulder strap, and outside zip pocket, straps for bike handlebars and an external bungee system for extra items.

It is hardy and feels like it would survive almost anything I could throw at it or in it. This bag retails for $78.95 – if you use my link you get 15% discount.

So I guess it’s dry bags all the way for me on the water. They are good in most circumstances due to their reliability and cost. If ,like me, you love a good ‘fanny pack’ , ‘bum bag’ or whatever you call them, the RED Equipment Waterproof Crossbody bag is a pretty cool addition to your bag wardrobe.

All In A Day #14 – Sealion the deal

He’s behind you! My paddle buddies shouted as I frantically retrieved my phone from a dry bag on top of my paddleboard!

It was that time again. The day standup paddlers decide it’s not too cold, not to windy and that the sea is not too swelly. Beginning of spring, tail end of the Noongar season Djilba. The sun had started to get a bit of a bite and the easterly was showing its face.

Photo thanks to @kellygriffen

Time to paddle on the ocean after paddling in the sheltered river for the past few months. Or alternatively, some may choose to remain in the shelter of their homes until the weather is stinking hot before they emerge with their boards and paddles. You know who you are! Each to their own.

Me, I like to paddle all year round and I can usually be found puttering around up river with the pelicans and darters. I sometimes paddle alone and sometimes with a group. So this Sunday the weather was all that and the conditions perfect for our first ocean adventure.

We selected Coogee Beach where the ocean is usually flat and most importantly, it has a banging cafe for coffee afterwards. The easterly was puffing and the ocean dead flat – perfect. We paddled up to the Omeo wreck and did a circuit and then headed back towards Coogee Surf Lifesaving. The wind had picked up a bit but as long as we stuck to the shore all was good.

It was around now that we noticed what I originally thought was a swimmer and someone else suspected the “S” word motoring along not far from the shore in the opposite direction to us. It was indeed an “S” word but not the scary one. It was a sealion! A big fat sealion cruising the bay popping up every now and then for a breath before diving deep.

Great excitement ensued and I decided this was a photo opp so I paddled like mad towards the last place I had sighted the big fella. Nothing. Then “He’s behind you!” screeched one of the girls. I scrabbled for my phone (dry bags never open quickly in an emergency) and spun around to see him or her motoring towards me – up and down went his whiskered head and flippers.

I clicked away (yeah I know iPhones don’t make clicks) and got some shots before I realised he wasn’t going to slow down or stop before he got to my board. Thud! his shoulder and back slid under my board shifting me sideways. I think I screamed and then he was gone – diving so deep.

I decided he couldn’t have seen me, he was having such a whale of a time he got carried away and when his body made contact he was just as startled as I, causing him to dive to safety. But I got the shots (and that’s the main thing right?) We were all so excited. He emerged further on and we sat and watched him frolic in the shallows before turning and leading our paddle party back to the beach.

Video evidence!

It was also time to have a swim. The water was cold but so refreshing and the feeling you get after a swim in cold water, especially the ocean – is the best. So, here’s to more days on the ocean, more encounters with nature and more paddling with friends!

What’s the skinny?

  • Coogee Beach is about 30 minutes drive from Perth city
  • The Omeo Wreck is popular with snorkellers and divers
  • The Australian sealion is a playful and curious ‘dog of the sea’ – they live on nearby Carnac Island
  • The Coogee Beach Cafe do a damn good coffee and muffin (just sayin)
  • Standup Paddleboarding is popular in Perth and surrounds – see my previous blog about water activities