East London to Cinsta East

A few physio sessions with Gerda got me mobile again – the consensus was inflammation from steering by leaning the ski in big downwind conditions. At 11am I put in at Orient Beach and met Ian Boyd, who’d paddled from Nahoon to join me. We caught some lovely runs – “lollies or taxis” as a mate of mine calls them.

Passing Glen Gariff I saw a snake swimming on the water, and it tried to swim closer to me rather than away – unnerving, though probably a land snake washed out by a river. Coming into Cinsta East, Warren and I were at opposite ends of the beach trying to spot each other on the radio, each insisting the other wasn’t there – quite funny once we’d sorted it out.

My lower back stood up well to the paddle, a great relief. We’re staying in Shane and Joy Roach’s holiday house on top of the dune, complete with a hot tub. Planning to reach Kei Mouth early tomorrow before a predicted 3m+ swell.