Mtunzini to Richards Bay

Rained all night again; the reserve gate only opens at 05h00 so it was a 06h00 launch to meet Craig Webster, who’d hosted me in Richards Bay a year earlier on my first attempt. Getting through the not-so-friendly surf took a well-timed dash. The water was still dark brown from the rivers.

Craig cut a straight line across to the first point while I followed the shoreline; a tail wind eventually helped, though we were fighting an adverse current the whole way, so we tucked closer to shore. Stopped by a lighthouse for a rainbow photo. Near “New Mouth” the surf broke a long way out, pushing us back into the current, and we met fellow paddlers Leon and Jacques before a bunch of novice paddlers from the local training program joined for the final kilometre into the Zululand Kayak Club.

After a press interview and a shower, I was treated to a milk stout topped up with cola – unusual, but right up my alley. Forecast looking bleak for a while, so we’re sitting in Richards Bay. Only 5 paddle days to go.