Maatsuyker Canoe Club Trip - Lake St Clair - September 2006
The club trip on the weekend of 16/17 September 2006 was an absolute blast – in what can only be described as perfect conditions. We met at the Lake St Clair boat ramp at 9.00am; Jeff had stayed the night and was ready to go, Dave and Kristin arrived, as did Hayley and Joe, and Anthea and Jamie in full riot gear, no sorry – that should have read ‘camping gear’. Joe has a new plastic kayak which Jeff promptly took for a test run while we got ready. This caught the attention of Graham who was waiting in a different spot. He joined us and we set off – about 10.30am.
We leisurely paddled to Echo Point, and you won’t believe it, but here was the Lake St Clair ferry, which took Joe and boat back to the boat ramp from where we came. He had the option to attend a Caving Club booze-up and wasn’t going to miss it for anything. I guess you have just got to have your priorities right. With a cheerful "see you, gorgeous" – no doubt meant for all of us – he was off. The weather was just sublime, sunny, warm, no wind (what a bugger!), and we had the majestic backdrop of snow-covered peaks around us all the way. Trees, birds (no seagulls) made a change from the usual trip vistas.
We paddled up the Narcissus River some 200m and pulled up near the hut. You won’t believe it, but here we lost another contestant – Graham was so in love with the paddling that he decided to stay on the water a bit longer and paddle all the way back.
The rest of us had lunch, and set up camp – the oldies in the hut (Jeff, Anthea and Jamie), while us young folk (Hayley, Dave Kristin) opted for the outdoor elements.
And then – I don’t know whose idea this was – we decided to walk up Goulds Plateu – it felt like the mini version of Frenchman’s Cap, including the Lodden Plains. Button Grass, mud, more mud and more button grass – beautiful! Then a steep climb that made the knees scream (both ways) and a superb view from the top. Upon our return we ate and crashed. The next day we paddled back along the eastern shoreline of Lake St Clair right down to the Pump House, where we came upon a little snake, who was indulging in the perfect warmth to get charged up. We lunched and then did the final short leg back to the boat ramp! A perfect weekend was farewelled by a coffee at the Visitor’s Centre and we all went our separate ways – it was pure magic!
