Day 51. TA km 1345 to Wanganui.

Today 18 km kayak,  5 km walk. 2 hours 15 kayak. Total 1369,  1 hour 20 minutes walk. (0830-1045, 1130-1250).

It rained a little last night but my tent was nearly dry by the time I packed up.  This was my last dry breakfast and I am looking forward to going back to my normal breakfast once I am back on dry land.

We left on time for the first time this morning.  The kayak was more farmland and scrub. With 5 km to go we encountered two people getting into kayaks at a giant swing. Geoff was keen to try it an had several goes through thankfully he decided to stay on the swing and not jump into the water as this was too low. While there a rowing 8 came up being constantly yelled at by the coach.  Judging by the timing this was a novice crew.  We then finished the kayak quickly and arrived at the Wanganui Top 10 Holiday Park where we our kayaks and canoes for Yeti Tours to pick up.

Farmland but still pretty

Geoff on the giant swing

Repacking from boats back into packs

After getting  changed back into my walking shorts I started walking by myself as I wanted to take it really easy after being in a kayak for the last 5 days and I was sure the guys would be walking much faster than I wanted.

My knees were slightly sore and my hamstrings tight to start with but after a couple of km every thing loosened up.

I stopped at a Dairy for some chips and an ice cream to eat as I was walking.

At 1250 I arrived at Bramar House YHA but reception did not open until 1300 so I checked my emails while I waited.  Just before 1 I heard horns tooting and looked up to see the guys walking past. They had their santa hats on and were getting a good reaction from the cars. I caught up to say thanks for the fun trip and to see if pizzas tonight would  work.

I went back to Bramar House but they were full so I went another 300 metres down the road to Tamara Backpackers who had room. I got a female share 3 person room.  Tamara Backpacker was great.  It was clean,  tidy,  good condition and the manager was really friendly and full of information.

Night 51

Feet savaged by Sandflys

War wounds from the kayak,  a single tiny blister

On his recommendation I went for kebabs which were great.  Back at the backpackers I had a shower and put my smelly things into the wash.  I then started sorting my photos and relaxed.  I ordered in pizza and ate the whole large pizza in one go with room for more.

In the evening I talked with Fabian who was staying at the same place. Unfortunately I missed catching up with the other guys as they only got out of the Hobit movie late.

I went to sleep at 2230.

Day 50. Koriniti Pa to TA km 1345.

Today 36 km. Total 1345 km. 7 hours (0900-1600).

This morning it started raining at 0630 but luckily it finished just before I needed to start packing up.  I had a dry breakfast again and was packed up quickly.

We were on the water at 0900. Today there were not as many rapids and the current was slower so we had to paddle more. The weather stayed overcast and there were occasional showers.  One was a little harder so we took shelter under a tree.

Morning launching

Different scenery now

Wierd rock

Goats showing off on the cliff

Hiker hunger

River stock boat

Deer that swum across the river in front of us

Rest time

Rain

Lunch was on a log on a stone beach but was not enjoyable as I was under concentrated attack by the Sandflys. They were there in numbers and focusing on my unprotected feet so I was glad to get back into the protection of my kayak.

Today was a nature show.  The were more goats and today there were also cows and sheep,  sometimes all right next to each other. We also had a small deer swim across the river in front of us and jump up a bank.  Also there was another couple of deer, rabbits,  geese and ducks.

As we went under a cable way we saw a horse in the basket so we waited and watched it cross.  They went just up to the river edge then stopped to calm the horse down and stop the basket swinging so much.  Then as they crossed over the river the horse was calm.

Transporting a horse across the river

I started feeling tired just after 1500 so I drafted behind Joey and Geoff who were paddling strongly in the afternoon.  Just as I was feeling better and went off to the side we stopped at our campsite which my favourite for the river. We were up a bank overlooking the river and under a really interesting old tree. We sat around in its branches drinking wine then eating dinner.  After dinner Joey played some music.

A farmer passed on his tractor on the track across the river and let us know our boats were upside down in the water.  Joey checked and we discovered that this part off the river is tidal and though we dragged the boats well out of the water they were now floating.  Luckily we had all tied them to branches so they hadn't floated away.  Both my hatches were full of water which meant my shoes and pack were now wet. We emptied the boats out and moved then higher though it was now high tide.

Night 50

Great campsite (credit for pressing camera button to Fabian, direction  credit to me)

Great tree, as to the people ruining my shot ....

Rescuing our kayaks from high tide

After that that we went to bed. 

Day 49. Ngaporo Campsite to near Koriniti Pa.

Today 39 km kayak. Total 1309.7 km. 8 hours (0900-1700).

Last night I had to get up for the toilet and looked up to see some very impressive stars. We had recently had a conversation where the americans said the stars in the north were better and I was tempted to wake then to show just how impressive the southern Hemisphere stars were.  As I walked back to my tent I saw there were heaps of glow worms on the bank behind my tent.

