Meandering Down a STRAIGHT WIDE River

For the first time, everyone was waiting for me instead of me waiting for them in front of my house at 7.15am when our rendezvous was supposed to be 7.30am. Are they worried that I may blog their tardiness? Since we were early we adjourned to have a quick breakfast and KS, who while doing some research on tourism had stumbled on my site and promptly emailed me, was introduced to the group. KS had kayaked once while on holidays in Pulau Redang, was hooked and eager to get wet again. Since we were going to explore a new river, KS would be paddling with me in my double and as a safety precaution I decided to use my new sit-on-top kayak, which though slower, would be easier to re-enter in the event of a capsize.

We reached Kg Sijingkat and unloaded our kayaks under dark sky and the curious watchful stares of the local kampung kids.

Our plan was to explore Loba Batu Blat, a major tributary of the Sarawak River which connects with Batang Samarahan. Trouble is that it lies across on the other side of the river and we had to cross a busy shipping lane to get there. So we had to sit it out waiting for two ships to pass. Joe suggested we play ‘chicken’ with them. Waking up too early must have messed up his thinking and judgement!

Finally the ships cleared and as we raced across to Loba Batu Blat in the wakes of the passing ships, Dayang and Joe were all smiles eager to explore this never before kayaked river!

Loba Batu Blat, though its a tributary, is wide and straight before it starts meandering much further downstream. It is a good thing that it is wide as, errr, how do I put it delicately; we were not exactly tracking a straight line! I was taking the stern (back) position with KS at the bow. First we were going left and then right and I had to take corrective strokes to keep us on track. I was hoping that KS would tire soon (like Kenny on our last trip) but no such luck as the more we veered, the more determined he became! In the end I gave up and resort to taking photos while I left KS to his own devices to meander down the river!

Dayang got so bored waiting for us to catch up that she had to resort to all sorts of antics to amuse herself!

While Joe found a rather unorthodox way to ease himself with a paddle as support! Although later he admitted that he was more worried about ‘ngap ngap’ (mr. croc!) rather than me blogging him. Since you asked for it, I’ll have to oblige! To add insult to injury, Joe even had time to make a couple of calls while we play catch up!

The overcast sky turned dark suddenly and we took the chance (excuse!) to head back.

We had been out for nearly an hour and half by then.

Halfway back, it started to rain and we were well, paddling and just paddling in the rain!

Then we reached the part where we have to cross the shipping lanes but fortunately the course was clear but the currents and wind were not! There were small whitecaps and crosscurrents and I had to put away my camera to concentrate on the paddling. I tried to avoid an area where the water was particularly turbulent and guess what - we were carried by the strong currents straight into it! We nearly capsized as KS did a ‘dance’ up at the bow and I leaned furiously for us to stay upright! From then on I paddled non-stop until the houses on stilts at Kp Sijingkat was in sight! PHEW!

I don’t think Joe, Dayang and myself would be paddling Loba Batu Blat again anytime soon! So who was it that was saying that I painted an overly unrealistic rosy picture about kayaking in Kuching? Certainly not KS the trouper as he was all smiles and in high spirits over our saturday morning kayaking adventure despite the meandearing and the mean currents!