Tai Tan to TMT (CLG) to Tai Tan

Wed (19) - Lantau Peak Hike: 1006 (Pak Kung Au) - 1301 (Big Buddha) 

Thur(20) - KA -- rolling practice all day with Candy (Europa/ Master)

Fri   (21) - Gym with Carol

Saturday (22) trip plan

"Trip" as in commute, honestly.  It looks like the only environmental hazard is heat exhaustion/ heat stroke.  Will paddle with my MP3 and hopefully finish the morning leg before the sun rises.

Since my team cancelled our weekly night hike tomorrow, I might paddle the sea horse back to Tai Tan.  Will have to check to see if Fred is okay with that though.

Plan to finish before the temperature rises, so ... maybe launch at 0430 ish?

0430 Tai Tan

0500 Nam Fung Kok

0520 Ocean Point

0530 Flat Island 6.5km

0550 Police Check Point 8.5km

0640 Pak Sa Tau Tsui 16km

0710 TMT Slipway 19km

Very rapid flood tide before 0700 tomorrow, so the sooner I launch, the better I will be able to make use of the following tidal race, especially in Tolo Channel -- so, will try to launch by 0400 if I can wake up.  

Unfortunately, flood tide again after 1630, so either I leave early and get out of Tolo Channel before the tide changes, or I will have to paddle against the very rapid post-new moon tide.  The most likely scenario is that I will paddle against the very rapid flood tide; otherwise I will have to drag the sea horse through the mud when I land in Tai Tan in the dark.

Another issue is shorter day light ... believe it or not the day time is shortening, which means we are entering Autumn -- it certainly doesn't feel that way to me!!!  Anyway, sun going down around 1850, so I need to be at Ocean Point before that, which means I should launch from TMT no later than 1700.

1700 TMT

1740 Dam past Pak Sa Tau Chau

1830 Tolo Police Barrier

1900 Ocean Point

1930 Nam Fung Kok

2000 Tai Tan

DB to SSB to DB Trip Plan

Cancelled the hike with Carol today due to bad weather and also food poisoning on my part.

Hope I will be able to paddle out to SSB tomorrow.  It sucks when you are committed to something  when you're sick.  It double sucks when you don't even know if the trip is going to be cancelled due to something completely out of your hands -- such as bad weather (t-storms.)

But I think it's good training for the NZ trip -- there will always be discomforts and uncertainties; you still have to be prepared.

Right, tomorrow.  Expecting a lot of pain and discomfort to say the least.  >_<  I'm definitely not at my best right now...

I'll try to launch by no later than 0400, which means crossing the entire WLC in the heart of darkness...

The Plan 

0300 High Tide

going with the ebb tide eastward, but with have to work against the mild southerly wind.

0400 DB 

0432 Peng Chau NE 3.2k 

0513 Nav Beacon 132 13.3k

0532 Luk Chau 15.2k

0704 Wong Chuk Kok 18.4

0743 Chung Hum Kok 22.3

0800 SSBWSC 24

KAT 21km with SSB (Shek O?) 

0k   SSB 

0.23 Tong Yan Pai

2.5  Wong Mau Kok West

3.5  Wong Mau Kok East

7.5  Kau Pei Chau

8   Hok Tsui

10.6 Sheung Sz Mun

12.7  Shek O

---> Return Trip 25.4km

*** 1145 Low Tide ***

Will go with the ebb tide as well, but the flow is supposed to slow down after 1700.  s'okay though, still have the southerly wind behind me.

1530 SSB 

1547 CHK

1626 WCK

1758 LC

1817 NB 132

1858 Peng Chau *** Sun sets at 1856 ***

1930 DB 

Catch 2030 or 2050 bus to Tung Chung for Trailwalker. (Lantau Peak?)

Forecast: Cloudy with a few showers overnight. Mainly fine and hot tomorrow. Temperatures will range between 27 and 32 degrees. Light to moderate southerly winds. Mainly fine and hot in the following few days.

* * * supposed to be very hot tomorrow.  Will layer in case I need to strip to cool down... 

