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CoffeeWaffle
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Sunday, 28 March 2004
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I didn't go to Pohara today like I was planning. The winds were SW and it's a North facing beach, and it was high tide in the early afternoon, so there wouldn't have been enough beach to buggy any way. I decided to save that for another weekend and spend this afternoon kite buggying on the Wakapuaka Sandflats, just 10 minutes from home. I spent the first hour or two with the blade II until the wind picked up enough to start lifting me out of the buggy seat in the gusts! Fun, but a little scary too! Then just for a laugh I taped my small digital camera to my helmet, to see what the video would be like while buggying with the Super10. I'm going to start editing the results next. Stay tuned...
9:48:57 PM 
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Thursday, 25 March 2004
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9:15:06 PM
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Monday, 22 March 2004
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Yesterdays kayak paddle down the Waihopai River is still fresh in my mind. My body remembers it too. I'm a little sore and have many aching muscles to remind me of the fun. And it was fun, after a bit of a false start...
When we arrived at the spectacular put-in, just below the dam, we parked across the road then looked for what the guide book said was a "faint track" through the bush down to the river. We found a track right away and began dragging, pushing, and carrying the kayaks down a diminshing track through manuka, black-berries, and gorse (ouch!). We got about halfway down the bank only to be meet by an impenetrable wall of thorny scrub and rocks! We had to drag the boats all the way back up the goat-track we had just stumbled down, then back down the right track a little way further up the road. This one was just as narrow and steep but it got us eventually to the waters edge at the base of the dam. So after a few skin knuckles and alot of grunting and groaning we were ready to start the run! The Waihopai had drawn first blood, but all was to be forgiven soon.
The noise and spray from the dam at the put-in set the scene nicely.
Looking back up-river towards the power-house, which is set into the rock a few hundred meters down-river from the dam.
A tricky little drop at the top of the run.
Most of the run was in a canyon that seemed to get narrower all the time.
Kaycee came along as offical mascot and car alarm. If only she could drive too...
The late afternoon sun reflecting off part the river as seen from the road.
(Click for larger version)
The Waihopai Valley is in the heart of winemaking country and a large part of it is planted in vineyards like these. Oh and there's also a secret government spy station type thingy up there too, with ominous looking signage like "Defense Area", "No Admittance: Goverment Propety". Big brother is watching...
We are already talking about when we'll be going back to the Waihopai river. Hopefully in a couple of weeks. It is, without doubt, the most enjoyable river run I've done yet.
6:59:54 PM
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Sunday, 21 March 2004
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I am exhausted.
Kayaking partner in crime, Devon, and I kayaked the Waihopai River today. New water that I found in the guide book yesterday afternoon. We uncovered an absolute gem of a river. A barrel-of-monkeys to paddle, tight, and just challenging enough, with some good class III+ paddling. I filled the 64mb memory card on my camera with great shots of this beautiful valley. Right now I need to eat and sleep, but I'll post more about the wonderful Waihopai (pronounced why-ho-pie) River tommorrow evening.
For now heres a teaser shot of what is probably the most picturesque hydro-electric dam I've ever seen. What a place to start the run...
8:25:18 PM
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Monday, 15 March 2004
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I had a strange start to the week today. I forgot to shave before leaving for work. Three days of stuble is not a good look in the office. I've been keeping so busy I'm getting absent minded. So I decided to take the afternoon off and let my brain catch up.
I flew my kite on the beach in very light wind for a while. Kaycee had a ball chasing the new Flexifoil for over an hour. She's all tuckered out now and curled up in the cave she's made from the bedding, fast asleep.
Then it was home for a coffee and a snack before going for a peaceful paddle on the high tide around the Cable Bay esturay. A stromy sky on the way home made for perfect conditions for a black and white shoot...
 
 
This has been good Monday....
9:15:02 PM
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Sunday, 14 March 2004
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Beautiful weather in Nelson today. Why paint houses when you could kayak around Pepin Island instead...
We spotted this Fur Seal basking in the afternoon sun. Although he looks fearsome in this shot it was just a big yawn.
We decided to give fishing a go. We caught four. Unfortunatley this was the largest of them. We let them all go again but will try again another day in the hope of catching something bigger.
8:25:03 PM
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Friday, 12 March 2004
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Finally it's here! I picked up a black Flexifoil Super 10 from the kite shop this afternoon. This is the most excellent prize from Flexifoil.com that I've been waiting for, after writing a story for their competition. We took the time to pose for this photo to send back to Felxifoil. Note the new 1.5m bullet in the shop window, looking very striking in green and black. I haven't quite worked out how I'm going to get my hands on that kite.... yet. Maybe I'll win one when I register my new Super10... now that would be lucky!
Cheesy publicity shot ;D . Thats me on the right, and Ted from the Kite shop on the left. Photo credit to Gretchen (the other half of the kite shop team).
I've assembled it, admired it, waved it around the lounge a bit. I've pre-streched and matched the flying lines and removed the great big "please don't sue us" warning label (trust me... I know what I'm doing ;) ). You know the one tells you not to wrap your lines around powerlines, crash your kite into your friends, or go for a fly at the airport.
I can't wait to try this beast out. I hope theres a strong breeze tommorrow!
7:28:30 PM
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Sunday, 7 March 2004
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The painting was put on hold again today, while Devon and I kayaked the Motueka River. Its been a while since I've paddled on the Mot, and although it's tame compared to our more recent conquest, the Maruia River, its still never fails to please. Its a nice mix of scenic drifting and relaxed rapids, along with a handful of not-so-relaxed ones...
This afternoon we did the run from Mcleans Picnic area, down to the Penisula Bridge at Ngatimoti.
My kayak, ready to go at the put in.
Devon admires some of the rock formations typical of the Motueka River. In flood these kind of rocks kick up some great 'play-waves' up and down this river.
Parked mid-river, behind a rock. (click to enlarge)
The Penisula Bridge connects Ngatimoti with the main highway. Its old, shakey, single-laned, and has a speed limit of 20kph. In its favour though, it is rather photogenic :)
Just beside the bridge is the charming Ngatimoti Bowling Club. "Cup of tea and a roll any one?"
10:08:15 PM
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© Copyright
2006
Murray Neill
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Last update:
13/11/2006; 8:02:26 p.m.
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