DAY 79...Duvauchelle

Another day on this Peninsula dawned and we where stuck on land.  No window to paddle, apart from the rocking of Cuzzie, due to the wind overnight, this morning it was windy, raining and cold.  I awoke during the night and just listened to the weather and rainfall, so very pleased I was not in a tent, pleased we had a camper van with a little bit of space.  We, as per normal, checked the weather forecasts, maybe it had changed and blown through earlier.  Ha, who the heck was I trying to kid?  We had made a list of admin/indoor tasks to get through on the laptop, learn more about this satellite tracking device and get up to speed on how it works.  So we slowly worked on drinking hot cups of coffee while ticking off the tasks.  These had to be completed, we told ourselves, before we could go out and about for a hike to discover new places.  The list we gradually got through but, as per normal, we got side tracked by calls, emails and generally being diverted as we all do once you connect up to the outside world.  Gradually we got through the lists and learning how to use the inReach device I will have on the water with me soon.  I have a total new gadget phobia and always shy away from starting to learn unless I have the brain space and the time to do this slowly and in my manner.  I have to physically do it to learn, I can not just read a manual or watch others, I am hopeless.  So we watched, read and practiced with this cool little unit until I was happy with my progress.  It is an entertaining process and one that has the support crew in fits of laughter at my lack of patience with gadgets and IT processes.  I think there should be just a one step turn on and use button, but alas each piece of equipment has a special process.  I am happier by midday and we are both hungry with a little to much coffee in us so food was in order.

I was trying some new freeze dried food that you just add hot water to, a Venison & Beetroot meal from Radix Nutirtion.  I had been promising for weeks to see if they would be a good option for my up coming solo stints, so this was the test day for me.  I was not expecting anything more than average and was very surprised with the final flavour, albeit we added too much water, (we read the instructions wrong, user error!) wait 10 mins and eat.  It was yummy!  All natural and no yucky additives.  I am impressed and with our tummies full we were looking for an outdoor activity so headed out wrapped up in layers of clothing.

Outside the wind had increased but the rain had at last stopped.  We headed off to walk the Onawe Walk, a sacred Maori site.  We walked and chatted, it is always nice going and discovering a new place not knowing what to expect.  The walk was cool, we pased the Duvaucelle wharf and in the wind at the end of the walkway I had to practice my head/forearm/hand stand.  I am improving and soon I will be doing full hand stands, well by the time this journey has ended, maybe.  I was a little afraid the wind may blow me sideways and have me topple off the wharf into the ocean.  Thankfully that did not happen..

Up and over the central track we walked.  Infact we found a track that was a little like the roads that Tricia was driving on yesterday, rather narrow and steep.  We were going cross country and the real track was down below but ours was far more adventurous and a challenge.  Back down safely on the beach and rocks we stood and looked at the amazing colour and features of the rocks and cliffs.  Tan, terracotta and black rock faces.  The patterns, colours and shapes they made were like pieces of art.  I tried to take creative pictures with my iphone but seriously photography is not my best skill.

The track took us to the end of a cool rock and bush clad point which gave us 360 degree views of the Akaroa harbour and many panoramic images were taken.  The photos never seem to replicate the total stunning on mass feeling you get when looking at this view.  If you head this way, this walk is a must to do even on a windy, cloudy day.  We sat on some huge rocks, we stood tall on them and just went WOW!  There was a great, warm feeling on this point and I have to thank Trish for locating and taking us there.  At last we decided to head back to home base as food and refreshments where badly needed, I did not even have a chocolate bar stashed in my jacket to share.  It was a fast walk back along the beaches and roadsides with a water stop required at the general store to make it back to base.  I know I say it is cold, but today I had not one layer of sharkskin jackets, but two to keep the wind away.  The Southerly was bitter, or I am actually getting softer by the day as we head south.  Yesterday was 28 degrees and today about 14 degrees with a wind chill of -4(!) and a low of 8 degrees tonight.

We are back at our campsite.  Trish is on dinner duties and has headed to the shared kitchen to cook, watch the news and chat to the other campers in the kitchen.  I am in Cuzzie happily typing to you all about my day.  Mentally it is tough at the moment and mentally it is hard to keep focused when it is such a start stop process at the moment.  Yes, I have my times where I would like to see a break in the weather or actually just re write the weather forecast to suit me, I have not been the best person when it comes to being patient.  It is a new skill I have been learning, I do have my moments but as long as I keep busy, accept what mother nature sends me weather-wise and not let it eat away at me I am fine.  Well most of the time, patience is a practiced skill and I am still practicing.  Anyone who knows me will be laughing at me having to develop in this area and it can be a little like being with a caged tiger, I have my moments.

I have things to do tomorrow, like fly a kite.  I need to practice and get better than Jase before he returns.  Also, find a sheltered lagoon, do some rolling practices and just paddle in the calm and enjoy a sheltered water outing to just maybe, just maybe, convince Trish to come for a gentle paddle as out on the coastline where I really need to be heading is impossible.  I have to start knitting that damn scarf I promised Nat I would start when I have an off the water day and yes, more training for the 'technofobe', (Shane I am 100% better than yesterday with my understanding).  The IT guys, Mike, Jeremy and Corey from Auckland who know me oh so well, will be laughing hysterically and can probably visualize my frowning brow.  Never do I want to become that person who refuses to learn new tricks and improve my skills.

Dinner is cooked, Tricia has impressed the entire camp kitchen with her smells and culinary skills. Most are having pasta with a jar of Dolmio Pasta sauce.  We are dining on a Mexican delight tonight.

My smiles for today:
Celebrating others birthdays!  Being the first to wish Nat a 'Happy Birthday' by txt at 6.30am.  She is on a fabulous birthday mission, (anyone in Auckland look out) it will be a massive day for Nat and she was celebrating well before midday, much texting, snapchatting (till it jammed my iphone and I deleted the app, oops!) and many updates on Facebook from her as the day progressed.
Chatting to Ford & Lena as they departed for Dunedin in their little brown and cream Kombi.  Lena was in the drivers seat today and the little Kombi was smiling.  Ford, I think you will have to stay as the passenger, Lena suited driving that little VW.
Being out in the wind, walking and just taking in this totally awe inspiring amazing country we live in.  I have only seen such a little slice but I am falling more in love with it every day.  My dad was right when he said he never ever wanted to travel, he is probably totally correct.
Re-watching my dolphin videos, as they always make me smile.

So a great day and a lot has been achieved.  I have not gone backwards, just stayed in the same place waiting on, you guessed it, Mother Nature to have a change of heart and let me continue.  While I type Trish is studying the weather forecast, it is not looking pretty.

My thoughts today:
If you look for reasons to be UNHAPPY you'll find them..  If you look for reasons to be HAPPY you'll find them too.

Till tomorrow,
Red, Trish & Cuzzie

On Top of the World

My 'office' view today

DAY 78...Le Bon Bay to Te Akaroa Point, then Wainui

To sum up today before I start, it felt like one step forward and two steps sideways, but that is the nature of this journey...

We woke, we refreshed the weather charts and got ready and on the road back to Le Bon Beach to get underway and launched.  With a calm beach sunshine and a positive head on my shoulders we laughed a little, got everything ready and wen down to the beach, then off I went, out onto a calmish ocean.  We had waited a little as the wind further around the cape was not dropping until 11am, so an earlier sparrows start was not a wise idea.  This trip was an interesting one. as sections I thought would be flat and calm it was the commercial washing machine at it's finest hour and at times I seriously thought I had got the weather wrong.  The points that I was going around were extremely messy and all over the place so I took my time, watched and read the waves as they aimed at me from every angle.  There was calm moments and there were beautiful bays, coast and rock formations to keep my mind occupied.  The Dolphins came to play and then would disappear and then a different set would turn up.  I think I had at least a dozen sightings today as well as a group stay and play around my bow for about ten minutes.  This always makes the time go quickly and the kms ticked over, there was no cell phone coverage and no VHF check points until I had covered 30kms, all the way to the point by the entrance to the Akaroa Bays.  Poor Tricia was wondering how I was getting on and had been on her own adventures while I paddled, trying to find a possible point she may see me from or be able to get cell phone coverage or a VHF to me.  Tight turn arounds and gravel had her heart racing and Cuzzies wheels spinning a couple of times as she chatted to the local farmers for directions and possible access points.  There was to be no luck on her side of the hills, at one time she said that she did not dare look to her right as she was so close to the cliffs and it was rather scary, the poor support crew.

Tricia has had a great time chatting to locals today first up was at Le Bon, then Alan a local on holiday stopped for a chat when she was leaving Le Bon.  The Farmer when she was on her adventure and then the local Kelp Farmer, Peter, so her time waiting for me was entertaining, in fact she only had time for one coffee the entire day I was on the water.

For me the paddling was going okay, a couple of fishermen watched me rise and fall in and out of some big swells and I am sure there was a small frown on their faces as I picked my way through the waves and swell.  It was only on the points and then calmed down again as I got past and into the bays.  Along the way I filmed some video footage of the coastline, the water and the waves I was going through so others could see that the ocean was not as calm as the bays we all sit and look out at, dreaming of a perfect calm, like a Fijian lagoon.  It was not and my weather window for the other end to make it to Te Oka was again disappearing.  As I got closer to Akaroa Point, the lighthouse and cliff I tried the VHF, no answer.  After the third attempt along the way Tricia replied and we were back in coverage.  I think it is harder for the support team waiting than for me paddling on these silent sections.

So the discussion started about the weather, the distances left to cover and option 1 or 2.  As I sat the point was calm and blue,  I looked and it was hard to go and believe the wind was going to lift and make my life miserable, but talking with Tricia we made the call and memory of the bigger than expected swells and washing machine paddling earlier swayed me to turn in towards Wainui.  A sort of side ways move, but, we had agreed and it made everyone, support team and myself, feel comfortable.  Off I headed, I played with some more dolphins and then saw three dolphin boats scattered about with their customers swimming in the water with some of the friendlier Hectors.  One boat headed my way so I pointed to the small pod I had just left and waved good bye.  They gave me the thumbs up, thank you, and headed to have some fun.

As like magic he wind arrived and it built steadily as I got out and started to cross to Wainui.  I was actually surfing with an extremely brisk tail wind, I got some way cool runs and was motoring along, no skirt on and just my thigh braces, keeping me cool but still secure.  Waves would wash into my cockpit once in a while so I paddled with the Venturi open and listened to it gurgle as it sucked the water out at great speed.  I love this little piece of equipment!  I was making great time, I spoke with Tricia as I spotted her on the beach parked in Cuzzie, she could not locate me as there were too many white caps.  Within no time I was aiming at her feet and paddling into shore, a very quick ten km done and dusted, and the weather gods telling me a big congrats for listening to my inner feelings.  We had called this correctly, it would have been unpleasant on the outside of the Peninsula now, so big smiles, sunshine and a high five to the support team for their gentle persuasion to call it a day at 40 km.  We were loaded and in the sunshine chatting, drinking coconut water and sharing my whittakers chocolate bar and in no time at all we were ready to hit the road to the nearest campsite.  On the way we stopped off again at the small cheese factory for Tricia and it was as cool as the first visit.

The campsite is great,  the veiw is pretty stunning and the wind has dropped, yep dropped.  Of course it has, just to torment me!  It is 8.30pm at night and it is picking up even in the tranquil bay we are in by midnight, and out on the coast, well you have guessed it, big winds and southerlies.  I am frustrated, it is so deceiving, calm where you are and blowing a gale further where you need to go.  I have about 350 kms to get to Dunedin and it might as well be 3000 kms!  I will get there but I have jinxed it and booked a flight for Nat's return into Dunedin, and would you guess, I am never going to be there by the 18th of January when her flight arrives.  So much for pre planning, I will never learn.

Frustrations aside, everything happens for a reason and we have seen and are seeing this wonderful Cape bit by bit.  Tonight we are in a beautiful location, we have cool and lovely people and tonight we meet a cool couple, Ford & Lena, they have a great little VW Combi camper.  So cool, brown and cream, as we watched them pull in and parkup we smiled and got chatting.  They have had a bad, stressful day on the Akoroa, we joined them to laugh and share horrendous stories.  Ford when we complimented him on the cute VW van, just said, "OMG this piece of Sh**?" and we all just cracked up laughing.

Coffee, chocolate, a gossip and story telling after they have cooked their dinner.  We have loaned them out baby Weber to cook up a storm as we have had the yummiest roast chicken cooked on this little BBQ, with sweetcorn and stir-fried greens, yumbo.  Tricia has cooked up a storm.  Dishes done, showered and warm, we are off to gossip, tell stories and enjoy, as no paddling tomorrow, and that is getting a little boring I have to say.

My smiles today:
Dolphins from Le Bons bay (biggest smile of any day)
Listening to the waves and ocean as I paddled along
BBQ CHICKEN and fresh sweetcorn
Laughing with new people about our daily adventures
Sitting on an old family blanket in the sun sharing chips and sipping on a stout shandy, just like my Grandad liked.

My thoughts today:
Actions speak louder than words.  This saying is so true, my my.  Sometimes you will never know The true value of a moment until it is a memory

Ciao from Duvauchelle Campsite
Red & Tricia and Cuzzie.

Chips and a Shandy

Dolphin near Le Bon

DAY 77...Bit by bit

We were up way before the sun this morning and on the road, it is was still well and truly night time, even in my early bird world.  The roads we had to ourselves and we wove our way back to Little Akaloa.  I am about to get on the water, even if it is only a half day it is further around this cape and that has to be a good thing.  There is a chill to the air but at the moment not a breath of wind, what a nice change.  I get my gear on and sit and drink my normal peppermint tea with a huge spoonful of honey and am watched like a hawk by Tricia to make sure I eat all my food.  It will be the last time I have tinned salmon for breakfast!  It was liking eating a can of Dine pet food, I think I have to thank Regan for leaving this gem behind!  Not at all enjoyable, but down it went with the rational thinking that it is energy and I would be thankful of this later on.