Gear List for our Aug day trip (70k Lantau)

Gear List for Aug one-day Lantau trip

(A)  just before trip:

• Leave a route plan (Siu Ming)
• Contact info (Siu Ming)
• Arrange Safe-Calls (Siu Ming)
• Buy bread, bottled water (4L)
• Check weather FC + Tide

(B) Both (Personal Gears):

• Spray Skirt 
• Paddle 
• PFD 
• Cell Phone
• Whistle
• Cash, House Key, Octopus
• Partner's phone number and emergency contact number written down on a water-proof piece of paper in case of cellphone failure
• Space Blanket
• SPF lip balm
• Dry clothes
• Dry bag with lanyard
• Cap/ Hat with lanyard
• Sunglasses with lanyard
• headlight
• Insects (mosquito) repellent

(C) Cordelia's List:

• Kayaks ^_^;;;
• Pencil, clipboard
• 1x cup (for bailing)
• 1x sponge (for bailing)
• extra batteries
• paddle leashes x 2
• Tow Lines x 2 (installed onto bow)
• Granola Bars
• M&M's, nuts, cookies
• tubberware for electronics
• napkins
• First Aid Kit (bare minimum!)
• lighter

(D) Dennis's List:

• strobe light
• paddle float
• Map
• Compass
• Emergency Blanket (Orange Color)

Sea to Submit X-Training Plan

Friday 7th Sunset Peak Day Hike

Members: Carol K, Lia

Location: Sunset Peak

Time: Will take the 0715 ferry to Mui Wo and then share a Taxi to the beginning of the trail.

Gears: 4-5L water per person, trainers, phone, sun-protection gears, cash, sandwich for lunch, rain gears, space blanket, whistle, dry clothes

One-Day Lantau Circumnavigation on kayaks, Saturday the 8th:

Members: Dennis, Lia

Location: CCW circumnavigation of Lantau launching from DB

Time: Saturday (8th) 0330 - 1800 

Gears:  C-Strobes x 2, sea chart (navi beacon details), headlight, walkie talkie, loads of extra batteries, towline, 

Notes:

• NB:  In our April attempt, our average speed on Day 1 was 4.9km/hr, and 6.4km/hr on Day 3 (data on day 2 thrown out due to miscommunication and a long detour around the Sokos-garden.)  For this trip, I assume we'll paddle at 6km/hr.
  
• We are adamant about paddling into Tai O, so we need to arrive TO at high tide (it's post full moon again.)   Preferably we'll be in Tai O betwee 0900 and 1300, or around midnight.
• We wouldn't want to cross the airport passage at low tide, because we might run aground.

0330 Launch (DB) 

<- flood tide 

0730 Tung Chung  

<- flood tide

0930 Tai O

* * * half hour break at Tai O * * *

1000 Tai O

<- ebb tide

1130 Fan Lau

<- ebb tide

1430 Sui Pai

1 hr break at Yi Long Wan

1530 Yi Long Wan (against strong tidal race)

<- ebb tide

1800 DB

We hardly get any breaks in this 70km journey ... I wish we could start trailwalker later so that we don't have to be in such a hurry to come back to DB.  The last two to three hours are going to be tough, because we will have to paddle against the full moon rapid ebb tide in a narrow passage.

Nocturnal Trailwalker Team Hike (8th Saturday to 9th Sunday)

Members: Paul, Dennis, Yuki, Lia

Location: Lantau Peak

Time: Sat night 19:30 - ????

Take: 

1900 bus to Tung Chung 

Or 1815 Ferry to Mui Wo

to meet Paul and Yuki for Lantau Peak hike.

Day Trip Route Maps

Island Hopping + Mui Wo 25KM route

DB -> Lamma -> SMBWSC (60km return)

Lantau Southeast Run (27km return)

Lantau SE run, and hardcore cross-training plan

Hiked and rested yesterday.  Paddled the Lantau SE run today.

