DAY 59...THANK YOU Weather Gods!

I am not sure where to start as this news of my crossing is out, thank you all for the messages.  Honestly many have done this before me and I just followed their paddle strokes.

How it began... we scanned, we read, we re-read the weather apps, we talked with the local gurus about this weather window, we have been watching for the past three days and we have been hoping.  As Wednesday progressed I got gradually more and more tense at this next upcoming section of my trip.  All of the normal doubt, and probably more this time as there is so much written and said about the strait and how it can turn nasty really quickly was with me, but fortunately the day also speed past.  It was like one of the most looming intense days of my life, all was unknown to me.  I was told about and read some of the nightmare stories.  Some great paddlers have turned back from this trip due to incorrect forecasts and I was nervous that I may become one of them.

I managed two hours sleep, I was up at midnight and wanted to be on my way and paddling by 2am.  I sat in the passengers seat spooning breakfast into my mouth, steak, potatoes, avocado, olive oil and tahini dressing.  This is normally not a problem but today it was, my mouth was dry, it was hard to swallow my food but shit I knew I had to eat, or hug a great big energy wall before finishing this day!  T2 was slowly packed.  I could see a mirror calm ocean with an amazing near on full moon.  This also meant bigger than I wanted tides, but all the other weather was aligned.

Big hugs to Jase, (support crew) a re-check on the plan and calls and then I had to start.  I had a tail wind, a small outgoing swell and still an out going tide.  Then I was off!  I would check in each hour with the crew and at the third hour either make a decision, keep going if all good or if in doubt turn around and return to Makara Beach to regroup for another day.

First hour all good.

Second hour all good.

Third hour still all good, so no return now, I was not brave enough to even think it would stay this calm.  I was certainly still waiting on big waves, a bigger swell or to be paddling for my life from a cruise liner!

Fourth hour, I did not read the current and speed very well and had aimed far to high!  I readjusted my course so I did not miss the tip of the island.

Fifth hour, paddling extra now from my overshoot, I managed to add 5 km to this section.

Sixth hour, I wanted to eat but there was too much current still and a chop.  I had to keep pushing on until I was just about to cross the Tory channel section.  Then it was food, more liquid and I could dare to stop and breathe.

The rest of the five hours I had mainly a tailwind with a swell going with me.  A few sections had some washing machine swells but I got happier as I edged down this coast towards Whites Beach.  I was trying to only stop every hour for a break, water and some mouthfuls of food but for those watching in Yachtbot, I do stop to remove extra clothing as the day warms up and I try and drink all my fluids.  I also have to stop every now and then to recheck directions and distances to go.  The battery life on my phone and Garmin watch are being stretched today so I was being careful to keep their use to a minimum.

There were plenty of sweet little blue penguins, gannets and other bird life, but Mother Nature did not send me any fish, dolphins, whales or sharks to see on todays adventure.  I at last got to Whites Beach.  I was not expecting to see anyone on the beach so I mucked around off in the sea, then I heard my name being called!  How cool it was to see Gerry Maire, what an amazing surprise.  Once on the beach and when my legs were working again, I managed a cold shower and ate some food.  I needed a slept so I headed to the beach and did just that, it was great to fall asleep listening to the waves, and you can bet I was totally smiling.

This Christmas Eve will not ever be forgotten.  Thank you Wellington for this window to 'gap it' across the strait, I am forever grateful.  The biggest THANK YOU to the people who have mentored me on this section, without you I am unsure I would be this far.  Thank you to the ones who watched my Yachtbot progress, sorry for the diversion!  Thank you Whites Beach for this amazing sunny afternoon.

And now my journey really begins, Te Waipounamu, the South Island.

I am still waiting on my team to arrive, but I have food, bedding and my bivvie tent so I think I will be asleep until they arrive.  Big ups to my Goal Zero solar pack recharging kit, you are doing me well.  Time for a lie down also and an early night as father Christmas is coming.  I am smiling!  It has been a very special day, in fact it will take me a little while to find the words to describe how special and any more hours paddling to understand my feelings, my craziness, my mind and my need to do this journey.

Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night,
Red

Whites Bay

DAY 58...Sunshine and wind

I am awake and it is 5.30 am.  I have only been asleep for five hours max and blink, I am awake.  I read updates for the NZ news on my phone silently, slowly unfolding myself from the camper van bed.  My arms and upper body seem to dislike the bed and it seems to cut the circulation off to my upper body when I sleep.  It is a strange and a very funny sensation, I get a better nights sleep if I sleep in the reclined passenger seat of Cuzzie.  This I know is strange but it is actually true.  I keep moving my sleeping location in the van nearly every night.

The day has started, it is cool but the sun is shining.  Updates on the weather and updates on wind, I reminded myself of the tides and the next leg of this journey.  I am watching and waiting on the weather window, nothing as mentioned would be happening today.  I went on a big walk around the city, up in the cable car and then I walked down through the parks and the streets of Wellington.  I practiced my handstands, found numerous new and beautiful sculptures around Wellington.  Jase and I grabbed a couple of great coffees from cool little cafes and generally checked out everything I may have missed.

The sunshine was amazing, but in the shade and the wind it was still damn cold.  There was no stress really this day for mine and I managed to catch up and have a quick chat with John at Fergs Kayaks.  I watched the crazy rock climbing going on there and dream of maybe owning a surf ski after this adventure!  I am sure there would be room in my garage for one!

Lunchtime and we headed off to Oriental Parade to meet up with a cool camera person for some footage they required from me.  Monique was so easy to chat with and it was nice to get out on the water and just do some fun paddling, not going anywhere, not having to knock over massive kms and it also gave me time to brush up on my boat skills.

I have been promisng Mike Scanlan that as the water warmed up I would just knock over a few eskimo rolls and also do some deep water re-entrys in my T2 STAR.  It had been a little while since I had done an number of rolls just for the fun of it.  We did the filming and then I went and played for a while in the water just at Oriental Bay.  The water was not that warm, but hey when you fall from your kayak it is never on a warm calm day. "So," over I rolled and over I rolled.  The pattern is 5 to 6 one way and then 5 to 6 the other way, all the time hearing all the positive lessons and instructions in my head.

For those who understand, when you nail a good eskimo roll, it feels amazing.  When you mange to save a not so good a roll, that also for me gives me confidence, as it is these near misses that have taught me the art of saving an average roll and it is probably something Mike and I have laughed about a lot on my training days, how I just about lie on my back deck as I save a dodgy roll from being a failure.  I am far from perfect but I am happy to keep going around and practicing.  I also did a few re-entrys and upside down exits and righted my kayak to jump back in.  After a little while I was getting cooler and ended my practicing smiling, job done and satisfied, I was happy.

Back for a quick catch up on emails, chatted to a few people and returned to our central location to read and rest in the sun.  We are parked in the Wellington Waterfront Motorhome Park for camper vans.  There are powered sites, showers etc, it is a great location, an easy walk to most places and close to the ferry for the support team once I "Gap it" across the Strait.  So here I sit, awaiting the calmness to fall upon this ocean, the tides, the moon, the everything to feel good enough to cross.  I have the information, I have the nerves in my belly, now it is a waiting game, and that is okay...mostly.

Happy moments today:
Hand stand practice, I am getting better.
Eskimo rolling, I am smiling.
Camper van location, brilliant and central, and also service with a smile.
Nil Christmas stress in my world, so I am surely smiling about that.

Catching up with a number of friends that all seem to be heading south for Christmas.  I hope to see you soon in the South Island, you all have the easier way of getting there, on the ferry!  Look out for a little red kayak as you sail past... I am hoping to be with you all soon.

Ciao
Red

Interview with John Peachy on Radio Rhema last week.

Red on some sea sculptures

T2 sunning herself on Oriental Parade

DAY 57...Wellington...Really? Can I go soon?

The days are ticking over and another day dawns in our fine and wonderful capital of NZ.  Back parked up at the Marina carpark, close to the airport.  We are able to park and stay for free and there are water and dump stations available for the campervans.  There where a large number of Campervans there tonight but by the morning many had left during the night to get to early morning ferry crossings.

I got up and damn I was hungry, I seriously did not eat enough at Japanese last night.  I had to quickly feed myself from the cupboards and the only quick fix for the light head and hangry attitude was to shovel a few pieces of crystallised ginger, dark chocolate and coconut oil into my mouth.  It sounds bad and not a good start to the morning but my energy and carb levels seem to drop so quickly these days.  I needed a quick fast instant fix and this works it seems to me, unless I eat something with a lot of good carbs at night meal (dare I say it, carbs at night) eg: potatoes or something starchy and filling, then the next morning I am so so very hangry (hungry and angry) as I wake.

We then got some walking gear on and we went for a long windy walk along the waterfront being blown about by, yep you guessed it, the wind!  Oh well I am on dry land so not too much of a concern or problem.  Once back we cooked up breakfast made a couple of cups of coffee and updated each other on things that had happened since I had seen Jase six weeks ago when he was with me last as support person.  Emails were sent, I setup a couple of meetings for the afternoon, called and chatted with Mike Scanlan in Auckland, while Jase got ready to hit the Wellington streets in Cuzzie.

Water filled, dump station utilised and we were on the road!  Firstly to try and refill our gas bottles for Cuzzie and the Weber BBQ.  This is proving far harder than we first thought, everywhere you go now it is swap a bottle.  That would be fine if we had room for the large bottles, but we do not.  After a few failed attempts we have located a place (out of town!) so this is now a tomorrow job.   Into the supermarket we went, it's only safe to grab hand held baskets to try an weave your way around the groaning trolleys filled with everything and more!  I can not begin to explain the mind games I have everytime I get into the frenzied supermarket, how much food can everybody buy?