I jumped into T2 only getting my ankles wet.  I adore these calm departures in the early hours of the morning, there was no moon this morning, to me it is always a little weird and haunting not to have a moon shining on the water, but it was not for long.  Paddling out of the bay was easy and it is always nice once you are back on the water for a few kms, getting settled into a nice rhythm.  Along I went and as I got out of the bay and turned there was a smallish swell with a little breeze, again I have to say this Peninsula is brilliant and the colours in the early hours of this morning continue to blow me away.  Browns, tans and black rocks with the turquoise ocean and not a soul to be seen.  It stayed this way and soon I was at the first check point, no cell phone coverage so Tricia crackled over the VHF asking how I was going.  "All good," was my reply, looking up I see Cuzzie pearched way up on a barren hillside, smiling at me from a distance.  She is a character, I know you all think I am probably a little strange talking about our camper van like this but she surely has a personality, one would have to to survive this road trip with us.  This check point was Okains Bay, not far as we have shortened the checkpoints for this section and try when and where ever there is a road as there are only a few out to certain Bays.  It is a challenge for Tricia and Cuzzie to locate me and chat.

Next check point and as I round a point the swell picks up, my weather forecast said it was 2 to 2.2m swell and it surely was.  No wind so it was okay, I tucked into the cliffs and stayed close to them, away from the wind that was picking up.  At this stage I had a feeling that I might as well make the most of cave paddling, seal watching, getting up close to the seagulls and shag colonies on the rocks.  I cruised in and out of the rocks and the cliffs, still making good time and enjoying just looking up up and up towards the steep cliffs.  The seals were not even awake or in the water and they just looked at me like I was disturbing their sleep, a little like my support crew when an early morning pre-dawn alarm goes off, one eye open going, "You have got to be joking."

Enough mucking around and talking with the seals, the gulls have had enough of me as well and I am being dive bombed as I carry on, crazy birds.  I am in the entrance to Le Bons, I have only been on the water for 2.5 hours, Tricia and I are at my next checkpoint and it is crunch time.  There is a wind building and further round this Cape today the swell is increasing, it is not little and some are 3 meters.  I either go another 18 km with wind and swell increasing or make a decision to call it an early day.  This hurts my spirit and my mind, but I promised all that I would err on the side of caution.  I do not push on to Flea Bay.  I doubt my decision all the way in and at one moment did think of turning and heading out again, but I stayed and committed to my decision.  I am pleased I did. 

Once on the beach we chatted and then we noticed large Pipis on the beach so I went back into the water to do the Pipi dance to locate some more for a snack.  Alas I did not locate any as hard as I tried, you have to love Tricia's enthusiasm as she joined in knee deep to help and then produced some huge ones she had found.  After quizzing her more I discovered that they were just lying up in the shallows and dear Tricia, bless her,  they were just shells filled with sand!  Nothing in them to eat, next time or maybe in the morning we will locate some.

Le Bon, I am pleased I came into this bay, it is beautiful, small and like a visit NZ advert.  I am happy the wind keeps me on this peninsula as I have found some real gems.

Back loading Cuzzie we chatted with a lovely local, Kate, who had been walking her dog, Boston. It is always cool to listen to people and chat for a while, Kate even offered us hot showers!  As we had not even got a sweat up on this leg or got wet we headed on our way to check out the next possible landings and access options.  There are not many and the hills are steep and winding, Cuzzie was in first gear at lot of the time so we headed into Akaroa to look around.  We were both looking forward to stopping and checking out this little gem, it is beautiful.  There is stunning scenery and this is an amazing location.  We parked up and where about to jump out and go for a walk when we got the sternest finger waving and biggest frown from a dressing gown clad lady, pointing at her hand made sign on her picket fence "NO CAMPERVANS".  Opps, we were blocking her view, so we smiled and moved on, we did not receive a smile back, just another frown.  The rest of this little town was filled with tourists and we looked in and out of some of the shops, had a coffee, and then headed back to a beach away from the cold strong wind to rest after such and early start.  We both agreed that Little Akaloa and Le Bon were places we would re visit, the smaller bays seem to have far more personality and deeper souls.  I feel a little sad that Akaroa has lost hers and that the friendly Kiwi welcome seemed to have disappeared.

When we were rested we set off for the campsite, it is actually cool site, up on the hill looking down into the bay.  We are sheltered and ready for dinner, I am looking forward to getting a little bit further along the coast tomorrow, but it is up to the wind gods and my little arms paddling as fast as I can.  We have option 1 and option 2 with bail out options as well, lets just see what tomorrow brings.

My smiles today:
To be back on the water, it is wonderful, truly.
For a Facebook comment saying that I look truly happy, and that I am, happy from the inside.
Having a finger waved at me today, it reminded me to smile and hope her day got better.  It made Tricia and I both laugh, worse for her as later there was another camper van parked in the location we had been, they must have no been able to read english, dressing gown lady would have been grumpy.

Two sayings I related to today:
If you want something bad enough how much are you prepared to sacrifice?  (me creeping around the coastline bit by bit, sacrificing my big long paddling days, but just getting out there and moving forward)
What are you willing to struggle for?  Because it seems to be a greater determinant of how our lives turn out.

Cheers,
Red 

PS: Pipi gathering and paddling tomorrow, maybe some dolphins 

PPS: Bye Gerard & Donna, see you on the other side, the west cost.  Thanks Corporate Cabs Christchurch, and thanks to Sydney Street B&B

Red and her pre dawn depature

Akaroa

DAY 76... Sunday a Funday

Another day in Christchurch!  After lying in my cool little bedroom that is separate from the house and looking out the window early in the morning I wrote a few too many emails to people and at last went into the main house and brewed myself a large coffee.  Then I quietly went back to bed and scanned the internet, read and generally waited until a respectable hour for my wonderful hosts to get up and into action.  A txt asking if I wanted breakfast and then we were off for a big hill climb in the hills of Christchurch.  This was really good for the soul and I needed this outing.  The wind was really brisk, the trees and the hills were great protection from the cold cold southerly.  Up we climbed, there were mountain bikes and others walking with their dogs.  This was like the mountain bike parks of the north but far less people and the tracks, I was even keen to maybe get a bike onto them.  We went to the top point, looked out over a very hazy and stormy coastline, I did sigh a little, what will it take for this wind to drop?  This was becoming a challenge.  Off we went to the city for a coffee, I looked at a tandem road bike outside and nearly choked as Gerard mentioned that he and Donna would like to ride on of these.  Tandem anything makes my blood pressure rise, so doubt I would last long sharing a bike with another without a slight intense discussion!  I take my hat off to the people who can pedal together or paddle together, I need some of your special inter personal skills for this.

Then a tour for me of the inner city parts of Christchurch.  We went to a brand new enormous kids playground, the Margaret Mahy Childrens Playground.  Now every city should take note, this is amazing.  I went and joined the kids on this amazing slide they had, it was far better as an adult I reckon.  There were climbing frames and ropes, I could not get near the flying fox, there were far too many kids queuing for this.  They also had the best water feature with water guns!  Gerard and I both jumped in there and soaked each other with them, with a few helpers and kids showing us how to make the damn things work!  We are big kids at heart, we had so much fun.  With wet leggings and shoes I headed to look at the sad Cathedral and wonder what is going to happen to this once majestic building, should it be saved or just let collapse?  I actually do not know the answer to this.  There are so many fun little things to do, I climbed in a massive green astro turf couch that has been built on the side of the road, feeling like Alice in Wonderland and waiting for the rabbit to jump past at any moment.  We wandered into the art gallery and looked around, the Colin McCahon paintings reminded me of my time working for Dawsons Catering as Grahame was such a fan.

We then headed back to Sydney St as there were still things to do in Cuzzie and get sorted for a early morning paddle out of Little Akaloa.  I made sure everything that I had removed and used in the house went back into her and after over three hours Cuzzie was cleaned inside and polished.  She is gleaming and dust free for a day or so, her water tank is re filled, her diesel tank is full, her fridge is restocked and I think I am ready!  I can paddle tomorrow, fingers and toes are crossed for a quick and early 'gap' out of the bay first thing.

Tricia is on her way back from Hamilton, via Auckland.  Air NZ why and how can you do this?  A Flight from Hamilton to Christchurch cancelled so you bus her to Auckland and then fly her down to Christchurch.  Logistically this makes me frown, but I am sure there are really good reasons for this, maybe a flight to Auckland would have been less stressful and tiring on the passengers.

I chatted to a few people today, most do think I am crazy.  Enough chatting, I need to get going again real soon.  My mind is switching back to my journey, I had an email from a friend today saying, "Will you be back before the winter?"  That put a bit of a fire in my belly!  I am hoping to be back, I will be back, sometime, well maybe...or I could just stay a kayaking gypsy.

My smiles today:
You "run like a girl" and a huge chortle from Gerard as I was heading down the hill from them both.  You will keep Gerard, you will keep.
Probably the biggest smile, the play ground!  This water feature needs to be re made in my back garden.
Enjoying Sunday as it is meant to be enjoyed, not in shops but being outside and just having fun, with not a laptop, iphone or PS in sight.  Kids and adults enjoying the outdoors. now that is a positive thing.

I struggled for a while with my early morning thoughts, I have had many.  Some sad and some deep and some more light hearted moments, and then a very simple message from a new friend,  "Our struggles in life...determine our successes...so choose your struggles wisely my friend."

Good night.  Tea and more macaroons.  Tricia has just landed and on her way back to me, we are up at 3 am for a drive and a launch into hopefully a sunrise to make us all catch our breath, more of the amazing Cape still to pass.
Red

At the water park

Firing the water gun

Donna, Gerard and Red on the big green couch

DAY 75...Road Trip

Today started with a txt to assure my host that the weather report was for no paddling, he doubted my weather forecasting ability as as where he was it was a perfect day, but I had faith that where I was to leave from and try and get too was a little different.  There were jobs to be done and coffee to drink, with coffee in hand I headed out to give Cuzzie a well deserved wash and remove some of that dust she was covered in.  This was a pleasant chore and was soon completed, tomorrow is the morning the job is to clean inside.  As I finished my cleaning Gerard and Donna arrived and we were off on a merry road trip to go out to the Peninsula and see the roads and the hills and just drive to Pigeon Bay, Little Akaloa, Okains Bay, Duvauchelle Bay, French Farm then out to Lake Ellesmere, Birdings Flat and past Rakaia River to Coopers Beach and more.  Gerard was the chauffeur and the tour guide with Donna and myself as the happy passengers, and what a hoot.

The special moments today, there are a few.  The scenery and the huge hills, they are something I find hard to describe.  The ocean, the valleys, the massive hills and ranges steeply climbing up towards the sky.  The clouds and the vast colours, from green to golden browns to the blue of the sky and the blue of the ocean, it is like an oil painting and not any image on my camera or panoramic landscape pictures I have taken really does this coastline justice.

We drove, weaving past cyclists and other traffic up and down the narrow roads, stopping at Little Akaloa we headed to the pretty Anglican Church on the hillside.  We wandered around looking for my sister in laws family headstones, as well as stepping inside this special little church.  I must say this is beautiful, the most stunning little church I could have imagined with the Paua inserts and the wooden carvings and the total feeling of this church space, this is a wonderful and amazing place and location on the hill.  Outside we did locate the plaque for the unmarked graves and there the Hunter family and also the other family connections were written.  This little churche's resting place was magic and even more fantastic was when I stopped to talk with one of the coolest people I have connected with on this trip, Ian.  He is the grave digger for this church and Ian it was truly a very special time chatting with you (I so hope you read today's blog).  How can I describe this?  We talked about how he enjoys what he does, how he feels special and connected with assisting those resting in this grave yard.  We also connected when we talked about the greenstone carvings we both wear, having a total love and belief in the power and great feelings you get when wearing this special green stone carving and admired each others with true passion.  We talked about the special feeling you have when you give away a special piece what a special place, time and moment this was a true connection.

We then headed of for more sight seeing and beach viewing along the many fingers and inlets of this cape, and there are many.  We went to French Farm Bay for a picnic lunch but it was a little windy where we parked and un packed the food, so quickly the car was turned so we could stay warm and eat the yummy food we had grabbed and placed in the chilly bin.  We did not sit and sun bathe today as the wind was swirling from every angle and we needed to warm up with a coffee, but firstly we went into the Cheese Factory shop in Barry's Bay.  It always is a great moment looking at the cheese being made, as my Grandad was a Cheesemaker, I very cool memories, and what a cool job title!  Our coffee stop was in a little cafe which was groaning at the seams with Saturday visitors, lots of very sexy motorbikes out for a tour and many families enjoying the day out.

With our coffee drunk at Little River we were on the road again, this time to look at a beach landing for me once I have managed to get down the next section of rough beach and challenging coastline.  A little bit of local knowledge has helped and we found a possible okay site, and also another shelter built with large driftwood to resemble a teepee.  We thanked Kingie with a beer at his local in South bridge and admired Kingies amazing lawn.  We then chatted to his Dad about his next hunting trip to get some venison, such great stores and such genuine stories.  There were stories about ute's getting stuck, duck shooting tales and stories that I will also keep to myself, for another time.

High tailing it now back to Christchurch to get dinner underway, we had been out for the entire day.  Our chauffeur was over this driving and needed to put his feet up while the red heads cooked him dinner and made him a G & T.  With dinner cooked and eaten we are now sitting with cups of tea on the table eating carrot cake and macaroons, yum.

Tomorrow hideous winds are forecast, but soon I will have a weather window approaching and plans are in place.  Tricia returns on a flight from Hamilton tomorrow as well, so fingers crossed on a Monday departure for a few hours of paddling.

My smiles today:
Little Akoloa, your church, the amazing site and the unbelievable feeling I left with.
Hand/Head Stands, yes there were a couple of locations today.
Ian, so special and so much soul to this man, please say hi to your daughter Lily.
My continued amazing hosts, they will smile soon, their house guest will leave soon, I promise.  Then it will be my turn soon to offer them accommodation in Cuzzie and in Auckland.
Kingie, hearing he is running up the Sky Tower for the Fireman's stair challenge, that is impressive stuff, in all the uniform.

