After a year out West Queensland, I got a job in Rockhampton, Queensland; only slightly inland from the coast.  The Fitzroy River flows through Rockhampton and you are able to paddle on it for days without finding the end, the Fitzroy basin is the second largest in Australia.  I have mostly paddled the Fitzroy from around the Barrage (the dam) to the ‘pumping station’ (5 Kilometres), where they pump the water for Rockhampton and surrounds; and once a bit further up, but not far. 

The Fitzroy where I launch; I also row

The Fitzroy has Crocodiles in it above and below the barrage.  On one of my first days paddling below the barrage, in the town reach of the river, some small shark like fins were bobbing up and down only metres from my kayak; they followed me (close) for some time.  At first I thought they were sharks, the water was not clear enough to identify them, but I can only think they were possibly dolphins.  They did not take a breath if they were.  Further down the river, at the Tey’s meatworks boat ramp, there is an old barge tied up against the wharf.  It has the old style rivets holding the hull together; I estimate that this barge would be over one hundred years old and is definitely a sight to be seen.  This far down the river is completely undeveloped with only other boats as a sign of life.  I was later told that this is a dangerous boat ramp because of the Crocodiles, however, I have never heard of anyone being taken.   

	*Don't Slam Your Paddle Down --- You Have To Get Home Somehow!*

On another day I was in a bad mood and needed to do something outdoors, so a paddle on the Fitzroy was in order.  I was above the barrage and near the turn-around point, at the pumping station.   I went for a sprint and finished by slamming my paddle down in front of me – I was so pumped after the sprint; unfortunately I put a small dint in the shaft of the paddle; pretty soon, when paddling home, the dint turned into a kink and I could not use the paddle anymore; somehow, I managed to tear the fibre-glass shaft in two at the kink and paddled home with one end of the paddle.  I ordered a new paddle and a joiner for the old paddle; eventually I put the joiner in the old paddle and it is now useful again.