4:49 DB

4:57 Pincher

5:37 Mui Wo (Tung Wan Tau)

6:25 Nav Beacon 177 (past Ha So Pai)

6:45 Tai Long Wan

7:05 Nav Beacon 177

7:09 Ha So Pai

7:37 Mui Wo (TWT)

8:07 the beach at the "pincher"

* * * paddled out to Disney to admire the firework, but stopped to turn around when they stopped shooting * * *

8:24 DB Tai Pak

Then I called up Dennis to report my touch-down, and asked him about the Lantau trip ... I still don't believe it, but he agreed to come!  We haven't confirmed a day yet, but the tentative plan is for him to come over to DB after work on a Friday, drop off his stuff, shower, get some dinner, brief, and then we will launch either late night or early morning (as in 0300 kind of early morning.)  We will paddle till around noon, when the sun tries to bake us alive, we will land for lunch and hide in the shade for two hours.   Then we will paddle back to DB, try to land before 5:00pm, shower, stash the stuff in my apartment, get a takeout pizza from wildfire, and then bus/ferry to meet Paul and Yuki for overnight trailwalker training.

Mwahahahaha, how is that for hardcore, back-breaking cross training?  Paul and Yuki will probably have to give us piggy rides!

I still have to go back to our trip log to guestimate how much time we might need for the sea trip.  In all likelihood, we will be toiling for well over 24 hrs non-stop!  

DB to SMB to DB route plan (2)

My second crossing.  Expecting really heavy sea tomorrow, so there is a chance that I'll have to turn around at some point.  Worse yet, I may have to call the trip off all together.

[Solo]

Boat: Martlet

Paddle: Kiska

planning to wear the yellow PFD

Will have my cell phone handy for distress calls and weather updates.

The Kau Yi - Green Is. crossing is too intense for my liking; so I made up a new route:

DB  0 km

Tai Lee 2.5km

Peng Chau SW 3.5km

Sunny Is. E 6km

Lamma PKT 13km

Lamma Wong Chuk Kok 19km

Stanley Bluff Head (aka Wong Ma Kok) 25km

Lo Chau 27.5km

SMBWSC 30km

The idea is that I won't have to cross the East Lamma Channel at all if I have to turn around at 0700. Plus, I'm familiar with the Lamma coastline, so I'll know where to find an emergency ditch site and plan an escape route if it comes down to that.

20.5km after my 4-days sabattical

Paddled the exact same route as last Friday (no whitecaps today though.)  I didn't train for four days in a row.  I spend time with dad on father's day (Sunday,) then I trained with my CLG group from Monday to Wednesday.  I couldn't launch when I got back to Tai Tan after CLG, due to unbelievably crazy low tide (new moon.)

Which means I should be fully recovered, right?  But no!  I was a mess, a symphony of pain.  I launched in the evening (to avoid the brazen sun) and felt very tired and lethargic.  My lower back ached, one of my toes is inflamed, my butt also started to get really sore after the first 15km (no padding on the hard seat this time -- I lost my foam!! *cries.*), to alleviate the pressure on my butt, I gave up pushing with my feet, which means I had to brace my thighs against the cockpit, and my legs started getting cramps after locking my legs in the thigh-braces for so long.  I noticed I paddled very slowly in the last 4 km, though that's mostly to avoid aggravating the pain in my butt.

Hate to admit it, but I think I got a bit chewed up at CLG practice.  I had two humpback-whale sized patients (both boys are well over 200lbs); Michael told me to "work on endurance and power by rescuing both of them at the same time" -- so I ended up with close to 500lbs load on my stern and bow decks, and they thought it would be funny to wiggle around while I was paddling.  It was all I could do to not capsize; I could hardly plant my blades down.  In fact, even as I sculled for my life, and leaned my body all the way to the port side, I still couldn't correct the starboard tilt of the kayak.

Then I decided to practice rolling with a heavy, leaky CLG boat.  I did okay, at least on the right hand side, but my back is still killing me right now.  I don't think my body is made to roll for three days in a row.  

1536  Launch (Sze Tei) 

1558  Nam Fung Kok

1638  Bluff Head

1706  Chek Chau NE

1736  Kung Chau East

1800  Grass Island South

1834   Landing (Sze Tei)

Again, I paddled well over 8km/hr in the first hr, but slowed down significantly afterwards.  Tsk tsk, need to drill on endurance...

Very anxious about trailwalker training this Saturday; section 3 is supposed to be "very difficult," took me long enough to recover my "morale" after section 7 & 8...

evening trip: 20.5km from Fred's

Decided to launch after all - no rest for the wicked!