My thoughts today:
Things and moments in your life always happen for a reason.  I do not know sometimes why, but living day to day is special.

Enjoy your Saturday, where ever you are in the world, I surely have.
Red

Ian the Gravedigger

Assisted Headstand

DAY 74...A Fun Day

This morning we were all about getting sorted and out into Christchurch as everything opened so we could get things ticked off the lists as fast as possible, we had things to get done.  Trish and I drove firstly to The Design Coach & Body Company who had kindly squeezed in the replacing of our water heater this morning.  We arrived as the doors opened at 8am, the guys were just arriving with their morning coffees and we were dropping off Cuzzie for her replacement work.  Steve and the team, thank you from all of us, we can have hot water and hot showers again, what a dream of a company to meet and have work done by, I would highly recommend them, www.motorhomeshop.co.nz so helpful with everything we asked of them.

Next on the list was to send back unwanted and unused gear from the past 70 days.  Off we headed with the help of Donna (you have been a super star today, thank you).  Mainfrieght we finally located and then oops we had no cardboard box so we had to race off and find an empty cardboard box for some of the gear.  Luckily this was no problem as we just stopped at the first cardboard bin we could locate and then asked a man working there if he could help us out with an empty box, "Yes," was the answer, see what happens when you just ask?  Back we went to the team at Mainfreight and the gear was on its way.  That was simple and all sorted by 9.15.  Next was meeting Gerard and going into Black Bettys, what a cool place and coffee and brekkie was fab.  The girls chat and we then hatch a plan for the other part of the day, as the weather was rubbish due to wind for the weekend there was now a window of opportunity for a couple of things.  Tricia's Grandad was turning 100 today and the party is tomorrow in Hamilton so she quickly booked a flight for 2.30pm to attend this fantastic milestone and is due back with me on Sunday night for paddling on Monday.  

Then Donna took us out to go clothes shopping. Now this was no normal mall shopping experience as I would run a mile from places like that, I have actual anxiety attacks when it comes to malls and just wandering looking at stuff.   We were heading to some of the coolest shops I have been to and I was about to donate back to some cool charity.  We were about to experience the "Nurse Maude" Hospice Shops and a bargain or two I can assure you were found, and I mean a total bargain.  These places rock my world and we did have some fun.  The money is going to such a great cause, the women in the stores were so much fun and we rocked from location to location. Donna left the best till last, into "Preloved Clothing", Spreydon, thanks to Donna I have donated well today to another charity, and I have something in return for my donation, some cool looking gear to wear on my return to Auckland other than black woollen leggings.  You will all want to know what and where these items will be put in Cuzzie, well they are not coming further south, they are heading back to Auckland in my backpack of unused and not required garments.  This will give me a reason to smile when I open my wardrobe on my return, and each time I wear a garment I will remember my day out in Christchurch with Donna and my unique garments.  I can surely guarantee my woollen leggings will be thread bare by the end and I may have grown to dislike them by then, second hand shopping is very cool, and way cooler on your wallet, great on my feel good factor.

So then were quickly to the airport to drop Tricia off, she had found a couple of cool items for the 100th Bday party.  Bye Tricia, see you on Sunday, enjoy that bumpy plane ride, rather you than me!

Cuzzie was now ready to be collected, I thanked the team for the coolest replacement job and chatted about my trip for awhile before I headed back to Sydney Street to unpack and repack my gear.   I grabbed some lunch and just sat in the sunshine away from the really strong wind that was blowing myself, T2 and Cuzzie about all over the place.  As I was eating my late lunch Gerard arrived home early and asked if I wanted to go for a drive in his coolest little yellow Lotus.  Off we went.  I want one!  I am not joking., Lucy the yellow Lotus car rocked my world big time, she has a serious personality and if you were having a bad day then just go for a drive in her, instantly a happy place.  With the sun on me and the wind in my hair it was truly brilliant.  We raced along up to the top of the Christchurch peaks, looked down to the ocean below, this is a part of NZ I have not even seen and would not ever have seen if not for this trip.  Thank you to the weather gods and this fantastic wind for making me stop for awhile in this city, and even more so thank you to the generous folk we have meet.

Back home in the comfort of my little room, I am eating the hugest T Bone steak that I could find at the butchers, with freshly dug potatoes from the garden with fresh mint and a salad, the simple things are the coolest.

Was I concerned today there was no water action?  To be honest if I was on the water today I would seriously need my brain checking or re wiring, it was ugly out there and not a place for a solo kayak, and I would not have seen or done my crazy fun stuff today.  It was my time now to stop being anxious and stressed about that and to just go with what each day brings, there is always a surprise.

So my first eight days of this New Year have been pretty magical, pretty special and to top it all amazing new and exciting every day.

My smiles today:  
Being asked if I minded telling others my age, heck no, I am proud of my age.
Buying pre-loved clothes and feeling that I was giving back to a cool community.
My T Bone Steak, this makes me smile.
My ride in Lucy the yellow Lotus.  Gerard be careful I know where the keys are and I am home alone tonight, I am most certainly tempted to go cruising!
Seeing Christchurch being rebuilt slowly and to my eyes thoughtfully with some creative touches.

No poem today, but my thoughts:
WOW!  Imagine turning 100 years old!  Now that is a milestone I am unsure I will achieve, but lets just see.  Tricia give your granddad a huge hug from Red.

Till tomorrow, good night from Red, already tucked up in bed with a cup of sweet peppermint tea.

NB: Some of my family history...

I thought you might like to know that I paddled past Menzies Bay yesterday, where my  ancestor (I think) Alexander “Sandy” McIntosh and his wife lived.  

"Alexander “Sandy” McIntosh, who was born in Glasgow in 1799 and died in Christchurch in 1881, and his wife Margaret, nee MacFarlane (b.1801-d.1881).  They were the first settlers of McIntosh Bay (now Menzies Bay) on the north side of Banks Peninsula.  They arrived in NZ in December 1840, in Wellington, with a large family including triplets. They moved to an unnamed Bay on Banks Peninsula in 1848 one of the first settlers in the region . The Bay was named McIntosh Bay till 1878 when it was renamed Menzies Bay after the next settlers in the area."

My sister in law Pauline Hunter also has Ancestors in this area, the Okains and Hunters that were in the area at the same time.  Many are buried at the little church in little Akoloa.

The biggest steak in the world

New outfit

DAY 73...The Waiting Game.

The alarm was set for an early wakeup to check the most important thing each day - the weather app.  It had been blowing a lot over night and timings this morning were having to be changed and made till later.  The wind she was a blowing.  With a few texts and a call or two we rescheduled things to a little later on this morning and the day seemed to be a little more planned.  We sat and waited till the sun came up and had breakkie, I did think about going back to bed but decided against that.  Off we headed to Sumner to park up and wait on calmer winds.  I watched the surfers out on the swell, catching the waves into the beach, there were plenty to watch and it is fascinating to watch them all just floating out the back of the swells waiting for the right wave.  Meanwhile I am sitting waiting for the swell and winds to drop!  Polar opposites needed.  The coolest thing we saw this morning was a surfing girl push biking in her wetsuit with her surfboard strapped to a special frame on the side of her bike.  That moment made both Tricia and I (and in absentia Nat!) want to be a surfer, just so we could have a bike like that,way cool.

I also meet up with John Kirk Anderson.  We chatted then he raced around with his camera and video while we unloaded T2 and got her ready and I tried to forget I was having pictures taken.  I spent time chatting in Cuzzie to John and could have stayed there all day listening and chatting about paddling and the places he has been.  Alas Tricia was giving me the look that the weather and wind was now suitable for me to get going and she had some important errands to do, like get the new water heater picked up and then drive to our first location for a VHF check.  The driving today was far more challenging and longer than my paddle seemed to be so off she raced and I paddled around a little trying to eat the handful of brownie I had grabbed before Cuzzie and her fridge contents had disappeared, I wish I had grabbed that coffee earlier as well, never mind.  

On the calm waters by Sumner beach boat ramp I got sorted for my next leg of paddling and with a brisk tailwind off I set.  I could not quite believe the speed and the cool surfing I was able to do on this first leg, I caught some way cool rides and sped along, whizzing past the Lyttleton Harbour mouth before I even knew I was crossing it.  10 km in just one hour five minutes.  T2 was coping and going well, and saying that so was I.  I actually beat poor Tricia to the first checkpoint and as the weather was in my favour I sent her a message to say keep going and I will meet you at Little Akaloa.  She responded a little later on and confirmed what we had been told, coverage was terrible, but thanked me for the update.

As with any good wind it has to change and move because having it as a tailwind the entire trip, well the weather gods would not be quite that nice(!) and soon the wind spun to give me a head wind.  It was not too bad and the dolphins popped up for a quick visit along this leg, but not for long.  I checked my mobile and discovered I had a need for more battery charge, just incase I decided to keep going, so I stopped and pulled into a rocky beach.  I landed and dragged T2 up onto the big rocks to keep her out of the water and swell until I had my phone connected to the solar battery charger and then stashed it back in the clear drybag and placed this on my deck to make the most of the sunshine.   I then jumped back into T2 and headed out to the point to try and reconnect with the support team, I was behind schedule and I was sure she would be a little concerned.  Eventually I heard her voice on the VHF and as the wind was continuing to increase in speed I said lets call it a day and I will come into Little Akaloa.  I am pleased with this decision because this bay is a gem, sheltered and calm with a boat ramp to pull into.  I love landing like this, as I was paddling in a small yacht was being towed in by a large commercial fishing boat.  I thought that is an omen, to be heading in as the wind whistled over the top of me and off the steep hill tops, it was nice to be off the water before the predicted storm was to arrive.

We loaded Cuzzie, sat and ate chips sprinkled with vinegar and then I remembered that I had seen a boat jetty with kids jumping off it as I paddled in, so I had to go and see how high the jump was and have a go.  I am thankful that all the kids had departed by the time this old lady decided to have her turn, yes I jumped in more than once to Tricia's amusement.  It was brilliant!  Feeling cool and refreshed after my paddle I watched two fisherman coming in on their dinghy as I launched myself off and splashed into the deep water.  Tricia has promised to join me one day before she departs at the end of Febuary and I am holding her to her promise.

Back into the warm camper van and we started the drive back to Christchurch, part of us wanted to stay in this little bay overnight but we need to get the water cylinder replaced so back we drove.  We went across some amazing hills, the coastline and bays are incredible, I want to stop for longer and paddle down each bay, so I will be back to this coastal section for sure, it is on my new bucket list of things to do.  

We are back at our wonderful hosts house again, I am sure he is going to be praying for our departure really soon, what with Cuzzie down his driveway and being woken at crazy hours in the morning.  I am very sorry Gerard, we will be on dinner duty tomorrow I promise, that is if you let us in your kitchen!  He seems a little protective of this domain and is at present cooking up a storm.  My day has been better than I imagined, and to top this off I have a friend who sent me this cool, cool poem this afternoon, and it is my biggest smile for the day, thank you Kevin.

The easy path is taken ~ to grizzle all day long
 It's every other bastards fault ~ that life has gone so wrong

We fly right off the handle ~ when things don't go our way
The ego gets a hold of us ~ and has the final say

Exploring different tactics ~ to halt the grumpy bugs
Yoga ,meditation ~ or herbal tea in mugs

There has to be a better style ~ to ease the pain of stress
Learning to accept what is ~ seems to work the best

But of all the stuff I've mentioned ~ fails and you still brood
I've saved it for the last ~ to get you in the mood ........

Try ripping off your clothing and prance round in the nude 😊

That is me for today, grinning.  I am running for dinner as I am being shouted at, and still smiling.

Ciao,
Red 

The Wharf

Think this was about the tenth jump

Gerard, our fantastic host :)

DAY 72...A Day of Chores

Today was a day of chores in and around Christchurch, things to do, people to see and a water heater to source and organise for Cuzzie.  We seem to be fairly lucky with friendly accommodating people on this trip and today was no exception, after the first stop off we were directed to another couple of RV water heater suppliers to locate a replacement heater.  With the help (hinderance) of Goggle maps we found our way around Christchurch and to the suppliers we needed, by 11.00am we had a new one on its way down from the Auckland supplier, it will be with us tomorrow and the great team at Coach Design can install this first thing Friday morning.  What a great help they have all been and a big thank you for all the phone calls and info, each supplier was great when we called in, they all helped us source and get this matter sorted without any problems.

Then we headed into the city to catch up with Shane from Maprogress he has offered and supplied me with an Inreach Satellite unit for tracking in areas where my other devices are not able to locate me.  It is a cool little unit I am excited to use it, we will setup a page for you see this link soon.

I have not visited Christchurch city for many years and it was amazing the cool spaces that have popped up since the earthquake and the spirit this city has.  It is totally awesome, it seems they are building a way cool city and are thinking about placement and the look as it happens.  We wandered and looked around a little, it seems like I have a task on each day off to find a new location to practice my hand stands, we found a new random spot today.  If someone was to ask me why a hand stand, my answer now is it actually makes me smile.  I am overcoming my fear of falling backwards and even now I am able to just about progress to a proper hand stand, pushing new boundaries, or maybe just plan crazy, but it makes me always laugh so I will just keep doing them.

Lunch and the coffee location was fab today, the time just flew by.  Before we knew it we were looking at the clock and it was after 3pm, we still needed to unpack Jase's gear from Cuzzie, sort out stuff to go back to Auckland via freight and get Jase on a flight back to Auckland, oh and he wanted and needed a haircut!  In another life I was (and still am) a qualified hairdresser so out came the scissors from the pink box in Cuzzie and he sat on the lawn for a haircut.  Totally a brave move by him, or you could call it desperation.  With the haircut complete (he is still smiling) he packed his gear and we re arranged Cuzzie.  We have more room now, stuff is not coming any further south and is on a freight truck back to Auckland, we have lightened the load, and it feels good.

