By Brendan Clark on 3/8/2009 9:25 PM

It is the eve of our launch. Ten months ago Paul proposed this mad idea. My first response – can you actually do that? He said it can be. My wife, Lynita, said “If you don’t do go you’re a wuss.” Initially I was testing the waters with training and preparation. Would my learning curve be steep enough to reach a perceived, required level of preparedness by March 9? Could I deliver the time commitment? Would my family remain supportive? Would my staff and patients understand? Before I knew it I was running out of excuses. I am prepared as I thought I would need to be. Now is that going to be enough? I have spent the time.

I am surprised by the interest and support. I feel responsible to now get the job done. People have donated thousands. I am unable to control the weather or the paddledogs. We have had dinner at Leanne and Lyndon Voigt’s in Melbourne tonight. There is a strange feeling of uneasy restrained anxiety. We have all spent many hours paddling and probably not enough training as a team. And now as a group we are waiting. Paul worked the whole way down to Melbourne and looks like staying up tonight. Not an ideal lead up poor bloke. Tough year for him too.

...

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By Paul Crawford on Tuesday, February 24, 2009

On Sunday 22 Feb we all met at Norah Head after an early rise and committed to a "long paddle".  In the end we were on the water non-stop for 8.5 hours and clocked up around 53 km.  We basically tracked down the coast from Norah Head to Terrigal and back.

Some highlights:

paddling through a huge pod of dolphins that were going flat out in the opposite direction perfect paddling weath/conditions, with some fantastic coasline feeling pysically in good shape at the end of the day testing (and finding beneficial) a piece of foam on my seat we were the most disciplined yet in terms of paddling together, and taking regular hourly breaks/snacks...it definately paid off in terms of maintaining genergy levels successfully completing some Eskimo rolls after more than 50km and 8.5 hours in the boat Some lowlights:

Greg and Robin set off from Norah head without hatch covers on, and had to beach Lesson: complete thorough checks before launch Troy became sea sick (first time in months).  Lesson: take medication early/regularly...

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By Paul Crawford on Tuesday, February 24, 2009

In two weeks from today (weather permitting) we'll be paddling away from mainland Australia!

I'm really looking forward to it now.  As is probably normal, I don't feel quite as prepared as I would have hoped, but I certainly feel that I'm within a reasonable margin of error.

Fitness is good.  I'm feeling as fit and strong as I have in years.  My weight is down to 'uni days' (around 70kg), and while there's always the odd sore spot, I don't have any real injuries.  Overall I'm feeling great...jumping out of my skin!

Also, all the planning is starting to crystallize.  The final details of logistics, gear, route etc are falling into place.

The team is great too.  We haven't paddled together as much as we'd hoped because of travel schedules and work/personal committments, but I think we've done enough.  We've honed our on-water communication and team-work.  And we've got a feel for eachother's strengths and weaknesses.

The plan is now for a pretty heavy training effort this week,...

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By Paul Crawford on Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Our target of raising $10,000 is within reach!  We've currently raised $2875 in private donations.  The fundraising dinner/trivia night netted $2550.  And Sanitarium Health Foods have donated $2500.  That's a total of $7925.  That leaves $2075 to raise.   We're very appreciative of all of the support and encouragement that people have give us.

Sanitarium has also donated us a pile of food each for the trip.  Dried fruit, nuts, Up&Go, breakfast cereal etc.

And Avondale College has loaned us Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) and a satellite phone.

By Paul Crawford on Monday, February 23, 2009

The fundraising dinner and trivia night was widely considered a raging success.  Over $2500 was raised for the Black Dog Institute.  Lloyd Turner did a fantatistic job with the multimedia quiz, assisted by David Truscott with the PA and audiovisual equipment.  Karen Zeuschner and her team did a great job in the kitchen to turn out a great meal.  The ambiance was great, with lots of laughter, live music.  Troy brough along his sexy MIrage 580 kayak as a display, and we dressed up a manican in our paddling gear including a range of safety gadgets.  All in all a great night.  Thanks to everyone involved.

By Paul Crawford on Saturday, February 21, 2009

Tonight is the night!  Karen Zeuschner has done a fabulous job of organising the event, and preparing a gourmet feast.  Lloyd Turn will MC the evening and has arranged the multi-media quiz.  We're expecting around 60 people to attend.  Thanks to all the helpers and organisers!

By Paul Crawford on Saturday, February 21, 2009

Carol Duncan, the host of the ABC Radio Newcastle (1233) morning show interviewed Troy, Greg and Paul live in the studio on Friday February 20th about the Paddledogs expedition.  She will keep listeners posted on our progress and will interview us again on our return.

By Troym on Monday, December 15, 2008 5:17 PM

Over the last couple of weekends Green Dog (Brendan) & I have had a few paddles together off Norah Head. On the 1st of these we saw a big Hyundai from close range, it was a coal ship (sea ocean paddle pictures). We paddled around another one as well, they are absolutly incredible!

We have also been fortunate enough to see some wildlife as well including dolphins on each occasion, a hammer head shark, penguins (we think), lot of birds including a eagle on Bird Island and yesterday we had 3 flying fish appear and fly between 20 & 50 metres, two of them coming past within 5 metres of us. Amazing!

By Brendan Clark on 11/29/2008 11:42 AM

In 1875 the " Town and Country Journal " reported that " Old Bily Fawkner , the last of the Brisbane Water blackfellows , drowned in Tuggerah Lake about six months ago " apparently he would paddle around in a bark canoe , fishing and fowling. He probably travelled around Toukley Oukley meaning - rough on one side , smooth on the other. Crossing Toukley bridge you can often see why.

From my home I look out over Tuggerah Lake where I often paddle

By Paul Crawford on Friday, November 28, 2008

Last saturday was shocking weather.  Winds gusting to over 30 kts.  But with another string of international trips coming up I was determined to get out for a paddle.  Greg (Paddledog) called up and asked if I was going out, and when I confirmed, he said he would join me.

We put in (our twin Eco Bezhigs!) at our regular spot in Sugar Bay on Lake Macquarie, and poked our noses out into the lake.  Before we really knew what was happending we'd cruised across the width of the lake in W-SW winds to Summerland Point.  The wind and seas seemed to be picking up, but we figured that in the lake, the worst that could happen would be getting tipped out and blown to a far shore. 

From Summerland Point we decided to test ourselves against the wind and headed directly into the fray towards the old St John of God headland.  OMG!  The conditions had picked up and in the middle of the lake I found myself charging into 1 - 1.5 m waves, at times little more than 1 - 2 m apart.  The wind gusts were so strong that the...

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