Fred's 0km 1635

Sze Tei (the rock outside Tai Tan) 1639

Nam Fung Kok 3.4km 1701

Ocean Point 5.3km 1714

Bluff Head 8.5km 1740 (following sea/starboard side wind up to this point) 

Chek Chau NE 11.5km  1812  (strong head wind heading towards CC)

Kung Chau 14.13km   1847 (even stronger port wind with long whitecaps)

Ko Lau Wan 17km  1917 (same as above)

* * * headed towards Nam Fung Wan until I couldn't see the WS Pier light to make sure I stay well away from the ferry lanes, because it was getting dark.)  

Sze Tei 20km  1946  (following sea up till NFW, then flat water towards Sze Tei.)

Fred's 20.5

The whitecaps East of Chek Chau took me by surprise; my seahorse took in quite a bit of water, I'm not sure what the observatory is playing at, but the wind certainly didn't feel like a BF 2 (and the whitecaps agreed with me!)

Got stopped by the police patrol boat just before I reached Nam Fung Kok, they questioned me for a bit (are you alone?  are you really paddling alone?  Where are you going?  When are you coming back...) and then let me go.  

Managed over 8km/hr in the first hr due to a mild, following sea.  Then struggled against the head wind -- what with the choppy waves, I started zoning out.  No point thinking about posture and movement efficiency, I just had to react to each wave, one at a time.  

Got quite nervous, because I didn't expect the sea to be choppy.  I launched without a PFD (not even in the boat!), paddle float, drinking water, and spraydeck; I wasn't sure whether Dennis got my message for safe-call either (he didn't.  Duh!) It was also very very foggy (especially towards the north)... I kept thinking I should turn around, but at the same time I also felt I need to push myself to learn to handle the unexpected.

Glad I finished the trip, but need to commit to pack better next time. (had trouble getting the head light out of the dry box, didn't use it at all in the end.  So it's like I didn't pack it in the first place.)  Also need to confirm safety calls before I launch.

Oh ya. My new year resolution, to "never land in the dark again," ha!  so much for that.  I suppose I could modify it into never "accidentally" land in the dark again, ever.

DB to SMB to DB route plan

In the ideal world, the entire universe spins around me and all the sealiners in East Lamma Channel will get out of my way, in the dark, for my benefit.

(28.4km cruising)

Ha!  If pigs can fly.  So this is what I'll have to do instead:

DB Sam Pak (launch) 0 (0430 or so)

East Kau Yi Chau (North Beacon) 6.7 (0530)

Pok Fu Lam Beacon 12.1 

Cyber Port 13.6 

Magazine Island West Beacon 14.7 (0630)

Ap Lei Pai Beacon 17.8

Round Island Beacon 20.7 (0730)

Bluff Head Beacon 24.3

Lo Chau 26.7

WSC 29 (0845)

Crooked Island Route

Trip Plan for today:

0 Fred's

3.2 Nam Fung Kok

5.2 Ocean Point

9 Bluff Head

12 Raft Head (Muk Fut Tau)

13.5 Peaked Head (Gai Kung Tau)

17.4 O Si Kok

19.6 Pak Sa Tsui 

22.8 Zik Mun Tau

25 Bluff Head

28.1 Port Island NE

31.2 Grass Is. East (Dragon's Tendon)

34 Grass Is. Pier (lunch)

35.4 Ko Lau Wan

36.7 Wong Mau Kok

38 Tung Sum Kei

Fred's 39.4

Fred's to TMT (solo) take two (KA)

My butt is still sore from the previous Fred's-to-TMT-back-to-Fred's-with-CLG-in-between trip, and I'm about to pull off another one tomorrow.

But I'll be rolling with Ng Siu Ming tomorrow (KA day two), I'm counting on it being a very laid back training day.  Then again, I'll have to roll a tiger...

Sun rises at 0543, sun sets at 1856, quarter moon so very mild tide with only one HT and one LT,  If I were to launch at 0600, it'll be flat tide at KLW, with very mild rising tide from 0730 on (i.e. following sea).  I can launch any time after 1500 and the tide will follow too (ebb).

