Home! It’s glorious. December went by quickly, with masses of family time and as it was the wettest December on record, regular runs on the local Hutt gorge. I struggled with the usual headspace issues created with landing in a new place, with added complications that actually this place isn’t new, I was born here…
Christmas hurtled by, and it was time to meet up with the lovely Kate on the ferry south. Sharing stories from the last three years over a few monteiths she proposed that instead of heading straight to the Coast, we join a four day sunshine trip down the Clarence on route. With more old friends, sun and a raft full of wine and cheese at the put in, the plan seemed a cracker. Ignoring the weather forecast of a looming southerly, we floated down through one of New Zealand’s largest high country sheep stations, feeling a long way from the rest of the country’s holiday plans. The southerly hit the next day, and as I rowed the raft through driving sleet I reflected I had not been as cold running the Etive in the snow.
Five days later we emerged in Murchison, where the weather had been hot and people had started to wonder where we were. Laps on the lower Matakitaki restored feelings of being on holiday and it was fabulous to catch up with the kayak school team. We cruised down a day later to Hokitika, for the wet west film festival – and some proper west coast boating.
Five days later we emerged in Murchison, where the weather had been hot and people had started to wonder where we were. Laps on the lower Matakitaki restored feelings of being on holiday and it was fabulous to catch up with the kayak school team. We cruised down a day later to Hokitika, for the wet west film festival – and some proper west coast boating.
A day out on the Whitcombe was a much needed break from the constant social whirl, and despite the fact that Ngaio and I didn’t run our most stylish lines, we did reflect that three years ago we had a very different experience – mine largely on the bank of Colliers Gorge. That night Mick was down from Murch and we set up a team for the Arahura. With a sunny day and a lovely high end of medium flow, I spent a moment at the put in quaking that everyone else on this team is famous, and what am I doing here? This thought disappeared as soon as we dropped into the first rapid, and we had one of those shiny days out where everyone flies over drops and the smiles at the takeout last all the way back to town. More old mates turned up and we ran the more of the classics and went back for repeats. Prayers for rain were answered and we walked into the Styx and romping down the lower runs. It cleared again and we kept Dando busy, amazed that we managed to get two good weeks in without having to stir from our base at the campground in Hoki.
Employed for the first time in eight months, it’s been good to have a routine which includes walking thru the town belt on the way to work, and regular swims in the harbour in the evenings. Wellington is a sparkly wee village, and I’ve actually bought a house in Kilbirnie, close to the only surf beach in town. Happily, I could rent it out tomorrow, so that feels about the right level of commitment for now. I’ll be back in the UK for a spot of baby admiration in June, before taking on the biggest adventure yet – a circumnavigation of Spitsbergen in Svalbard. Eighteen months ago two inspired (or mad?!) friends dreamed up the mission to sea kayak for eight weeks round an island a looong way north of Norway. While it’s difficult to train for artic conditions, 100kg boats and 50km days in Wellington harbour, I’m doing my best.
Employed for the first time in eight months, it’s been good to have a routine which includes walking thru the town belt on the way to work, and regular swims in the harbour in the evenings. Wellington is a sparkly wee village, and I’ve actually bought a house in Kilbirnie, close to the only surf beach in town. Happily, I could rent it out tomorrow, so that feels about the right level of commitment for now. I’ll be back in the UK for a spot of baby admiration in June, before taking on the biggest adventure yet – a circumnavigation of Spitsbergen in Svalbard. Eighteen months ago two inspired (or mad?!) friends dreamed up the mission to sea kayak for eight weeks round an island a looong way north of Norway. While it’s difficult to train for artic conditions, 100kg boats and 50km days in Wellington harbour, I’m doing my best.