Off to the airport we head and it is tinged with sadness that we are back down to just one support person now and Jase will be missed.  I am sure he is slightly relieved to be away from  two nagging females and he will be able to just sit and enjoy a few days of sleeping in and catch ups with friends back in Auckland.  Thank you for all of your help, care and attention to detail Mr Marshall, the time as gone by very quickly and as per normal Mr Have-a-chat made a lot of new friends on this journey.  We have some funny stories about his two weeks as a Redz NZ support crew.  Robert the cat at Hill St will be so happy to see you home.

Dinner was cooked and after a couple of phone calls I headed inside to join Tricia, Gerard and Donna for dinner and a chat about today.  They had all been for a massive walk and there were many stories to listen to and lots of laughs.  I felt spoilt as Donna had made carrot cake for the team and coconut macaroons for me, they are so divine, it was a little hard to share them! (Gerard, you should feel special)  Dinner eaten, herbal tea drunk and weather charts and maps looked at again.  I was hoping to paddle tomorrow but the weather window has shrunk on me, I will re visit this in the morning at 6.00am and if it looks like it is unstable and possibly turning bad earlier then I will be off the water for another day.

Some one asked me today if I was on target with my paddling, the answer was very short, it was "Nup." They then asked, "In a perfect world where would you like to be today, how much further south?"  My reply was, "Probably past Dunedin, but there is nothing I can do but wait, be patent and while I wait I am going to enjoy, see and discover."  Sadly today I did not see or do as much as I had wanted to do on my day away from the water, but there is always tomorrow.

My smiles today:
The amazing Gift cards from Gerard (Corporate Cabs) to the REDZ NZ JOURNEY Fund.  I am totally blown away, what with your amazing home and accommodation and then the gift card donations, this is truly huge.
Hairdressing on the back lawn, everyone who saw this smiled as well, yep I have a couple of talents.
The home made macaroons.
Shane and your generous offer of the sat & tracking unit.  Thank you.
My improving head to handstands today, keep watching this progress.

My thoughts:
After listening to others it is amazing the huge amount of information and knowledge people have to share and are so happy to share with you, we all just have to ask for help and want to listen and the info we need seems to come when you need it most.

I thank everyone today for sharing with me there snippets of info, I have absorbed and am listening.

Good night from me,
Red

DAY 71...Christchurch

After five hours sleep we were up and heading towards the beach to launch.  Thank goodness the wind had moved to a westerly and the sea had calmed, I was looking forward to getting on the water and on my way to Sumner.  The sky was clear blue and a gentle cool breeze was blowing, this should be a nice paddle.  We had our checkpoints sorted and Tricia was in charge of driving Cuzzie today, also her voice was chiming down the VHF waves as today is Jase's last day with us, he is on a flight back to Auckland sometime tomorrow. 

Back to the paddle, today it was fairly easy going, the only thing I had to do was keep an eye on the larger waves when I got near to where the surfers were and the breaks were closer to me.  The beaches are long, straight and the mode of traffic on the beaches along this coastline seems to be quad bikes or 4x4s, many parked on the beaches with groups of surf casters at the river mouths.  The crazy sight today that stopped me paddling was seeing harness racing horses in full trotting mode pulling their carts.  I needed a video camera or a pair of binoculars, how crazy.  It also made me want to jump on the beach and go horse riding!  It will happen, I just need to find another beach and some horses to ride, now that will be hilarious as I have not ridden a horse for many years!

The Dolphins came to visit but did not stay to play, that was a shame as it would have taken my mind off the paddle for awhile.  Soon I was near Brighton Pier and the crew were out to wave. Telling me to mind the waves and surf, thanks to the team for caring, but today the swell was not even bad and it was not a problem.  As I set off for my last leg to Sumner with just on 7 km to go in my mind was the advice I had been given, I had been told to head to the furthest cliffs at the Sumner beach by a couple of people.  I thank you for your advice as the landing was such a breeze with me pulling into the boat ramp, not a wave insight.  Along the way to the ramp I was at times dodging between the guys on jet skis jumping waves,  they where reaching great heights into the air and crashing back behind each wave.  That looks like it would hurt really badly if you got the landing wrong!  They where having massive fun and it was nice to see, they just looked up at me briefly as I passed by and I think there inner thoughts would have been why would anyone use a vessel on the water that goes so so slowly, how boring they would have been thinking.

Soon I saw the team and the camper van by the boat ramp and aimed towards them, I was hot and a little hungry so I was pleased to see them.  It has been great to have the luxury of them both with me, as soon as I arrive they take over the pack down and it makes it way faster.  We chatted to Shane, he had come to welcome me in and then met some others who stopped to chat as we loaded up.  In fact this country is so small one of the couples who stopped to say hi actually knew Jason from working with him in Auckland, it is a small small little world that we live in.  Then it was time to sit in the sun with the back doors wide open, resting and celebrating being in Christchurch!  I then headed to the park and lay in the sun for a couple of hours to just rest as I was tired and needed a sleep.

Once rested we headed to Gerard's (we had met many years ago) to stay the night.  I do now remember where and when we would have meet each other and we chat about the common people we still both know.  What is that saying, 7 degrees of separation?  There is always someone that you know that they now, and I think if you are a Facebook fanatic then you realise that even more.  At Gerard's, my goodness, big beds, a massive kitchen, we are in luxury!  We met a young man, Mathew, who is heading off to the 21 day course at Outward Bound.  This makes me stop for a moment and think of when my son headed there a few years ago, a wonderful place doing amazing things for our minds and inner spirits, pushing us past our normal comfort zones.  I said to him make sure you really enjoy your time there and for the first time in ages, I was asked, "Why are you paddling around NZ?"  You know what my answer to this is, it is still, "Why not."  I still can not truly understand why this journey enticed me for so long in my life.  I now am wondering why I waited so long, it is truly a great, amazing experience and if we step out side and look, maybe just try it, just step past your comfort zone just for a moment, it is great to do something a little different.

Dinner tonight we are at a 2016 family gathering, (we are gate crashing) they promised us there was going to be plenty of yummy food, ham, roast lamb and all the trimmings, Christmas cake and coffee.  

Christchurch we are staying for a few days, the weather is turning as of 8am tomorrow, so off the water activities to be planned.  I may try some more kite boarding in Christchurch.  As we headed into town today the wind had picked up and the kite surfers were out there, maybe I will dust off the cobwebs and go kite boarding!  I will try and remember my training from Point Chev days in the wind also try and go horse riding along a long beach, now that would be fun.

Cuzzie wants a repair on her water heater!  She is feeling left out or so it seems, and wants some money spent on her.  That is the first mission today, also finding a "Got-a-Go" Air NZ flight for Jason to return to Auckland.

My smiles today:
The flat calm ocean for my launch and my landing.
The daily hello from the Dolphins.
My greetings from the Sumner locals walking past our camper van, especially Ralph, we had a very long chat.
Gerard thank you for your hospitality, the house and the real bed, it is amazing.  Donna the food is totally divine.
A big comfy bed.

My thoughts today:
Omg I am in Christchurch, and I am still smiling!

Red

Scanning the waves for a break in the sets

Dolphins

DAY 70...Made it to Leithfield at 8.30pm

Today was all about watching and waiting on the weather, taking a chill pill and letting me out on the water later in the afternoon.  We packed up Cuzzie, our darling camper van, and got ready for our departure back to the beach.  Before we left we had an amazing brekkie, no this was really special, fresh eggs from the kitchen and warm freshly baked hot bread.  I will always remember this wonderful campsite every time I have eggs for brekkie on this trip, it is the small things that make the difference, and these small homely things have made us all smile.  A couple of cups of coffee later, with dishes done and everything packed away we chatted with another couple who were from Auckland, (they actually they live about two streets away from us all in Onehunga) Caroline and Neil.  We had such a nice time chatting, Trish and Jase are totally hoping to see you back in Auckland on their return.  We all hope you enjoy your tramping holiday and lets talk some more when we are all back in Auckland and are neighbours again, what a small, small world.

On arrival back in Motunau we parked up and began the weather watching and waiting.  We climbed the hillside, sat and looked at the sea.  I then realised that there was a massive notice on the other side of the fence saying " NO ONE TO SIT ON THE CLIFF EDGES OR PAST THE FENCE!" It turns out the cliffs where unstable, oops, I missed seeing that sign!

We walked around the streets and then headed back to Cuzzie for lunch and to sit away from the wind but we stayed in the sun to keep warm.  We watched the fishermen head out and crash through the swell and waves, it was not calm enough for myself and T2 just yet.

By 2 pm the wind was dropping so we started to get ready and setup for a 3 pm launch.  I still find waiting all day to get in the water frustrating, but I have learnt I must be patient with Mother Nature.  Finally I was on my way, aiming for Leithfield or maybe Waikuku Beach, depending on how Mother Nature planned to treat me.  It was a good paddle and at each VHF point we talked and confirmed that the paddle so far was going well.  A couple of times when rolling over a wave  small fish jumped and skipped across my kayak skirt (no I was not able to grab them).  The VHF units were working really well, at the second checkpoint the team were getting ready to run across the farm paddocks to get closer to the cliffs when my voice rang out loud and clear to them over the VHF even though there was no cell phone coverage at all.

At the 24 km mark I rounded the point to aim towards Leithfield, the wind had picked up and was pushing me along rather quickly.  Also the tide had turned so that wonderful washing machine chop was beginning to annoy me. When I talked with the team at Amberley I was about to pull in there but we decided to hang on in there until Leithfield.  Once you commit then you just need to put your head down and suffer in silence.  That last 5km, it could not end quick enough.  I talked with the team and asked them to try and get to the beach as soon as possible as I was over this paddle for the day.  As I talked I also had to keep an eye on the swell and breaking waves, a couple tried to roll me but my bracing and timing were working today.  The crew thought I was a goner a couple of times while waiting for me to turn and aim for shore but as soon as I turned I was going in no matter what the ocean was throwing at me.  I aimed, paddled and cursed at the waves and braced the team lined up to grab me and T2 as we landed.  I have to say that once on the beach and up by Cuzzie we all did burst into hysterical laughter as we re-lived the landing from each others eyes.  It was a brave and very animated affair and even funnier when each person relived the landing and their thoughts.  Me hurtling along a foaming wave, cursing as I went, Jase trying to get to the front of my kayak to grab it and get T2 up the beach, and Tricia, to scared to video the landing just incase I cursed her for taking pics and not helping.  Oh dear me it was damn funny the last few minutes, sorry to all no there are no pictures, but I am sure you can imagine the comical scene.

I was bundled into the van, T2 was up on the roof quick smart and we were only five minutes away from the campsite.  Into the shower and fed by 9.30 pm, my was gear hanging in the brisk wind, there is something really great about having this group of people looking after me, they are fab, all of them in their own crazy ways.

It was a good paddle, calm waters and then some excitement at the end for all.  More calm waters are predicated tomorrow, Sumner here we come!  We have accommodation offered to us there and a belated Christmas dinner being cooked.  We are looking forward to this, Christchurch we need to stop for a day as Cuzzie wants her water cylinder looking at and Jase wants to catch a plane back to Auckland, then Tricia and myself will head off again.

My smiles today:
Head stands at the railway station.
Fresh eggs and warm baked bread.
The sunshine returned today and warmed us all.
Meeting another new, cool and interesting couple, Neil & Carolyne, thanks for coming to see me depart.
My landing, now that will make me more than smile, it will make us cry with laughter.
More Dolphins, they briefly visited me and stayed.

My thoughts for the day:
I have learnt to be patient with Mother Nature and wait, most of the time!  Maybe not so patient when I want to be off the water and away from the oceans washing machine antics.

Till tomorrow, Sumner, I am heading your way.

RED.

Headstands paying off

DAY 69...Waipara: Pancakes, Wineries, Olive Groves

It rained and it blew.  We were rather late to bed last night, the later paddle is not ever a pleasure for any of us on the Redz NZ Team.  We were all hungry, or best to say Hangry, and with the rain and all the kayak gear wet and cold, by the end of the night we had gone from histerical laughter to grumpsville in no time.  The food hit had made us tied and we still seemed to have heaps to do before bed.  Tricia was crossed eyed trying to proof my blog, Jase was trying to help all in a Jase manner, Red was just wanting to sleep but still had stuff to do.  Even having a hot warm shower seemed an effort.  As we were making room for our sleeping setup Jase knocked the tap on the spare gas cylinder!  Within seconds we had a camper van filled with a gush of LPG and that really set the tone of Cuzzie.  The tired, grumy team all had a spat at each other.  We all headed to different corners of the campsite to cool off and wait for the stench of the LPG to dissipate, the doors of Cuzzie wide open at 11.30pm at night, rain and wind coming in from every angle.  Damn, we were grumpy!  Trish slept on the front seat, reclined for the night, waking up with swollen feet (like her airline hostess days!)  I was wishing I was on a night paddle away from it all and Jase was just wishing he was in a flooded tent at his normal Christmas haunt in Hahei, (the Coromandel) but the reason we are all still friends after 69 days of this journey is that we were laughing about this before sleep and no it was not the LPG fumes!

At midnight we finally went to sleep, knowing there was no paddling due to bad weather the support crew settled in for a sleep in.  I was awake, as per normal, early but quietly wrote txt's and emails and read the news on my mobile until 9.00am when I decided enough sleeping had been done for all.  I took a phone call that had them stirring, everyone seemed happier for their extended rests.

Brekkie was a feast today, my yummy pancakes with coconut sugar, caramalized banana, yoghurt and shards of coconut.  We could also have added bacon but decided this was a little to excessive.  Cups of coffee washed it down while we sat in the coolest little camp kitchen chatting to Jo, Paul and the cool team who own, work and keep this little quirky, quaint camping location a happening thing.  They have fresh free range eggs for all to help themselves to, herbs in the garden and a fresh loaf of bread cooking when you get into the kitchen in the morning.  Now this is special, in actual fact is it a first ever, a great little touch.  We will be back for the fresh warm breakfast bread for sure.