Last time (May 10), a fairly strong East wind (BF4) with rising tide gave me a good push towards TMT in the Tolo Channel, but I had to paddle against the wind and current on my way back.  Wind isn't going to help me tomorrow, but am certainly counting on the rising tide from 0730 0nwards in the morning.  It's gonna be my lucky day, because the tide starts to ebb at 1500, about the right time for me to head back.  Which means I'm expecting a following sea both ways.

Fred's to TMT (solo)

Plan to hop onto one of Stephen's tigers for a joyride to TMT tomorrow for my CLG day two.  Apparently there will be some sort of triathlon competition tomorrow, so the road will be busy.  Oh well, kayaking is free.  What with the traffic jam, I might even save time (haha).

Weather is supposed to be sunny tomorrow (10-May-2009), BF4-5 East, 23-28C, the sun sets at 1853.  

It's two days after fullmoon so tide is supposed to be crazy, but the crux is between 0310-0600 (rapid rising tide), and between 1100-1500 (ultra rapid ebbing tide).  I should be at home or near shore with my CLG group during that time.

The plan: 

Fred's -> TMT at 0500-0900 (19km)

CLG and lunch in TMTWSC 

TMT -> Fred's at 1530-1930, if I push myself hard enough, might even be able to land with the last ray of sunlight. (19km)

Trip Plan: Fred's to Wong Wan Chau to Tap Mun

Trip plan for May 1st 2009

Member: Solo (Cordelia)

Distance: Ad lib, but anywhere from 22km to 31km

Time: whenever I get up, and must be home before 1600 or else... (low tide!)

The plan is more or less ad lib, the idea is to see what kind of mileage I can get out of Bobby on flat water. 

Fred's: 0km

Wong Wan Chau Tung Wan: 11km

Circumnavigate WWC: 20km

Grass Island Pier: 26km

Fred's: 31km

Will bring power gel, snacks, paddle-float, cell phone, and I'll DEFINITELY wear a PFD ^_^;; 

If it gets late, I will turn around at Tung Wan.  

If I get there before 1130, I will circumnavigate WWC.  

If I have time, I will have late lunch on Grass Is.  

If not, make a beeline to Fred's for dinner.

Fred's to Long Ke Trip Plan

Fred2LongKe:

Date: 26-4-2009 (Sunday, post New Moon)

Members: Dennis, Cordelia

Goal: to ride the crazy post new moon tide out in the exposed water south of Cheung Tsui, and to practice rescue/ re-entry in nasty sea conditions.

Estimated distance: 38km

CC -> DB (bringing Martlet home)

Today (Tue 31-Mar 2009)

Call Richard to confirm equipment list

Arr CC at 1100 (by ferry)

Socialize till 1330

Launch at 1430

Bring:

Sun Screen

Change of clothes

Towel

Paddle Leash

Sun glasses

Cell Phone

Octopus, house key, cash

Compass (Oh shit, I don't have a laminated map!)

Route Plan:

0.0Km: Cheung Chau Tung Wan (launch)

2.0Km--> CC NE tip 

3.6K--> Hei Ling Chau Shelter Southern most tip 

6.7K--> Man Kok Tsui 

9.7K--> DB Marina 

12 Km> Tai Pak Wan 

Easter Trip: Circumnavigation of Lantau

Logistic Tables courtesy of Dennis, all rights reserved.

Members: Dennis, Cordelia

Date: 10,11,12, Apr, 2009

Trip Briefing: 30-Mar-2009 (Central), 9-Apr-2009 (DB)

Pre-trip Rescue Practice: 5-Mar-2009, Disco Bay

Area: Disco Bay -> (counterclockwise) Lantau, Sokos, Shek Kwu Chau, Cheung Chau, -> DB

Distance: 75 - 90 km

Check Points (To be updated)

Gears:

(A) At Home/ just before trip:

• Leave a route plan
• Contact info
• Arrange Safe-Calls
• Buy bread, bottled water (4L)
• Call to arrange for replenishment services in Tung Chung
• Check weather FC + Tide

(B) Both (Personal Gears):

• Paddle Float
• Spray Skirt
• Paddle
• PFD
• Cell Phone
• Whistle
• Cash, House Key, Octopus
• Partner's phone number and emergency contact number written down on a water-proof piece of paper in case of cellphone failure
• Space Blanket
• SPF lip balm
• Personal Hygiene Items (toothbrush, towel)
• Change of clothing
• Dry bag with lanyard
• Cap/ Hat with lanyard
• Earplugs
• Sunglasses with lanyard
• headlight for dark landing
• Insects (mosquito) repellent

