Paradza Musings: April 2015

A fine adventure with a twist. A serious underestimation of the speed of the raft/Dinghy needing a readjustment to the original plan....

With Ivan & Peter biting the bullet and investing there stock pile into a Klymit you bueat ultra lite Dinghy, it was only right to put then to the test. And guest Mr Schultz stepping into the breach using the spare adventure boat, made for a happy quartet.

In true adventure style, the newly minted boats, would not be put through a test before. Just Carpe Diem.

The well thought through, well somewhat well thought through, plan was:

1. To camp at Bungonia on Friday - let the weekend begin

2. Park car at end point, Badgerys Lookout. Which had magnificent vista of the Shoalhaven Gorge. This had everyone salivating.

3. The roll back to start point, south of bungonia campsite. Matodoro Ridge Trail. Drive as far as possible to Helipad.

4. Scramble down to Shoalhaven river

5. Paddle to Bungonia Gorge entrance. Camp

6. Time permitting walkup Gorge

7. Paddle to Badgerys Lookout path.

8. Walk back up to car.

No problems. at 42km. At walking pace. two days easy. Yet...

The Plan

Car one, arrived, set up camp, ate, had beers, chewed the fat. Car two, took the scenic route. visiting all lookouts before finding camp site 9ish. They then ate, had beers, well one did. chewed the fat. Sleeping configurations we on display here. One in Hammock, other in UL 1 man tent, Clive Cowboy camping in the bivi, and other in palatial 2 man number. It was a cold night. 5 degrees.

Aspiring packrafters were presented with team cowboy hats as bonding agent. While it took for ever to pack up, blowing schedule. We were ready to go.. Not quite, the Golden bomber wouldn’t start. Read manual on the Beemer on how to jump start, when battery in the back. Only after emptying the boot of course.

Cow Boys at Helipad. All loaded up

Oh, at Official backpack Weigh-in. the count was: Graham: 18kg. Peter 18.1 (what were they taking). Ivan 11.6 (but hadn’t added the wetsuit yet). And Clive at a measly 11.3 (he decidied to leave the wetsuit). With Packraft and Paddles. All in all not too bad. It would as also noted that Ivan confronted with the thought of carrying the uber light 1.3kg 1 man tent, convinced Peter, they should cuddle up together in the two man. Which of course was now stowed in Peter's pack. A wily old fox this Ivan character.

Did end point car drop off, admired the vista, raced back. And as luck would have it the road wasnt locked and the old holden turned into a bloody fine 4x4. Every extra km in the car one less we had to hike. Lifting spirits no end. And getting us back on schedule.

Team photo at Helipad. Fairly decent looking path, down we go. With much banter ensuing. Unfortunately G fitness or lack thereof started to show. And the banter was now only 3 strong.

Getting closer, the true beauty of this river revealed itself. And nicely flowing too. wooohoo. found a suitable launch spot. Let the cavorting begin. It was noted; all except Peter used the well design, fit-for-purpose tie down straps for backpacks. Not Peter, choosing to demonstrate his Scouts knot tying prowess. Show-off.

Some early hesitation to shoot the rapids, which were really just ripples. but rapids to neophyte whitewater rafter. And rafts were dinghies. So took a few goes to shoot a few. The African contingent, proving more adept or more gung-ho it seemed.

A particularly boisterous ripple, maybe a class 2, swept one members boat off, leaving him stranded in the rapid. with much gesticulating to rafter below, to collect, what I thought was his boat. It was not his boat he was gesticulating about. No, more serious than that, significantly more serious. Said rafter had been entrusted with the wine. And in the mayhem of the water, the fine 2009 shiraz and fallen from his pack and boat. Boat was recovered; bailing bottle recovered, alas, Shiraz left. So look out people of the river. it could be your lucky day. (positioned somewhere down from 34 52.830S, 150 03.152E). Lesson #1 - Always secure valuables like wine to backpack.

The river opened up and sun started to comedown. Ambling down the river, water like glass. all are happy. The worries of Quarter Closes, Business Fixing, Clinical Diagnosis all furthest from our minds. Reminded me of the Zambezi trips come sunset. Well except for the odd snort from Hippos, grunt from elies, eye's popping up from below the surface to check you out. Other than that, just the same. At least we had wine secured on those trips. You do sleep easier in OZ bush though; possum v Lion/Hyena. So same just different.

Thing was, we weren't even through the Block up. Yikes, well behind misconstrued planned pacing. Yet found a super duper bank for happy campers. Ivan & Peter becoming acquainted for tent share later that night. They did look a happy couple pitching their Targ together. Schultz had his Hammock up in short time, Roberts left scratching for a flat surface for bivi. Dinner; Risotto ala Jonty Biltong, accompanied by Warm Broccoli, leek & Raisan Salad, with Raspberry Chocolate Pudding. All freshly prepared, straight from the dehydrator.

So with dinner done and dusted. Time to review the plan. Double yikes 20k to Badgerys. OKAAAY. And when that was announced to the team a pregnant pause as we all did our mental math’s. And so a discussion ensued. Press on Badgerys. Go to Bungonia, Go back. If go back which route? Then, to vote or captains call. Consensus was, go back 1 k up river, then scale up the appropriately named New Come Up Ridge. And what an inviting name too. which joined with New Come UP Trail, lead us back to car. This being a quicker option to going ahead up the river to New Chum Ridge, then scrambling up to the Helipad. But longer walk back to car. Did wonder where 'OLD' Chum & OLD Come Up were. not on this map.

With pressure off, some decided to sleep in. Well it seemed that way. Not saying, Hammocker or couple in tent! So much for early start. After scrambled eggs (with Biltong of course), decamped, depart 9ish for paddle up stream. Deflate at Come Up Creek, actually a dry bed. And so began the Scramble up, New Come Up. Scramble became a clamber, became a plod. Not much banter going on. When would this thing end. End it did nearly 2 hours later. We did have a Minestrone Soup and Dried Fruit Compote to finish. devoured in extra short time. And on-ward to find trail end point. And with Memory-Map and tracker on, it took us with pin point accuracy back to the fire trail. And like horse heading for home a route march back to car. We hoped it starts. Didn't first time. Second it kick, we breathed again.

Now only thing to agree on was suitable location for obligatory, celebratory beer. This proofing more of a negotiation than the route. Alls well. Longueville Hotel it was. Cheers to you boys. A good adventure with a twist.

Shoalhaven vee vill be baack.