The NSW South Coast Mafia, Lawrence Geoghegan (TITS III Antarctica) and David Winkworth, aka “Crocodile Winkie” in Lawrence workshop

Lawrence working on my fragile epic kayak in “Lawrie” style…

And Lawrie *did* repair my epic boat…as Peter Provis work on my broken seat proved unsuccessfully not to last  too long as time pressure didn’t let it harden enough, Lawrence did eventually great solid fibreglass work to get the seat in perfect shape again…THANKS, LAWRENCE!!! It feels sooo good to have so many handymen amongst my sekayaking friends along the coast…great support team!

David in his “doctor’s surgery” workshop

Pick-up service by David Winkworth for a weather day off from Bittangabee Bay

As it was clear I won’t be able to paddle against those eadwinds today, I gave David a call. Luckily he was  available to pick me up! And he brought a delicious plum cake, made by his lovely wife Sue…yummy for breakfast!

He brought me to his house for a shower, but we left soon for the ABC radio station where I had a longer interview for next day’s broadcasting.

I was shopping a new loose fit boarder shorts for paddling, good choice…my tight-fitting neoprene or lycra shorts were just too hot and not good to my skin in this climate and my excessive paddling hours on the long run…I found a fancy black pair with white slim-making pinstripes and some red decor! Function goes sometimes over sponsored gear…

Next was a visit to Lawrence Geoghegan’s farm out in the backcountry somewhere…thanks again, Lawrence, for fixing my seat! 

And I had a close look on his Nadgee Kayaks trolley system Lawrence is so kind to sponsor me and to fit into my new epic kayak soon, to make things easier in the tidal flats up north.

Being a close friend of Andrew McAuley, the guys told me about his experiences of crossing the Gulf of Carpenteria in a sea kaya…and David din’t held back with croc stories and sharing map points in the tropical north.

It was a good weather day off! Lawrie brought me back to Bittangabee bay at night, and I put up my tent in drizzling rain  and darkness for an early start next morning.

Message via satellite phone:

“Spent the day with David Winkworth and Lawrence Geoghegan sharing experiences and boat issues. Will meet David again tonight for maybe a paddle together tomorrow”