Time check 5am.. and loading the 14' Glide ready for a big day on the water.
First stop Macca's for a couple of egg and bacon muffins to give me energy for what's ahead.
I get to Stony Point and looking across to French Island it's nice and glassy.
I loaded my little esky with cold drinks, food, chocolate chip cookies and phone.. but after thinking about doing a French Island, Phillip Island paddle all alone I decided to just paddle across to French Island and back so when we come back as a group we will know how long it takes to paddle across.. So I took the esky off and just left my little PFD.
There were lots of these little stingrays in the shallows as I headed off.
Time check.. 7.45
Looking across towards French Island.
Time check French Island.. 8.30
That didn't take long so I decided to explore French Island a bit.. the water was crystal clear.. and pretty shallow.
I carried my board across this skinny strip of reef to save paddling around.
This is the south end of French Island and I decided to get off and explore a bit by foot.
This is looking towards Phillip Island from French Island.
This is looking back towards the skinny reef that I carried my board across.
I left my mark in the sand.
There were lots of these cool little rocks.. I think they're rocks.
Also lots of these sticky little sand flys that know just were to bit you on the legs where you can't see them.. On the back of the calfs.. The buggers.
The view for up on top of French Island made Phillip Island look so close so I decided to go for it.. More pics soon.
DJ
Time check.. 9.45 and about to head off from French Island and paddle to Phillip Island.
It started off nice and glassy but soon got choppy and a head wind.
Almost at Phillip Island paddling past a channel marker.
Time check.. 10.35 and I've made it to Phillip Island and feeling pretty stuffed and looking forward to some food and a cold drink.
The sky was clearing and the sun was now out.. and it was turning out a beautiful day.. and time to head off on the big paddle back.
Time check.. almost midday and the wind was picking up.. and it's a tail wind.. Waa-Hoo!
It was a long hard paddle heading towards Sandy Point with 99% paddling on the right side.. but still got some runners.
Made it to Sandy Point and it felt good to get off for a few minutes.
Time check.. 1.00 and only the last leg of the paddle to do as I head back towards Stony Point and stopping for a few pictures along the way.
Check out how much rocker there is in these 14'ers.
Almost back and last time check.. 2.15 by the time I made it to shore.
The 14' Glide is the perfect board for big trips like this..
DJ
cool as DJ
lovin the piccies
tassie that could be a tough one
you might get a few real runners doing that one mate
piccies please
I see where BJ is coming from but likewise I think calling it pimping is a bit strong. To my mind DJ doesnt pimp he just takes photos of his equipment which happens to have stickers on it. Its not like hes coming out and saying "Go and buy XYZ brand, its the best" in each (or in fact any) comment.
I also enjoy DJs posts and yes there is a lot of branding in his photos but thats the nature of surf sports where logos are everywhere on boards, shorts, Tees etc. Short of removing the stickers from his board and paddle there is no way to avoid the "pimping" whether it be intentional or unintentional. DJ puts pics and stories like this up because he has a genuine love of the sport, not because he wants to favour a particular brand. Face it we live in a branded society. You could just as easily criticise him for pimping Tag-Heur, MacDonalds and Suzuki but I'm pretty sure he doesnt have an interest in promoting them.
Personally I dont think he should have to remove the stickers or adjust his camera angles to obscure them. If you take that school of thought to its logical conclusion then anyone who puts a pic up would have to be peeling stickers off, photoshopping logos out etc. That seems unreasonable to me.
Standupzone has a disclosure signature at the bottom of each posters comment about who they are affiliated with. Something to think about.
Nice photos DJ thanks.
Yes he knows what he is doing, and could loose the paddle shots they are a bit unnecessary the rest is all good.
DJ, pimping or not, I love the pics and the stories, they are keeping me going whilst we are in the grip of winter and a Christmas that looked this :
My van in 6" of snow and ice.
Keep the reports coming chap, I am a big Starboard fan so never even spotted the subliminal brand advertising.
keep up the good work, dj, and to heck w/ the naysayers, especially ones w/ only two posts to their name. no good can come from starting off as such a nabob of negativity. ugh.
Great pics DJ ..... Just wondering how far that paddle was?
If it wasn't for DJ and his great pics and stories I think we all would be a bit lost!
It doesn't bother me ,at the end of the day I'm more interested in what DJ has got to say and the pics he has taken.
I'm a big C4 Waterman fan ,so I think DJ doesn't have enough C4 Stickers
any chance Simon Dodd can send him some!
Keep them coming mate!
Boylos
Great post DJ.
It always amazes me that someone has to try and hijack a post with a negative comment.......well, you did that to me the other day to come to think of it ! LOL.
Great work mate, I'd have never known the place existed let alone paddle it had it not been for this post.
Stoked bro.
BTW, I bet Macca's didn't give you the Egg & Bacon McMuffin for free knowing it was a product shot chance ?
(Great pre race diet supplement too).
I see where you're coming from BJ but I'm still not sure I agree.. Maybe I don't fully understand what you mean.
First I didn't know there was a 'law'.
Also if someone buys a new board and posts pics of it so others can see it does this 'law' stop them doing that?
I posted something about these cool wet suit material car seat covers once and posted pictures of them.. Is that also breaking the 'law'?
If so what a boring place this would become.
DJ
Hey DJ, does this mean you can get me a discount on a TAG watch?
Keep up the good work DJ...the pics make the posts more interestesting!
If earplugalug has been lurking for two years it's a pity that he decides to make his first few posts so positive - not. It's always so much easier to be negative.
Great post and Pictures DJ.BTW if you are pimping in your pictures its not working on me,Ive seen hundreds of your shots and the only thing ive bought thats been product placed is a Maccy Ds, OH and a coke and some crocs.
Although Ive got to say ive been pricing up holidays in Melbourne.Ian
Looking through all the pictures that I took that day I found a few more that some may find interesting.
While up on top of the bluff on the south end of French Island (btw it was a bit of a hike to the top and much higher than it looked from the water) I was glad that I wore my Crocs because the climb up was slippery and the ground was covered in holes.. I think from mutton birds nesting... Just walking around the ground would often collapse under my feet.
This is the view from the top looking the other way.
I thought for a second that they might be snake holes.. and freaked out when I almost stepped on this.
Sticking my camera up a hole I could see a bird or something and an egg.
I loved the shine on the water heading towards Philip Island.
Once at Phillip Island I looked around Cowes looking for something to eat.
The skinny little beach just off Sandy Point was so nice.
Those pelicans were hanging around the fishermen cleaning their fish and throwing scraps to them.
That's about it.
DJ
did you get any free food from the pasta pizza shop,you should have because when i go to phillip island i am going to tell them DJ sent me.
have a happy and prosperous new year DJ and may all of your pictorials continue to be entertaining,oh and i hope you get a paid position with tourism victoria you deserve one