Paddling Trips this Spring

Pete, friends and I have been on many paddling trips since I've last posted. We've done sections of the North River, Slate to the James, Rapidan, South Fork Shenandoah, and Rivanna including the Woolen Mills run in my new kayak. I think thats all but heres a compilation of the runs.

April Club Trip

Action shot - Watch it Bill!

They match!

My Pyranha sponge

Kermee - my new kayak

Jefferson's Mill

Pete scouting his rapids

We found a man made tunnel through a hill for the headrace for a mill - it ran through a mountain to cut out a curve to provide more water to power the mill

There was a mini-fire - created ash in weird pockets

Still smouldering

My gondola driver

We wanted to run it but we had our canoe

Pretty moon

So good to us

To add to the 50 degree weather, it downpoured

Patrick and Denver's fish

Koalas, Kangaroos and Wallabies Oh My

Enjoy my video of wild Australia.

Continuation of Cairns

Sorry for the delay but blogger decided to update their uploading options and now it's much harder to use. Unfortunately, it seems as though the internet is getting too complicated for itself and we're on the downslide from efficiency.

All that aside, here are the rest of the Great Barrier Reef, Atherton Tablelands and Daintree Rainforest pictures.

Nice mask prints.

Atherton Tablelands

"Wait-a-minute" plant - if it catches you, you have to wait a minute

Whitewater kayaking anyone?

Cuz Rohan - the best guide ever

Up on the tablelands

Milla Milla Falls - Remember the Herbal Essences commercial? If not, see below.

Our fiesty group

Enormous things - somehow Maggie didn't hyperventilate

Days 5-8 in Cairns

Our days in Cairns (pronounced as Cans) were spent exploring the Great Barrier Reef, Atherton Tablelands and Daintree Rainforest. We chose to do day tours of each of these areas and had some of the best tour guides ever.

I've been attempting to attach photos all day and it keeps losing them into the internet somewhere - so check back some time this week for the rest of Australia. Sorry!

Giant Clams

Maggie snorkeling

Maggie ninjaing

Our amazing guides

Our boat diving into the waves - it took us 3 hours to get to the reef due to the weather

Pretty blue fish

Snorkeling

Blue starfish

Another fish

Welcome to Australia: Days 1-4 in Sydney

Maggie and I traveled to Australia from March 13-28. We spent 4 days in Sydney, 4 days in Cairns, and 4 days in Melbourne. It was a great experience.

Here are some pictures from Sydney.

Bondi Beach - On the outskirts of Sydney City - took a few buses to get there but we made it!

Look at the people up on the top. That was us!

Overlooking the Sydney Opera House.

Aboriginal paintings -They are drawings of the wells that they lived around due to water needs

Aboriginal painting - they were maps for others to find their way through the outback

Sydney Opera House and the bridge

Their spiders were enormous!

Royal Gardens

Flying Foxes - there were thousands of these guys flying around - don't park under this tree!

My Australian hair twin - Ashley

St. Patrick's Day Celebration - Celtic bands all day long after the parade!

Maggie loved her potato on a stick and Strongbow's Cider.

A window at the Royal Mansion

Irish Santa Biker

Upcoming Adventures

So, again I've neglected this wonderful blog, and I feel terrible. Since March 6, we have been on many paddles and Maggie and I have traveled to Australia for 2 1/2 weeks. Here are a few pics to keep your interest so you'll check back when I get on the ball!





Check back soon as there are many more pics to come!

Moormans River Kayak Run

Enjoy this lengthy but rapid filled video of our Moormans River Kayak Run.