Today is another beautiful day with no clouds in the sky.  I had a dry breakfast again and we were on the river at 0900.

Getting ready to leave

Today was more of the same stunning scenery,  relaxed paddling and occasional conversation.

The Team France water pistol is broken so water fights are off.  Instead they played with an inflatable ball that is coloured like a watermelon with their paddles and Geoff tried fishing off his canoe with no luck.  We had lunch on a patch of stones and it was so hot 3 of us were perched under some Manuka for shade.

My Yellow Submarine (ironical name I hoped)

From the left Geoff,  Joey,  Roman and Julien

More great scenery

Bird drying it's wings

Rapids

More rapids

And bailing out the canoe after the rapids - The downside of an open boat

After Pipiriki we were off the Great Walk part of the river and had the water to ourselves with no more jet boats. The scenery slowly changed from primary bush to secondary (regrowth) bush to farmland and non native trees.  It was still pretty scenery and the rapids became more fun.  I actually had to think slightly about how to get through.

Fabian cruising through the rapids

And the canoes

Frenchies in the rough water

And calm again

Ducks

Hard at work

A little bit of play

Back to work

Lunch stop

Team USA flying the flag on USS Santa Sleigh

Indiana Jones bridge with missing sections

More interesting rapids

The boys hard at work

Goats were everywhere

Just before 1600 we started looking fur a campsite and after a couple of attempts we find a nice spot at 1700. After checking gps I realised it was opposite Koriniti Pa which is listed in the trail notes as a place to stay but there was no sign on the water to say this and we were already set up so we stayed.

Night 49

Except for the Sandflys who wanted to get up close - no understanding of personal space

The Sandflys were really bad here and we were driven to our tents early to take shelter from them.

Day 48. John Coult Hut to Ngaporo Campsite.

Today 42 km kayak + 5.4 km walk. Total 1271 km. 7 hours 30 minutes (0850-1130, 1245-1750).

I woke up today and it was a clear blue sky which was nice but there had been dew in the night so my tent was a little damp.  I had a dry breakfast to try and reduce the toilet need while in the kayak.

We were on the water by 0850 and today was much like yesterday with calm spots where the reflecting of the bush was mirror like on the water and there were some small rapids.

Mirror calm

Exploring side streams

We paddled gently for 18 km until arriving at Mangapurua landing.  It was not an easy landing to try and get our of our boats but eventually they were tied up out of the way of the incoming jet boats. We then walked the 2.7 km to the Bridge to Nowhere with the four guys in Crocs and their Santa hats. I was impressed at how easily they walked in their Crocs.  We didn't spend much time at the Bridge as it was really a plain Bridge only made famous because they never managed to link up the road leaving a proper vehicle Bridge accessible only by waking or biking.

Difficult landing

Santa hats and crocs - not your typical tramping attire

The Bridge to Nowhere (Julien and Romain waving)

Eels under the bridge

We did the balancing acts again to get back in the boats and only went 100 m before pulling in at the Mangapura shelter to have lunch.  Having hiked by myself for most of the TA it is interesting seeing what other people are eating.  They have an interesting combination of avocados,  cheese and peanut butter on tortillas.  They also eat a lot of tuna.

We then carried on with our relaxed pace.  It is nice just floating along staring at the clouds and the bush or watching the birds.  Physically it was easy as the kayaks are so much faster than the Canoes so I only had to paddle a few strokes and then rest a while before paddling again.

Lunch spot

There were some entertaining interludes with water fights between Team USA and Team France.  Fabian and I are happy watching from a safe distance.

Playing with the inflatable ball

Water fight

And peace

If I felt bored I would just talk to one of the guys and if I felt like some time alone  I either floated at the back or pushed in front a bit.

We decided to skip the campsite Fabian and I were at as the others did not have a booking and might have to pay the penalty price.  Also this was a popular stop so there woud be heaps of people. We pushed on another 1 hour 45 and came to Ngaporo Campsite which was lovely and, unlike the other one, we could see the river which was nice.  We set up our tents and ate dinner and talked.

One of the more disturbing moments of the river journey - Joey doing a Titanic reenactment

Night 48

Not a bad campsite

There was a press up competition and I did well but I will not mention the results for great of embarrassing 3 of the men. Fabian did not participate (yes you can now do the maths). In their defence they did work harder paddling their Canoes than I did in my kayak. Once again the guys were generous with their no weight restriction food and shared their chips,  red wine and tea.

We were observed by one cheeky rat who watched us for a while quite openly. We also were dinner for hundreds of Sandflys until covering up and using repellent.

As it stayed to get dark we headed to bed hoping our boats would be there in the morning as there was nothing to tie them to and it was hard to drag them high.

Tonight I go to sleep to the sound of the river and a nearby waterfall. As it is a warm night and does not look like raining I have left my tent doors tied up and can look up at the stars as I am laying here.