Deciding Circuit K4 December 2016 - Sponsor, Water hayacinth & Sea.

The past three expeditions covering NW3(National Waterway) and Canolli Canal were mired with stretches filled with water hyacinth. Forcing us to transport the kayaks overland  and loosing a day. Since 2014, when the long distance kayaking expeditions started the water hyacinth problem has only grown and is now unpredictable.

Stuck in water hyacinth at the Thaneermukkom Bund.

In 2014, we encountered the Green weed on either side of the locks at Thaneermukkom, Chertala, Kerala. The following year, we had it just north of Kottapuram,Trichur District, Kerala and had to use a truck to reach Idaithirutthy. In 2016 Jan, we had them at so many stretches that our sponsor was finding it difficult to arrange trucks on most days. It was surprising to see past stretches, which were pristine, chocked by the green weed.  

Thaneermukkom Bund

The weed has taken over the waterways, as human intervention shifted the natural water flow patterns. South of Cochin; before the Thaneerkummom bund was built, summer months would see the influx of saline water and decay of the water hyacinth. Today, the natural flow has been affected as the shutters get closed each summer. With global warming and disruption of rain fall patterns in Kerala, the shutters are getting closed much earlier; In December for 2016!

Chocked Canolli Canal, North of Kottapuram.

North of Cochin, the waterways are free of the weed until Kottapuram. Past Kottapuram, the Canolli Canal is in disuse and unfit for navigation. Falling trees and other debris has blocked the natural flow giving the weed, plenty of time to take hold, to an extent, its chocked.

Boats loaded on truck.

The needs of a sponsor and the pressure to meet the common objective are part of any funded expedition. We had routines, when we woke up at 2AM to start paddling at 3! With unfavorable tides and dikes to cross, we have pushed our limit to reach the designated schools at 2-3PM, skipping lunch and honoring our commitment before the School day ends at 4PM. Post School session, we would have a late lunch, clean clothes, take a bath and sleep early after dinner; to repeat the routine the next day.

School function.

Sea legs, come with their own challenges - Launch only after day break, Sea sickness, unrelenting scorching  sun, dealing with the surf zone and the need to carry breakfast, created unique challenges for the team. The team could do as much as the weakest member and was unable to paddle the daily sea legs, during the January 2016 expedition. While the sponsor was of much support from a funding and logistics point of view, it created unbelievable pressure on the team to push on and reach the agreed destination for the day, sometimes using the support boat - diluting the spirit of expedition!

Battling the surf zone.

For the December 2016 circuit, we decided that the route should be predictable and not affected by water hyacinth.  We also decided not to go with a sponsor, support boat & car; take the challenge as it comes. The sea legs were capped not to exceed 20KM, making the targets achievable for all. The decision to not support school function left us with ample time to paddle and recharge. Hence the first leg was planned from Kumarakkom to Kollam; second leg - Kollam to Kochi by sea; third leg - Kochi to Kumarakkom by inland waterways.