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

[QF WP]

Happy Trails, if it was raining then waddling might be appropriate

I have woken to an overcast and grey day - good conditions for a paddle, at least we're not going to be sunburnt.

Now to load up on breakfast

 

[QF WP]

Nothing like a big breakfast - enormous bowl of porridge with yogurt, cranberries and brown sugar washed down by a cuppa.

Even have time to unhappily watch the overnight game Tahs v Stormers. Tahs just dropped too much ball and took until the 78th minute to score a try.

Time to get dressed for the paddle. The gun has just gone off for the start - seems really strange to still be at home, normally i'm on the water by now.

Weather has turned good - clouds gone and blue sky has appeared.

 

[QF WP]

Arrived at Balmoral Beach and we are ready. Wish me luck!!



Now just waiting on our third member of our boat

 

[QF WP]

The leg that I am doing:



The whole race:

 

[QF WP]

The view from the Beach along our course:

 

[drewbles]

Me too ....

Wine has water in it, right?

Best of luck today Lindsay. So far the morning here in SYD is stunning (unlike the majority of this weeks weather!)

 

[Simo]

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.

I could get you a water proof case for your I phone.

 

[QF WP]

Simo, you're on!!

 

[amaroo]

Arrived at Balmoral Beach and we are ready. Wish me luck!!

Our local beach for 20 years - beautiful part of the world!

 

[QF WP]

Well the Race has been run and won (but not by us). Our team had some slow members on the first 3 legs and we were waiting until 11:25 before we got onboard.

No idea where we were at the beginning of our leg, but we powered through passing over 10 other 3-man crews. We crossed the line 30 mins later. It helps having 3 grown men who all paddle!!

At the end once teams hit the beach, we have to drag our boat up to a transition area:



and then run back down the beach to the finish line



Phew, we finish and were mobbed by our adoring support team:



Provisional Results - subject to change: 39 out of 62 starters in Team of 4 - 12 category; time: 02:44:11

My cousin Andrew [on the right] the former CEO of Lifestart, congratulates us (and was happy he didn't paddle, after having an operation 3 weeks ago). Even more reason for him to head the fundraising

 

[QF WP]

Some more photos...

Clontarf Beach:


My cousin Simon get a massage from Grace (the reason behind us all starting this charity paddle 5 years ago). We were previously known as GraceTeam:

 

[QF WP]

So now the serious part of the day is over and my cousin-in-law Sarah asked what we should do. Simon and I looked at one another and both agreed "Pub"

It does help that their daughter and son both have jobs there, so back to the Longueville Hotel we go

 

[QF WP]

We arrive at the Garden Terrace (Bistro attached to the Longueville Hotel) to catch up with my cousins daughter who was working there this afternoon.



An hour after having done lunch after the race I was hungry again:

 

[QF WP]

After a couple, it was time to head back to my cousins home and help him with some jobs around the house - after all, had to pay for my lodgings.

Then he offered to drive me to SYD airport - he said it would take 20 minutes and true to his word, 23 minutes later we pulled up at the Virgin Terminal.

Up the Premium ramp to the security and I'm 2/2 on getting ion scanned in this trip. Well, there was no-one else for him to do and he needed his numbers. Into the Service Desk to see if Elle could secure me an earlier flight using Fly Ahead. I was on the 8pm but now being 6.30pm, I was hopeful of getting on the 7pm. Yes, that shouldn't be difficult and offered me 3F. Beautiful, I'll take that.



Rang my darling wife to tell her I'd be home in time to tuck the kids into bed, so picked up half a brownie point surely

The story continues but first I gave to go - we must beat the approaching storm

 

[TheEmu]

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).
View attachment 26707
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.
View attachment 26708
View attachment 26709
View attachment 26710
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

Ok, I have to stop reading for a little while now...
*...puts tongue back in, wipes off drool, sobs to self a little...*

 

[QF WP]

It's a tough life TheEmu, someone has to help him drink them. Although I'll admit to a wee hangover when I woke up. At least this year we didn't pull out a Noble One with dessert - in all honesty, that would have been a bridge too far.

I know I'm staying with the right cousin - he was already inviting me down for another session and discussing which ones we should open . He has wines I've only heard or dreamt about.

An impressive cellar, put mine to shame.

 

[QF WP]

When the flight was called at 6:35pm, I left The Lounge and as I'm approaching the down escalator, look out to the taxi way and Gates. The photo really doesn't do reality justice. It was black and ugly. Maybe utilising Fly Ahead was a smart move as drewbles and Leumas commented to me via FourSquare that there was lightning and thunder where they were.



The longer we waited on the tarmac the more nervous I became. The only positive was the outside my window was relatively clear and where the active runway was situated, there were still departures.

Our on time departure will have helped VA's number and virtually no turbulence - but the obligatory circuit of the Gold Coast courtesy of ATC cancelled out the on time arrival. Still, that meant I got to watch an entire Game of Thrones back episode (watching them all again in preparation for the April 7 opening of Season 4).

I would be interested to know in hindsight whether my original 8pm departure (VA989) was delayed. Did the airport get shut down?

 

[QF WP]

Finally, a couple of time line photos taken by my team of the Race:

 

[QF WP]

Also very nice to see we have climbed back up to the top of the teams fundraising leaderboard.



Many thanks to those here that donated - I gave it everything and know this morning from the impending muscle soreness and stiff lower back

A small price to pay...

 

[bass_ke]

Nice TR and wonderful cause!

With the detail that's gone into this report I would love to see more LW themed trip reports!



I'm a bit of a four square fan, do the members of AFF have any grand lists or such? I wish we could create groups!