QF WP's paddling Sydney Harbour III - 30 March 2014

[QF WP]

After my last two successful attempts were put to pen (2013 and 2012), I'm crazy enough to be back doing it again this year.

After donating to my cousins in 2009 and 2010, I got motivated to get involved in 2011, so this is my 4th year of doing the paddle. Of course, I'm always happy for some flying (my own coin BNE/SYD/BNE on VA) and catching up with my Sydney-based cousins. I may not be able to update on the way around the course (as my iPhone isn't waterproof and I'd hate to see it sink to the bottom); but there will be plenty of photos taken and will be shared.

 

[QF WP]

Okay, to the reasons behind my decision to paddle (the preamble):

My cousin Andrew was the CEO of the organisation Lifestart (Lifestart Early Childhood Intervention and School Age Services Sydney). His daughter Grace, has Downs Syndrome and received their Early Intervention Services from aged 3-6. Grace has left Lifestart, is now aged 9 and in year 3 at her local primary school in a regular class. Her parents attribute much of her success at integrating to the help from Lifestart in early years. I thought it would be a great idea to do a couple of things at once - help continue Lifestart's funding, see my cousins in Sydney (as we are all getting together after the paddle for a picnic lunch) and spend some time doing some physical exercise around the beautiful Sydney Harbour.

To quote their website:
Kayak for Kids is a unique paddling challenge on beautiful Sydney Harbour for everyone from beginner to serious kayaker. It is also a great opportunity for kayakers to raise money for kids with disability whilst paddling past the city's icons including Luna Park, the Opera House and Fort Denison before heading into middle harbour and on to leafy Clontarf for the Lifestart family picnic. So get your family, friends and workmates together and come out for a fantastic day on the water." Guy Leech, former World Ironman Champion and Kayak for Kids ambassador.

I am especially proud of supporting my cousin and his daughter; so hopefully the lack of training that I have done for this year won't hold me back (or more likely, have me in agony over my desk on the following Tuesday when my triceps, quads and lower back are likely to be complaining about what I forced them to endure)

The course is shown here (Kayak For Kids Sydney Australia) and in summary is:
START: Lavender Bay. Event registration will take place at Blues Point Reserve.
Stage 1: Lavender Bay to Little Sirius Cove, Mosman Bay (TA1) = 4.2km
Stage 2: Little Sirius Cove to Clifton Gardens, Chowder Bay (TA2) = 4.7km
Stage 3: Clifton Gardens to Balmoral Beach, southern end (TA3) = 4.6km
Stage 4: Balmoral Beach to Clontarf Beach = 4.0km
FINISH: Clontarf Beach. Award presentation will take place at Clontarf Reserve.

Now, I'm not expected to do all 4 stages - given there are 9 on the team, I'll probably get 2.

 

[QF WP]

If any of you feel you'd like to donate to the cause...tax deductible donations can be done by Credit Card to the following website:

https://kayakforkids2014.everydayhero.com/au/macquarie-private-wealth-sydney

You can also leave some comments against your donation (but keep them clean, it’s a family website). There is a really unique kicker again this year:

We have a double matched giving which gives Lifestart particularly good value from your donation. My cousin Andrew has pledged to match donations dollar for dollar, up to $25,000. Most of our team paddlers are with Macquarie Bank and have applied to have Macquarie Foundation match all money raised on our boat up to their $50,000 cap. Thus tax deductibility and gearing

Now, I'd love to see my cousin have to front up with double all our donations (up to his cap of $25K), then have Macquarie Foundation double it. A $100 donation by somebody is a $50 to $70 out-of-pocket expense (after the tax deduction). This becomes a $200 donation (after the doubling by my cousin) and a $400 donation (after doubling by Macquarie Foundation).

 

[QF WP]

So now that I have set the scene, back to the TR.

On 20th December 2013, I razzed up the Wilson cousins that I was in again, then booked my flights to Sydney (will assist in VA re-qualification being in the DSC window ) and staying with my cousin (who has an excellent wine collection - we may spend some time drinking a couple this year). He's already said we are imbibing the Moss Wood that I took him last year (or was it the year before).

I found some cheap Saver fares $$89 each way) and hit the purchase button on:

Sat 29 Mar DJ950 BNE/SYD Depart: 1.00pm Arrive: 3.35pm
Sun 30 Mar DJ989 SYD/BNE Depart: 8.00pm Arrive: 8.30pm

[Exactly the same flights as last year]

Nice to have the Baggage Allowance on 32kgs, but going to try and get away with hand luggage again, given it's only an overnight trip.

 

[Jimmy124]

All the best for your kayaking fundraiser tomorrow QF WP, hoping the weather stays kind and look forward to a report on the event- and associated travels of course.

 

[Princess Fiona]

All the best for your kayaking fundraiser tomorrow QF WP, hoping the weather stays kind and look forward to a report on the event- and associated travels of course.

