SOLO STAND UP PADDLE for THE ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE

Paddler Profile
Name: Theresa McKirdy
Home: Perth, Western Australia


THE ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE
The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia is a not-for-profit charitable Service providing aero-medical emergency and primary health care services together with communication and education assistance to people who live, work and travel in regional and remote Australia.

The RFDS provide medical services free of charge and therefore, they must rely on the generosity of the community to continue their life-saving work.

Please support the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia by sponsoring my solo paddle!!!


You can donate direct to the RFDS with your credit card by phoning:
(08) 9417 6400.

PLEASE REFERENCE MY NAME WHEN DONATING SO THE RFDS CAN KEEP TALLY:
Theresa McKirdy

For more information about the RFDS you can visit their Western Operations Website. www.rfdswa.com.au/


THE PADDLE

I will be undertaking my solo paddle within a section of the incredibly beautiful Ningaloo Reef found approximately 1200 km north of Perth, Western Australia. Ningaloo Reef is Australia's largest fringing coral reef at 280 km long. It is home to an amazing array of marine life such as coral, whale sharks, manta rays and turtles.




The starting point for my paddle will be Yardie Creek. From there I will be paddling to the Mildura Ship Wreck on the northern tip of the cape. The section of coastline I have selected to paddle is over 70 kilometers long so I am going to break it into more managable sections. It is my goal to paddle around 20 kilometers each day. However, factors such as tidal changes and the weather my impact the distances I am physically able to travel in one day.





My support crew will be carrying camping equipment, food and water by car. They are ultimately there to check on my progress throughout the day and to set up camp at the end of each section paddled. For most of my journey I will have no on water support and will have to carry sufficient food and water to get me through each day.

I will be using a Starboard SUP for this paddle. I am due to demo a couple of boards to see which will be the most comfortable and suitable for the journey.


More updates soon but in the meantime please sponsor me!!!!!!!!!! There are only seven weeks till I paddle! My paddle will run at the same time as the Exmouth kite expo.

Regards,

Theresa

Hey thanks for your support Hilly! It is a good cause and very relevant to adventurers like us who like to surf and kite remote locations. It's always good to know the flying doctor have got your back!

We should surf some of those sweet waves up there!!! Are you heading up for both weeks? Ill be up for most of the time. Can't wait!

You keen to do a downwinder next Tuesday or Wednesday avo? First bit of sunshine in a while. At least it has been raining while I have had this shocking flu!

Thanks to Hilly I am now able to paddle from Winderbandi Point as originally planned. That will now make my paddle 100km's.

If interested check out my blog for updates.

www.theresamckirdy-standuppaddle.blogspot.com

Four weeks till I set off! So if you want to support a good cause sponsor my paddle and donate to the RFDS! Donations over $2.00 are tax deductible. Refer to my first post above for info on how.

Theresa

ps-beers are owed eh hilly

I haven't decided at this point but I am leaning towards the YES side. It would be a nightmare if I got blisters half way through the week so i think it would be smart to just prevent them as much as I can.

hilly said...

DavidJohn said...

Are you going to wear gloves to prevent blisters?

DJ

Without a doubt have blisters from my last downwinder and that was only 5k's.

What board are you taking?

I soak/rub my hands with surgical spirits / methalated spirits / rubbing alcohol which hardens them up nicely. Old rowing trick.

Dont know if it is that good a look for a chick though to have bricky type hands but stops the blisters

Coming up soon still looking for support anyone interested let Rez know.

Will be there and paddling with you, will take photos; Casso maybe interested for mag???

Good cause

How is the planning going Rez?

rez said...
PLEASE DONATE! Phone (08)9417 6400 and reference Theresa McKirdy

Thanks for reminding us, just donated, Good luck Rez

paul.j said...

I might have missed it but what board are you using for this?

rez said...

I will be using a Starboard SUP for this paddle.

A bit long winded, but check it out and donate.



Go for it Rez.

LouD said...

A bit long winded, but check it out and donate.

Go for it Rez.

Nice one Lou

good luck rez, you'll love it. i think that wind will blow you most of the way, at least make it an easier paddle than heading south!!

Well it is 5.30 am and we are just about to hit the road! Car and camper trailer have been kindly stickered up for free by straight up studios and look sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you are up that way look out for us! Check out our logo-



Looks like our crew of six is heading into finer places and we are really excited. Thanks to all who have donated! If you haven't got round to it there is still time or even check out the auction with all proceeds going to the RFDS!!!!!!!!

Took Rez to Winderabandi Point - Ningaloo Station for the start of her paddle. This is a seriously hardcore paddle. We had to cross rivers and go through some rough country to get there. Here are a few pics
Theresa surveying the scene:

Passing through the gate

Waterman pose

Drum waving goodbye


She made the first 27k's 73 to go.

Fantastic to see the photos and know she is part way there, looking forward to the next update, thanks Hilly.

I guess the important thing now is to show Theresa that we are behind her and we donate to RFDS. As Theresa said in an earlier post the RFDS don't tend to get the attention they deserve.

For the majority of us that tend to travel into unpopulated areas looking for great water conditions (or just trying to get away) the RFDS is our safety net. Having a bad car accident or snake bite etc is not something we tend to think about, but maybe now is the time to reflect on the great times we have all had and will have in the future in our amazing outback. It is a small investment to have piece of mind that RFDS will be ready to help us if needed where ever we may be.

Great effort Theresa and a great and very worthy charity to donate to.

So guys now it is up to us to show our support for both Theresa and RFDS.

PLEASE DONATE! Phone (08)9417 6400 and reference Theresa McKirdy.

Cheers,

Ian Grose

mikeman said...

If you have a pair of gloves I would highly recommend that you use them for the rest of the trip. I always use gloves and swear by them. There is nothing worse than having blisters when you are doing consecutive days of paddling.

A simple pair of light gloves (sailing ones are good) will do the trick. Make sure they are not too tight as your hands will swell up a bit. I hope this helps...

I gave her my sailing gloves but she wont wear them.

Did 15k with her today think she is feeling the effort from yesterday. I am feeling my much shorter paddle as the wind died cant complain though as Rez did the start and finish with little or no wind.

She went Yardie to Turquoise Bay, I did Sandy Bay to turquoise. Sharks, Mantas, Fish, Coral even caught a few waves on the way. Found a good spot.

Please donate the locals up here have been great $600 from one Exmouth pub in one night!!

Leaving Sandy, wind was in by then Rez did the first 8k with no wind; hard work against a current.


Rez happy to be at turquoise Bay