It's been a big week up here in the Territory with the weather starting to turn from just plain hot to hot and muggy.
And with the change in weather the marine life start to come alive almost like clockwork.
October 1 is the start of 'stinger season'. A time of year where, like a caterpillar metamorphosing in to a butterfly, all the local SUPsters start arriving at the beach no longer wearing just boardies but colourful full length Lycra and long-sleeved rashies, their eyeballs lookin' like a couple of squashed grapes peering through a couple of centimetres of white zinc all over their faces and hats the size of parasols.
I got good waves last Saturday. It was small, but clean and fun and the 10'6 Style just gets better. Scored heaps of waves and couple of standout, good, long runners.
I also saw my first boxy for the season. Was only about the size of my fist but I could see it had already started growing its little tentacles that they reckon burn like hot wires. Was actually quite pretty watching it pulse past the Style.
They're back.
I took Mandy and Marlow and Clover the Whippet down to the beach Tuesday night for a leg stretch after work and bugger me - the biggest blue-ring oc I've ever seen in the waterline. Third one I've seen - ever. One in Port Philip Bay at Mornington , and two up here. This one was fat and just oozing bad vibes.
Had a face only a mother could love this one. Nothing redeeming at all. 10 centimetres of death.
Then yesterday, news came through from Groote Eylandt- a young fella had been bitten by a sea snake and sadly passed away. Apparently he was a young bloke from the UK out doing some work in Oz.
Anyway - it all makes for an interesting vibe in the water. Crocs'll probably start gettin more active too now I s'pose - haven't seen any of them kickin' round the lineup - I reckon I'll be paddling faster than Usain Bolt if I do.
They reckon there's a slight chance of some swell tomorrow so I'll be down there for the dawny - with my zinc cream on and sweating it out in my lycra.

Holy crap.... you're making our Great White swarm look like easy street

Seen most of those critters around the Great Barrier Reef.... but never a Croc, and that's fine by me.

Good luck Dundee... enjoy every ride!

Good read MangoDingo and a scary place to sup.

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supthecreek said..
Holy crap.... you're making our Great White swarm look like easy street

Seen most of those critters around the Great Barrier Reef.... but never a Croc, and that's fine by me.

Good luck Dundee... enjoy every ride!

Ha! Cheers Creeky - I don't know mate - that video of about three trillion seals on the beach at Cape Cod looked enough to make me wanna sell up and move some place quiet - somewhere closer to Nashville than Massachusetts!

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JEG said..
Good read MangoDingo and a scary place to sup.

Hey JEG
There was a fella up here recently, made a video with his drone on the Daly River. It's a long way from Darwin (about 220 km's), but still made me wonder if It might be time to sign up down at the local bowlo club - take up something less - well, carnivorous. Check it out...

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MangoDingo said..

JEG said..
Good read MangoDingo and a scary place to sup.

Hey JEG
There was a fella up here recently, made a video with his drone on the Daly River. It's a long way from Darwin (about 220 km's), but still made me wonder if It might be time to sign up down at the local bowlo club - take up something less - well, carnivorous. Check it out...

That video is banana. They should do a flat water race comp there and see who's the fastest of the two = foil board or 21.5" wide board.

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JEG said..

MangoDingo said..

JEG said..
Good read MangoDingo and a scary place to sup.

Hey JEG
There was a fella up here recently, made a video with his drone on the Daly River. It's a long way from Darwin (about 220 km's), but still made me wonder if It might be time to sign up down at the local bowlo club - take up something less - well, carnivorous. Check it out...

That video is banana. They should do a flat water race comp there and see who's the fastest of the two = foil board or 21.5" wide board.

Ha Classic! Yeah - man, I reckon I'd get from one side of the Daly to the other and still have dry feet!

be careful MAD DINGO .

TIME to head south

Up there 2 weeks ago - "Litchfield tours" were great - boat trip included - Crocs jumping out of the water - great one day trip - catch up next time Iam up - march /april - when do the nasties thin out?
Steve

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Tardy said..
be careful MAD DINGO .