We did have a late start on our off the water antics today but it was nice that everybody was back happy, smiling and now laughing hysterically at the LPG incident!  The grumpy team last night, not even hot free showers had helped the tired team, but sleep had repaired our moods on the wet, windy, cold day.

Off we drove to Pegasus Bay winery, pulling up in the car park in Cuzzie with two kayaks on the roof, we seemed a little far away from water and our adventure.  Actually I felt like a fish out of water, as the saying goes.  The support team were on a wine tasting mission so I had time for a little bit of fun by people watching, always a good past time to just sit back, observe and just imagine that you know what and who these strangers all are, do and how they are connected.  Wine tasting completed, wine purchase made, we grabbed some takeaway coffees and went for a wander into their garden and down to the duck ponds with the walk ways and the little red bridges.  They have great little vege patches with artichokes, herbs, red current bushes laden with fruit, fig and fruit trees a plenty, a very beautiful place, it would be even better on a sunny day.  The team had their wine but I was far more keen to get some organic olives and oil so the next stop was Terrace Edge Winery and Olives.  We chatted there and I got my supplies of olives & oil for my trip, now we were all happy.  Best we get food for a late lunch before the Hangry mood descends on us all.  Into the supermarket we rock and spread out with the shopping lists, everyone on a mission and then we met up back at the checkout.  The snack food of choice today was kettle fry chippies!  (Nat they were on special so we treated ourselves) We then headed off to torment me and sit at Amberley beach, look at the rough seas, the rain and the wind.  Thanks guys, keeping me focused and reminding me of the journey I am on, it is not a tour of wineries and olive groves, it is paddling, as if I could or would forget.

We were fed and ready now to head back to the campsite.  I had gear to wash and dry, we had some maintenance and repairs to make to the side door of Cuzzie, she had decided to lock this access point for the past few weeks and we were keen to gain use of this door again.  Tim the Tool man as of 5.30pm today has at last succeeded and gained access, yippie!  Just manual access but we are in the side door and that is brilliant.

Trish is on dinner duties, cooking up a storm in the kitchen and chatting to the other visitors.  I am sitting in Cuzzie with all our clean dry gear, and the heater on (yes the heater is on) as it is cold, even the crew are saying so.  I think it is meant to be summer but at the moment my most worn clothing item by far is still my black woollen leggings, and (thank goodness for them) my Sharkskin water and windproof jacket, go Sharkskin clothing.

So my smiles for the 3rd of January, 2016:
Breakfast and meeting the team at Waipara Sleepers, hearing their adventures and stories of travelling, they were so very interesting.  Also the biggest, heart warming moment when you gave us free accommodation, I am truly humbled, thank you Paul.
The teams ability to be able to laugh at ourselves and our grumpy moments!  This is a true skill and I luv everyone of the team that is with me on this journey for having this skill.
Nat and her daily snapchats, emails and crazy banter while she is away.  You are one special lady, we are pleased you are on this journey.
Cuzzie and her quirky nature, she is truly like a cartoon character vehicle.
I smile today because this journey of mine has taken me to some amazing, unknown locations that we would never have been to or thought of visiting, so I smile big time at myself for having dared to dream.

My thoughtful moment today:
My thoughts are to the people who have commented on my blogs and have taken the time to talk and share with me there thoughts.  One day I will be able to thank you personally, until then, keep following and if you have a moment please share.

Wind, rain and southerlies please go away!  Red needs to paddle just for a day.

Red

Our Breakfast Feast

A bicycle for three!

Selfie Master

.

DAY 68...Gore Beach to Motunau

When I woke this morning it was early.  I dragged myself out of my sleeping bag and climbed halfway up a hill to get internet coverage to check the weather and the updated forecast at 6.00am.  The support crew stayed sleeping and we 90% already knew that nothing was going to be happening very early this morning until the winds had dropped and moved from a southerly back to a far more pleasant gentle northeasterly, which had been predicted to happen at about 1.00pm.  It was worth checking incase the weather had moved through and I could get out and on the water earlier.  Like a slight nutter I am standing in an empty carpark at 6.00am in the rain and morning mist.  I stand in one certain spot and do not dare to move, as I had 3G coverage to download the updated weather.  I then stare at the ocean trying to imagine how at this moment I was going to get out past the surf waves, five sets of them!  The wind was due to change and drop so it was looking slightly hopeful.  I wandered the beach for a while, leaving the crew to sleep.  That lasted till just on 7.30am, when I was back in there telling them what our plans for the day where to be.  It was late and so time to chat and get moving.  I think they will be heading away to have some sleep ins, early mornings are only for some and there have been no sleep-ins since they have arrived.  There have been some very early morning starts, they can surely tell you.

We cooked up a grand breakfast, dashing in and out of rain showers.  Bacon, home made hash browns, scrambled eggs and tomatoes, Tricia was on the coffee machine.  After all was devoured we headed off to check out this possible scenario for my departure.  Later in the morning, before lunch we then went for a drive and scoped out the beach, watched the surfers and paddle boarders as the hector dolphins arrived and joined in and played and surfed the waves as well.  So graceful and such a precious time.  At last we dragged ourselves back to the campsite to load up and get me on the water.

As we returned to the beach I quietly got ready, actually not looking forward to this take off.  It would go either really well or really badly.  I tried to focus on the feeling of when I was out the back of the waves and safe on the calm waters and paddling, but this did not seem to be working.  Both Trish and Jase reckoned they would time it well and shove me out at the right time and then it was up to me.  As we got to the beach I stopped to chat with a man called Trevor.  He was asking about my creature encounters along the way as he has a company that specialises in GPS tagging and tracking of the sea life along the coast.  It was great to chat and also great to delay this launch.  Eventually I had delayed this for long enough and there were breaks where I could get out, so I kitted up, got strapped in and skirted up.  Jase and Trish aimed me at the ocean and we waited, watched then we all agreed I must go.  With a big push and shove from them both I was out and over and paddling.  What is that saying, "99% of everything you worry about never happens."  This was a near on perfect departure thanks to Jase and Tricia.  No reason to even stress today, up and over and out the back I paddle for a moment to see if the dolphins wanted to come play for awhile but no way, the surf was far more fun than me today.  I had delayed this for long enough and off I headed to get this 33 km paddle nailed and over.  It was raining and I settled into my rhythm.  It was nice not be in blazing sunshine today, it was cool with the rain on my face.  I passed along numerous seal colonies along this section of the coastline and stopped to check them out.  Most today were on the shore sleeping, there was not a lot happening on or in the water today. 

Soon I saw the team for my check point.  It turns out that they where just brewing up coffees to sit on the beach and wait for me, I arrived a little earlier than predicted.  A quick VHF with nothing to report and our next check point was to be after a 20 km section once back in cell phone or VHF coverage, just before arrival.  I paddled on trying to just concentrate on the water, the coast and zone out.  It took awhile to get this second 10 km done and then the final push.  The next point actually seemed a long way off and I had to check my GPS to make sure I did have the correct location and the correct remaining distances right, then head down and paddle. There was no breeze, no real swell and it seemed slow going but eventually I arrived at Motunau Point and headed around to see Cuzzie parked and smiling, a big welcome 'Hi' and the crew were easy enough to spot.  I glided into the small river mouth and they grabbed my kayak, there was no bad landing, no wet clothes and no dramas.  Like a well oiled machine we loaded up and chatted to some locals and then got on the road.  The weather was to deteriorate tonight and it was certain there was to be no paddling tomorrow, so we headed in land to hook up to power to find a couple of wineries to maybe visit and get me away from staring at the ocean.

Duties all done, dinner cooked and eaten and now we sit around in Cuzzie clean and warm from hot showers with full stomachs drinking hot cups of tea.  Just down the road at Waipara Hills Winery you can hear "Fat Freddies" concert in full swing.  The weather here is not the best for an outdoor concert but I am sure everyone will be enjoying themselves.

As the rain falls on Cuzzies Roof we reflect about today...

Smiles and cool stuff:
Dolphins in the bay, they always make everyone smile.
The amazing beach launch today, thanks team.
The Cool Fence art we found on the Gore Bay Fence.
The cool little campsite we have located in Waipara where there are railway carriages all about us as cabins, way cool and fresh herbs in barrels outside the Kitchen doors for your cooking.
The great dinner that Jase created tonight.  BBQ pork balls with mint & coriander, sautéed bok choy and courgettes with toasted sunflower seeds and a parsnip and kumera mash with coconut oil.
Big smiles to Nat, we have been totally entertained by her crazy snap chat pics while she has been away.  There is only one Nat Frew that is for sure.

My only thoughts for today, I can not believe I am only a couple of days away from arriving in Christchurch!

Red
Big hugs to you all.  I hope 2016 is going to allow you some 'me' time, you deserve it!

Cool beach driftwood bivvie

DAY 67...Dolphins, I totally love you.

We went to bed as the fireworks started at our campsite 9.30pm!  Jase had his ear plugs in, I just turned over and went to sleep as per normal and Tricia was in her single bed space in the walk way of Cuzzie.  Both of them were entertained by the fireworks and at midnight, even I stirred a little as the fireworks reached a crescendo of noise.  Before too long it was 3.30 am and we were having to get up as this crazy red head wanted to be on the water by 5.00 am to make the most of this day.  "Make hay while the sun shines.”  I think is the newest slogan on the walls of Cuzzie. So when it is fine and sunny and paddling weather I have to try and go as far as possible before I am allowed off the water for the day, so a 66km paddle was planned.  It was weighing on my mind a little as we got ready, food heated and tea made.  I settle in my seat for a drive to my launching beach.  I am finding it hard to swallow this food today as it is so damn early to be force feeding myself  with steak, potato & broccoli, mmmmm. I need the fuel to get going and give me the energy to push on down the coastline at a good speed.  Check points set and I was tracking okay for time.

Checkpoint one:  My smile was with me as dolphins headed towards me jumping completely out of the water as the sun was rising, this was going to be a good day.  At Pinnacle Rocks I see the team.  We chat via VHF and I tell them about the dolphin citing, hope the video footage is good and on I go.

Checkpoint two: Oaro is my next checkpoint and all is going well. The weather is as predicted and doing what it was forecast to do.  It is a little bit too still if I have anything to complain about, but, I am not complaining because no whistling wind is a good thing.

Checkpoint three: Around the point I go and dare to cut across the swells and small turbulent section of water and get to the start of this large river mouth, Claverley.  Now this was the last location the team could chat.  If I wanted to pull out now there was a massive black beach with dumping surf.  I was asked the question, "Are you okay to continue?”  I really had to push on.  This was too short a day so off I headed for the final 33km!

Now, how my mind works to get over this next hurdle, I look at another 30 plus kms and it actually plays with my mind, so I just break it down to 3 x 10 km sections.  I paddle ten km then rest, eat and drink for ten minutes, then repeat this three times.  Small sections at a time but as I head off I see a couple of Hector dolphins.  I expected them to disappear asap, as they have done for the past few sightings, but today they stayed with me for the next thirty kilometres.  They kept me company along this long section of coastline, in and out of the milky blue water of the river mouths to the clear blue sections of ocean.  When I thought they had got bored and disappeared, back they came.  Always the first to appear at my bow was the small baby calf, so cute.  There was about a dozen in this pod and they danced, frolicked, jumped and whizzed under my bow and entertained me for the next long section.  The video footage is truly amazing. SONY Action Cam, you have succeeded today in capturing the best 2016 moment so far.  My biggest thank you to the SONY team.  There is no cell phone coverage for this leg, so once I got about 7 km from Gore Beach, I tried the VHF.  The support crew answered and let me know firstly that the beach landing is a surf beach and they wanted to know how was I felt about that.  I said, "Ah well if it ends with me swimming that is okay.  I still have about an hours paddle and my dolphin friends are making me laugh."  If I slow down or stop to sit and readjust stuff or try and drink all my fluids, they too slow down and just chill beneath the hull of T2 as if to say come on we want to play.  They escort me to the final large rocks before I head towards the surf and then the pod are gone.  All I can say is this was truly spectacular.  I feel honoured and it has been a privilege to have them with me on my first day of 2016, it will never be forgotten.

As I cross the bay to the middle of the beach the surf and waves are surely there.  Just what you need at the end of a big paddle!  I talk with the team on land and then lock down and pack away everything in my red deck bag and then gradually inch my way closer and closer to the shoreline, back paddling when needed and waiting until I try and race in the back of that big wave and paddle, paddle, paddle towards the beach.  I nearly made it to the beach but when I got caught by a smaller wave I did not brace enough into the wave.  I was only just short of landing easily out of the kayak, standing up immediately in water waist deep.  T2 speed towards Jase who was waiting thigh deep in the waves.  All and all after a really hot day on the water, it was nice to get wet, nice to rinse myself and T2 off.  Then I sat on the beach.  As I sat a little Asian man wandered up to me and ask if I had seen his Kontiki unit out the back of the waves.  My answer was yes.  His line had broken and he was hinting that myself and T2 could maybe head back and grab this for him.  I suggested kindly that the surfers further down the beach would be his best bet, so off he wandered to ask them.  They did succeed and returned his Kontiki to him.  I do hope there was some kind of reward for their efforts as it was an outgoing tide and his unit was way out the back by this stage of the day.

We loaded T2 onto Cuzzie, Tricia was doing a great job, her worst fear is to drop T2, I assured her that everything was fine.  Jase has been a fab help on this trip.  Tim the Tool Man is great when we need practical things done and his patience with all situations is astounding, most of the time he is calm and tranquil.  Sometimes he can be a tad bossy, but I am surely not perfect either.  I get changed and out of my wet clothes and just as I go to strip off in Cuzzie our lovely campsite owner drives up to see how I got on and have a chat.  Terry, now you are special, your humour and wit has me laughing within moments of meeting you, I gave him a huge hug and we went off to see Susan, his wife, at the campsite and get clean, washed and fed.