Anyway off my soap box and back to the shopping.  Meat and veges grabbed, all the other aisles I miss, we are in and out at speed.  Cuzzie fridge and cupboards are stocked.  We are ready to head off to meet Bess (from the Guardian Newspaper) to chat about my journey so far.  It's always a little weird for me to talk about this journey, as I am actually living my dream, and to me it is just about doing something I love!  Being on the water, being with nature and being alone with me and my thoughts, it is everything I love.  I know this is strange, but I find and think my dream is rather normal and not that much of a crazy wow thing that others seem to think it is.  I am happy to talk and happy to encourage others about how great it fees to have a dream and reach out for the dream, touch it, do it and feel great when the dream becomes real.

Bess thank you for your time today, thanks for encouraging me to talk about me, my why's my why not's and my journey.  What it took pre the start date and my journey so far, it seems still hard to describe where this dream originally came from but our chat was enjoyable.  All I can hope for is that this encourages others (even one person) to get out there and find time, a window and slot in each day for what I call "ME" time.  It has become apparent that I believe it is so very important to have a moment each day, there is always time, even if it is before the sun gets up.  This is how I have always managed, before the world awoke and before life started to race away with you.

In the midst of this day I was also looking at my weather app and watching the Wednesday window of opportunity disappear for the crossing.  Outside the wind was relentless and now it was cold and wet and Wednesday was now a no chance.  The weather, I am obsessive, (Nat would have taken my mobile from me by now, but Jase is still getting up to speed with this addictive behaviour) but honestly mother nature can you just give me a break!  Just 12 hours.  Please.  It truly is not much to ask.

I have a deadline and cut off date for waiting in Wellington, lets just see if I have to revert to plan B or C.  I am still hopeful and at the moment I am enjoying the learning of this coastline, this city and the waters around Wellington. 

Conrad, again thank you for you passion and time today, your calmness and amazing manner amaze me.  I can not explain the complete and utter strength I seem to get after spending time talking to you about this next stage. I am sure you are going to be the first person I txt when I actually manage to get across and touch the South island coastline.

I have dared to make a tentative time, date and location for this crossing.  I have been brave and booked Cuzzie on a ferry crossing.  I have been brave, but I am seriously not brave enough to make this a public announcement as I do not want to place a jinx on this plan.  I have a small part of me that is superstitious and yes I will continue to keep my plans close to me until I achieve this next massive milestone.  I would hate mother nature to be informed until I have 'gaped it' across the strait!

Support crew Jase has had a big day and is now sleeping in Cuzzie, little does he know today has been easy and a rest day.  I even cooked him brekkie this morning, his coffee making skills are not bad though.

My smiles for today:
To be actually living my dream.  I pinch myself at least once everyday to remind myself it is real.
Learning skills and knowledge from amazing like minded people.  I am humbled by their openness, knowledge and there happiness to share this with me, (I hope to make you proud) thanks to all.
And big thanks to Interislander Ferries, you rock my world!  Helpful beyond belief and our trip is free of charge :) 

Well off to a friend of a friends for a catchup.  Cuzzie is hooked to power and the fridge is chilling the food.  Batteries are all charging on the numerous bits and pieces we have for this journey.  The new and improved Yachtbot (my on the water live tracker) is charging (thanks Ina!).  The STAR kayaks are on the roof and being washed by the rain, and I have my fav pair of black woollen leggings on, they totally rock and I think everyone should own a pair (the support crew I am winning over, nearly all now have at least one pair) and the foot wear of preference for the beach and rock launches are CROCS.  Yep, crazy stuff.

Talk tomorrow,
Red

Just call me Rose

Sleepy Jase...

DAY 56...Crew change over & planning

This morning I rose early and had some me time.  I had bits and pieces to get done like repack the bags, sort out sand filled gear, declutter and do all that stuff that when camping you just don't have time to do.  You know like polish and clean myself and my gear, repair and replace batteries and write lists of stuff to do.

We then said a big goodbye to Nat's amazing Auntie and Uncle and raced to load Cuzzie, Nat was jamming things into bags for a late afternoon airport drop off.  Some days all the gear we have can overload anyone's brain, and Nat was a bit frazzled.  Today the wind was building and making it hard to think straight let alone drive in a straight line, I had the happy no stress passenger seat but Nat was missing a cable so her mind was in over drive for a while trying to locate where she had put it!  It took all day to remember but it has now been found.

We headed out to have a long chat with Conrad and discuss the options for the weather and tides for my Cook Strait crossing.  Thanks for the great cup of coffee Conrad, your knowledge and spending time chatting, it was fantastic.  I am now on hold until we recheck the weather window in the middle of this week.  Otherwise it is a move to plan B or plan C, lets just see.

Back into Wellington city for a Cuzzie Cooked lunch and some pics at Red Rock.  The harbour was a mass of white caps, to me the entire harbour looked like it has a bad case of dandruff!  Time was racing now so we headed to park up Cuzzie, grab a couple of things from the shops and sit on the beanbags in downtown Wellington, downloading with Nat what the heck I will do while she is off playing and working with pyro in Melbourne and then doing the same for the NZ cricket series in Jan.  Yes she is multi talented and is excited to go for a month but sad to miss some of my journey.  There will be many Skype and emails and snapchat conversations.

Wellington airport is crazy busy, I find it strange to be around so many people, it is a little bit like ahhhh take me back to the wild coastlines and the waves.

My smiles for the day:
Chatting with Conrad, biggest thank you for taking time out of your day and sharing with me.
People watching, well not sure it is all a smile maybe a little frightening.
Going out and looking forward to Japanese for dinner
Back to sleep in Cuzzie at the Wellington Marina.

Tomorrow the winds are more intense, I am always a little crazy in the winds, so we will find stuff to do to blow out the craziness.

Everybody enjoy your last few days before Christmas, and my thought for the day...

If someone is a little rude and seems grumpy, try and help them to smile and don't take it personally, they probably may not be as good at dealing with stress and the day as you.  I try now days to look at the bad moments for that life lesson, the answer always appears maybe not right away but it appears.

I have to thank my hardest days from the past few years for helping make my dream be a reality.  Well enough from me and my theories, just go and do something fun, maybe me rock climbing tomorrow .

Bye bye Nat, I miss you already (ha I am tearing up writing this) 
Big Christmas hugs
Red

Conrad's beautiful boatshed

Japanese!

DAY 55...Owhiro Bay to Titahi Bay

This morning was a planned early start, I had looked over and studied the tides and the coastline for this next section of my paddle.  Owhiro Bay, Makara Beach, Titahi Bay.  We were packed the night before and I aimed to be on the water by 4.00 am so I could be on the out going tide for the strong tides and rips along the way.  Part of me was doubting that I had got it right and there was a dread in me that I had got it all back to front and would be paddling against the current and not with it. (Yes I do make bloopers like this sometimes!)

We unloaded the kayak, wrapped up warm, torch and gear was packed.  I gave Nat a hug and the plan was to touch base in three hours after about 21 kms.  It was dark as I left the bay and it is always hard to get your night vision when you are heading away from the city lights.  It seemed dark and at first hard to see any swells or the rocks and waves, so slowly I edged out, wishing not to make an error and be a wash of water at any moment.  I headed out into the darkness with the nice feeling that each moment it was going to get lighter soon and it was not going to be dark for the next 8+ hours, yippee.  I paddled wide to start with along this coast line, better to be safe than sorry.  It got lighter and it was extremely calm. I glided along nicely and did not even dare to think it would last the entire day.  Also it seemed I had read the maps and the tides correctly, the tide was going out and the swell was with me, how nice.

I hugged the coast and it was so very calm for me,  I was able to actually for the first time this trip slip between rocks and skim over the kelp and seaweed.  There were no breaking swells to dodge and no white water crashing about, and a lack of whistling winds!  Even the windmills at Makara were fairly still.  The strong currents, rips and eddies were going my way and were actually fun today, it was like being on a small river and racing along the top of the rushing water.  I was happy it was not rough, happy and enjoying this paddle.  There were seals, birds and lots of small fish about, but alas no 'fin' sightings today.

As the sun came up and the sky cleared the south island was clearly visible and the thought was in my head, if only I was 24 hours earlier, maybe just maybe I could have got to the South Island today.  But the previous days and weeks weather had not been so kind.  Anyway, I was enjoying this day.  Nat called and was going to head off for a walk up to the windmills and was checking I was doing okay.  She actually new I would be totally fine, as the sea was like glass, but it was great to get the call.

We touched base again at my 30 km mark as she was way up on a cliff top waving at me, just before I reached Makara Beach.  As I crossed over this section to head on to Titahi Bay there became a head wind but it was the only section where the wind picked up a little to a be annoying.  As I was able to skim close to the beach and edges it was not really a problem.

There were many divers and small boats out gathering Paua and Crayfish today, getting ready for there Christmas feasts.  I have to say thank you to the Wellington weather gods, or maybe because I snuck into Wellington in the dark they have not realised I have arrived!  This has been a beautiful paddle today, I started with a small inner smile carried over from my night paddle and I finished with a big smile coming into Titahi Bay.  The colourful boat sheds and a smooth as glass ocean helped me as I glided into the beach.  I stepped out and it was only just midday, how joyous.  The sun was shining and it was time to shower and then catch up with some friends back in Wellington at the Waitangi Park.

Sitting in the park this afternoon, chatting to others about my trip, showing the kids my shark and dolphin videos, they were silent and just sat on my knee, just looking and pushing play till my phone battery nearly went flat, it was great.  Such a good feeling talking to others about their lives and you know what, I daily now realise that everyone you meet knows someone with a depression issue.  Many are fuelled by legal and illegal drugs and the over use of alcohol.  The general stress that today's society and our work life puts on everyone and how we all deal with things and manage things differently...exercise is my release from everything.  It clears your mind and it is easier for me to think.  I would recommend this to everyone I meet, far better to ache from the muscle pain, well that is my thinking.

