The whole motivation behind this Newsletter was a successful trip to Althorpe Island in March of this year. As you will note from reading the news on the front page of this Newsletter a small group of regulars have paddled around Granite Island three times a week since mid 1999. The success of these jaunts and the growing confidence of the paddlers was an encouragement to these kayakers to explore more demanding ventures. So after surprisingly little discussion Althorpe Island was placed firmly in our sights & training commenced.

Malcolm Hamilton from Blue Water Sea Kayaks assisted several of the participants with training whilst Brad completed Canoe SA’s Introductory Sea Award. Rolling practice in the Gym pool was fun as was our four island paddle to West Island via Granite Island & Seal Rocks then returning via Wright Island. The early morning paddle to Port Elliot in cool conditions was valuable. Particularly as all discovered Brad’s propensity to be sea sick. A great deal was learnt about sea kayaking during training. However much was also learnt about each other whilst training and through trip meetings.

A bit of geography ……… Althorpe Island lies a little more than 15 km from Marion Bay at the bottom of Yorke Peninsula. However by commencing to paddle from Cable Hut Bay the trip to the island can be shortened to 10-11 km. Friday morning at Corromandel Valley beckoned a beautiful day and promised much for the weekend. Early morning croissants and coffee was even better. The trip to Marion Bay is apparently long and tedious. In convoy it is even more so and is broken only by the beauty of Port Wakefield.

On arriving at Marion Bay we pulled in to the only car park and were surprised to be greeted by half of Victor Harbor. Graham & Robyn Virgin are building a new tavern and surprise, surprise a Victor Harbor building firm has the building contract. Lunch was had in the deli followed by an inspection of Cable Hut Bay, the Rangers Headquarters and the Breeze/ Halstead/Speck  ccommodation. The view from Cable Hut Bay & the adjacent light house did not look inviting and brief discussions were held about alternative objectives. On retiring to the relative splendour of the Brehin/Halstead/Butler accommodation at Marion Bay  reparations were commenced in earnest for the trip.

The food was divvied up. Pumps were checked. Spare paddles strapped on and buoyancy material added. Marc packed enough alcoholic fluid into his kayak to seriously worry all of us. However we were all ready to head off by the time the call for tea was
made. An interesting French wine from the Southern Rhone was had with seaweed soup Japanese rice but also accompanied by a good old Aussie barbie. After tea the paddlers met to agree on the strategy for Saturday and to scrutinise tide tables, marine charts and topographic maps. All agreed that Cable Hut bay was still the preferred commencement point. However the wind, waves and obvious chop of the previous viewing did not promise a good passage. It was agreed to leave at 7am and we should catch the start of a tidal run.

Next morning 7am passed without sight of the Inneston crew. Marc was ready to go but the only other thing Brehin, Halstead (Snr) & Butler saw was a rising sun. Not to worry there are apparently 24 hours in a day. On arrival at Cable Hut bay the conditions looked immeasurably better than the previous day and we decided to take a path around Haystack Island on our way to Althorpe Island.

The delay at Marion Bay favoured us with an obvious tidal race pushing us along at better than 6 km an hour. The 14-15km trip to Althorpe Island via Haystack took less than two hours. Marc even took the time to put out a lure. Albeit unsuccessfully.

Althorpe Island is an absolute beautiful wonder. Stuck out in the middle of Investigator Strait you can clearly see Kangaroo Island and Yorke Peninsula. The climb from the jetty to the huts is a steep but easy climb. The return journey down to the jetty was made even easier on Sunday by the use of a flying fox for much of our equipment. The photo of Althorpe Island  sets the island off beautifully. The island is more than 90 hectares & about 100m above sea level with cliffs virtually on all sides. The island is a breeding ground for mutton birds and this makes walking around the island a perilous past time. Mutton bird holes are shallow and prone to cave in as we found out. The islands redeeming feature is most definitely a sandy beach (at high tide) on the North side.
We paddled around the island after lunch. Brad dipped a lure in the water from his kayak and hooked a Tommy Ruff. Everyone else waited until they hit the island and fished from the jetty with Squid, Salmon, Flathead, Sweep & other species virtually jumping onto the jetty.

Tea was …….... you guessed it seafood……… shared with our Althorpe Island host, Michael. Tea was followed by a glass of Port & a soft pillow.

The obvious low light of the trip was Brad breaking his thumb falling off the jetty on arrival. This necessitated our early return to Marion Bay at midday on Sunday rather than staying another night.
Brad Butler.