Kayaking Pulau Ubin Mangrove via Sungei Puaka

There are a few new versions of the map of Pulau Ubin since my last trip there donkey years ago. The extra detail along in the newer maps along with my usual route along the Ketam bike trail being blocked by overgrowth and fallen trees led to the discovery of a new route to cut through the Ubin mangroves!

Looking at our tracks, you can see we did quite a bit of backtracking along the Ketam bike trail and quite a bit at the beginning of the really long straight route.

Seems that quite a number of coaches are now not only aware of my Ketam bike trail route, they have also gone through it. 

Not bad... barely anyone believed that the route existed years ago, treating me like some blasphemer with ridiculous claims of an Ubin mangrove route that didn't require a single portage, or requiring less than 10min to paddle to cut through Ubin.

After several dead ends and paddling through a really narrow path, everyone was ecstatic when we managed to see the horizon! Still remember the doubtful looks when we hit a dead end long the narrow straight path. Thankfully, it was just a small bund and a very simple portage over.

Photo Credits: Meetup.com Ubin Mangrove via Sungei Puaka event 

Kayaking Ubin Mangroves with new friends

A friend of mine just completed his 2 star course a few weeks back and so we decided to go on a short journey.

Why did the paddler cross the road?

The river mouth

He invited 2 friends along so we made the trip with a total of 4 paddlers including myself. Starting from Water-Venture Pasir Ris, we headed over to the southern end of Ubin and entered the mangroves from the MCC Ubin Resort side. Took us 4hrs to complete the journey which is a decent amount of time for newbies to complete 14km in Perception Dancers.

Kayaking Ubin Mangrove (K.U.M)

Not as narrow as the usual mangrove routes

Finally headed up to Ubin's mangrove for the first time in a year yesterday. With me were mostly new kakis who I've never really paddled with.
I also paddled in a Perception Dancer for what I think may be my first time in 4 years! I really dont like that boat, its so cramp!
I got the group going in circles for about 15 minutes because I forgot the route. The last time I paddled here was in June 2010! That's a year ago!
We eventually got on track and completed the entire journey in 4hours and 10min. Not bad for a group of out of practice paddlers.

Very wide entrance

Highest tide was 2.6m, more than enough clearance in the mangrove

Local resident

Remnants of an old sluice gate

Rest of the pictures here

Muddy mud mud

Joined Mary's Ubin mangrove trip today, apparently a highly experienced coach told her that this week was ideal for going through the mangrove.
Well, either she got the direction wrong or its plain BOLLOCKS! We got stuck when we were so damned near the exit point because there was no water!!!

Here's a preview.





Rest of the pictures here

Crummy Weather

Was supposed to paddle round Ubin today but there were delays due to the foul weather. This led us to change the plan and we paddled through the mangrove swamp instead.





Found this toy floating in the water...
Rest of the pics are here

Quite pissed with the staff at the club though.
For a simple 3hr paddle round Ubin, the expedition leader must show a expedition plan and brief the club manager and the club manager must give a briefing to the participants.
I was planning to paddle at Pasir Ris more often and so wanted to leave my PFD in their trainer's room. But the CM say cannot! Huh? I not trainer meh? Only can put overnight?
Also, got reprimanded by Bernard for allowing one of the paddlers to do a solo emptying of the kayak by placing the bow on the beach while lifting the stern. I told him it was perfectly fine but he insists that it isnt. In the end, I just told him I would not accept anything w/o any justification so I'll check first. If I'm wrong I'll apologise and begin advocating his recommendation of not allow paddlers to empty the kayak with one end on the beach.