(C) Cordelia's List:

• Kayaks ^_^;;;
• Pencil, clipboard
• 1x cup (for bailing)
• 1x sponge (for bailing)
• extra batteries
• paddle leash x 2
• Tow Line x 1
• Short-Tow line/ lanyard x 1
• Instant Pasta x 2
• Granola Bar (1 meal x 2 persons)
• M&M's, nuts, dried fruit mix in 2 separate small Nalgene bottles with lanyard
• 1x brand new 10L dry bag for fresh water
• ziploc bags for small items
• extra nalgene bottles for cellphone etc
• Swiss army knife
• Toothpaste
• Toilet Paper
• First Aid Kit*
• Small note book, pencil, eraser for trip log
• Repair Kit (Duct Tape, Lighter, Dry Cloth)
  
• elastic/ bungee cord with clip for emergency repair of spraydeck
• bobby pin for repair of spraydeck
• Painter Line
• small radio for forecast =_=;;
• candles for emergencies
• emergency fire-starter 
• survival kit **

(D) Dennis's List:

• strobe light
• camp light (Dennis)
• Map
• Compass
• Tent, fly sheet/tarp, ground sheet
• Cook Set
• 2x plates, 2x bowls, 2x cups
• Stove
  
• Utensils x 2 sets (fork, spoon, chopsticks)
• Fuel
  
• Power Gel
• Emergency Blanket (Orange Color)

(E) Extra:

• Beer
  
• Cards for games
  
• gilnet for fishing
  
• FC (signal flags, Q-code, ham radio) for studying/ drinking game penalties :p~~~
  

* Home made FA Kit:

• Oral re-hydration therapy 
  
• meditape
• sterilized needles x 2
• size 15 surgical blade x 1, new
• hibiscrub
• gauze
• vetrap
• scissors
• anti-itch cream
• Syringe, 10mL, x1
• latex gloves
• lighter
• hand-warmer

** err... need to repack that =_=;;;

will update later.

First Trip since 2008 Sabbatical

8th Mar, 2009

0100 / Low Tide (0500 fastest)
0830 / Meet and brief at Fred's
0900 / High Tide
1000 / 0.km: Fred's (launch)
1100 / 5km: Southern Tip of Grass Is.
*circumnavigate counterclockwise
1200 / low tide
1230 / 12km: Pier of Grass Is.

lunch break

1400 /12km depart from Grass Is.
1500 /17km: Fred's. Clean up, debrief in the Thai restaurant in Sai Kung?
2000 / high tide (1600 fastest)

* Tidal data is for Ko Lau Wan

Simplified list of day trip gears

Gears on deck:
1) me, Kayak, paddle, PFD-aka-seat
2) Paddle leash/ lanyard
3) Water (Camel Pack?)
4) SPF lotion and lipstick.
5) sponge, mug, pump, or all of them.
6) Map
7) windbreaker
8) wrist watch
9) sugar bomb of some sort (M&M's, Mars Bar, Power Gel...)
10) protein powder as "backup meal."
11) Extral 2L of drinking water.
12) notepad and pencil
13) countless lanyards and floaties.
14) Paddle-float*
15) Tow Line
16) Sun glasses fastened with elastics
17) hat or cap fastened with lanyard.
18) Spraydeck

*you know, it feels foolish to bring paddle float, considering how little practice I have using it, and how little confidence I have for it. All in all, it adds up to little more than a false sense of security to me.

Things to keep in water-tight container:
1) Strobe Light
2) Space Blanket
3) Bivy
4) Lighter, candles.
5) FA kit.
6) windbreaker
7) dry clothes
8) Bugs repellents
9) Mosquito net
10) Cell Phone
11) Extra copy of map (murphy's law)
12) Extra batteries
13) Extra space blanket.


Things I can do without:
1) GPS
2) EPIRB
3) Compass......?
4) Camera
5) Survival Kit
6) Extra paddle...?
7) Pocket Knife...?

(to be edited)