Fluid Kayaks Team

The kayak season started with a BANG!!!

• Destination: Umkomaas river, Deepdale section.

• Nature of excursion: A 40km overnight kayak trip with mostly class 3 to 4 rapids and the infamous Deepdale waterfall.

• Distance from home (Hazyview): 9 hours solo drive with the Fluid Solo strapped to the passenger seat.

One invitation brought 13 Kayakers from all over SA together at the Umkomaas River to officially open the SA kayak season and strengthen the bonds of friendship: Celliers Kruger, Brian Joubert, Leon Pieters, Adrian Tregoning, Andrew Pollock, Luke Longridge, Corne van Biljon, Graeme Anderson, Mark Willment, Kelvin Rivett, Craig Rivett, Phillip Claasens and myself (Jaco Lubbe).

The first night at base camp, conversation started slow, but as soon as hi, how have you been, how's your family made way for the topic of kayaking, "silence" had difficulty getting a word in. Although the last words were never spoken, everybody went to bed with an eager excitement of what or what not to expect the next morning.

Saturday morning saw everybody preparing and packing their kayaks for the overnight trip. The secret being to pack as light as possible; food for 2 days, sleeping bag, thermorest and a small tent. I decided to leave my tent and pack only the flysheet since my kayak preference was a Small Solo. The majority of kayakers paddled the Large Solo or Expedition Solo.

Day one started with a flat section that leads up to Deepdale Falls. Why is there an aura around this waterfall? Probably because of the track record. So many kayakers walked away with some kind of injury that it makes you think twice before running it. You also run the risk of ending your 2-day kayaking experience at rapid number 1. With water levels being low (+-10 cumecs), the entry to the falls was left bony, which made your chances of success less positive. Everybody played it safe and decided not to run, except Luke. Feeling lucky, he took up the gamble and ran a solid and safe line down the 15m waterfall. The scene was set for a great day. Nothing in life builds a relationship better than experiencing an adventure together; it deepens a friendship instantly. The river was filled with continuous level 3-4 rapids, which I will describe as jip-jip-yeehaa rapids (nothing serious but fun). The rest of the day was filled with lots of laughter and jokes and the odd, deep, fix-the-world conversation as we paddled in search of a perfect "overnight spot" somewhere along the river.

With tired bodies we dragged our kayaks over the rocks to a fairly flat, grassy patched area. With creek boats and expedition kayaks introduced in the Fluid entourage, multi-day trips in SA are increasing in popularity. The excitement of camping in remote places untouched by civilization and only accessible by river, far surpasses any luxury money can buy. After a short break, appreciating the scenery, camp was set up in no time: there was a bon-fire, great conversation and a clear starry sky - it was perfect. The favorite food was definitely John West tuna in packets. Its light, tasty and ready to eat. Add a few biscuits or crackers and voila! No mess, no fuss. Andrew Pollock even had it for breakfast.

Day 2 started with great excitement at the biggest rapid just around the corner, Long Drop. After safety was set up and everybody had a quick peek, kayakers passed one by one through the flickering of flashing cameras, flexing every ounce of muscle to impress the fan club on facebook. Long Drop claimed one paddle to the bottom of its belly as the owner was caught off balance at the first drop, popped his deck, washed down over a pour over and bear clawed his way to the safety of the bank. Luckily, there were some split paddles on the trip for an occasion just like this, a bare necessity. Without a paddle, a trip like this can go from awesome to pear shaped in a few seconds. The rest of the day went uneventfully as we once again fixed global warming, designed new kayaks in conversation and everything else in between.

Being comfortable in a kayak is directly equivalent to the amount of time you spend in it during preparation for a trip, so the take-out was a happy relief for my aching body.

What an experience!

The kayak season is officially opened and the opportunity to paste unforgettable experiences into memory lane is yours for the taking!

How do you get involved? 1. Get introduced to Kayakers

2. Buy a kayak and gear

3. Join a current rafting company to gain experience

4. Never look back.