I made new friends today, Nat and I both meet new people and we showed them our crazy journey.  Thank you to Gleann for being crazy enough to be picked up by a stranger at four in the morning, come along and join us on today's adventure, your help and stories were greatly appreciated.  We inspired people, that is an incredible buzz for me as each day I believe everyone should make their dreams realities.  It was fantastic to spend time with Sean and Kiri and the kids in the sun and in the park, thanks Sean for the invite, Brooklyn, thanks for the shark stories.

It was fantastic to cook dinner tonight in a big kitchen, to cook and share my brownie recipe and have people enjoy my kind of food.  We celebrated finally reaching Wellington by opening the beautiful Flat Point wine from Mary and John.  Big day tomorrow seeing people as the wind is back, but talking with a few people tomorrow about the cook Strait crossing and my options, watch this space.  Tomorrow will have a sad ending as Nat is away from tomorrow evening till the 18th of January.

Best sign out, it is now midnight in my world.
Red.

The beautiful wine from Flat Point

Happy Red!

DAY 54...Wellington after arriving

We awoke after a couple of hours sleep in the back Cuzzie, we were a little blurry eyed and I was extremely hungry.  I was also extremely salt crusted and desperately needing a shower and a washing machine, so off we headed to Nat's Auntie & Uncle's (Lib & Werner).  Oh how wonderful to stand a long time in the shower and to wash a lot of my clothes and spread out my gear in the sun and wind to dry and smell fresh and clean :)

We are on there door step for the next few days and they are fab.  A big cooked brunch and a great slow cooked casserole for dinner.  I had a wander into Wellington, spending too long in the body shop store looking at nice smelling cleansers and shampoos etc, but I was not tempted to buy anything, maybe another day.  Nat went off to catch up with a friend for a couple of glasses of wine, a chat and gossip without this old lady.  We have been joined at the hip for the last few days and breathing space and the company of others is great.

It was amazing to realise I have actually managed to paddle this far, and the previous time I was in Wellington it felt like I was cheating by even visiting the city before paddling in.  I have to say thank you to everyone who commented on my Facebook page this morning, and also liking the amazing images that Nat manages to post on Instagram each day, it is incredible.  Thanks for taking the time to say congrats.

I am a little mentally exhausted by last nights intense paddle and am now focusing on another early morning paddle tomorrow, I hope to be off the water by 11 am.  We have people to visit and I do not want to feel too much wind in my face when on the water.  I am hoping I have the tides and currents correct and hoping to get to a location to be ready to try and cross to the South Island soon but there are a few options and opinions on this section.  I will share once I see the weather, the waiting time etc.

Wellington is as nice as ever, it was nice to wander.  Gear is packed and ready, weather is looking okay, in fact better than okay and a plan has been hatched.  Ah, plans they sometimes do not happen, but we will see.  After paddling tomorrow I am going to try and catch up with some locals and go back to say hi to Canoe & Kayak, and do some fun Wellington things, perhaps rock wall climbing.

As mentioned the support team is due to swap out on Monday evening and I am writing a list of gear to be brought down and also repacking my gear I have never used to go back in the empty bag.

Fun stuff today:  
Falling asleep after my night paddle, smiling.
Walking around Wellington in my denim shorts in the sunshine, smiling and satisfied.  Just browsing and not in a Christmas frenzy, joyous.
Spending time chatting to Lib, what an amazing and interesting lady!  Gosh you have lived an exciting life, and I have only heard a little of it.  I am coming back for sure to Rolleston St, to have a glass of wine, sit in the sun and just talk.

If anyone is around the Wellington area and interested in paddling in the morning, around Owhiro, up and along the coast to Makara then Titahi Bay before midday, please come and paddle for a while.  I would love to chat and talk to you.  Text Nat on the support phone and she will give you my location.  Then I have a feeling I will be in Wellington for a couple of days so if you know of a calm place I can go and remind T2 how to eskimo roll and do some water kayak practicing skills please email me.  Yes, Mike Scanlan, I am heading into the water to do some practice rolling, it is a promise, T2 must need some lessons.

Till tomorrow, night night.
Red

Red ready to go, watching the waves

DAY 53...WELLINGTON!

This morning was cold as we awoke in our camper van. It was not early as we had to wait on our new part for Cuzzie.  We were both light hearted and happy this morning, who really knew why.  We made coffee, it was nearly barista quality this morning :).  By 9.30 we were on the road back into Masterton as the overnight courier had delivered the new part and they could replace this before lunch.  We dropped her off and then walked into the shops in Masterton, (it was raining with a cold, strong wind, I sound like a stuck record) we had some time to kill so in and out of stores, spending longer than you think in some.  Chatted to people and heard a couple of great stories, a big thank you to Donna for the offer of coffee and a chat when we were heading back through Caterton, I promise I will buy the silver glitter shoes once my journey is over!  I will make sure a picture will be sent to you, I just could not quite imagine sparkling glitter shoes hiding in the camper van cupboard!

Just before lunch we got a call to say Cuzzie was repaired, fantastic news!  Big ups to the team from Auto Electricians, so helpful, prompt and fantastic service.  On the road again, lunch beside the lake in Masterton, weather checked then on the road, back to Te Humanga Point to watch, wait and plan.

There was a weather window, at last it was looking hopeful!  It was a small but it was going to be all done through the night.  I am not sure about you all but it is okay to paddle at night in an area you know well, I did rather a lot but mostly mornings for many months pre this trip.  It is however an entirely different level when it is an unknown stretch.  The wind was under forecast to be eight knots and dropping all through the night, there was a small moon no rain, some cloud cover and the swell was reducing.

Anyway enough of all the positives, I still needed to get myself sort of focused on this.  I lay and tried to be rested, rechecked the weather updates and also tried to keep my nerves under control, (was I actually made of sugar ?) at times this afternoon I did question myself.  The weather was playing ball and the wind had dropped.  The sea was calming and all that was left was to get me on the water, launching off a rather unpredictable steep black stone beach.

Nat had wrapped some battery powered fairy lights on my kayak deck bag in an effort to cheer me up, not much smiling from me at this point.  A long night ahead and a lot of wondering.  I did not want to get wet at the start of this night, but it was not a picture perfect departure.  I made it out in one go but got drenched in my efforts, shit!  Once I got past the waves I emptied the water via my Venturi and got settled, put my skirt on and made sure my water for the trip was in close reach.

The plan was simple, touch base every hour so we both knew what was going on.  Check points and bailout options were sorted, VHF and mobiles dependant on coverage.  There were some really nice moments on this paddle, the first three hours were very pleasant.  I was going well, the headland had rough sections and I took a really wide berth of the noise and waves over all of this.  My night vision was thankfully doing okay.

I got around the point and aimed at the next light beacon on the hill, just on 31 km done.  Once I was closer I rechecked my maps and distances, talked with dear Nat and went okay buddy see you in Owhiro Bay.  Wellington looked calm as.  I navigated the rocks and located a point to aim at, checked the distance and times to kept a look out for the damn night ferry's, knowing there was a 2.30am one to dodge.

Nat called once she arrived at Owhiro, I still had about 9 km to cover to feel safe and away from the big ships.  With ears listening and eyes scanning off I went to cross the Wellington harbour!  I did see the ferry and made sure I was well clear, I paddled side ways for awhile until she passed and then crossed behind.  Then I "gapped it" telling myself no stopping, no slow paddling for the next six km, then you can recheck navigation and talk with Nat.  I have this great little Garmin watch and every km it vibrates, so I counted six vibrations and then knew I was well clear of the shipping lane.

Phew!  Nat called and gave me some location markers, I adjusted my course on my navigation app and soon I could see our flashing beacon we have on the shore, bloody hell it felt good!

Big ups to me for this paddle, huge ups to Nat for being my night voice every hour and thank you to the weather gods, I am finally in Windy Wellington!  You ask me is it windy now?  Oh yes it is 😀but the sun is shining and I am seriously hungry, alas most of my food was not eaten on this trip.


Red

Owhiro Bay at Sunrise

DAY 52...And more of the same

In the early hours of the morning we hoped for a window to paddle, to at least get across Palliser Bay.  Sadly, it was never going to happen.  There was a small window of calm but not enough to even get 7km before a big gusting Southerly kicked in.  Instead we packed up Cuzzie and headed to climb the 249 stairs up to Cape Palliser lighthouse.  It was windy and that strong southerly was blowing.   As we took photos and looked out the next point seemed to be so close, it was tormenting me.

After that we headed off back down the winding road, past seals sleeping on the grass and the many rocks, looking just like large rocks all over the place.  We were even up too early for them to be out frolicking in the ocean, they were still in sleep mode.  The coastal road was extremely quiet and so were both Nat and I.  This starting and stopping of paddling is getting to be a little bit much.  We had plans to go and walk a track or two and generally remove ourselves from the blustery carpark and looking out at the windy, blustery ocean.

Along the way dear Cuzzie decided that she needed to have some attention and started flashing an engine light.  Into two mechanics to ask if they knew what this meant and they kindly directed us to an auto electricians in Masterton!  We were heading back along roads we have travelled a lot.  We got Cuzzie seen, there is a small part needed and she will be fixed tomorrow.  Cuzzie is still driveable but we needed this seen before we go further south and Christmas Holidays arrive.  It took a little time to have diagnosed but we are extremely thankful they could even see us today.  We then headed to top up food supplies, booked tickets for the support crew change over for next week, Nat is heading back to Auckland for Christmas and then over to Melbourne to work with a team on the fireworks display for the Melbourne New Years show in the city.

At the supermarket we got food for lunch, there is something really cool about grabbing food from the supermarket and then just placing it in your camper van cupboards, then we sat in the carpark and ate!  Food shopping always seems to make me hungry and why move when you have everything you need right in front of you.

