On the 19th May 2018, 7 participants embarked on a summer expedition trip “AUSSIE KOALITY PADDLING”, with the SMUX Kayaking team. The team departed for Perth & Augusta, Western Australia, and this would be the first time that the Kayaking Team will be paddling out of Asia! Unlike the usual overseas expeditions, we spent 4 Days and 4 Nights camping outdoors in the wilderness, hopping from campsite to campsite as we did a Summit to Sea paddle down Western Australia’s scenic Blackwood River. In total, we paddled about 40km over the course of 4 days!
We went back to the basics where we prepared our meals using mess tins and stoves. As we were still trying to get used to the idea of outdoor cooking, the lack of daylight made it even more challenging for us. We had to work together as a team, bringing together our headlights to light the area while preparing our dinner on the first night. As we progressed from day to day, we got familiar with things and eventually managed to prepare better meals such as pasta, pancakes (WOOO) and fried rice!!!
Amidst the cold dark night, among the forest of trees with no other people in sight, we cuddled around the campfire and started to share our thoughts and experience. It was really warming, both physically from the fire and heart-warming knowing that we had each other’s company and were all working together to overcome the difficulties we faced.
As it was so dark at night, the stars lit especially bright, and we let our eyes wander across the sky filled with stars of different sizes. We realised how small we were in the universe and how fate has brought us together, overcoming the pre-trip hurdles and to where we were. Some of us even caught shooting stars, something that could only be captured by our eyes, etched in memory and nothing else.
Mornings were always what we all dreaded…
1. Struggling to get out of our sleeping bags
How I wish there was a sleeping bag like a space suit and we can walk around with it to keep us warm ☹
2. Packing up our tents
The dew that gathered on our tents overnight were freezing cold thus, whenever we kept our tents, our fingers would go numb. This explains the reason for our next step…
3. Gathering around the stoves for warmth
PS: Boiling water not to drink but, for us to dip our icy cold hands into it. (Best feeling ever!)
4. Prepare breakfast
Our breakfast every morning was something simple – Cereal with milk, Hot milo or Energy bars.
5. Pack up and start paddling
This cycle basically repeated itself for the next 4 days~
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