TIME to head south

Cheers Tards'!
i got out this morning - terrible conditions. Outgoing tide, onshore and the water was hotter than jalape?o enchilada.
I looked like a 6 foot licorice all-sort bobbin' about with my Lycra on - scratching for anything that came through.
Was a good workout - but yep - the ocean's comin to life at the mo'!!!
ive spoken to Santa about gettin a GoPro for Chrissy - so I can start sharing some of the fun!!

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stehar said..
Up there 2 weeks ago - "Litchfield tours" were great - boat trip included - Crocs jumping out of the water - great one day trip - catch up next time Iam up - march /april - when do the nasties thin out?
Steve

G'day Steve - yeah definitely mate. Give us a call next time you're up this way and we can go and grab a few waves down the local for sure !!!
The stingers usually start clearing out around the end of May - lovely time up here then too in the middle of the Dry Season.
Stoked ya had a good time out at Litchfield mate and we'll see ya next time you're up north eh!
cheers!!!

Big coconuts Dingo.
Lived at Humpty Doo and Girraween for about 6 years, and even out there the snappin' handbags were thick on the ground. I thought I was game just taking the dog for a walk on the beach. Felt almost like trolling a lure
Stay safe bro, especially as mango madness season kicks in.......

Have you got a mount for a shot gun on your sup?

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Brenno said..
Big coconuts Dingo.
Lived at Humpty Doo and Girraween for about 6 years, and even out there the snappin' handbags were thick on the ground. I thought I was game just taking the dog for a walk on the beach. Felt almost like trolling a lure
Stay safe bro, especially as mango madness season kicks in.......

Brenno! Classic mate - you've lived out at the 'Doo and Girraween! You're an ex-pat Territorian brus!
Yeah - Out that way you start headin' to Kakadu and the rivers do tend to get pretty congested with lizards eh.
Heaps of 'em up here now.
oh well - keeps me nimble on the Style that's for sure!

I think I've resigned meself to a diagnosis of permanent early onset mango madness mate - I think you've gotta be slightly unhinged just to live here half the time!
How's that new Smik goin'?

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DaveSandan said..
Have you got a mount for a shot gun on your sup?

How's it goin Dave.
Mate - no shorty mount but I have been practising my karate moves with me paddle. I'll just whack the bugger on the noggin' until he clears off I reckon.
Yep - assume the Flying Tiger stance and just "wham" - feed a metre of carbon up his nostrils.

Worked for Mick Fanning at J Bay and he didn't even have a paddle!

what could go wrong!

By the way - Nice shots of Flinders and Pt Leo mate - would've been a lovely run.

MD you are keen as beans mate , classic read . The drone footage was insane , those lizards much do some damage to the fish stock , do the pros still use nets up there. I've just upgraded my gopros send me you address and I'll send you a GP4 , I've got to see some more of where you are riding. rp@vonpiros.com

MD that vid is great. I want to get back up there - haven't been in 10 years since we paddled the Katherine River. Camped on the beach every night. It was great. Can't wait to take the family up there once the little fella is old enough.

I'd love to get a houseboat on the Mary River... i've hear that place is packed with crocs...

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MangoDingo said..

Brenno said..
Big coconuts Dingo.
Lived at Humpty Doo and Girraween for about 6 years, and even out there the snappin' handbags were thick on the ground. I thought I was game just taking the dog for a walk on the beach. Felt almost like trolling a lure
Stay safe bro, especially as mango madness season kicks in.......

Brenno! Classic mate - you've lived out at the 'Doo and Girraween! You're an ex-pat Territorian brus!
Yeah - Out that way you start headin' to Kakadu and the rivers do tend to get pretty congested with lizards eh.
Heaps of 'em up here now.
oh well - keeps me nimble on the Style that's for sure!

I think I've resigned meself to a diagnosis of permanent early onset mango madness mate - I think you've gotta be slightly unhinged just to live here half the time!
How's that new Smik goin'?

