SAVEwith a - Canoe & Kayak

RIVER KAYAKING
First-timer but no Part-timer
by Nadia Lehmann
“Grab life with both hands, hold on
tight and go for it.”
That was my motto as I prepared to leave Wales
and head to New Zealand. After frequent visits
over the past 10 years, and at least one paddle
outing each time, I had decided to pursue my love
for the more varied waters and go.
Arriving last December, and taking a while to settle
down, I decided that occasional day trips with
various organisations to more or less the same
places was not entirely satisfying so I went on a
Skills course with the North Shore Canoe & Kayak
shop and became a Yakity Yak Clubbie.
Beginners hick ups were encountered - the usual:
do not know anyone, have no boat, have no roof
rack or any gear for that matter, not sure of the
best paddle spots.
I went to my first club night and all the above
problems were resolved. As a newbie I was
welcomed and encouraged and given many
helpful tips.
My diary was filled with future trips. I made a list
of essential items needed, plus an additional list,
a wish list. Other members were very welcoming
and encouraging.
It took a few weeks to get my first essential item -
roof racks - then a week later I had booked my
first YY trip: Ruth and Ian’s Housewarming and
paddle trip at Kaukapakapa. Veronica, my skills
course buddy, and I collected all our hired gear
from the shop, and headed up to KKK.
We were first to arrive. As newbies we had been
hesitant about turning up to the party, but there
was nothing to worry about within this friendly
environment. Everyone was made to feel
welcome. We pitched our tents and the party
began with drinks and nibbles on the deck,
watching the last of the sun disappear over the
river, lazily running past the boundaries of the
Veronica trials out the carpet strip, under Brenda’s
watchful eye.
property - our watercourse for the next day. Duck
shooting had begun that weekend and our
tranquillity that night and the next day would be
marred (or was it spiced up?) by the sound
of gunshot.
More people arrived and so did the rain and cold,
but nothing dampened the spirits or froze the
enthusiasm. Several hours later, I dashed through
the rain into my tent, glanced up and in a gap in
the clouds saw the Southern Cross - a good sign.
There was an early wake up call, well, it is early
when you stay up late. Our group of 16 hardy
paddlers weren’t turned off by a little bit of rain -
or a little bit of torrential rain at times. We
launched at the Springs Road Wharf’s ramp, in
Parakai - on the incoming tide. It was tremendous
how everyone helped each other. We two ‘new
ones’ really felt part of the Yakkers group.
Off we went, a mixture of boats and paddles,
travelling downstream on the Kaipara River
through beautiful unspoilt scenery, bordered by
With only half the group making the return journey, there were plenty of boats to choose from.
thousands of mangrove bushes. Two fizz boats,
passed us, but otherwise the river was ours.
We reached the dredgers and turned right into the
Kaukapakapa River. A left, -and we would have
ended up on the Kaipara Harbour. The group
stayed together having a good yak and ducking
whenever we heard shots. We encountered quite
a few decoys on the river and occasionally
camouflaged heads and bodies would pop up
from the nearby mangroves. “ Do not shoot at
the kayakers”.
After a two-hour paddle we made it back to the
‘scene of the crime’ from the previous night and
tried out Ruth’s new landing ramp. This caused
much amusement and more teamwork. The tide
was high. What on earth were we landing and
stepping on?
Our arrival coincided with heavy showers. Under
the shelter of the veranda we warmed ourselves
up with hot drinks and barbequed sausages and
patties. Thanks Ian.
The weather turned for the worse. Some people,
perhaps a bit tired from the night before, or
deterred by the rain, decided to stay and help tidy
up. So only 8 did the return journey.
The relaunch was something of a challenge, as the
tide was going out extending our original landing
patch. The ramp was revealed! It was carpet
(recycled from the North Shore shop!) and was a
tad waterlogged and muddy. The river had
dropped 30cm below that. A few enterprising folk
decided to seal-launch from a section higher up
the paddock. That looked a bit risky, with the
chance of going head over heels. Luckily all was
well and the group staying behind waved us off.
The downstream paddle on the Kaukapakapa
River was quick. Our small group yaked less. Once
on the Kaipara river, and going upstream the
outgoing tide and wind did not allow for any
slacking in paddling and there was little shelter
along the banks. Exiting at Parakai was our last
challenge. The tide flow was strong and by now,
the ramp was no use to us. It had to be a threeperson
job at the Wharf’s pontoon. Team effort
once again prevailed and turned an impossible
one-person task, into a well-executed mission
each time someone came out of the water.
After a few helpful hints about how to secure my
kayak to the roof rack - we were off. I had a quick
stop at Ruth and Ian’s to say a big thank you and
to collect Veronica, and then we were homeward
bound - still enthusiastic, tired, happy and keen
for more. See you on the water very soon.
Photos by Ruth E. Henderson
16 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005