We headed off out of town to get Nat her favourite fruit ice cream and grab fresh produce on the way to a different location to camp tonight.  While we need to be back in Masterton in the morning we thought we could at least stop and visit another camping spot, so Greytown it was.  It is a pretty cool little campsite, there are maybe three others parked for the night, friendly people and everything we needed.  More importantly no waves or water to torture us!  No chance of me forgetting though as my weather app on my phone has a habit of nagging me all day about that.

I can promise we will not be near the water in the morning, that is for sure.  Running shoes are getting looked at for something different to do, so lets just see.

Not a lot else to report today.  We walked and talked, cooked roast chicken because we had a big camp oven.  We read articles, but generally really, really want to get into Wellington.  It has been a long, slow and tedious trip over the past few weeks and a run of nicer weather would be great.

My smile for the day, the bulldozers that are used as the boat tractors to get the boats in and out of the ocean from the steep black stone beaches (see pic).

Thanks to all for reading and following, soon there will be more paddling.

Red

PS: Anybody out there than has a fine weather dance/spell or prayers to share, can you take a moment to please send it our way

My favourite silver bulldozer

Red with Cape Palliser Lighthouse

DAY 51...Te Humenga Point

We were parked in a dusty, off road car park, waiting on the sun to rise and bring us another day of paddling.  As we stirred pre sunrise Cuzzie was being buffered about and we were half expecting it, as why oh why would we get three days in a row of paddling and actually get to Wellington when we hoped?  I tucked my sleeping bag around me and enjoyed being warm and toasty away from the elements for a bit longer.  By 7.30am we both were chatting, saying that I will have to harden up on the calm sunny days, paddle from sunrise till sunset and stop slacking and just working on the tan!  Humour is always good, we said, you know what, lets just have coffee.  A brilliant brew was made with our ROK machine, we checked the weather and went, stuff this, lets go find a campsite for some recharging and water filling, no point sitting here tormenting ourselves as the big waves crashed onto the black, steep beach.

Camping ground was located and we plugged in.  Between rain falls we set about removing everything out of the back of Cuzzie so we could clean and sweep the thick layer of dust from everything.  The doors, windows, plastic containers, the floor, the sliding doors, the bedding...it was a good feeling to get things a little more clean and tidy.  The OCD side of both of us was out of control, or maybe it was the coffee on empty stomachs!

I then talked with John Peachey (Radio Rhema) about my journey, if anyone is interested it will be played on air tomorrow, sometime between 10.00am and 1.00pm.  A link will be provided to listen afterwards.  (check http://www.rhema.co.nz/) It felt great to be talking about the actual motivation and reasons, about my dream, about the journey so far, about the charity MHFNZ and the physical and mental strength we all have needed and develop through our life exposures.  Where I find that strength sometimes I just do not know, so when I find out the answer I will surely share, but it does elude me as well some days.

I was calmer today about the turned weather, it is not as frustrating as last week.  I am a little behind my targets at the moment but I am still going and that is what it is about. 

Lunch today after cleaning was soup, now this meal has been nicked named 'Soup from Nothing'.   Last night we were having a conversation about what you could do with the left over water once you have finished boiling your kumera and broccoli in it.  Yes, I know, not a normal after dinner conversation, but Nat and I are both into making the most out of every available item of food we have and saving and conserving on leftovers/water and not wasting anything.  So it became a challenge to try and turn this water into a warming soup/broth!

Oh my goodness the chefs reading this are going to now cringe, Girl Grylls and her sidekick brainstormed and it was for me to be the taste test dummy.  You know what it was a damn winner as it was warming, nutritious and actually, no kidding, yummy.  It will be a warming broth recreated on this journey and that is being truthful, waste not, want not has a new meaning!  You will all be after the recipe so here goes...
Boil kumera for your dinner, remove from water.  Use same water to boil broccoli.  Remove broccoli and retain water.  As you eat your delicious dinner of mashed kukmera, broccoli and chicken, chuck your chicken bones in the pot full of cooking water.  When finished eating, chop up an onion, add it to the pot and return to the boil.  Reduce to half, add salt, pepper and olive oil, and feed to your nearest adventurer.  

After lunch and cleaning we were feeling a little in need for some fresh air so went to look around at the beach.  Going walking helps us to discuss ideas and options for upcoming days and it is always good to get out of a confined space, it can be a little cramped in Cuzzie sometimes.  We headed to the Lake and also the wild beach.  Along the lake edge we walked and then onto a very blustery and bleak beach.  Crazy but true I had imagined this to be different to its reality.

I was also laughing at Nats comment as we walked, she reckoned on her return after Christmas she was going to bring back track pants.  It is the 16th of December and it is bloody freezing!  I have on woolen leggings still, three top layers as well as a wind proof thick Sharkskin jacket and my head scarf on, with the hoodie pulled up.  I told Nat before we started that we where going on summer holidays!  Yesterday it was sweltering and tonight we have the heater on in Cuzzie and I am on my second mug of hot peppermint tea since dinner.

My thought for today: I am a born and bred Kiwi and I am shocked and horrified at how badly I pronounce the Maori names as we are travelling through.   A mental note to learn more as we travel, any hints or guidelines please share.

My Likes for today:
Chatting to Andy Warner (or as he is known in the Redz NZ Team, Master Warner).  I have to say the HUGEST thank you to Andy and his STAR kayak making skills.  He turned around a new kayak for me within days, all wrapped red and called T2.  I so like this little design, I am in luv with her, the company and the brand.
My homemade Mince and Bacon Rissoles, and the "Soup from Nothing"
Being actually content today with what mother nature has given me weather wise.  We have a new team motto, I am going to suffer the most, but Red you ain't coming off the water on a sunny day till the sun is setting, so!!! suck it up!  Yes, that makes me happy.
Our brilliant Christmas ideas for pictures to be taken, and that is going to be a fun day.
Rain on the roof, we now we sit in the warmth of Cuzzie listening to heavy rain on the roof, actually I like this ALOT. 
Your amazing, warm and wonderful comments on our blogs and our Facebook pages.

Ciao for now
Red

Wet, windy, waves.  Palliser Bay

DAY 50...Magic

It was a great morning, we were up just on 5am, still smelling of open fire smoke on all of my warm clothes.  Gradually I got ready, we stopped and chatted to the locals just for a little bit and then I waved Nat off at 6.30am.  We needed a weather update for today to make sure Cape Palliser was okay to go around.  The plan was I would leave one hour after Nat so she could drive to coverage, check weather updates and then meet me at White Rock, which was only a 10km paddle.  If we had it wrong then I could get out there and not attempt the Cape.  It was a great morning of paddling, seals, cray pots, cray boats and me.  This morning when chatting to our fisherman friend he said that NZ coasts and beaches were beautiful but this coastline he described brilliantly, "Magic" was his word.  Yep it truly is.

Tora to White Rock was not difficult and there they are waiting, it always makes me smile.  I never tire of seeing them on the shoreline, my support crew rock and so does Cuzzie, even if at the moment we are covered in a layer of dust from these roads.  Nat gives me the thumbs up to attempt the cape, so off we both go, she has a long drive around to meet me on the other side.

Off I head and as I get closer I can see one of my favourite things, a lighthouse, red, white and sitting in prime view.  A couple of the numerous Cray boats stop and say hi, ask me where I am heading and wish me luck.  No such luck on any fresh cray today, but this is okay as we also still have Paua to eat.  Along this coastline today it was a dream.  I have been extremely fortunate on most of the Capes, so far it has been calm and sunny and today was a nice, calm, blue ocean.

As I get past the light house and into another bay the wind comes head on at me for part of this next paddle.  It is nice for a change to have some coolness and some sea spray as the day is getting hot.  I head way out and wide at Te Kawakawa Rocks to miss the rocks and breaking waves.  Then as I get closer to Ngawi I am happy to be able to text Nat my location and say Plan A was going well.

Nat started to head to meet me at Te Humenga Point and I paddled on.  There was no wind and it was really hot.  I stopped to remove layers of clothing and apply more sunscreen, making sure nothing fell overboard or floated away, it is always a little tricky.  I was aiming at my destination and travelling really well.  Next minute I see the team at the destination point and today even with a bit of a black dumping beach I land and do not get wet, brilliant!

We have decided to stop here for the day rather than go into Lake Ferry.  It seemed a bit like extra paddling.  My plan for tomorrow is to try and do a direct crossing from Te Humenga Point to Turakirae Head.  Yep, plans.  We know what happens when we plan things...

Dinner to cook and bed soon, we are getting closer now to another goal.

RED..

PS:  My chocolate brownie that I eat most days, FYI it is healthy as!  Made from kumera, beetroot, honey coconut flour and oil.  Instant energy and it satisfies me when I am needing a lift.  Sorry can not share the famous recipe just yet, but it is a winner.

Cape Palliser Lighthouse

DAY 49...Amazeballs

I did not set my alarm this morning as I knew I would wake up.  I was in fear and dreading that the wind would be blowing and I would have to wait for another day to get going.  I was not going to frustrate myself anymore, just go with the flow.  The wind had dropped before we went to bed last night but that is never anything new and I expected to hear the whistling wind as I awoke.

I slept a little lightly last night as I was probably on edge to get this day underway.  At or just before 5 am I awoke, the sky was a hue of pink and it was rather calm, calmer than what had been predicted.  I got myself ready, made my tea and got my paddling gear on.  I could not eat as I was too keen to get down to the water.  I packed the remaining homemade brownie (it needed eating) and promised to eat this once I had done my first VHF check in about 16km.

We got to the beach and it was just as the cray boats where heading out.  It looked okay on the water but I knew the first paddle was going to have a stiffer head wind than the rest of the day, according to the forecast.  After a big hug to Nat I launched into calm waters and paddled out around the bay for five minutes, making sure T2 felt okay.  Her rudder was working and it all felt okay but I still had a little bit of a dry mouth from some anxiety.  Was the wind going to stay as it was meant to or was it just going to be its nasty typical self?  Off I set, I waved good bye to Nat and headed to Glenmore Station.