Now I forgot my brownie today for the trip, so on arrival I had a large bowl of it, topped with Coconut Chocolate Ice cream and some coconut cream yoghurt.  I had been dreaming of this for the last section of my trip and it was spectacular, I then washed it down with a well deserved honey sweetened coffee.  Delicious.

The video footage was viewed and we have some stunning footage.  Tricia and Jase are both transfixed with the dolphins and how close they were to me for so long.   It was nice for them both to see this for themselves and feel the experience as well.  Even Tricia said she would paddle with me if she could experience this on the water.

My gear is drying, Tricia is getting dinner sorted and Jase (Tim the Tool Man) is on a mission.  The side door of Cuzzie has decided to lock permanently and he is looking for a way to repair it.  There is a little bit of sighing and chaos in the camper van at the moment but if anybody is going to fix this problem, it will be Jase.

Tonight I am going to have my New Years Eve cider, as tomorrow looks like a stop in Gore Bay.  The southerly wind is increasing, so it is a bit of a stop start leg to Christchurch, but we will get there, the dolphins told me so.

My Smiles for today:
Dolphins, how amazing.  You can not help not smiling.  What gorgeous creatures.
2016, the first day of this New Year was a success and I am smiling about this year.
Big day and I completed it all.
The final wave, the one that tipped me, I had to laugh at this today.  It was actually rather fun, and totally my error.
Trying to get changed in Cuzzie as Kerry arrived to say hello, we all laughed at me being nearly butt naked for his welcome to Gore.

My deepest thoughts for today:
I always have a quiet thoughtful time in the early hours of a New Years morning.  It is my son’s birthday, as of 1.42am in the morning.  01/01/89 he was born 27 years ago.  It is a strange time for me, each year as I always seem to contemplate his life and wonder how and what I could have done differently as we now have very separate lives.  We have too many differences, thoughts and outlooks on life and at present it is for him to find his own place and destiny and look inside for his own life answers to find his ME inside.  Like all Mum’s do, I have tried to be his angel and solve all for him, but I have realised in the early part of 2015 that the only person that can help now is my son.  He will discover life and his meaning and his own journey as he grows and develops in his life, maybe then we will reconnect, when we both have a new found respect for each other.

For me having someone in your life who suffers from depression or a mental illness can be expressed by the following:

It is like a massive grenade exploding in your lap, the closer you are to the person who is the sufferer the more damage occurs to you and then the shrapnel/ fallout damages and effects others about you.  Sometimes this damage never will heal, it is a lifetime wound.

Red

2016 WAHOO

Support Crew No 1 Tricia on watch..)

DAY 66...A Day of fun in and around Kaikoura

The day started at about 6.30 am when I could not stay in bed any longer.  As I moved about there is no way to let the others sleep in our small sleeping area, your sleeping bag rustles, you make a noise getting out the back door to go check out the sea and the weather reports, so the whole team were awake.  We chatted about our sleep, our thoughts for the day and any crazy dreams we may have had, or noises we had heard throughout the night.  It is good to be me as when asleep I hear nothing.  I smile to myself as Trish and Jase re-tell the trucks and sea sounds throughout the night.  The weather is not letting me paddle today, so we planned to go for a big hill walk up Mt Fyffe.  

After brekkie and a couple of coffees from our ROK coffee press we were off and happy to be heading away from the ocean.  The team loaded up one small back pack with water, some food for the top and spare jackets etc (just incase).  Jase offered to be the sherpa for the start and off we headed on this five hour return trip (that was what DOC info board said at the start).  The track started, up hill we went and we continued uphill for the next 1 hour 20 minutes.  It was a steep climb and we were using our lungs and legs all the way.

Jase accepted my offer after about 40 minutess to swap to me carrying the pack and I was loaded with the extra weight.  There was a method to this, it was to slow me down and it did keep me at their pace for the rest of the climb.  Along the way we meet Jack & Daisy on the uphill climb.  We chatted and walked with them for a while and then headed off up the hill.  We all had moments of thinking we where nearing the Hutt but we were all a little early with our thoughts of when this climb would end.  We were by this stage in the clouds and mist, pretty cool, and at last we arrived.  1100metres we had climbed.  The DOC hut was way cool and we sat, laughed and giggled at this hike up the hill.  It was great for us all to be in the fresh air and open spaces.  We ate a snack, the team had to suffer and chow down on my kayak snacks, tins of tuna and my snack packs of seeds oils and honey.  They did not seem to mind at all.  Watered and feed we gave Trish the pack for the down hill and we started off.  This we were going to all run, yes run!  I have this thing that whenever possible and especially when on a downhill section you should run.  So down we went, some sections a little steeper than we would have liked, but it was good to keep sweating and keep the mind and body warm and active.  It took us 25 mins to get back down!  How totally cool it was rock hoping and bouncing down this track back to waiting Cuzzie.  We then jumped in and off we headed to our next spot to visit, The Lavender Farm. 

Now here is a special location.  The shop smells amazing.  The items inside are all really cool. Myra McLelland & family ( www.lavenderfarm.co.nz) run the farm, this is a place to visit, chat and try the products that you will most certainly want to buy.  Myra is a very special, amazing lady in many ways and we chatted for a long time about the trip, my charity and her life.  We then headed out into the gardens and fields of Lavender, I did not realize there was more than just one type of lavender and that their smells differed immensely.  Lavender is a relaxing smell and it has many memories for all three of us today, friends, family and special people we have known have loved the smell of lavender and this brings pleasant memories to us all.  We talked with the chickens and the pet lambs and were amazed at the amount of bees everywhere collecting pollen.  This is a special place indeed.  All I can say is, congratulations to Myra and maybe I can come back and learn a new skill in 2016.  It is a wonderful place.

By this stage my stomach was rumbling and we headed for some food.  After that amount of exercise I was heading for some of those amazing hot chips with heaps of salt and malt vinegar, yum!  We ordered too many and had to leave some behind.  As we sat in the sun of the big outdoor picnic tables we joked and laughed about the day and our hard climb and the cool people we had meet today.

Then it was along to our coffee stop.  We grabbed a takeaway coffee and chatted to the team there were we realised the reason their coffee was so damn good is that they roast the beans on their premises.  That is the secret.  We wished them an amazing New Year and then we braved the supermarket for supplies which was a pleasant surprise, not too busy and plenty of food. Baskets filled and a small bottle of cider each for tonight with dinner to say goodbye to 2015 and hello to 2016, we headed back to the campsite.

At base we had some stuff to get done.  My brownie was being cooked, thank you to the campsite for allowing us to use their personal oven for the baking, this is a very cool location and campsite.  Peketa Beach Campsite, your crew are great, the showers amazing and we have loved staying.  We packed up some more of my snack bags, (well actually Tricia did) I went and had kite flying lessons with Jase on the beach, I have improved!  Then I left Jase to it, to really show the beach people how to use the kite with skills and to try and take out a seagull or two.

My day is nearly at an end.  My year is nearly over and I have done a lot today that has made me smile:
The crazy head band that Jase put on this morning, he looked like a 70's aerobics instructor but no leg warmers.  Or perhaps Krama from the Seinfeld TV show!!
The out doors hike today and the very cool downhill run.
The Lavender Farm!  Oh my, this is the biggest smile today.  Thank you Myra for the generous donation to the charity.  It is tucked safely away in the bucket for Mental Health Foundation NZ.  You totally rock!
The Team at Reserve Hut, your coffee and your cool atmosphere.  It will be remembered and smiled about.  I am not sure who along the way will be able to take out you and the team at no 1 spot for shots ofcoffee.
Kaikoura makes me smile. I will most certainly need to return to this place and I will feel a little sad when I leave in the morning to paddle south.  There are some way cool people in a way cool town.

My slogan for the end of my 2015...  "Live life with a generous and humble spirit."

Daily I am humbled by the new and amazing people I am connecting with. You all are remembered and smiled upon in my memories.

Bye for now, enjoy where ever you are
Red.

PS: it is an amazing journey I am on, so 2015 good bye.  I have to actually thank you so much for the darker days you dealt me this year as they have made me believe in myself and it is now all about being ME and living my dream.

Stopped to view the mountain daisies and breathe

Fields of Lavender

DAY 65.. Kaikoura & The Peninsula

There was no alarm set for this morning as the forecast was for 2m plus swells and a southerly similar to yesterdays, so we planned to reassess when we got up.  The plan was to head into Kaikoura, check out the point, climb to the top of the viewing station and check out how bad this swell actually was.  We did this and after a massive discussion decided to go and get breakfast, it looked a little knarly as the big boats disappeared behind each swell they went over, so I was surely a little thoughtful about going out with them.  One side of the peninsula was dead calm and protected but the other was getting the southerly wind and swell.  The wind was less than yesterday so I frowned on and stored my thoughts away.  Dispite making a decision to stay off the water it always haunts me for the rest of the day, especially when you are sitting in a sheltered bay and hidden from the wind, like the yachts and fishing boats I was looking out at.  

We made a list of things to try and acomplish today and set about keeping me busy and my mind off the weather and my land trapped day.  It was not a bad place to be based and we walked along to the Information centre to look for walks and possible entertainment for the day.  Along the way we did a great job of entertaining ourselves, handstanding practice and head stands a plenty in the parks and doorways of Kaikoura.  It is now a bit of a new team obsession and we all collapse laughing at the end of it, it's nice to be a big kid, nice to just be random and spontaneous.  It was great mingling with the numerous overseas tourists in town, we got some info and coupled with our ideas made a trip to chat to the team at Kaikoura Kayaks.  We sat and chat in the sun for a while, got some inside knowledge on the upcoming coastline and the good and bad landings further on.  Thanks Matt and Gary the pleasure was all ours.  Then we were off for a coastline reccee to look at the beaches for ourselves, some were as described as knarly surf beaches, and knarly they were.

Firstly the Reserve Hutt Cafe in Kaikoura.  Their service was amazing, the food damn good and we will be back there!  It was great to know what was ahead of us.  As we drove the seas seem to have flattened and we checked the weather app, there was a window maybe to at least nail the peninsula today!  An abrupt U turn was made at Oaro Beach and we quickly headed back so I could push around the Peninsula.  It had been eating away at my brain all morning and I was happy to just get around the corner and have two hours on the water, ticking off and moving forward, albeit just a small baby step.  

Off I speed onto the water and despite the big swell it was comfortable enough out at the point, then calmed as I got around and headed into Gooch Bay.  A big rolling swell, a little backwash from the rocks, a few seals and it was fun.  The sun was shining and I was in my happy place on the water, brilliant.  Before I knew it I could see the team and as promised I headed in.  As I headed in I bumped into the Kaikoura Kaykers on a tour.  I stopped and chatted, I was tempted to go seal watching with them, but could see the team waiting patiently for me and we still had stuff to do on dry land.  A safe, smooth, dry landing, T2 was back up on the roof within minutes.  How lucky am I at the moment to have two crew with me!  It would be so nice if it was like this everyday, I will be spoilt for a while yet until Trish heads back to Uni in Feb.  I also think it is great for the support crew moral to have a buddy to chat to and keep each other entertained on some of the long solo days, not everybody is like me and enjoys hours of solo time.

We are back into the town now to tick off more of my To Do List, Nat made a suggestion the other day that on my days stuck off the water I need to keep busy, so why not do some knitting!  I can knit and now the suggestion is a reality, I have wool and needles and (lol) a scarf is in the making!  On the land based days wool donations may be needed if I get stuck for a long time.  We wandered in and out of the shops, had another great coffee in a cool little outdoor popup cafe area.  Trish and Jase had homemade sorbets and we sat in brightly coloured cape code chairs, watched people play chess and draughts, there were kids playing with water pistols.  What a cool little town this is, Kaikoura is special and it is a place I will return to for sure.

Back along the road we speed to an Organic Honey Farm that we had spotted on our travels today (another small hobby of mine, bees, beehives and beekeeping).  Nick at Mountain Honey (www.mountainhoney.co.nz) thank you for taking the time to chat it was brilliant, extremely interesting and we will be ordering your Borage Honey as soon as it is available.  Until then we have some of the Manukau to keep me going and the Mead you are brewing sounds amazing, we will be watching for updates on this new product.

It is time now to chill in Cuzzie.  Jase is flying the kite on the beach, trying to divebomb the flying seagulls.  Tricia has gone for a run, the clouds are building over the hills and the overnight weather is for rain shows, clearing by 9am.  The new years weather report is for bigger swells and bigger winds, a surfers paradise, but not mine.  So a big long walk/hike is planned, a quick food shop then a reflection on the day.

My smiles today:
The amazing vibe from the Kaikoura locals!  Every cafe, store and location we have been in has been great.  Thank you.
Getting out on the water, even if it was just for a couple of hours.  Now that made my day.
Watching new campers setup for tomorrow nights party.
My Handstands, by the door and by the whalebones sculptures
The honey man today, this totally made me smile.  Your place rocked.!  I loved it as I luv bees, they make me smile.  Everyday in my garden at home when I am in my vege patch they are there and they make me smile.  Cool little creatures, thanks Nick.

My Thoughts today:
What this journey has helped me feel since leaving, it is so nice to be nice to all and be treated with the same vibe, it is not really hard.

 "Treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again."

My Soapbox Moment:
As I stood waiting to order a coffee this afternoon I watched as an amazingly patient and friendly barista served us and worked happily and quickly.  She used all her skills when spoken to very rudely and abruptly by a customer who barged her way towards the counter, and waved her selfie stick (selfie sticks are a subject for another day).  There was no need and nothing warranting this customers behaviour, infact her rudeness was totally unacceptable.  Why do some treat others this way?  It made me leave a tip in the jar, a smile and a wink saying, "You are doing really well dealing with this rudeness."  I passed by after my coffee and thanked her again for the amazing coffee, her friendly service and gave her a big smile.  She was gorgeous, the customer was not so gorgeous, a shame.

Tomorrow, my reflection on my 2015.  Until then,
RED

DAY 64...Okiwi Bay to Kaikoura (Ingles Bay).

