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CoffeeWaffle
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Monday, 29 September 2003
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Yesterday it rained all day so no kayaking or kiting. Instead we scouted some new water for a trip next weekend (weather permiting, finger crossed, etc). The Motueka river is the target this time. Devon and I, and the three dogs,drove along a 20 or 30 km strech of the river on Sunday afternoon. We found a place to put in near the Baton bridge. (I used to live in a bach on the river bank about 100m down stream from this bridge and had seen kayakers going by all the time.) We then drove the next 30km or so and found plenty of potential take-out spots and scouted a few 'fun' looking rapids. It all looks like pretty good beginners whitewater.
A plan has been hatched for a trip down the Clarence River at Christmas/New years. This will be a 3-5 day trip along one of New Zealands longest rivers camping along its shores. Still in the very early planning stages at the moment but should be a memorable trip.
With the Clarence trip in mind I went to the Plastic Welding place in town today to see about getting an extra storage hatch put in the back of the kayak to stow tent/sleeping bag etc. Will be done around Wednesday. I'm not sure what cutting holes in my kayak will do for its warrenty, but what the hell.
8:17:35 PM 
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Saturday, 27 September 2003
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Thursday, 25 September 2003
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I've been shopping. I shouldn't have been... I should be saving for the house. I really needed new shoes though, the old blue van's have been relegated to kite buggy shoes now. I have the new shoes on now to wear them in. I don't think I've ever owned khaki shoes before.
I bought a new phone extension cord because Sasha chewed my other one last night. I also ordered a new kite for my stack. I will soon have 3 excaliburs to fly together. I also booked in a test fly of a 6.3 meter, bent-spine, C-Quad which is second hand and currently being rebuilt at the kite shop. (Apparently the 'bent-spine' means the nose of the kite curls forward slighty which makes for softer power and less luffing.) I have 'first dibs' on buying it when its ready.
I bought some thigh straps for my kayak. Because it is a sit-on-top kayak (a perception-freedom), as opposed to a sit in one, the thigh straps allow you to lock yourself into the seat for better balance and control in whitewater and surf. I'll be able to learn how to roll now. I think a couple of pool practice sessions are needed.
I didn't buy a helmet though. I looked at them in 4 different shops but haven't found one that fits well and is suited to both kayaking and kite buggying. The closest I found was in a skateboarding shop of all places but they didn't have one big enough to accomodate my head! d: (
As I was wandering through 'The Warehouse' I spotted roller skates for sale. Not the inline/rollerblade type, but the old four wheeled 1960's style kind with a modern look. Made in China, the marketing on the box either lost something in the translation from Chinese to English or these skates do some remarkable things...
Create My Mind???? I almost bought some just to see what that would be like! lol
2:22:09 PM
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Wednesday, 24 September 2003
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Today has flown by. I started work early this morning in the hope of finishing early to go kayaking again. Went out to Cable Bay about 4pm where that nor-wester was back again. Devon met me there and we thought about not going, because of the wind. After a little thought we went for a quick jaunt to play in the 'training waves' out in the bay. A lot of fun and some good exercise to.
Then it was home for a change of clothes and a shower, then back to town to do the grocery shopping and attend another real estate auction. 15 houses being auctioned this time and again, there was nowhere near enough seating. There were at least 200 people there and half of them were standing! Luckily the two houses I was interested in were number 3 and 4 so I didn't have to stand for long.
8:33:17 PM
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Tuesday, 23 September 2003
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As I wrote yesterday, the flu and the weather have kept me from kayaking lately, so I making up for it this week. I went for another paddle after work today. I met Devon down the waterfront and we paddled out through the harbour entrance (or 'the cut' as it is known locally) into a 1 meter swell and the same stiff nor-wester from yesterday. We went around Haul-ashore Island and back to the yacht club where we had launched. Only a short trip, but the perfect end to another day in paradise.
As we packed up to leave we were treated to this moody but spectacular sunset...
The large (1024x299 pixels) version is now my desktop wallpaper (looks best on a black background).
8:48:05 PM
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Monday, 22 September 2003
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I finally managed to get the kayak wet today. Its either been the flu, to windy, or raining, or that annoying thing I call work gets in the way, since the Rotoiti trip. I finished work a 3pm today. There was a slight nor-wester bowing but not enough to put me off. The sun was out, that was enough for me. I was on the water at Cable Bay by 4.30. By then the wind had gone and it was a beautiful evening.
The view from my kayak at around 6.15 this evening.
8:55:49 PM
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Saturday, 13 September 2003
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Flu or no flu, today had some of the best kiting winds we've had for months. 40kph northerlies were predicted and thats what we got. Rabbit Island beach is probably the best beach in the Nelson region for kite buggying and it runs pretty much east/west so a northerly wind is perfect. When the tide is out like it was at about 4.45 this afternoon it is a huge beach of hard packed sand.
My flu was worse today but with a head full of paracetamol (thanks Lemsip!) I wrapped up warm and headed out to Rabbit Island at about 3.30.
Todays top speed : 44.2kph
Average speed: 24.5kph
Distance travelled: 22.2km
Smiles : Ear to ear :D
I now feel shattered but happy. Another early night coming up...
9:35:26 PM
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Sunday, 7 September 2003
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I managed to get a bit of kite buggying in yesterday. I was going to go kayking but too much wind meant flagging that and heading down to the Wakapuaka sand flats for another go with the kites. This time I found a dry patch of ground right out in the middle that provided enought traction despite the recent spring rains.
Devon bought his dogs down for a run. Jack love chasing kites and will literally run after them until he drops and can't chase them any more (we'll usually stop him before then - when we think he's had enough).
 
Thats me just bringing the kites in to land.
The two kites fly together in a 'stack', one behind the other like a biplane.
 
While Jack chases the kites Kaycee runs beside the buggy
Jack looking pretty exhausted after about half an hour of non-stop kite chasing.
I'm going up to lake Rotoiti today for a kayak... news and photos later.
7:40:39 AM
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Wednesday, 3 September 2003
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I was watching the skys all day at work today. Judging by the trees out my window there was a clean nor-wester blowing all afternoon. After work I stopped at the beach to see what the wind was like there. A lone kite surfer was out there and although it looked like he was still learning, the wind was good. Unfortunately the high tide meant there was not enough beach to buggy on. I went home and loaded up my two excaliburs (2.2 meter delta kites) and my kite buggy and drove to the Wakapuaka sand flat. This place is a really realiable place to buggy when the beaches are out. In summer the surface is hard sunbaked mud/sand. Unlike a beach theres very little fricton and speed is easy! I've given myself some really good scares there trying to beat my own top speed record. I've a bicycle speedo fitted to the buggy and calibrated to suit. My best 'score' so far is 52.5kph ;)
Today was different though. By the time I got there the wind was.. er...indecisive at best, and I hadn't counted on all the surface water. We've been getting spring rains, mostly at night for the last few days. When its been raining the surface there gets really slippery. I tried buggying and it was fun for a while but there was very little traction so I kept getting pulled sideways. Mud would flick up from the front wheel into my face (theres usually no need for a splash gaurd here) and then it started to rain...
Kaycee had a good time chasing the kites (as always), so all was not lost. Hurry up and get here summer!
9:31:43 PM
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© Copyright
2006
Murray Neill
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Last update:
13/11/2006; 7:51:58 p.m.
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One the way home we stopped and checked out the source of the Buller river. It starts from the west bay of the lake and the first 2 kilometers of it is one of my goals for summer kayaking. Its mostly fast class II and III and its really just one long rapid. Today we just walked the first 300 meters or so along the shore to check it out. Look's like fun... but too cold today!