Initially I started to head directly across the bay just like the crow flies but the wind was whistling on and off so I moved in close to the beach and the coastline.  This added some extra kms but it got me away from the gusts as much as possible.  I saw a few seals and craypots along this section and I dared to think that it would be okay.  T2 was starting settle in and I hunkered down until I got to VHF contact with Nat.  “Good morning, how are you doing out there?” was Nats response.  “Yep okay, I wish the wind would die down,” I replied.  Nat relayed the weather report and the wind was to drop so we planned that she would head to coverage and then wait in Martinborough until 12 pm just incase the weather was shit around the corner and I decided to pullout at Pahou, (and get a local to call her for a rescue pickup) this was only 10 km down the the coast and I was going okay apart from a few really strong gusts in the valleys.

Next, Pahou to Te Awaiti where I was to meet and VHF Nat next.  Along the way the coastline was littered with craypots, this coastline is really pretty, the sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky, it was amazing.  Up ahead there was a group of guys snorkelling for Crayfish and Paua, as I passed we chatted, they asked if I would like some Paua and where was I going.  They proceeded to put Paua and then a crayfish into my front kayak hold!  Nat will be so so happy and now I can not wait to talk to her.  

After this the wind dropped, it felt unusual, the weather being this calm and windless (yes, I said windless).  The wind had dropped to near on nil so I paddled in and out of rock areas, skimmed over rocks and kelp and just imagined how many crayfish I must be going over the top of (Greggie, my dear ozzie friend, you would be in heaven). 

Around the point I go and see Cuzzie sitting at the back of the beach in a carpark.  It seemed she was smiling today and in full form and happy.  I talked with Nat, told her about my food for dinner, we were both excited.  This was probably to be my pull out location but when talking with the divers they had mentioned it was not much further to the next bay so I talked with Nat and said lets push for a few more km. I had a tailwind and a swell so off I went, it was such a nice day and there was still time to get close as possible to Cape Palliser.

I am very mindful of the time and there are people wanting to meet me in Wellington but weather has not been playing ball.  We had hoped to be there last week but not a chance!  There is no point dwelling on this.

I land and the campsite on the beach is perfect, picture this... 
We have crayfish for dinner, we have been able to light fire so we have toasted marshmallows and we have burnt lots and lots of driftwood.  I lay on the ground, looked up to the sky and went this is what a NZ summer holiday and evening should be like, ABSOLUTELY amazing evening, I am happy.

Nat went swimming and said the water was warm but I was not keen to get wet again after washing in the red bucket, ten hours of salt water and grime gone so it felt good to be clean.  We are sitting around the fire, Nat is reading and I am writing this blog.  The sky is pale blue, mauve and pink.  This is a special day and I thank all for sending me a day like this.  My brain needed it and I was not wanting a whistling wind all day today.

Tomorrow, lets see what it brings, lets see if we get as far as we hope, but I am not looking up just yet, I am staring straight ahead.  I am looking forward to getting to Lake Ferry, I am not heading directly across as the wind may pickup and both Nat and I have for some reason been looking forward to Lake Ferry, lets see if it is what we imagine.  More driftwood needed for the fire, so off I go, I love fires.  In fact I have to say that today has to be one of the best, rather perfect, something you would have dreamed for...

Thank you to all the people who made this possible and are allowing me to live out my dream... 

Good night
Red

PS: Thank you Mary and John for the Flat Point wine!  We will post a picture when we open this bottle.

PPS: Thank you to the divers for the Paua and Crayfish today, none of you will be forgotten.

Red tending her fire

DAY 48...Flying Foxes and Ice Cream

As we sat in the late afternoon sun in the Martinborough Square park, connected up and sending out all of yesterdays stories and information to the many, we updated the weather report and decided that as the wind was due to be gusting we would head for the Masterton campsite for a dust free night.  Masterton seemed to us to have more places to grab our Sunday essentials, we also knew the campsite and its amenities, it would be nice to have power for a big cook up and to recharge all of my equipment and importantly also keep me away from any more sea starring for the day.

We had driven so many dusty and gravel roads on the Saturday scoping out the up and coming coast lines that by the time 6pm came and the updated weather forecast was available we were exhausted, me mentally and Nat from all the damn driving up, over, around and through cattle stops, dodging animals and cars.  At one stage we had so much dust in Cuzzie as we drove along that the smoke alarm was set off!  Both the inside of the van and us were covered in a thick layer of dust and it would be good to have a clean up.

We meet a couple of locals/permanent residents of the Mawley Campsite.  Thanks to Trevor and Linda for the evening chat and the coffee, sorry we did not manage any bourbon and coke with you but next time we are passing and not paddling we will join you for a few.  Trevor, remember that you need to splash out and buy some real Croc’s, you will be a convert (maybe Santa will bring you some).  Big hugs to little Ken as well, he is extremely cute.

Sunday morning rolled around, there was wind and rain all night, but we had to accept this and in the morning it seemed to have blown over.  The sun was out, we made great coffee and planned a big walk around the parks and lakes.  Off we headed, found a flying fox, swings and a cool tree house in the park.  We acted like a couple of kids for a while then hoofed it off to the other end of town in hunt for a fresh fruit ice cream store that Nat had spotted on our couple of journeys to Masterton but not as yet had stopped at.  It was nice to be walking, it was nice to also feel how strong the wind was getting.  The sun was shining so this always helps our mood. 

Essentials purchased, food supplies topped up and a very hungry Red!  We walked back to Cuzzie where I quickly cooked up some lunch and then we sat in he sun trying to hide from the gusting wind.  By 1.30pm we were ready to get on the road, back to Flat Point to our paddock to wait on the wind to drop for the next push down the coast.

We stopped and looked at the ocean for a little while on arrival but it was so so windy that we were just being buffered about in Cuzzie.  The kayaks felt like they were massive sails on the roof and at any moment were going to get blown off, roof racks and all so we headed back to the paddock, tucked beside some tall Pine trees away from as much of the wind as possible.  We read books, played cards, I rested and Nat had a nap.

Dinner eaten, dishes done, peppermint tea in hand and the wind is dying down.  Nat is climbing a hill in the paddock to watch the sunset, camera over her shoulder.  I have a plan and goal for tomorrow, it will not be early as the wind is meant to lift over night, but...

It is a new week and I'm only looking forward now, not up, just forward.  I dared to look up last week thinking I was near the top of this first massive hill I was daring to climb and I was not.  I should have known better as when ever I run I never look up when running hills, I just keep focused on each step.  Once I have get some of tomorrow under my belt, I will be smiling a little more.

Paddle in hand, T2 is all ready and sign written, I will do a couple of beach up and down paddles first to settle down in this new seat, VHF Nat and then look south, aiming for check points 1, 2, 3 and maybe 4.  There have been too many days away from the water, to many spare moments to think, to many thoughts and strange feelings and nothing to put my finger on.  There are parts of this coastline and journey burnt into my mind and this is one of them.  I will always remember forever Flat Point, the paddock and the tall grass I sat it, the cray boats, Mary & John, to you both I have to say a massive Thank You for your friendly and helpful advice and the paddock we had to stay in.  I smile, and of course I will remember the very cute hedgehog.

There are always stories behind these special places, and this is one of those special places.  Someday the story will be joined with the pictures Nat has of these windy thought provoking days.  Until then lets see how Monday and I will greet each other and how Mother Nature is going to treat me.

Thanks for reading.
Red

Flying Fox in Masterton

Dusk in the pines

DAY 47...A Moment

It is a was an early start, my alarm went off at 3 (am) and I was plagued by the wind in the pine trees and thoughts of the day to come.  I am still not as happy as I would like and there's a niggle...

I lie in my sleeping bag untill it gets light.  It is not the outlook outside I was wanting and the day dawning puts me back a step or two.  I wait and I look for wind to warm and drop. 5 am and we sort of head to the beach.  The past few days of the 4 “W's” have not impressed me.  When they finally start to drop but then the sun drops too... that old saying, "Tougher than you can even begin to imagine” rings in my mind.  If I could I would probably like to have a punching bag right now and hit it hard.  Hit it until I was exhausted.  It would make me feel better physically, mentally it is a little difficult right at this moment.  Just a bit like life for most of us really, some days it is frustrating! 

We head up and check the weather forecast, 10 knots.  Whatever, I am not believing it, in my world it is more.  I wait till a smaller boat is launched and then the crayboat fishermen head past and out in their massive boats.  I watch them in the short swell going up and down and I look and I look...I actually do not want to join them today!  Shock horror!  I do not want to get wet, I do not want to feel cold.  I am someone Nat has never seen before, normally she has to stop me from being released and smashing it out.

She tries a couple of different angles, just go for a k and then come back, just get the feel for T2, just do some practice stuff in your new kayak.  I was not a charmer or an easy person this morning.  I went for a walk in the long grass and sand dunes, the chill from the air was not helping me smile, even if it was a tail wind.  I was feed up with looking at wind arrows and basically in a bad fickle Red mood.  We got T2 down, I packed her and placed her on her wheels while Nat made me coffee to help my mood.  Then you know what, I stayed dry.  I just sat on a section of sand and grass while we talked.  I was pleased there was no cell phone coverage or internet.

I talked about shit that was bothering me and Nat put a new spin on things.  We sorted out a plan, decided let's check out the coastline ahead, let's see where and who’s land we can access and let's cut this next section into sections so if you wish to bail you can.   A hedgehog stumbles across our path and then is an instant camera star in Nats eyes.  Images a plenty are taken.  He scuttles off quickly and poor Nat then has to return to the grumpy red head sat on the sand...

