Hi Folks,

I think I'm the 'Bloke' in question here. I figure I don't really need to add a whole lot as you guys seem to be running the story pretty well

Just thought I'd clear up that I was never "abandoned". 4WDs were at both ends of the beach and if I hadn't felt like an afternoon stroll I could have just stayed put and sucked on my Camelback and frollicked in the ocean till my buddies had got to Wedge and back tracked for me. And I'm sure if I was injured or was scared to be left on my own, someone would have foregone the rest of the trip (and cold beers at our destination) and hung around with me for the wait.

As it happened we had a pow wow after I came to grief (not injured but kite was well dead) and I decided to walk back to Lancelin, roughly 10ks, visible in the distance, water on hand (Camelback), nice seabreeze. By the time I get there the guys will be just about getting back there as well, one or two cold beers still in the esky, fun times all round

As it panned out, I followed the beach about two thirds of the way and then decided to try the track behind the dunes for a bit, thinking I might be a better chance of hitching a ride. It does turn into a bit of a maze at one point and doesn't exactly hug the coast but pretty quickly gets back on direction and pretty hard to really lose the ocean with an afternoon sun in the west. Made friends with a family of Emus, startled a couple of Kangaroos having a nap right next to the track. The local constabulary drove past me when I was just out of Lancelin and when they passed me again going back the other way I thumbed them down for a lift back to the windsurfer's grassed area in town. My first ride in a paddy wagon...

I beat my mates back so asked the friendly policeman if I could possibly borrow his phone and let them know all was well, no problem. Got chatting to a couple of local windsurfers who were kind enough to share their afternoon refreshments with me and the favour was reciprocated when my lot turned up very shortly after, all smiles.

Things I'd do differently next time:

Make sure at least two of us in the group are carrying mobile phones - for communication when you get split up and so you don't have to suffer the indignity of having to beg and borrow someone else's.

Not go so nuts in the waves between about the quarter way mark and the three quarter way mark - I don't mind a good walk but hate being gossiped about in public forums.

Don't talk to anyone you don't know in Lancelin if you've got any secrets to hide (especially not poleys & policemen) - I hate being gossiped about in public forums

Carry A basic repair kit, basic First Aid Kit.

Study the Coastline and the tracks as a group before you leave with some possible rendezvous points in mind if you do get split up.

Other points:

Personally I'm not going to carry flares or wear a PFD. Going with a dependable group of guys and having a plan to stick together I believe covers the risk of being lost at sea. Be able to swim the distance you're kiting offshore if you have to.

Know your own abilities. Not everyone is a KN legend like me!!

Seriously though, if you've never done something that is risky or even perceived/rumoured to be risky don't use a situation like this to find out what your capabilities are. People like Chris6791 (who I understand is a cop in Lancelin) can probably testify to the silly ** that people do and I'm guessing is one of those that is called on to dig 'said' people out of 'said' **. So no disrespect to you guys that are saying have contingencies and plans and take all the steps you can to not have to end up relying on the likes of your good selves.

All the best to all of you in the New Year.

J-P