We’re back safely from a great weekend up at Lake Mulwala with John, Bec, Damian and Kate.
Jayne and I drove up very early Friday morning to beat the Western Ring Road traffic and reached Benalla by 8.45. After dropping Max off at Benamurra Kennels (friendly and clean, but inconvenient drop-off/pick-up times) Jayne booked herself in for her boat licence at Vic Roads. The only available time was 12.30, which meant a 3 hour wait. We dragged out a lazy breakfast at Hides Bakery and strolled up the main street for half an hour but couldn’t wait any longer, so Jayne went back into Vic Roads and told them she had a child waiting in the hot car and please could she take the test right now (!).
Luckily they offered her the chance to take the test standing at the counter, and fifteen minutes later she had passed with flying colours, only getting two answers wrong. When she got back in the car she took great pleasure in reminding me that I got four wrong when I took mine last week and she’d kicked my arse. Yeah, whatever.
We finally arrived in Mulwala at about 1.00 and drove straight to the caravan park to set up the tent. We were busting to take Tasty out but knew that if we did we’d be out on her all day and would have to put the tent up in the dark when we finally came in. We stayed at Lakeside Caravan Park. It was OK, nice and quiet, but it was actually opposite the lake on the other side of the main road, so it isn’t really lakeside. I’d probably stay there again but only if none of the real lakeside ones were available.
With the tent up we were free to launch Tasty. So we did.
She goes beautifully.
Damian and Kate arrived at about 4.00 so we zoomed back to the boat ramp to pick Damian up and start wakeboarding. We struggled a bit - being wakeboarding AND boat driving novices we were totally guessing about what to do. Damian and I got up OK but Jayne didn’t, and when John and Bec arrived John came out too but he didn’t get up either. Still, it was great fun being out there and I got a couple of good runs in.
Saturday was a different story. John, Damian and I went out for a quick session in the morning (the lake was beautiful and calm) and although I was fine, John and Damian both struggled to get out. Enter Bec’s friend Ursh. Ursh knew what she was doing and gave us all a simple lesson on the shore before we headed out onto the lake again. Float in the water with your knees towards your chest, rest your arms on your knees, maintain that position when the boat starts to pull you, then stand when you feel the board start to plane up in the water.
She also told the drivers (me, Jayne, Damian) to start more slowly - that puts less pressure on the boarder’s arms.
Mission accomplished. After lunch John and Bec went out first and were up straight away - Bec got up on her second ever attempt. Then Damian and Jayne went out and it was the same story. Jayne was up first go and her grin was wider than the Westgate Bridge. Thanks Ursh.
We wrapped things up at about 7.00, completely knackered, but with big smiles on our faces. We quickly loaded Tasty back onto the trailer and headed back to the campsite for fish and chips and a couple of quiet beers.
Sadly it was raining when we woke up this morning so we decided to come home early. The next session isn’t far away for Jayne and I though, we’re going to Mulwala again this Friday with her family.
Things we learnt:
- The small step we bolted to the transom to make it easier to get back in the boat is much better than no step at all, but not as good as a ladder. I think we’ll put a ladder in at some point.
- We need a ski pole. The bridle system that we have is almost at the waterline, which means that the boarder/skier is being pulled down rather than up.
- A bimini for shade would be nice, but isn’t essential provided that the driver also has a board/ski every hour or so.
- The water is as hard as concrete when you hit it with your face after attempting to get some air off the wake. I still have a headache.
- John can’t concentrate on two things at once: watching his wife wakeboard whilst also shooting footage of her with the camcorder just does not work for him.
- Jetskis mess up the water for everyone but themselves.
- Tasty used about 50 litres of fuel on the Saturday. We were out in her from 9.00am to 7.00pm with a break for lunch.
- She was great to tow - she tracked along nicely behind the Suby - but I can officially report that the Benalla-Yarrawonga road is pretty scary if you’re towing something. Bumps, potholes, narrow sections and plenty of big B-doubles coming the other way. Might try the Wangaratta route next time even though it’s a bit longer.
A fantastic weekend that was everything we hoped for re the boat purchase. The first of many, we’re sure.
