Wasps, Wakas & Wallabies Nepal Update Getting ... - Canoe & Kayak

View from the lookout between Lake Tikitapu (Blue) and
Lake Rotokakahi (Green Lake)
on the water, shags perched on strategic structures, the brilliant blue
plumage of a pukeko pierced the green vegetation where
it ran to seek refuge. Swans herded cygnets
into a protected cluster as we came
too near for comfort and a
lone heron retreated from
our advance, only to meet
with us again as we emerged
unexpectedly from among the
lake vegetation. There were many
more bird species to be admired,
and later we viewed them from a
different aspect as we expended
the little energy we had left walking
along the Lake
Okareka
Boardwalk.
Unloading our kayaks at The Landing
on Lake Tarawera the following day, we
were advised by the locals it would take
us 45 minutes to get to Hot Water Beach,
and that if we kept turning right we would eventually
find it. One and a half hours later we arrived having
had a good workout battling cross winds and open
water. Hugging the coastline looked like a much
longer journey and we were both tired from the
day before so avoided that choice. A passing
yachty kindly pointed us in the direction of our
own private spa – private for a while anyway.
Shrouds of steam veiled the approaching
shore as we trailed our hands in the water testing its temperature.
Having decided it was safe to disembark, we dragged the kayaks
Tony’s in hot water, L. Tarawera
Lakeside sauna at Hot Water Beach, L. Tarawera
far enough inland to hopefully prevent
any melting and leapt into the water.
Leaping was no understatement –
the water at the shores edge was
scorching, even through our boat
shoes. We managed to find a
comfortable pool of water, which
was quite intriguing to sit in. It
was very hot on the surface,
cool in the middle and changing
from tepid to skin blistering as
it percolated through the sand
beneath my tender derrière.
Sauna complete, stomachs
full of scroggin and sandwiches, and
kayaks that were warm enough to
be remoulded, we headed back.
Somehow, we managed to
add at
least half
an hour
to our
j o u r n e y
home. We
encountered
strong head
winds as
we left the
sheltered bay.
And we were
transfixed as
10 ISSUE FIFTY Two • 2 0 0 9
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