At 4.30 am I was up and looking forward to a big days paddle.  The support team and I were on the road and down onto the beach promptly, they shoved me onto the water at 6.00 am.  I got a little wet but nothing too bad.  Off I headed to get some km's under way, as I headed out of the bay the temperature was a little cooler than I wanted it to be and I hoped the wind would drop as it was forecast.  The coastline is next to the road for the first part of this section of my paddle, I see Cuzzie whizz past and ahead of me.  They have an easy job some days, once they have the crazy redhead on the water there is two hours of peace for them both.  There were lots of seals scattered along this coast line on the rocks and banks as I paddled by.  

About 30 mins into my paddle I see Cuzzie parked on the side of the road, "Is there a problem?" I wonder.  I try and call but no service so I VHF but no reply.  I cannot see either of the crew so I shrug my shoulders and head off again, not a lot I can do.  Later on I discover they were on a scenic walking track watching the seal pups play in the stream and waterfalls, such a nice life for them, but this was about to change.  The southerly head wind was not going away, it was increasing (it was meant to be 7 knots, ha) and there was a steady stream of white caps coming towards me with a relentless chop.  The 12 km to my first check point took me rather a long time to reach and when I was asked how I was feeling I did not describe this paddle as pleasant to the team.  This long planned paddle was not going to be a happening event, so much for forward planning and weather patterns arriving early.  The team on land said the landing point was not pleasant and there were surfers scattered about as well.  That said it all about this beach so off they headed to find me a beach that may be better along the upcoming coastline.  

Now was time for the fun to begin.  Around the point I slowly went, head wind and a big, big surfers swell.  I watched and keept out the back of the surf sets, up and over T2 and I rolled over some massive waves, disappearing behind them to Tricia's horror, and then rising back up on the next one.  Jase was honest and said if you land here we will get you out but it is not going to be nice.  My thoughts were if it ain't going to be a nice landing then for goodness sake imagine the joys and water to get myself back over this ugly beach when it comes time depart.  The swell is due to get bigger in the next few days.  To my left and in the horizon was Kaikoura, so with I looked at the beach one last time and made my decision.  I said to the team, "See you in Kaikoura.  Find me a beach that is pleasant and tucked away from the southerly wind."  In my thinking it would be closest to the cliffs on the opposite side of the bay, typical, the furthest distance to have to paddle.

 As the crew headed back to Cuzzie, off I paddled and the head wind battle began.  So much fun!  At least the hector dolphins came and said hello, I saw at least six today across this next section of paddling.  That was the nicest part of my next two hours, as along the coast line it was sad to see a whale on the beach with a group of DOC staff members there.  It is sad when you see a beautiful creature like this dead on the beach.  I pushed on trying to focus on my final goal and making slow head way.  My mood was not a happy one and we communicated on and off via VHF.  It was probably a good thing that I had to be pleasant to the crew as I knew others could be listening to this channel, a couple of times today this was a little difficult as I was trying to see the land marks they were talking about as I paddling along and it seemed to take forever to sight Cuzzie parked on the beach in the distance and then finally the pink shirts (thanks guys).  As I got closer the wind was getting a little more bearable, the sea was flattening and I was making headway.  I was grumpy as this day was not meant to be this short in distance but also pleased and relieved to have not gone around the Kaikoura Peninsula and East Head Point as it would not have been pleasant.  We had called it a day, 30km and it was over (in fact probably less km).

We loaded up T2, I ate and sculled a litre of coconut water, I then lay in the back of Cuzzie and slept while we drove to the campsite.  I was tired and needed to rest my grumpy mind and tired body.  Let me try and explain, for all of you who paddle you will understand head winds and hard paddling but for others today was like running up hill for the entire time today.  Far harder and more tiring than a flat or down hill run.

We have found a great campsite, nine km down the coastline by the beach.  There are picnic tables and space the spread out, the awning is out as the sun is damn hot.  Drinking coffees we all are now feeling better about today.  The wind gods won but the sun gods were making me smile again, see something good has come from this less than perfect morning, it seems to always be like that, just it takes time to see the good bits.

Swells are picking up and the southerly is too, it is looking like Kaikoura is where we are going to be spending New Year's eve.  The whale and dolphin boats have cancelled their trips today and for the next few days, that says it all about the pending weather.  We will be exploring inland and the coasts on foot and with Cuzzie I am feeling, this will be way cool fun.

Tonight we are heading for fish and chips in Kaikoura and a supermarket supply run.  Soon I will be back on the water but how cool to be seeing everything new and exciting along the way.  I am now not stressing about the wind as it gives me time to see things from shore.  It would be nice to get lots of continuous days on the water but that is not how mother nature is dealing out my cards at the moment, so I am not bashing my head, just taking a diversion for a few days and then returning to my ocean journey.

Smiles for today:
Making it to Kaikoura, that was a big smile once I had shaken the grumps away due to the damn wind.
The amazing showers at this campsite, they have to be in the top one or two so far on this journey. 
The download from the team as they described me disappearing over the backs of some huge waves and their description of events from the shore.
Dolphins again, five days in a row, that is magic stuff.

My thoughts today, something good always appears soon after a bad moment.  Today it was the yuck head wind and then the sun gods rescued my mood.  Fish and chips, here we come!

Red

Red enjoying coffee and sunshine

A seal

DAY 63...Kekerengu to Okiwi Bay (Sandy Bay)

The alarm was set for an early morning start, we were in Blenheim overnight after picking up Tricia from the airport on her later flight.  We had a 45 min drive back to my launch location and we were up bright and early as the weather window was going to be small today, we had planned always to be off the water by 10.30 am as this is when the wind was picking up.

Poor Tricia, her first day with us and I was up and moving everyone at 3.30am.  As I got ready and went about getting food and a large cup of hot sweet peppermint tea into me Jase and Tricia packed up Cuzzie and we were on the road actually ahead of schedule, what a luxury to have two support crew.  They chatted as we drove along a well driven section of the road with Jase retelling locations along the way.  Wineries, the saltworks and the lakes.  It is a great time first thing in the morning as we wound and wove up and over back to the departure beach Kekerengu.  There was not to be any paddling till about 6.30/7.00 am when the wind started to drop.

We arrived and the wind was still brisk and rather cool, the poor support team were in there hoodies, leggings and jackets to try and keep warm.  I went for a long walk down to the beach and along it for awhile trying to locate a section that looked okay.  We checked the updated weather and it was looking okay to go.  As we got ready the waves where I landed were crashing into the beach, I was not looking forward to this launch.  We carried T2 down to the beach and then along a little way to the point, it was a little calmer there and so with a massive shove by Jason into some waves I was up and over, with a couple of waves trying to fill my cockpit.  Now this is a reason why I luv my little STAR, she paddles even when I am knee deep in water and once I get out the back of the waves I just empty her by the Venturi that is fitted in the bottom by my feet.  It is a great way of warming up with a quick fast 50 paddle strokes and she is empty and ready for me to skirt up and get going, no pump needed on T2.

Settled in and on my way, it was in my mind to get this done before the wind arrives and at least you are ticking off some kilometres, even if it was only 15 km.  My weather window was only about three hours and I did not want to risk getting stuck on the water when turned, not be near a good pull out point and crash land on the stone beaches.  Then I would have to drag T2, my gear and I up a step bank, across the railways lines and then get to the camper van some how. Checkpoints and timings we did each hour, I was enjoying this paddle today even after getting wet at the start.  The weather and the wind was helping me today, wave riding and swells in my favour and the wind was dropping quickly, but still a nice small tail breeze.

Checkpoint was at Pigeon Hill , we did mobile contact before that as the team said that this location was not going to be ideal for an exit option.   They went on a scan down the coastline and by the time I got to Pigeon Hill they had some good news, Mr Have-a-chat, aka Jase, had located a cray fisherman a couple more bays around and he had informed them the wind was now not picking up till after midday and he suggested the best pullout point was another 16km away.  Off I went around Clarence Point, over the large river mouth (dirty turbulent & rough river mouths), surfed on the waves and swell then aimed at the turquiose waters in the distance past the turbulent waters.  Along this next section of water I sighted three separate Hector dolphins but only briefly as they seem to shy away from my kayak as soon as they notice me.  What a shame, still no pics of these gorgeous creatures.  I surfed most of the way along to the final location, seeing the team with there pink tops on the point and Cuzzie with my white kayak Louise on the roof.  It was a great sight.  I had beaten the wind so I made a VHF call to them to get my final landing location.  I was tempted to suggest I push onto Kaikoura but as I was thinking about it I felt this brisk breeze start to pickup behind me and thought better of this idea, listen to the ocas and get off the water when they suggest.  It was brilliant to have got an extra two hours on the water as it was, thanks Mr Have-a-chat for talking.

As I was landing there were rocks scattered in the shallows so was watching them when a bigger than average wave picked me up.  I thought it would go under me and that I would miss catching it in but oh no off I went like a surfer down the wave.  Surf, surf, surf, massive bracing and leaning right back, keeping the nose of T2 up.  I damn well nailed this landing!  I was stoked as typically there were spectators on the beach waiting for some wave and kayak misfortune to happen butI was not to be their entertainment for today.  It was a beautiful landing and I took the crew by surprise.  Support person's No 1 missed the landing as had stopped to pat a cute dog on the beach(!) and No 2 was a little shocked by my quicker than predicted landing and was expecting me to be aiming their way and not where I landed.  It was bliss to have two of them, as they carried my kayak up to Cuzzie I strolled along with just my paddle, how special did I feel.  I chatted to a family on the beach enjoying a blissful South Island summers day.  Kids surfing and having fun in the sun, bliss.

Back at Cuzzie the team had made me 'Nothing Soup,' yumbo.  It was great to have something warm and scrumptious after my paddle.  Off we headed to the campsite.  We hooked up to power, got my gear washed and blowing in the wind, brewed up coffee and sat in the sun.  We planned tomorrows leg of the journey and generally enjoyed being tucked away from the now strong wind and warming up in the sun.  Low tide was upon us and so we headed to the beach for Jase to try and locate a cray or two for us.  I was not keen to get wet again so I lay on the beach and just rested, nodding off to sleep and then being woken by the train going past.  What a cool trip that would be in the train looking out at the ocean.  We waved to them as they passed, bikini clad girls and wetsuit clad Jase, what a sight for the train passengers.  Alas no crayfish.

Friends of ours were passing through (Kate, Erin and kids) so we stopped and had a chat with them.  It seems that a number of people we know are in the South Island at the moment, how way cool is that, it is nice to see everyone relaxed and chilling on their summer break.

Talking about summer breaks, normally I would be at Hahei beach in the Coromandel at this time of the year and it seems a little strange not be be at our regular haunt.  Getting up early, running to Cathedral Cove in the mornings, swimming, boating, fishing and chatting to the regular campsite people around us that we see once a year.  Thanks Trent Smith for keeping us updated with pics and Facebook, I will be back.  I hope the campsite is there for the 2016/2017 summer.

My smiles for today:
More Hector Dolphins, it is a special moment each time I see the fins.
Locals walking out of the water with Paua stuffed inside their wet suits looking like they have deformed shapes inside and the main beach transport is quad bikes racing along the beaches at low tide, gathering food for their summer dinners.
Another sunny South Island day, this is always amazing to me.
Seeing Cuzzie on the hillside waiting for me.  I feel she is smiling in a crazy cartoon manner (she has a personality).
Eating Sausages, mashed potato, fried onions and an entree of Paua.

My thoughts where light hearted and fun today on the water.  This kayaking gypsy has had a great day.

Tomorrow hoping to get past Kaikoura.
Red.

PS. Today was amazeballs!

Okiwi Beach

Support crew asleep on the job, yet again

DAY 62...Grassmere/Marfells Beach to Kekerengu

After a night hooked up to the power at a small campsite in Seddon we got up before the sun and headed back out, aiming to have me on the water and paddling by 5.00 am.  It was calm and still with not a ripple to be seen.  The cloud cover was more than the past few days but to be honest this was okay as the sun is intense and hot once it burns through the morning clouds.  I paddled into an incoming tide with not a lot of wind and by the time I got to Cape Cambell the currect was still charging at me. It seems there is something each day to remind you that there is to be a challenge.  The Cape was stunning and very calm, I weaved in and out of rocks covered in large kelp and passed by many seal colonies all pearched on the rocks waiting on the weather to warm up.  A couple of times a seal would appear close by to check out this crazy vision on the water but they always kept their distance, probably a good thing.  As I got further along the dry hillsides climbed up into the sky and the bays were big and endless.  There was not alot of sea activity this morning so I paddled on, not making headway as fast as I would have liked, time was going a little slowly today.  Ever hour I pinged my location to the support team, as they did not have any road access to me.  I was on my own for the first three hous and as a safety measure it is good to give them updates of my location throughout each paddle. 

Just on the 21 km mark I was due to make contact with Jase at Ward Beach, and there he was, chatting to a fisherman on the beach.  You have to luv Mr Have-a-chat, he always finds someone to entertain him.  I reackon by the end of his two weeks he will have them all with a coffee in their hands, freshly brewed from the back of Cuzzie.  All was good and I headed off to tick over the next 13 km.  It was mostly the same as the previous paddle, it was heating up and a couple of the points I headed round were getting a little turbulent due to the tide turning so I had to go out the back of a few large breaking waves over the rocks.  It had been a few days since I was in waters like this, there seemed to be a current against me since the start and it was getting hot and sunny now. Much of the water was stirred up, sandy and murky today so I just focused on the upcoming peaks in the distances and pushed on.  Today I found it hard to zone out and I was pleased at ticking off the initial km and then the shorter distances to get to my final pickup point.  I was also mindful that by 1 pm today the wind was picking up and the water was going to get messy and rough, so I pushed on.