New Smik is goin' awesome MD. I got wiped out pretty badly on mad monday after the footy finals, being a smart ar5e in lippy shore breaks. Made one wave, and got smashed on the second, getting sucked up and over and dashed in to the sand. Rolled over the fins a couple of times. Could feel them digging in to my shoulder, elbow and hip. Thought I was gonna get cut for sure. Leapt up coughing and spluttering, checking myself all over for claret, but I got away with it. Snapped one of my side fins and rooted one of the screw threads, so just waiting for a tap to turn up in the mail to put her right.
In the meantime I'm surfing her as a big single, and going just fine.
Superb for the half marathon to the nose.....

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Piros said..
MD you are keen as beans mate , classic read . The drone footage was insane , those lizards much do some damage to the fish stock , do the pros still use nets up there. I've just upgraded my gopros send me you address and I'll send you a GP4 , I've got to see some more of where you are riding. rp@vonpiros.com

Hey Piros - no worries at all - filth mate!
I was thinking, might have to start an annual 'Mango Run' up north for the 'Breeze crew. Sometime late in the Dry Season - get you mob out of Winter and thaw out for a week. Come and get some Top End SUP action in. Be bloody good for ya's.

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Brenno said..

MangoDingo said..

Brenno said..
Big coconuts Dingo.
Lived at Humpty Doo and Girraween for about 6 years, and even out there the snappin' handbags were thick on the ground. I thought I was game just taking the dog for a walk on the beach. Felt almost like trolling a lure
Stay safe bro, especially as mango madness season kicks in.......

Brenno! Classic mate - you've lived out at the 'Doo and Girraween! You're an ex-pat Territorian brus!
Yeah - Out that way you start headin' to Kakadu and the rivers do tend to get pretty congested with lizards eh.
Heaps of 'em up here now.
oh well - keeps me nimble on the Style that's for sure!

I think I've resigned meself to a diagnosis of permanent early onset mango madness mate - I think you've gotta be slightly unhinged just to live here half the time!
How's that new Smik goin'?

New Smik is goin' awesome MD. I got wiped out pretty badly on mad monday after the footy finals, being a smart ar5e in lippy shore breaks. Made one wave, and got smashed on the second, getting sucked up and over and dashed in to the sand. Rolled over the fins a couple of times. Could feel them digging in to my shoulder, elbow and hip. Thought I was gonna get cut for sure. Leapt up coughing and spluttering, checking myself all over for claret, but I got away with it. Snapped one of my side fins and rooted one of the screw threads, so just waiting for a tap to turn up in the mail to put her right.
In the meantime I'm surfing her as a big single, and going just fine.
Superb for the half marathon to the nose.....

Brennohhh!!! Classic mate - sounds like you've done well to walk away unscathed from that one.
Spewin' about the fin mate - but hey - all's not lost cob' - you get to practice your best Midget Farrelly drop knee cuttys!
Half marathon to the nose - HA! I'm laughing out loud - I was jokin' to the missus last week that she can get me a Melways for Chrissy so I can navigate me way round the Style. That or a GPS - "...turn left at the next closeout".

That fin is sick! Mate, I think I've got fin envy. I was thinking about going smaller in the Style's centre fin but now I'm not so sure...

And how good is that swallow tail man - bloody good boards the Smiks - cripes - I might have to have another word to the big, red Jolly fellow with the white beard - see if I can't negotiate a new stick with him!

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chucktheskiffie said..
MD that vid is great. I want to get back up there - haven't been in 10 years since we paddled the Katherine River. Camped on the beach every night. It was great. Can't wait to take the family up there once the little fella is old enough.

I'd love to get a houseboat on the Mary River... i've hear that place is packed with crocs...

ChucktheSkiffie! Mate, they reckon the Mary has the highest concentration of crocs anywhere up here - but yeah, those houseboats would be filth! Imagine just kickin' back with a couple of refreshing beverages, watching the sun go down, biggest feed of barra, a thousand magpie geese overhead - mate, you'd be the happiest bloke around.
Yeah - I took the wife and little bloke down to the Katherine a few years back eh - mindblowing stuff. Nitmiluk Gorge - massive rocks, rock art - sensational stuff.
See you next time you're up this way - we'll go and get a paddle in down at the local!
Here's a shot of Nitmiluk Gorge for your nostalgia...