We watched a small light aircraft take off and land, it is a dream of Nats to fly something like that, and she will I am damn sure.  We then talked with John McGuinness the pilot when he had finished and wandered down to chat to us.  He said, "Gosh, you will get blown straight to your next destination with this tail wind!"  I explained I was not heading out and we asked for directions to the other station owners and off we set to look along the coastline.  We thank the lovely team at Glenburn station for allowing us onto their land.  We then drove all the way to Pahao and there is a possible landing spot there as well.

We have driven lots today, we and Cuzzie are covered in a thick layer of dust, and now I have seen this section of Coastline from the road.  I will be back on the water when the arrows are blue and purple, perhaps with a couple of green in the mix.

I have been told many times by a wise man in Snells Beach, if you don't want to paddle don’t  paddle.  Please be proud, and I Thank You from the bottom of my heart.  I have listened to this wise man, really listened.  It was and is tough to do, I am trying to listen to the wise and if anyone knows me then that is really not the old Red, it is something I am developing.

Nat has seen a side of me today many have and will not.  When the blooper edition appears it will be well worth a read.  

If you are in a mood or a weird head space remove yourself from the environment and do something different.  We did just that, we got covered in dust and have seen already many new and amazing beach locations we will be recommending to others, our top NZ beach favs are changing daily.

We are currently in a park far away from the sea, but she will be calling us back in the morning...

Red

DAY 46...Flat Point to...

When it feels wrong, stop and listen.

At 5.30 am we were up, ready and on track to head to the freight company to collect T2 (Thelma 2).  We packed up in relative silence, me with my cup of peppermint/honey tea in the front for the trip and Nat with her bottle of water.  We filled up with diesel then onto the Mainfreight depot we headed as it was just on 7am.  The staff where also only just arriving, friendly and helpful they checked the location of the truck and said it was just under an hour away, so back into Cuzzie we went to sit and wait.  This was looking great, as we waited I ate some breakfast and thought about the big paddle today.  I would be pleased to get this underway, not a lot of me likes waiting to get on the water.  It plays on my mind and troubles me the longer I wait.

T2 arrives, all wrapped up and we load her onto the roof.  Someone will explain to me one day the joys and benefits to the upright racks, at the moment they are not my favourites.  I struggle now to feel totally happy that I have tied down the kayak securely and it is not going to wriggle off if the arms move.  I am sure it was a user error and it will be explained to me in time what the heck I am doing wrong, I can be a little dumb sometimes.  I am still a little tense and I am unsure really why, I am at this stage just blaming the roof racks and that I am nervous about the fact we have tied T2 down correctly so we stop down the road to double check everything is tied up and nothing has moved.  Satisfied it's all secure we continue.

On the road back to Flat Point Nat asks me what the winds are doing and I quietly say, "Green arrows, 15 knots."  Her reply is bang on, “but you said you did not want to paddle in a 15 knot southerly."  The honesty of it all.  I am always hoping the wind will be easing, forever hopeful.  Dumb thinking actually.

We dive along the dusty gravel roads, and back to the starting point.  When we round the final corner and can look out at the ocean there is brilliant sunshine and wide open blue ocean for miles.  We are way up high and I can see ripples!  Inside I know this is not a great sign to see from so far away so I just pretend it is looking amazing.  I suggest to Nat that the ocean looks amazing. “Yep,” is the reply, there is no fooling her!  As we drive down and get closer there are bloody white caps for as far as the eye can see.  They are everywhere, coming from the direction I am wanting to go and with a very close together swell.  I am wanting to cover 64 km today, it is a late start already and now, yuck.

It doesn’t matter how positive a spin I was putting on this day the weather was having nothing to do with it.  The forecast was saying the wind is going to drop by four pm so we park up.  It is 9.15am so a little bit of a wait but I just needed to see and watch the ocean.  I am miffed and troubled by the winds.  I am miffed at a lot of things today and cannot put my finger on why, it is just one of those days.

We park looking out to sea.  The wind blows lots and the waves and whitecaps continue.  I wait, it's the four “W's” of my world (wind, waves, whitecaps and waiting!) but at least the sun is out.  I find a large patch of long grass sheltered from the wind and wait this out.  Today while I waited I wrote, I grabbed a pen and paper and sat in the warm sun and wrote.  My feelings, my emotions and my thoughts.  As I wrote some things made me feel sad and some things made me smile, but I just wrote everything that came into my head down like a rant to myself.  Some things I wrote made real sense and other things, well the words just sat and stared back at me and are still in my head with a question mark over them saying “why?”.  I think I wrote like this as normally when I am on the water or training this is “me” time.  I usually have time to deal with my thoughts, but three days on dry land have not helped at all and I have to vent somewhere so on paper was my best option.  

One pm and the four “W's” are still with me.  Bugger.  They are coming from the same direction and it is still not okay to get on the water yet.  Three pm arrives and the white caps have gone so we head to grab the key from the Flat Point Lodge owner Mary to gain access to one of the beaches.  She shares some local knowledge about the coastline and the road access as we feel that if I could maybe make it at least 20 kms before night fall that would help.

My head is now not in a great space, today has been long and drawn out.  Too many hitches, too much waiting.   After unwrapping T2 I give her a hug and a kiss and jump in.  She feels good, but I am not.  I paddle out slowly and staying close to shore I head along the beach around Flat Point.  It is now nearly 5pm.  This is against all our planning and what we had agreed to before this trip, late night paddling was only to be if I was running very late.  Unsure of myself I try my VHF to say, bugger this, I want to re group and go in the morning but no answer.  Okay Red just get on with it.  I look back one last time towards the road and the sand dunes, and to my delight Cuzzie and Nat had been shadowing me, they had been feeling a little nervous and concerned too.  I headed for the shore, jumped out, had a moment of 'I want to punch something' and a 'what the hell is wrong with me' groan.  After a bit of talking we decided lets just start on a new day. 

When it feels wrong, it feels really wrong, so I/we listened to that feeling.

Tomorrow will come, the sun will rise while I am on the water, we will smile and I will paddle well in my new T2.  Until then, good night.  We are back in our Flat Point paddock, thanks to Mary.

Red

PS. Mary told us it was stunning at Flat Point yesterday, a perfect day.  Never mind!  T2 was not with us and the stunning day will find us again I am sure.  Apparently everything happens for a reason...

True love

DAY 45...And so we wait

Early morning rise for me today, I had energy to burn and was up by 6am.  After wriggling and rustling in my sleeping bag for at least half an hour I got up and headed for a walk around the campsite and to grab a long hot shower.  We like the Masterton campsite.  Firstly, the showers are free!  This is one of the few we have encountered lately, there is no time limit on the showers so there is no need to try and get your hair washed and conditioned and you washed as well before the water cuts off and you are left either with a final cold rinse (or a half soapy body and head when ALL the water stops, as at Castle Point) and you are asked for another 50c or $1 for you to get more water.  It is incredible how fast you get at showering when you have a max of four minutes, especially when it takes one minute for the water to warm up, Nat is a demon at it.  The Masterton showers also have extremely forceful pressure, which is great to massage those tired muscles.

The second cool factor was that it was sunny and the wind was getting blustery, as I was not paddling it was another chance for the trapped tiger to keep busy.  I was into my other addiction when still for too long, to find the washing machine and everything that needed washing was grabbed.  This campsite has the BEST machines I have ever used, and again they are free.  I was grinning and it was only just 7.30!  I am some days so easy to please, dumb I know but exciting when you have been in dust and the ocean for a little while, the simple day to day things we take for granted are the things that become rather exotic.  Oh my, dear me, what have I become? :)

Next it was time to sit and look at the upcoming weather forecasts and hope they were still on track.  I jotted down the next five days on some note paper to try get some pre planing done and to try and not annoy Nat to much.  I am not sure if I am very at all successful at that because I am the most noisy person when trying to rustle and forage through my bags of gear, oops, sorry support team.

Coffee for breakfast, then another cup just because why not.  "You had any breakfast yet?" is a comment passed my way!  There is always a bit of a concern from the team when I get onto coffee first thing in the morning as it makes me more hyper than normal.  The next thing was to go and collect T2 from Mainfreight... or not.  Auckland is frantic with Christmas freight so poor T2 missed the cut.  Not everything can be as I want.  They have promised me tomorrow and I have emailed Auckland to remind them.  Poor Charlie at Mainfreight has since then fielded 3 more calls from me checking and rechecking T2 is going to be arriving and we are welcome to go Mainfreight depot at 7am to see if the truck has arrived and unloaded, fingers crossed they are running on time!

We brainstormed today, we have tweaked our donation page and now have options for you to select so you receive a small gift depending on your donation.  Please go and check it out, (here) we are, as you know, raising funds for a charity and also it would be great for Redz NZ Journey Team to have a little more funding.  Every little bit helps with petrol and day to day costs.

I  practised doing hand/head stands, did some crazy yoga poses, rested in the hot Masterton sunshine.  I helped/nagged Nat to do some stretches, we used some of our homemade moisturiser/tanning lotion (another of Red's crazy potions).  I even smiled at how many bees there are in this part of the country, they were everywhere.  I love bees and find them pretty amazing wee insects, considering in Auckland there seem so few.  I have my own beehives at home to try and help out, the easiest pets I have ever had.  Nat started working on pictures for the Redz Coffee table book and did some updates on the website.

We are off to the supermarket for dinner items.  I am yearning to get back on the water and am mindful of the many days I seem to have been on dry land, thanks El Nino weather to turn up this summer!!  Tomorrow is looking promising, and we hope to be in Wellington early next week.

