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Planning the day at the Paddle Polaris

Paddle Polaris 2003. On December 6 and 7, Claudia and Kevin participate at this kayak-based-rogaining event. A detailed report is to be found in the section 'Special', and we have composed a photo gallery as well.

A paddle has many uses...

Claudia's birthday (I). Who is 32 years old and absolutely clueless? For quite a while Claudia had toyed with the idea to celebrate her second summer birthday with lots of friends. By this time, Peter had already secretly initiated such a party. 30 friends were invited to the boatramp of the sailing club just in front of our unit. When Claudia finally sent out her first invitations, Peter had informed everybody in advance and even provided them with some excuses for not making it to the feast. A bit frustrated, Claudia postponed her plans giving Peter the chance to continue his intrigue.

On her birthday, he asks Claudia for a lift to his office – just to make the game look even more realistic – and straight away hops back onto the next bus that brings him home to Birchgrove. Here, cases of beer, tons of steak and lots of chairs have to be hauled over hundreds of steps down to the boatramp. In the late afternoon, Peter rewards himself with a cuppa in a nice coffee shop from where he gives Claudia a call pretending to be waiting at a North Sydney bus stop for the next bus home.

The rest of this day, that lasted till late into the night, can barely be put into words. The joy about all the friends celebrating with her was written all over Claudia's face. Special thanks from Peter to Silvia, who kept Claudia busy on this day (thus, allowing him more preparation time), to Bine, who sabotaged Claudia's own party plans very efficiently, and to Erica, who finally managed to lure Claudia down to the club. BTW: Even after the party had started, it took Claudia quite a while to realise what had happened to her and who was the mastermind behind all this. Who is 33 years old and absolutely clueless...?

Surprise party on the beach

Claudia's birthday (II). One surprise party is not enough. The week-end after the big day, Elizabeth and Dee had invited to Huskisson on Jervis Bay into the house of Elizabeth's mother. Self-evidently, all invited guests are recruited from within the kayaker community. On Saturday, we put our boats onto the cars, drive over to the white dream beach, and paddle over to Hymes Beach. After arrival, Peter lures Claudia into the water for snorkeling whilst secret things happen at the beach: A table is unloaded from the kayaks, as are: ice-cold champagne and glasses, sausages ("little boys") with Australia flags, party hats, etc. When Claudia and Peter leave the water, the party is opened according to all the rules of the art. Many thanks to all, for the organisation and the effort you have taken, for that I didn't see you packing your kayaks. Claudia loves December birthdays in mid-summer :-) See also our photo gallery mentioned already above.

A seafaring elk and Dee

Christmas this year was more Australian than European. On Christmas Eve, we have had two visitors, Mark und Erica, who were aware of the "seriousness" of the event, since they – both being South African – had lived in Germany for nine years. However, we didn't have goose or potato or chestnuts for diner. A summer night on the balcony.

The next day – we had an appointment with Dee, Harry, Kevin, and Sue at 11:00 am for a picknick –, we decided on short notice to paddle to our destination in the East Harbour, 14 km. It took us two fantastic hours during which the Harbour belonged only to ourselves. Under the Harbour Bridge, along the Opera House, penguins on the way.

After lunch, all six of us paddled into Manly Cove next to the Heads. We stopped at each and every beach on the way abd went for a swim before we set up camp (illegally) in the Harbour. In order to celebrate Christmas, we had champagne, wine, salmon, turkey, a fruit platter and much more. On Boxing Day, the Sydney-Horbart yacht race started and we could watch it from where we were without having to share our spot with 10.000 others. For that, Peter took position of a rock that could only be accessed by swimming. Claudia ventured between the yachts with her kayak. We have to say that the thrilling bit of the Sydney-Hobart-Regatta are not the participating boats, but the 1000s of escorting yachts. That produces wash. If you ever wanted to know what a washing mashine is, the Sydney-Hobart race start is the answer. You have to have been there to believe it!

It will be preserved for us: Opera House under Harbour Bridge

Renewal of Peter's contract. Privately for ourselves, we had decided for a while that we wanted to extend our little Australia adventure for another two years. This is for how long Claudia's research project will be funded, for which she had fought so hard, and which brings her so much appreciation form her community. In December finally, Peter's employer accepts our wish and acknowledges him staying for longer. A new contract is offered. The only "drop of vermouth" is that Peter might spend a considerable time on project work in Germany, even during the muddy February – whereas bad tongues might say that any job is a step in the wrong direction: It keeps Peter from exploring this piece of earth as thoroughly as Claudia had done it in her first year Down Under... :-)