34.20 115.10 Flinders Bay Augusta 30 km 7,5to12,5 wait for the right weather, and you (I…) can paddle around anything…
Today was the day…the gap in the weather for rounding the treacherous Cape Leeuwin.
Winds sw to w 10 to 20 kn, swell 3m. As good as it can get in this season. The look yesterday on the Cape waters with 5m swell was still scary with breakers everywhere, today it was almost no white water, with some odd not very powerful breakers somewhere. The reefs were easy to be seen and to be avoided.
I started from Hamelin Bay with strong headwinds, but already on rounding Knobby Head the wind became pushy as I turned in a little more east. It was a bit choppy from the rebound, but nothing to worry about. The long stretch of beach from Knobby Head to Cape Leeuwin looked calm and landable everywhere (probably…)!
Nearing Cape Leeuwin the water became a bit more bouncy, but I didn’t even have to lean in any breaker…as with a good line through the reefs there weren’t even any breakers to take or to avoid. Good day today. Still a bit excitement 3 km before the Cape until beeing fully around, but nothing compared to what we saw yesterday or even Monday from the top!
Lorna, my Hamelin Bay host, was on the cliffs by the lighthouse and took the entrance fees for all the tourists watching this historical paddle around Cape Leeuwin :-)) – and all the pictures from today. She waited for me in Flinders Bay launching ramp, and took me home again for the next two days of huge swell to wait out, until I have reasonable weather to do the long 95km day to Windy Harbor. Thanks very much, Lorna!
(well, besides this one…)
20 comments on “Day 249, Wednesday, 23.09.2009”
Freya, you are one amazing Lady. Stay safe as you challenge me to step outside my comfort zones! You totally ROCK!
Freya, we have just returned from Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse and are relieved to know you are still on dry land today. The ocean is huge and the wind is strong so we hope it abates for your next passage. Congratulations on rounding the cape.
Good going Freya,don’t forget to put your sunglasses on every morning you will be paddling straight into it in the mornings from now on,,,,best wishes,,,
Thanks a lot for the picture from the lighthouse. I would like to have another one from Cape Otway 🙂
Have a safe trip.
Greetings from Christoph
Go ahead and take care!
hi freya, i have been following your journey since kalbarri. i live in Busselton and have been seen the wild weather. well done on rounding the Capes. take care accross the bite. andy
Well done Freya,
I have been following your travels very closely since you left Gove NT. What an inspiration you have been to so many people.
Stay safe on the homeward stretch.
Hi Freya,
Great to see all is still well with you from Red Bluff onwards. You are going really well!!. Good luck around the bottom half, your talent is really shining.
wait for the right weather, and you (I…) can paddle around anything… “Keep making the right choices”
Happy Paddling
Good work Freya!
Stay sharp on the home stretch!
Keep making those good decisions.
Wishing you well.
Amen to everything Hillary (and all the others) said!
Way to go! While you may be in the Home Stretch now, I know you have much work yet to do. You’re amazing and like I said in the very beginning, you are doing it, and yet every day presents it’s challenges. Please be safe, as the world watches from afar and cheers your every paddlestroke!
Go gurl, You are an inspiration to me Frenya seeing you out there and ‘doing’ it. I guess I shouldnt winge about the weather here in perth considering your out paddling in it. Love the daily updates. All the best for the home stretch and may the sun shinely warmly on your back all the way home……… 🙂 Nola
Well Done Freya, Not long now, Well they’er a lot of women kayakers here in the U.S.A that have a new Hero and my wife is one of them, Kisses & Hugs from the Kayakers of the U.S.A
Herzlichen Glückwünsch aus der Heimat. Hier wird immer kühler, bei Dir hoffentlich immer wärmer. Wieterhin viel Erfolg und viel Rückenwind. Halte Dein Schlafsack am Paddel in den Wind oder ist das verboten 🙂 ?
She’s been coming round the corner, tralala…
Melbourne next.
Just as well you’re not in Sydney right now, a serious red sandstorm has blanketed the city and brought it to a standstill.
May the weather gods smile on you!
Edda
Well done Freya,
As you know the world is watching you. We are looking forward to catching up with you in Esperance.
Well done.
So far so good. The last few thousand kilometres begins. Big swell and waves. And lot’s of wind, probably most in the back. Stay sharp and lucky. Thanks again for updating almost every day, it’s nice to start a new day with reading about your adventure. This year I learned a lot about Australia!
Whooo hooo Freya! You’ve rounded the corner and into the home strait. Hopefully you’ll have the wind at your back till Melbourne. May not need to paddle at all!!!
Well done Freya for making the last big left hand turn and rounding the Cape. You’re on the home stretch and it’s all downhill from here!!!
Cheers Colin
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