Paddling on the Woronora...

[khiemtran]

It's the last day of winter here in Sydney. 25 degrees Celsius with the lightest of winds. A perfect day for a paddle on the Woronora...



As you may remember, last time Liem and I were thwarted in our attempt to reach Cathedral Rock by strong winds.



This time, the river is as smooth as glass. We cruise around the corner that defeated us last time and into unexplored territory. Cathedral Rock itself turned to be hidden by trees, but here's the next landmark - Jockey's Cap.



Smoke from a hazard reduction burn has been covering the Sutherland Shire all day, and here we've come across the source. Liem is pointing out the smoke rising from behind the trees.



Here's a boat from the Rural Fire Service taking part in the hazard reduction burn. They're pumping water into a hose which the "Firies" (Australian for "firefighters") on shore are using to keep the fire under control.



You can just see one of the other Firies in the trees in the left of the picture.



We stopped to have a chat with the lady in the boat, then turned back as we were running out of time. Ahead we could see the next bend, shrouded in smoke, behind which should like "Sandy Corner".



Here's our updated map, after today's expedition. Beyond Sandy Corner lies The Needles, where apparently there are big fish to be caught.



Heading back, we fall in with some other paddlers. Don't you just hate the traffic on a Saturday afternoon?



As you can see, I forgot my hat. On the other hand, Liem's photography from a moving boat is getting better.



Back at the Boat Shed, and time for a coffee by the water before driving back. We were in the blue boat in the centre.

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

NO HAT!!! OH NO AN AUSTRALIAN WITHOUT SUN PROTECTION!

... I know I shouldn't tease. I'm not sitting underneath a hole in the ozone layer.

I love your map, and I love how you're updating it. And I love that firefighters are "Firies"--that's great, almost as good as Furies. Face the Fury of the Firiers!

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Thanks to the "No hat no play" rule at school, Liem is now fastidious about wearing a hat when outside. I didn't get sunburnt, but it did feel a bit strange to be on the water without my daggy "adventure" hat on. (You know you're an Australian when you care more about sun protection than looking silly...)

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Please tell me all about "dag"! The Australian women I was with in Ainaro were always saying about this or that person, rather affectionately but exasperatedly, "he [or she] is such a dag!" When I was describing my own terrible sense of direction (even in that smallish town), they shook their heads and called me that. In that case it seemed to me to equate to "space cadet," which would be accurate....

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

"Dag" has a meaning like "uncool", but it's almost always used in an affectionate way. It can also have elements of naivety or maybe even dorkiness or spaciness. A dag is supposedly the clumped, soiled wool around a sheep's bum.

I should add that it's almost always better to be a "dag" than a try-hard or show-pony...

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Ok, dear, if we ever get to hang out together, I'll be the navigator. ;)

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I think we'll both appreciate that!

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I love that you updated your map: filling in unchartered territory is so adventuresome. :D

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Apparently, we can go as far as the Georges River with the hired boats, but that's a very long way. I think the next trick is going to be working out where the best fishing spots are.