+1 It's cool but dry at the minute.
I completely missed this thread so thanks Jimmy124 for bringing it back to the top of my "unread" posts

 

[Jimmy124]

Not a problem Princess, I saw the thread briefly a couple of days ago - and it took me a little while to locate and read in full.

 

[QF WP]

Well the TR really begins. Did all my husband jobs thus morning, jumped into a shower and drove to the airport, arriving at 12:15pm. I had checked in via mobile at 11:30 and confirmed 3D.

Found a park in the Long Term Car Park and strode through the Terminal to the Elite security line, had my ion scan which of course came up negative and straight to The Lounge.

Put my card on the scanner and walked to the Service Desk, where Rob looked up, smiled, took my proferred VFF card and printed out my BP. Nice, Gate 41 is just outside - no walking.

Here I come Sydney

 

[QF WP]

Arrived in Sydney on time as almost as soon as I'd turned on my phone my cousin had texted me to say he's finished his round of golf and was ready to pick me up. So by 3.30pm he'd collected me and we were off to the Sydney Fish Market to pick up dinner:

Entree - Oysters natural


Main - webber cooked Salmon


Main - Octopus (to be marinated)


Lunch tomorrow - prawns

 

[QF WP]

Then back to his home in Northbridge/Lane Cove where we drank a Grolsch whilst he prepared the octopus (de-gutted them and then bagged them back with equal parts lemon juice and olive oil). Time to prepare the Webber and watch the Super XV match and await his wife and daughter to come home (son decided he had a better offer )

 

[QF WP]

I'll admit to loving staying with them every year. My cousin has an 800+ bottle cellar (here is one of his rows of bottles).



He also has a daughter who is a model and fashion designer. Talented, gorgeous and driven. Plus a Virgo like me and we get on well. Find out she is currently with Carla Zampatti as an intern and wanting to head to Nee York.

I have bought a Henschke to drink, so he supplements with a Grosset to go with entrée and my 1999 Moss Wood that I gave him last year.









He decants the Moss Wood and we know it's going to be a good night. Super XV on the TV and to start, a duck liver pâté with the Grosset. Now I am no white wine drinker, but that is a smooth wine. Yes, life is good

 

[QF WP]

His (English) wife arrives home after playing a couple of hours of squash and then picks up their daughter and the fun begins.

He lays out the oysters and sashimi he has bought (sorry, no photos) and we start the long meal. Pepper and lime juice accentuate the flavour of the Sydney Rock oysters. A simple starter and delicious. He'd bought 2 dozen and his daughter doesn't eat oysters. More for the rest of us, we side down the 8 oysters each. I suppose I need the protein for tomorrow. It's a touch life

The Grosset is smooth and whilst I'm not a white drinker, I can appreciate the quality. Rarely will I get to drink one, so celebrate this with gusto

 

[QF WP]

Mains - well the marinated octopus is simply devine. I'll have to take the recipe home - now I have watched him gut and prepare them, I think I can. My kids love calamari so might be worthwhile.

Salmon cooked with crispy skin and a squeeze of line plus a wasabi mayonnaise. Wow, spectacular. As can be expected I go back for seconds of the octopus (only to help him finish them, you realise )

We finish the Moss Wood over dinner (all of us partaking) and commence the Henschke whilst we have a breather and watch the Reds v Stormers match and chat about our family (my father and cousins father are twins, we surprisingly find quite a number of differences).

 

[QF WP]

We waited a while for dessert, both because the match was good and we needs time to digest the meal.

My cousins wife, being English, had made stewed plums & apples which he paired with a NZ dessert wine they had recently bought.

The plums and apple were superb with custard. Does life get better? The daughter decides to go out partying so we bid her good night and check out her chaperone (a nice lad who probably felt weird having 3 adults firing him questions from the balcony). We go back to finishing the dessert wine and decide to call it a night.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hope your're not going to be under the weather for tomorrow ?

 

[QF WP]

No, I am remarkably sober as I've been drinking water whilst typing this TR, Princess Fiona.

 

[Princess Fiona]

No, I am remarkably sober as I'be been drinking water whilst typing this. Princess Fiona.

Me too ....

 

[QF WP]

You been getting into it as well, good to see - life is too short.

Alas, I must get to bed soon- at least I get a sleep in tomorrow, normally we are getting up at 5:30 as for the previous 3 years we have been starting the paddle. This year, we have the last section.

A full breakfast awaits plus a grilling of my cousins daughter about her night out

 

[QF WP]

A final look at the tally before the race.



Second on the ladder now in the Teams, but that is before our doubling from my cousin of donations this afternoon ($450) and then the total being doubled by Macquarie Foundation, so we have the Corporate Cup well in our sight.

To those that have generously donated, I will leave nothing in the tank tomorrow - go hard or go home. Plus I am likely to either be setting the pace in the last leg, or steering from the back - either way, I am going hard tomorrow as this charity is very important to me.

 

[Happy Trails]

Sorry, but I keep misreading the thread title as QF WP's waddling Sydney Harbour and now I can't get that image out of my head.