14 Mile Beach

Day 111 - 14 Mile Beach

14 Mile Beach

Thursday, 9 May 2013
Another crappy day in paradise - 90% rain cloud cover, 20 degree centigrade and rough seas. At least there is only a light wind so I may get to use the kayak.

The day changed - clouds disappeared and the sun came out. Two Osprey were on the poles near the camp site. I watched them until they left and then Tuka and I went down to the beach and watched the waves. I thought I should be able to launch the kayak in between the big waves.

So I got the kayak and attempted to launch it. Timed the waves ok but didn't realise how big the swell was. One moment I'm up to my waist and the next moment I'm swimming. At the same time I'm trying to get into the kayak. That didn't work and so kayak tips over, I get dumped into the water and kayaks start to fills up with water. I managed to get the kayak back to shore. Realised I had lost my prescription glasses in the turmoil. Oh well $600 worth of glasses gone! Back at camp decided to have a couple of Coopers to deaden the loss.

Later talked to one of the campers who told me that the swell (left over from the storm) should be gone by tomorrow. Also found that one of the locals said the storm was biggest in 20 years. After lunch Tuka and I walked along the beach, then back at camp I did some reading, repairs to the van and had a sleep.

Later as it was low tide I decided to take the kayak out. Managed to launch it without tipping over and had a nice paddle parallel to the beach. Swell still noticeable so didn't go out far and managed to bring it back to shore without capsizing

	Debris washed onto the beach [Map]		Just after high tide [Map]