Red

If you look closely, you can see the crazy shining through in her eyes :)

Bumble bee in the lavender

DAY 44...Flat Point Paddock, Masterton Cafes and Sunshine

I have said so many times already that we like to laugh, and we do try to most days, even when someone is sick vomiting in a bucket we do, at each others expense, crack black humoured jokes.  The humour and jokes where being aimed towards me last night and this morning, and I deserved it all.  We have for the past 44 days carried around a solar shower with us and yesterday it was christened as we were in a paddock with no one else for miles.  I at last hung the shower from the kayak racks and showered (butt naked) with the warmed water from the days sun.  It took me back to my life in Waiheke when I had an outdoor shower surrounded by tree ferns, it was amazingly refreshing and oddly bloody funny.  Yes we have a shower in Cuzzie, but why waste precious power and tank water when you do not need to?  It was showering again in the morning that the far off farmers could hear me scream as I decided this was going to be used again, however not so warm now, but refreshingly nice and invigorating.  I loved it!  All the time Nat was just inside shaking her head and not at all being convinced this was a great way to start her day (and she is pretty out there with ideas and antics.)

We checked the weather report, we rechecked it again, sadly no go for today or tomorrow, even the crayfish boats were on dry land!  That says it all really, so off to Masterton we headed, poor Cuzzie over the dusty gravel road again.  There was a little bit of rain which helped with the dust today.  Scarecrow straw men we passed again, some just sitting, some in wheelchairs and some made out of hay bails and wearing rugby jerseys.

Masterton you have us for the next day or so, the sun is out and yes there is wind.  We have already meet numerous friendly locals.  As we headed into town to walk the streets I purchased a second hand electric frypan (ha they have become my favourite in all the campsite kitchens) so Cuzzie has a new gadget, and our tummies will have lots of crispy potatoes, yummy.  Electric frypans are the one stop cooking apparatus that is an oldie but a forgotten fab.

Another reason for Masterton is my replacement for red star kayak Thelma 2 is due into town tomorrow, she is with Mainfreight as we speak.  THANK YOU Vero and Andy Warner.

So what we have discovered today...
Great cafe located this afternoon, Cafe Strada, fabulous staff, amazing coffee and brilliant team working here.
Fabulous second hand store, he even has an original Sissons Kayak hanging in the rafters for sale!
Flat Point has a vineyard/winery and we will grab a couple of bottles on Friday.

We are happy today and so lucky to be on this adventure!  I have to keep pinching myself that my dream is actually happening and it is bloody fantastic (well most of the time) even when I am not paddling I am seeing places I have never been to before, some places a couple of days too long, but each day there is something odd or new or slightly crazy and fun to see, do or watch.  Support team and I are doing well, like minded in so many ways, refreshingly full of quips and honesty about everything.  Even when the other crew members are back in Auckland we get messaged daily with jokes and encouragement.

So while a lot of you sit in a traffic jam or go to another Christmas function Nat and I lie in the evening sunshine in a calm, tranquil Masterton campsite. (I know where I would rather be).  I am on dinner duties, my new electric frypan is out, time for my most favourite foods, steak, kumera, fried eggs and some wilted greens, yum.  The most unused appliance so far is my magic bullet (blender).  It most definitely should have stayed in Auckland!  It takes up valuable cupboard space and may just get sent home.

Till tomorrow
Red

Red with short black and peppermint tea in Masterton

Flat Point Camping Ground

DAY 43...Finally leaving Castle Point

I knew the start was to be very early today and set my alarm for 2.45 am, aiming to get ready and then drive to the Castle Point Lagoon to try and be on the water by 4 am.  I wanted this paddle done and dusted early as the wind was gradually dropping each hour I was out until around 1 pm.  The first plan to go wrong was the setting of my alarm!  I had set it for 2.45 pm!  That would have been no help at all, luckily I was waking on and off from midnight, listening to see if the wind was dropping and then looking at my mobile checking the time.  At 2.50 am I wondered why my alarm had not gone off, ha, idiot.   I am impressed with my inbuilt alarm clock as if I had not woken up that would have put me in an instant bad mood.

Down to the lagoon and it was pitch black.  I had not figured there was no moon for this paddle.  Nat had mentioned it but there was cloud cover on and off.  I had my head torch on and as I was pushed off into the lagoon got reminded to put on my red flashing light as well for the cray-fisherman, though at this stage they were not even up.

The Castle Point Lagoon was a little bit darker than I wanted so I waited till my eyes adjusted to the rocks and the waves that where rolling in over some sections of the rocks walls.  There was a little bit of nervousness in my stomach and I was questioning myself a little.  I inched myself towards the end of the rocks and used the massive hill as my maker for the exit.  It is a crazy thing paddling in the dark as it is really hard to see how big the swell is and also I was hoping I would see if there were any breaking waves.  To me it was fine, there was a big swell but there was no white foaming breaking waves so out I paddled.  Some of the swells seemed bigger than I liked and I hoped I was not going to paddle out into a rolling, turbulent washing machine swell like the Friday when I came into the lagoon.  It was with a dry mouth I got going, checking my Garmin in the dark and then pointing the my nose of my kayak in the correct direction and faintly making out the hills along the coast.  Each km I rechecked my paddling to make sure I was not heading out into the yonder and that I was on track.  I was doing okay and after a little while it was getting lighter and everything seemed to be calming as I got further from Castle Point.

It was still a strange day, grey overcast and it took forever to get light.  The sunrise did not happen as there was way too much cloud.  At my hourly intervals I txt Nat to let her know how I was tracking and that I was on track to chat to her at our checkpoint, Riversdale, by mobile as at this stage we did have good coverage.  I got to Riversdale in the four hours as planned, I stayed way out the back and had weaved my way along the coastline following the craypot line.  They have and are a great guide to missing any unexpected breaking waves.  I continually scanned the horizon to make sure I did not make any errors or try and cut any corners at the headlands and points as I wanted an uneventful paddle today.

Nat and I chatted at Riversdale, she asked me if I wanted to continue on as planned and my answer was on the lines of, “too damn right.”  I wanted to get some distance down this coastline today before the predicted wind returned and along with it an increasingly larger swell.  Today I had packed some extra gear in Louise and also a 6kg water bladder to give her a little more weight and it was helping, but also what was helping was there where no big wind gusts and that is what has some days unnerved me about this section of the coastline.  We all can deal with a strong wind (within reason) but a strong wind and then a crazy insane wind gust that just about blows you completely over is not good for the nerves or your energy level, especially if it is for the entire day.  It makes me doubt the weather forecast and then the doubt starts eating you up, and jangling your nerves even more.  The other (good) mental mind game for me was that if it did turn pear shaped I had packed enough to be able to camp overnight.

It started to rain and continued for the next hour.  I could see sunlight and the sky clearing as I was getting further down the coast, heading towards Flat Point.  I had about another 3 hours paddle to reach the beach and I gradually edged down this coastline, actually smiling to myself thinking of a comment my friend in Australia had emailed saying, “Red, just imagine how many crays you are paddling over!”  Yes, Greggie, if you were with me we would be going diving, but you are not and the crays can stay where they are, maybe next time.  The cray boats were out early on and I think this is always a good sign as they know the weather and this coastline well, so if they are out early then most times the day is okay.

From Riversdale to Flat Point there were a few river outlets but as there was only a light wind they were not too bad, the normally dirty water, uneven chop and swells were still there however.  At one stage today I had suggested I push on further than Flat Point, I was now glad for Nat saying no.  I got closer to Flat Point and the point was littered with whitecaps, this was going to be a long haul out and around them, there was no way of cutting through without rolling yourself.  I tried Nat on the VHF as the meeting spot was just around this point and to my joy she answered.  The new Cobra VHF the land crew had was amazingly better than the original.  I said that it was calm my side and there were trailers and tractors on this side meaning I thought this would be better to land on.  Nat mentioned that around her side it was tougher than yesterday when we looked.  I asked if she could try and get out to me as I was keen to land where I was.

While she drove out to the point I bobbed around in the relative calm.  I watched Nat in Cuzzie as they navigated gates and driveways then headed to the lodge on the point to ask if it was okay to go on their private property.  Luck was on our side!  Mary from the lodge not only said it was fine to get to the beach, she gave Nat a key to the locked gate, but then added she had a camping area for us to stay on as well as the use of their reception wifi to check weather reports.  By now the sun was shining and it was time to land, I came in, jumping into the water and grabbing my kayak for Nat to drag up the beach.

The day was done :)

We unloaded the kayak, found the camping field and I set about drying out my gear.  The funny thing is that paddock we are camping in is the paddock we found the cool long drop in yesterday, what a crazy world!

This afternoon was resting and relaxing in the sun and shade.  My day of paddling was over before midday and I was pleased, the inner stress had started to hum with the wind that had started to pick up again.  From the paddock Nat and I can see the big whitecaps now on the ocean.  For me this coastline and large whitecaps are not a happening thing, so unless the weather report has changed drastically I am stuck in this paddock tomorrow.

Red

Long exposure at Castle Point Lagoon this morning.  That white spot in the middle may be Red...

DAY 42...Heading back up the coast

We awoke at 1 and 2 am as the other camper vans left for the early ferry crossings, it seemed to us that they had wanted everyone to wake up with them, a tad noisy to say the least.  Never mind as also the camper van was being blown about, the wind was cold and strong.  At least the weather forecasts have been bang on of late.  We lay and listened to the other freedom campers moving about and we eventually got up about 7.00 am.  We busied ourselves with jobs, it was great to see that Nat was now back to feeling nearly better after the rough ride into Wellington, she was now able to keep food and water down and she was wanting food at last, a big breakfast to fill an extremely empty stomach.  We went into town and found a great little cafe to provide us with a good brekkie, we will go back for sure, the home made hash browns were amazing.

Us girls also managed to find the dump station and Cuzzie was emptied and her water tanks refilled.  We chatted to a lovely couple who recognised our journey from the TV and newspaper articles.  It was nice to stop for a moment and talk and exchange mutual thoughts and feelings on Mental Health issues, we shared a lot of similar thoughts and they both were extremely supportive of the cause and the journey.  With photos taken and with Cuzzie sorted off we went for fresh meat purchases and other things to jam into the fridge.  There is a possibility that we will be off the sealed roads now for a few days so we forced as much as possible into the fridge and headed for the motorway.

