May Days: WildRichÂ’s 4-day Adventure
[Editor: WildRich sent us this with "Here's something to put up between all the Molokai Hype, something refreshing, you are going to absolutely love the channel!"]
I don't quite know when the idea came into my head, but I'm glad it did, because what unfolded this past long weekend will forever be with me and my friends! The goal Plettenberg Bay to Cape St Francis a distance of 146km over 3 days with Sunday 4th May as a spare day.
So what's the big deal, men such as Andrew Aubin have paddled around South Africa during his 2 year Army conscription in 1984, the Ocean Warriors did a relay event between Cape Town and Durban? Well I believe we are the first to actually take it all in, the scenery, the opportunity of paddling well within the coast in a Internationally acclaimed MPA (Marine Protected Area) and taking along with a watermen whom is conveniently a film and editing student at a production school in Joburg!
The coastline (Plett to Storms River) we were to paddle is extremely treacherous and unforgiving and therefore no unnecessary risk was to be taken if the swell picked up beyond 3 metres, because there is literally nowhere to go in, nowhere!
Day One: Plett Storms River 52km May 1st
Calm conditions with a light SW, becoming very glassy. Total time: 5:40:00
Highlights: The amazing cliffs, waterfalls and a photo taken by Brett Holmes our JetSki Driver of H and myself with Bloukrans Bridge!
Day Two: Storms Eerste Rivier 32km May 2nd
Destiny, the crew wanted to start early, repeating the Thursday start, but due to a Spring Low tide and a build up of algae on the slipway we were pushed right back to a 11:30 start! The Easterly HeadWind 'saw' its gap and took it! What was to follow was 5 hours and 30 minutes of head banging hell, never again, well not for some time anyway!
Highlights: The big English breakfast at the national park restaurant half an hour before the paddle!
Day Three: Eerste Rivier Oyster Bay 42km May 3rd Total time: 5:15:00
Another Easterly, but thankfully a lot lighter than the previous one. When we left we decided to take along a double just in case we were a little 'stiff', which we were after the monster east. What a relief H and I went well together.
Highlights: Cabin fever in the double after a lunch break out at sea, we took a swim, one blamed the other for the mishap, oh and don't forget the world class mountain range in the background along the coast, stunning bru!
Day Four: Oyster Bay Cape St Francis 20km May 4th Total time: 1:35:00
After a day of glassy conditions, 2 days of headwind Hadyn and I really deserved a break, the 'Big Man' upstairs answered a South Westerly of 15 to 20kts came through and we had some fun!
Highlights: Hadyn getting licked by an 8 footer at Oyster Bay, his ski shooting up 30 feet, while I flew over the shoulder to safety, don't you love it when your buddies get drilled and you make it? Well only when they don't get hurt!
That feeling of accomplishing something that you set out to do is just an awesome one, against the hardships of headwinds, big waves, jagged rocks and marine life! We shared a bottle of champagne on the beach in Cape St Francis! Fantastic! Plus the surf was pumping!
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A very special thanks to Transport Components for servicing the jetski trailer and supplying fuel for our trip, Siegfried Lokotsch for the use of his JetSki - 'shot' Ziggy,
Mr Darren Classen of South African National Parks without which this adventure could not have happened, our JetSki Pilot Brett Holmes,
Our second, still don't know if he understood what it meant to be a second?, Warren 'Squeak' Broadhurst,
Grant 'Johnny' Clegg our cameraman, Trish Difford and Willian Kew for looking after us so well, the Offerman family for the use of their house in Plett and Dirkie Ellis for his in Cape St Francis. Much love and thanks to you all!
Watch this space this footage and many more adventures will be produced into a feature surfski film, The Inside Line, due for completion next year march. Exciting stuff!
Happy paddling
Live it- Love it- Just do it
Crew Motto: Eat like a team; perform like a well oiled fighting machine, we did it boys!