Paddling Update: Day 51–58

Day 51 – Kob Inn to Mbashee, 37km

Heading out the river mouth was fun and quick with the tide spitting me out. “I’ve been drivin’ all night, my hands wet on the wheel” was the first song of the day, Radar Love by Golden Earring, and it stuck in my head all day. The final part of the day was crossing the Mbashee river mouth, the water turned muddy brown by the previous night’s thunderstorm, exactly the kind of water where the big fish can’t see what’s going past.

Day 52 – Mbashee to Hole in the Wall, 30km

The sea today was in a very strange mood, two layers of current, one against me and one with me. At some points the current against me was so strong I could only manage 6km/h according to my GPS. Eventually I came up to the famous Hole in the Wall. Unfortunately the sea was too rough to paddle through the hole itself, but I did some videoing before paddling on to the main beach.

Day 53 – Hole in the Wall to Mpande, 42km

A short while after leaving I came across what very few people know of, a second, smaller Hole in the Wall. I put my ski in the bushes and headed up the hill to find The Kraal Backpackers, an eco-friendly place with no electricity that I liked very much, a simple system of rainwater and growing their own veggies.

Day 54 – Mpande to Mboyti, 48km

I was lucky to find the counter current, which stayed with me all day, and the push from the tail wind made for a good day. Just before halfway was Cape Hermes and Port St Johns, my favourite brown water being pushed up the coast with me, though crossing the mouth itself it was very muddy. I paddled like I was tiptoeing, trying not to make a noise or too much splashing.