Last night I did my first SUP penguin tour down at St Kilda pier and took these pics.
I parked down towards Port Melbourne and paddled up to St Kilda pier..The sun was almost on the horizon and it was warm and sunny.
I was told to meet at St Kilda pier at 8 pm and I was right on time.
The SUP Bus was there in it's new avocado green colour.
There were people there in their gear all ready to go.
Nic gave everyone the rundown on how the night will go and what to expect.
The boards were on the beach and the sun was getting lower.
What a happy bunch.. Most have never tried SUP and I thought 'this is going to be interesting'.
Nic started by giving everyone a quick lesson in SUP.
Everyone hold your paddle like this to check where your hands should be...Hmmm.
and they're off..and not even a splash.
Nic continued to teach from on the water.
I jumped on my board to join in the fun..I noticed the little snails liked my yellow Naish board better than the seaweed.
Two local swans cruised past.
Helke and Luicy paddled across to join in.
The first challenge was over once we all got over to the other side of the pier and safely through the gap in the pier..Knee paddling was the way to go for most here.
Nic took up the rear checking that the penguin expert was safely through...She's about 70 and as fit as a fiddle and the one with the biggest smile.
Everyone gathered near the little beach on the other side of St Kilda pier and still no one's fallen in.
The crowd was on the pier getting ready to see the penguins come in after a big day chasing fish..I saw a few come in and climb under the pier right here.
The sun was almost gone and it was getting dark.
I had my torch resting between my Croc's.
We all drifted along the breakwater and using the camera without the flash made my pictures a bit fuzzy..This is Luicy on her 10' Oxbow board.
Shhhhh!... Don't want to scare the little penguins..We drifted along..It was nice a peaceful.
Sorry about the pics.. My camera doesn't cope well in low light..We saw penguins swimming in and climb up the rocks into their homes.
The next thing was to paddle back.. I think it's the lights straight ahead.
We're all almost back now and everyone was happy..and still no one even fell in.
Mmmmmmmmmmmm... Mr Whippy.
Nic was trying to pack up and was continually hassled by tourists wanting a pictures of him and his board..and them next to the board..and then their friend.
I said good bye and headed off in the dark to paddle back to were I'd parked..A couple of kilometers down the beach..It was so warm and calm.. Summer was back.
I was drifting along going dead down wind in about a 5 knot breeze so it felt perfectly calm..I stopped to take some last pics along the way.
There was a full moon and it shined across the water looking back towards the shore.
I still had a fair way to paddle..I ended up getting back to my car about 11pm and I could have stayed out there paddling all night.
It was one of the best experiences that I've ever had SUP'ing.
One last picture...while still out on the water trying not to fall in.
DJ
.. There's over 1000 little penguins that live along there so you're sure to see some any night..about dusk or soon after.