So back up to Castle Point, on the way we decided to take a detour to Flat Point to check out the landing and locations for me for tomorrows paddle.  Lots of winding unsealed roads, plenty of dust, a couple of logging trucks and a few sheep.  At last we arrived, the landing looks sort of okay, there have been worse.  We are hoping I can push a little further along and Nat may have to ask a couple of local farmers if it is ok to access the beach over their land.  Lets just see how far I get as I have been missing a lot of final set destinations lately, so not promising too much to the support team.

The best site today was the tea-tree toilet construction we saw along the road side (pic below) and the other great site was a drop in the wind at Castle Point and the chance to get on the water for awhile tomorrow.  I will be totally pleased to just get a little further down the coast, but I am still wanting a calm day to knock off a big chunk and get closer to Wellington.  Really I am trying not to look to far ahead and just keep my chin down and focus on it day by day.  Paddle stroke by paddle stroke attitude.  Lets see if I can keep focused on this. 

Along the roads today we saw a lot of very unusual straw scarecrows, they were a rather unusual sight.  Nat found a couple of them rather disturbing, I just found them entertaining.  Sorry no pics as the road was too narrow to stop and be tourists.

Back at our spot at the Castle Point campground, dinner cooked on their BBQ.  Nat reckons it was the best meal, ha, that's just because she was starving.  I best get organised now as I have still gear to be packed away ready for the early morning paddle, my food is packed, thermos of tea made, brownie and snacks a plenty.  I am aiming for a pre sunrise paddle as wind is dropping apparently to single figures, lets wait and see.  I have set myself limits re wind and swells for this coastline, and it is small steps along this coast, the weather gods will assist me soon I am sure of that.

Maybe off the grid tomorrow night, so a double blog as soon as we come back online.  Until then enjoy your world and enjoy your crazy December, we it seems are miles away from this at present.

Red

Beautiful outdoor roadside toilet

Wellington Marina

DAY 41...Rain, Wind, Wellington

Some days you have to laugh, last night when I eventually got myself to bed (well after midnight) it must have been cold as their cat, he decided the warmest place was to crawl inside and under the bed blankets and to sleep curled up by my feet most of the night.  Well until Briar and Dave got home from their night out, then she wriggled out and was gone.  Cats, they are only your friends when they feel like it!

This morning I waited for the weather to calm a little and then went out to Cuzzie and tried to remove some dust, grime and sand from inside and look at what was needed in her before we headed back up the coast tomorrow.  I climbed up on top and checked out the tie downs on Louise to make sure she was secure.  The roof was a tad slippery this morning in my bare feet and the wind was damn strong so I walked around gingerly up there and decided that in case of an accident to get down quickly.  Inside the flat I made a huge pot of peppermint and lemon tea, sat with my laptop and guess what I stared at for about 2hrs.  Weather forecasts!   No Nat to ban me from looking so I tormented myself for quite a while.   Really there are not words to describe this self torture, anyway, nothing I can do. 

On with the day, we chatted and then cooked up a great Sunday brekkie.  Bacon, eggs, mushrooms and sausages, it was just what I needed as last night I got a little too absorbed with other things and had forgotten to eat so my stomach was trying to chew at my backbone by the time we ate.  Yum.

I slowly got myself back into the camper van, with my recharged laptop, batteries on phones fully charged and also backup charger packs ready and full, and then I was on the road.  Firstly heading to the supermarket to grab some essentials, on the way I texted Nat to see how she was doing and organised the pickup point for her from the Wellington airport.

Basic food gathered, sorry to say but the Xmas food, hams/turkeys, sweet mince tarts and tinsel all stayed well clear of my basket.  I am still not sure why the world thinks we need to force feed ourselves on Christmas day, and everyone seems to shop for food as if the holocaust or a nuclear bomb is about to explode.  There is only one day the supermarkets are closed, just one day, and today the supermarket shelves where heaving.  I felt a little repulsed today by it all, ah well not for me to judge.

I run from the supermarket and jump back into Cuzzie and headed out to the airport.  This place is also a little crazy, there seem to be frustrated taxi drivers everywhere and people rushing for flights or having last minute ticket and baggage issues.  I chat to a dear friend on my mobile about life back in Auckland, and think now my black eye is nothing as she is suffering from having a big operation to remove 3 wisdom teeth, yikes.  Then my mind flicks to another great mate who has just had a hip replacement, sheeze, I am truly blessed really.  I can not even begin to imagine the pain from this type of operation, Mr V Foster please make sure you rest and do your rehab.  I expect to see you hiking to the end of one of the Fiorland tracks to meet me, big hugs.

At last I see Nat as she arrives, she makes me smile as I see by her attire that Auckland was really warm, she is in her denim shorts and t shirt.  She quickly relives her not so pleasant flight into Wellington airport, she is feeling a little worse for the bumpy flight.  With bags slung over our shoulders we quickly head back to the warmth of Cuzzie and head towards the marina car park to join all the other freedom campers and camper-vans for the evening.  Some of the vehicles I recognise from Friday night, this is a popular location it seems.

Nat heads to lie on the grass and try and clear her head, wrapped up in a woolen blanket.  I am reading, Cresting the Restless Waves (Paul Caffyn).  I will let you all know if it helps me on this next section of my paddle.  Today has been for me a very lazy day.  I have gone for a small brisk walk along the marina, wrapped in layers of leggings, shoes, socks and also many layers of my sharkskin, there is a cold bite in the air and I know tomorrow is not much better.  I am heading back to the coastline to sit now and wait the weather out, taking bite sized section at a time.  It seems this is going to take some time and one day soon the weather will change and I will get a clear warm and calm day.

Well one day...

Happy Sunday to you all.  I am hoping you have all had a great day, we are tucked up in the camper van and would like a crystal ball to see what this week is going to bring us.  The weather forecast is grim, the deck of cards is going to be used a lot I am thinking, and maybe Nat will have to go and chat with the surfers at Castle Point and get some lessons if we are stuck there too long.

Great news is that my Red T2 is nearly ready to join us!  Her launching will be any day now, I cannot wait.

Night Night
Red 

One of the many water front sculptures

Cuzzie lined up with all the others at the marina camper-van location 

DAY 40...A CHILL PILL..

I had a new experience last night.  Cuzzie and I dropped Nat at the airport then headed for the closest freedom camping spot at the harbour for the night in Wellington.  This crazy campervan community that we have discovered is pretty cool, I am in a car park next to the harbour with sea views, all cosy away from the Wellington wind in my bed thinking gosh this is way cool.  Self contained campervans have so many places you can stay for free four days in a row.  Great views and you have everything you need, coffee machine, comfy bed, the noise of the sea...and yep you guessed it the damn wind.  It did not relent all night!  Never mind as I had things to go and do Saturday and if the weather was fine and calm that would have eaten me up big time.

Wellington on a sunny, windy Saturday was rather special.  I wandered around and looked and just enjoyed it.  I met up with my niece Briar for breakfast at the Nikau Cafe.  It was really great to chat, listen and catchup on her world and her plans.  We drank coffee, I had scrambled eggs, bacon and avocado.  Briar had fried sage eggs and that looked damn good as well, maybe breakfast for me tomorrow.
Off we ambled down to the waterfront and sat on a grassed banked area in the sunshine looking over a large water feature.  Such a cool layout in this area and a really cool atmosphere.  No inner city hustle and bustle, hardly any christmas stress.  I am liking this city more and more each time I visit, just can it please stop with the wind for a few days!  That would be truly appreciated.

At about two I was getting hungry again so myself, Briar and Dave headed for lunch.  A very cool, small rustic Italian place.  We shared pork with crackling, roast chicken and herbs, crispy roasted potatoes, eggplant, courgettes and capsicums.  Yum!  I have got to say I am going back there for sure.  Extremely real and cool.

Then it was off with the two of them while they searched for Christmas presents.  Briscoes first stop, I braced myself for mad craziness but to my disbelief it was dead calm and tranquil.  The rest of the stores we visited were the same.  I am still a little stunned by this as am quite sure Auckland would have been heaving!
As promised I have embraced Christmas, the Grinch in me is departing.  Cuzzie has new fairy lights.  Yes it is true, I purchased them.

I have removed my paddling head for the next few days as there is no yes or no or maybe, it is a NO GO.

I am back to Briar and Dave's flat, I will find a wash world to spruce up Cuzzie and then an early night in a big bed.  Relaxing and rejuvenating is to be my next day or so.  Windy days ahead, well they have just had to become my friends.  Enjoy the rest RED, enjoy these moments as they will never come around again.

Today I was asked if I missed anything or had cravings from before life and pre journey, I pondered for just a little and in total honesty, at present no.  I am liking my daily changing life canvas,I have found and reignited the gypsy in me and anyone close enough to me can feel the new happiness I have.  Letting life flow along just in front of you like a rippling stream is feeling damn good.  If you can do it I recommend stepping off that relentless treadmill, if I have gone and managed it then many others surely can.  You can actually breathe deeply and it is like having polarized sunglasses on, everything is clearer and brighter.

Please don't think I do not come across my moments and challenges, I surely do, but these I will share in more depth when the team and I sit down at the end of the journey, a sort of behind the scenes blooper moments It is really interesting what and how each one of us faces the craziness of each day, our strengths are all different, but as the team it is working..

For now that is me, rejuvenating.
Big hugs,
Red

PS: The warmest thank you to Andy Blake from Canoe & Kayak Wellington.  Great to meet you and you are most welcome anytime to please come paddle with me.  I will keep you posted on when I actually am heading into Wellington in my little red kayak.

Red and Briar Paterson ( my coolest niece )

Chill time in Wellington