Every Sunday morning at dawn Ian and Chris hit the water armed with coffee, bananas and muesli bars - and head up the coast from Terrigal to land at Forresters Beach for breakfast. These Sundays have become a ritual over the last year and a half, providing an escape from the world and the chance to enjoy a good physical workout and be constantly amazed at the beauty and changeability of nature.

Last summer we decided that an overnight trip would be worth exploring. I had done a day trip from Ettalong to Maitland Bay and realised it would be a great place to set up camp for the night, so many more Sundays and many many more coffees later the plan was set in place!

The Bureau of Meteorology became the most visited website ever for the last six weeks. We had somehow managed to organise this in the middle of thunderstorm central. I would get excited with the 7.15am coastal waters forecast only to see it change to "afternoon thunderstorms" by 10am. Finally we took a gamble on "slight risk of thunderstorms and afternoon showers", our gamble paid off, we had cool and cloudy conditions to set out in and it only got better from there.
After a practise pack the week before we had worked out what we would need and what we could carry, Ian had rigged up an ingenious series of occy straps to hold a plastic gear box on the back of the ski and a space bag to hold the tent and his sleeping gear. My Penguin was packed to capacity (all of it below the waterline) with cooking equipment, food and as it turned out, not enough alcohol!
Watercraft packed and ready to hit the water, I clutch a bottle of water and a bag of rattlesnakes and plan to seal myself in.
Ground crew ready to wave goodbye (still thinking we are crazy and wont last the night in the great outdoors!)
Ian does some last minute adjustments to his pack for balance and tests his stability.
Ettalong to Box Head takes us through Broken Bay with Lion Island and the mouth to the Hawkesbury in the background.
As we get closer to Box Head we see a gorgeous triple masted ship heading across the bay to Pittwater. She travels too fast under motor for us to get closer but if anyone knows who or what she is please let us know as she is a beautiful craft.
45 minutes later after a drink break, a very melted Twix and a change of hats for Ian (the southerly had kicked in and threatened to garrot him with his straw hat) - we round Box Head and head into open sea. The wave reflections off the head make conditions tricky and test our stability with our fully loaded boats.
So begins the paddle up the coast. A southerly swell and a good tail wind give us a very nice helping hand (and gain us half an hour on the first leg) The reflections from the heads push us about 2 kilometres off the coastline to where the seas are a little more calm.
Ian's grin lets you know how much we were enjoying the trip, we soon were sick of yelling to each other so we settled down to a comfortable rhythm of paddling occasionally drawing close enough to talk without having to yell.
Maitland Bay (the far headland) draws closer and the sun starts to shine. The first alcoholic beverage is starting to sound very appealing.
Sun bathes the bay as we pull our gear onto the beach, dive into the balmy waters for a recuperative swim, and crack a celebratory bourbon for some quiet contemplation of our surroundings.
Our campsite comes together in about 5 minutes on the southern point of the bay secluded from the weather by a large rock cliff behind us. The morning sun should come streaming in to wake us!
Kayaks not only provide transport, relaxation and exercise - they are a great platform for serving red wine and cheese!
Our trusty little gas cooker heats the $10 cast iron griddle plate I bought in Noosa (with this very trip in mind) so we can cook up the protein fest to keep growing young men happily fed!
Somewhere there is a law that allows you to have a fire so long as it is needed to cook food. How else do you cook garlic bread on the beach?
The Sun eventually drops over the horizon leaving us alone on the beach. It is at this point we realise we should have sacrificed some of the food to make space for more alcohol!

The night brought clear skies and a brilliant blanket of stars. At around 1am we were awakened by the flashing of lightning. Miles out to sea was the most amazing electrical storm we had ever seen, creating an almost continuous light show to the north east.
As dawn broke we took advantage of our own beach for a leisurely swim and contemplated another gigantic meal!
The Sun makes its way over the headland to warm us as we cook our bacon and eggs.
Ian takes a photo of me as I wait for the Sun to poke its head over the rock in the picture above.
Preparing to pack up camp and hit the water having swum and cooked - eaten and cleaned up all before 8!
Leaving our gorgeous little bay and working out our safest way through the reef that lies off the northern point. It is this reef that claimed the steamship Maitland giving this idyllic spot its name. Unfortunately 26 people died in the process.
Perfect blue skies and a blazing morning sun surround us. This leg involves passing Cape Three Points (another highly imaginative naming exercise by Cpt. James Cook) It was here that Cook and the Endeavour hit a major southerly that had them tacking back and forth for 3 days in 1770 as they plotted the coast of Australia. You would think that with that much time on their hands they could have come up with a better name!
Where the dark blue meets the light! Ian carefully picks his way through the swell that was a combination of the southerly and the reflections from the Cape. Keeping a straight course was very difficult, but the scenery more than made up for it.
All three points in a row from this perspective. The angle of the horizon gives a better idea of the conditions.
Nestled between points 2 and 1 is the village of Copacabana
And north of Cape 1 is my home beach of Avoca and North Avoca. One more point to round and we head to shore.
Wamberal Beach dead ahead and Terrigal Haven to Port. The rock ledge makes the water very shallow on this point and waves can rise up out of nowhere.
Having come this far we really don't want to end up in the drink within sight of home.
3 minutes out - I was hoping to smell coffee at this point from our favourite cafe "The Reef" Unfortunately the waft of cooking oil from a distant KFC was overpowering!
Back on land. Time to unpack and get wet again.
The victorious adventurers raise their paddles in the international signal of "1 flat white and a strong skim latte please"
Things we have learned:
  • Gin+Tonic is a health drink and is necessary for successful beach landings
  • Red wine can always be made to fit in a already full pack
  • Steak and sausages never taste as good as when cooked on a fire on the beach as the sun sets
  • The sea smells much better than the land
  • Spending time on the water is good for the soul
  • We should do this a lot more often
  • Calling people on the cell phone to tell them what you are doing from out to sea is fun!