Wharanui Beach was our check point.  I stopped and chatted to another kayaker who was fishing.  He'd had a succesful morning pulling in six crayfish from his craypots so he was a happy fisherman.  I then saw Cuzzie perched on the hill in the carpark and chatted to Jase via VHF.  There was just another 10 km to go and the wind was arriving earlier than predicted.  I could have guessed that would happen.  The bonus was that it was a tailwind and even though the water was messy I did get some good waves and surfed my way down the last 10 km.  I always get a little terse with Jase when he changes things on me at the end of a paddle.  Instead of wearing his pink sharkskin top and walking onto the beach, as we decided the crew should do so I can locate them, he felt it was better to hang it on a large stick!  I VHF in to him and while I was being bashed abut by the wind and the washig machine waves I  mentioned, "can you please wear your pink top, it is easier for me to see." (well maybe I missed out the please!)  As I raced in on the back of a mucky wave I loudly shouted "grab the boat, grab the boat."  There is nothing worse than landing and then getting hit by the next wave set, dry one minute and then sand and sea and stones all over you and the kayak.  This time T2 and I made it, thanks Jase

Up along the beach we go and load up Cuzzie.  While we are unpacking the kayak I quicky jump in a fresh water stream for a rinse off.  As I am trying to get changed and out of my salty gear and sort of hide behind some bushes a lovely lady decides to have a chat about my journey!  Lack of clothing, oops.  Then, the best time of the day, we have a strong black coffee and then get ready to head to Blenheim to collect Tricia from the airport.  She is joining us for the next six weeks while on her summer Uni break.  Now here is my December blooper, Tricia calls and tells me that I have made a rather big error on her flight...I had booked the ticket for the 27th of January!  What a dummy, should have been the 27th of December.  With a little bit of a fare increase she is on her way and it has been noted not to ever let Lynn book the flights again.  It was bwfore the Cook Strait crossing so that is my excuse, nerves and all got in the way.
We are in Blenheim, we have filled the cupboards.  Support crew dared to drag me around the supermarket, starving hungry (or more like HANGRY) and I jammed two baskets full.  Lots of steak, fresh produce,more potatoes and kumera.  Afriend of mine told me to take note of how many kilos we eat but I am actually way too scared to add that up, it would be scarey.  Add to that the amount of olive oil and coconut oil I seem to consume, it is astounding even me.  What ever fuels me and gets me around the coast.

I have found a new snack food fresh popcorn covered in oil and salt and then some days for a sweet fix I drizzle honey over it, you are only allowed to say yuck once you have tried this.  It iss truely really yum, try it.

Another sighting today of a couple of Hector Dolphins.  They seem very shy and as soon as they see me they disappear under the water and are gone.  Soon I will get an image for you all as proof.

My smiles today: 
Seeing Mr Have-a-chat at each checkpoint taking with someone
Seeing a couple of Hector Dolphins.
Watching a mother duck and her wee tiny ducklings swim in the Blenhem river, that was cool.
Having so many likes and comments on our Instagram page of the kite flying image. Check it out,and the other pics. Nat and the team have posted some amazing shots so far of our journey so if you haven't, head to Instagram and follow us, redznzjourney.

My thoughts today, they where a lot like the water and the waves I paddled over, messy, up and down cloudy thoughts, with a little ray of sunshine at times.  Like us all there are okay days, good days and magic days.  Todays paddle was just okay, but still way, way better than not being out on the ocean at all.  Tomorrow there is a small window before the wind picks up again so I will be lucky to get four hours of paddling tomorrow.  That is okay, I am going forward, not drifting back.  Thanks Phil (my brother) for reminding me of this fact.

Oops, running late now for the airport and picking up Tricia, sorry babe we are coming.  So sorry, but the blog had to be written.

Till  tomorrow,
Red

PS: Jase got us some salt cystals from the salt factory! That is exciting. 
PPS: We have T Bone steak and mushrooms for dinner that is REALLY Exciting.
PPPS: We have chocolate coconut ice cream for dessert, now that is me being extravagant.

Reds favourite, a lighthouse at dawn

Seals on the rock

DAY 61...Boxing Day in Redz World

Yesterday afternoon it was hard to drag myself away from Whites Bay Beach, that little spot of paradise has made me want to stay and I have a new brainstorm, once I am finished this journey I have an idea!  My new life in 2016 you may find me being a DOC campsite minder for a summer season.  The seed of thought has been planted, blame Lili from Whites Beach Campsite.

Today I was awake and ready to paddle by just after 6 am.  I was on the water and making my way out of the river mouth onto a flat, glass like ocean.  I had a small tailwind, the tide and the baby swell was running with me too.  T2 was enjoying this paddle and so was I.  We got some long smooth wave runs, it was blissful and fun.  All the time I was scanning the horizon for fins, fish or something of interest.  I have not been in such calm waters for a very long time, there where large, open expansive bays to get my head around paddling across and some entertainment from a pod of dolphins would have helped.

Today was not planned to be a big paddle, we were only trying to get closer to the Cape Campbell point and wanted to still have road access, so just on 40 kms was my target.  At the first checkpoint Jase was on the black stones waiting for me to arrive.  Black hoodie on and entertaining himself with breakfast, coffee and selfies on the beach.  There was nothing to report as he would have well known by looking at the ocean, no reason for me to want to come off the water early today as the weather and the day was getting warm really quickly.   I started to peel the extra early morning layers off to try and cool down.  Fairly soon I paddled with no spray skirt and no leg brace straps.  It was nice to feel a cool breeze on my legs and there was no chance of any wave action today, it was sunny, hot and the wind had gone completely.  I tried not to mind this calm water but I do like a "little" slight wind, it helps cool you and if lucky it helps your speed.  Anyway, I am happy enjoying this very stark and very dry coastline.

At the next checkpoint I sight the pink Sharkskin top on the beach and Jase (aka Mr Have-a-chat) has found a local fisherman to talk to while he waited on me.  He was getting tips on surfcasting.  Ha ha, I do not think he is going to get time to fish but lets wait and see, I may be proved wrong.  There was now only a small bay to cross, 8 km to Grassmere Beach ..in Clifford's Bay and then my day of paddling would be complete.  Very soon I was heading for the beach, I did get a little fright as I was told to head to the far end of the beach but sometimes the team get their locations opposite to me, as they say go right when in my world looking in from the ocean it means left!  So when I see a white camper van speeding to the right end of the beach I think to myself, oh no, what is he doing now?   Oops, it was not Jase in Cuzzie but one of the numerous other white camper vans on the road.  I turn back, cursing and am informed he is on the beach where we discussed.  Oops.  I land, the beach is calm and there is about six people on the beach, the others going out to the point on quad bikes to get paua and crayfish.

We packed my gear, loaded T2 on the roof and headed to park up in the DOC campsite with a view of the ocean.  We have the back doors flug open wide and the sun is streaming in.  I got all of my paddling gear out and got about getting them washed and hung out in the brisk breeze that was starting.  With everything cleaned and drying we had lunch and chatted to our neighbours on either side, others were interested in our journey.  Then off we went to enjoy the wind with the new kite.  Jase has mastered this but I on the other hand left him to it and slept in the sun.  I got my head around the next day and just looked and absorbed this stunning day, this stunning NZ coastline, and yep reminded myself this is now NOT A DREAM!  I am just so extremely lucky and fortunate to be seeing these places, I am excited to see what is around each cape and point I get to.

The land around us is dry, so very dry all ready, it astounds me.  I come from the Waikato and it is always very green.  Down here there are numerous vineyards and many of the names of places and the vineyards are known to me from my restaurant and catering days.  I like putting the names of the wines to the actual places, Cloudy Bay, Awatere, Yellands, Vavasour, Brancotts Estate and the list goes on.

We spent all afternoon at the beach and then after saying our goodbyes with everyone we had meet we headed off to Seddon to hook up to some power.  Before we left we where lucky to be given some Paua, black and yellowfoot, what an amazing treat.  Jase is grinning from ear to ear, infact he has just cooked one and is eating it as I type.  We stopped at the Grassmere salt works and I stood next to massive piles of salt mounds, huge, and I look so small.

So today, my smiling moments: 
Watching a father and son play on the beach for many hours.  I voted him the 'father of the year'.  They were having such a fantastic time, it was a pleasure to watch.  Congrats to that father and son moment.
Being told I am inspirational!  Thank you ladies.  I really find this hard to accept and I blush.  I am only doing something that anyone, if they truly wanted can do, just if you really want to live your dream, sacrifice, commitment and dedication.  TOTALLY immerse yourself, it works (I think).
Another glorious, sunny day, that always makes me smile.
Smiling because I am nowhere near a Boxing day sale, or mall and that is really special.

Another crew member, Tricia arrives tomorrow!  Now that is a smiling moment too.  She is with the support team for the next eight weeks.  Camera, crocs and leggings are packed, she is doing the Redz NZ Journey, how fantastic.

Food is cooked, a mexican one pot wonder, care of Jase, yumbo.

Talk tomorrow
Red 

PS, the South Island is turning on some stunning weather!  Thank you.

Washing line and dry ground

Salt Factory!

DAY 60...Christmas in Redz World

It is Christmas morning, 5.00 am and I am up.  No I am not waiting on Father Christmas I am jumping in T2 for a quick paddle before breakfast.  With mascot the monkey in tow, Jase and myself light footed it down to the beach so I could knock over 20 km quickly and then aim for the beach for the day. 

The weather is calm this morning.  When I am out on the water I take a little while to get into today's paddling but it was a quick, short day so I was actually looking forward to it.  It was calm with only a small ripple, the sunrise was very pretty and it was warm.  I wished I did not have as many layers on today but too late and I could not be bothered to stop and peel off anything.

As I paddled I tried to think about the crossing from yesterday but all I can feel at the moment is a kind of thankful relief and some amazement I was able to cross in such splendid weather.  I am still not actually sure what some moments were or what location I am in, it takes me to look at the printed planning maps we have to remind me some days.  Red you are on the Mainland now and it is Day 60!  I can remember Day 10 and feeling proud then, oh dear me, such a long time ago.

Now me and Christmas Day...it is always a very low key affair for me.  A great Christmas in my books is the following: do a training session, run, gym or what ever you normally do each morning then the beach, the sea, sun, lots of smiles and laughter.  I do not do the big massive Christmas frenzy well.  It still amazes me the amount of frenzy and stress this time of year creates and I actually (sorry to say) enjoy not taking part in the madness, the mass shopping and the feeding frenzy and the over the top chaos. I run the other way.  I get as far away from the stress as humanly possible and always go to the beach on Christmas Day.  I go camping and actually have an amazing and fantastic day.  Please don't get me wrong, for the people out there who truly love Christmas, you rock and I admire you, I just do not seem to have this Christmas vibe going on and running the other way seems to work for me.  But, I have to say Cuzzie did have fairy lights as decoration, so maybe I am changing and we did put fairy lights on T2 for her night paddle, that was me partaking in the festive season.

Today I found my favourite Christmas place, today I did what I have made my Christmas tradition.  My Christmas day I was totally in my happy place.  I paddled 20 km, we found a cool little camping ground and were sat in the sun by 10 am, drinking freshly brewed coffee, planning the next 3 to 4 days, answering emails, texting, blogging and general stuff.  We wrote lists, we cleaned a little and then we went back to Whites Beach to play on the beach.  It was really busy when we arrived but just as we thought nope no way are we going to get a car park, luck struck!  We got the blanket, the towels, the suntan lotion, some snacks, water and my new kite (a present from Jase) something to use and entertain us when it is too damn windy to paddle, brilliant.

As we headed to the beach we bumped into Lili the DOC caretaker for this amazing campsite.  I had spent time yesterday talking with her in the sun when I was waiting on the team to catchup with me after my Cook Strait crossing.  We just got on so well yesterday, she was another reason for our return to this campsite.  We all headed down to the beach, the entire place was filled with people having fun, chilling in the sun, playing and having fun.  There was lots and lots of talking, Lili went for a long swim, actually swimming up and down the length of the bay.  I was impressed, I would have joined her but sadly did not have a pair of swimming goggles with me.  Anyway we talked about how cool it would be to put a team together for an adventure race,  yes, already thinking and planning, maybe in 2016.

Then we remembered the kite and what fun we had!  To keep away from the sunbathers on the beach we stood in the water waist deep while someone lifted it to catch the wind.  I was the worst at flying this stunt kite, Jase excelled and Lili was doing damn well, it was such a buzz!  It is now our new Redz NZ game when off the water.

I felt so so good about today, it was such a beautiful day.  Such a magic setting and such a great time to be meeting and talking with like minded cool people, it surely is what life is meant to be about.  I begin to notice things about myself, others and their attitudes.  If you are smiling from the inside out then you seem to attract others with like minded thoughts, energy and everything seems truly easy, not the stressed filled feeling that the city life seems to cover you with.  I see the things I want to do that are important to me now and that is an amazing feeling.  There is no need for me to have new years resolutions as my dream is happening now.  Thank you to all that have helped and a bigger thank you to every single person I have meet along the way, some I only know by their names when they comment on my Facebook page or my blog, but I am truly looking forward to putting names to faces.

Tomorrow is another day of paddling, tomorrow is another new place and tomorrow there will be another new fantastic, interesting soul to chat to.  I will have 180+ new and cool friends by the end of my journey, how fantastic is that?

What made me smile on my Xmas Day 2015:
Seeing x 2 Hector Dolphins (Thanks Mr Nathan Pettigrew, for predicting these daily fin sightings) 
Lili from Whites Bay campsite, what a cool summer you will have as the DOC onsite manager and what a damn cool person you are.  Come visit, keep in contact, we will then laugh lots more.
The Kite!  Thanks Jason, it is going to make us all smile a lot. 
The amazing new beach we have discovered, Whites Beach, it is beautiful.
Watching people doing the Pipi Dance (the wriggling around you do when trying to locate the pipis in the sand)
The feeding of the eels!  Way, way cool.  Reminded me of my childhood..

For now best I go to bed.  Tired, happy and enjoying being a paddling gypsy heading south.

Red

Red, Monkey, Luthario and Jason in the festive spirit