DAY 137...Green Islets Seventh Day

Friday 11th March

I was up before sunrise to listen and feel the wind, and as decided last night, no go.  A lot of messages were sent back and forth last night, in the end we decided that I would put my nose out this morning, listen to my inner self and make a decision on wether I would stay or go.  As soon as I had settled on that the uneasy feeling in my stomach eased as if I had made the right decision.  There is a lot to be said for listening to your inner self, and your initial thoughts, we all seem to doubt these and have numbed ourselves from listening to them.  Ha, coming from me too, I am sure not a wise person, no Buddah here.

Toothbrush in mouth cleaning my teeth I slowly wander the beach, hunting for my daily supply of wood and treasures from the big high tide.  Still no whole crayfish gifted to me from the ocean, but it is a nice morning.  Well, nice here means it is cold and there are no Sandflies!  What a blessing.

Chores done and fire going, it is again the best time of the day.  I have a hot breakfast reheated from last nights dinner and a sweet hot coffee.  Then it is on to a new creation I dreamed up, small cornmeal balls with cinnamon and sugar, rolled and shallow fried in coconut oil until golden brown, my version of donuts!  It seems sometimes my days are all about food, but at least I am eating fun and being creative, not just filling my body with dehydrated packaged food.

The wind is blowing in a new direction and it takes until after 1pm for the sun to break through the clouds.  Then it is the crazy time of trying to keep the solar panel in the sunniest patch of light, dodging the incoming tide and trying to find a spot away from the wind to just sit for a while and enjoy bing dry.  The ever changing crazy ocean it is relentless.

I saw a fishing boat this afternoon, the first in five days.  One moment I could see the entire ship on the top of a wave, then it all but disappears in the swell.  The ocean is crazy, wild, covered in white caps out past the cliffs on either side of me.  I am not holding my breath, as MN could surely make me suffer.

There is no Paua harvesting today, I have other food that needs eating, it has just been a day of sitting in sunshine and believing my dream.  Nothing else to report, I wish I could send you the sights and sounds of today through my eyes and ears but I am unable to upload a video to you just yet, it will have to be saved for a later date.

This place is incredible, raw untouched.  The blues, the greens, the sand, the wind, the seals, the rock formations - all just so wow.  Come one day and visit.

My smiles today:
Sitting on a deserted beach.
No sandflies all day!

My thoughts today:
Yet another from Nat's book, "The worst possible decision it to give up." (Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson)  I agree!  Most of you will be shocked she sent this to me, well I have a very black sense of humour and stuff like that fuels me, so she has learnt this and knows me well.

Red

DAY 136... Green Islets Sixth Day

Thursday 10th March

60-80 knot winds, thunder and lightening overhead, a really big high tide and lots of heavy rain.  Most of the wind I was protected from, just a few of the swirling gusts through out the night.  I woke every two hours or so to lie and think thank goodness I did not decide I wanted to row across the Tasman!  This is easy in comparison, at least I am safe on dry land while this storm passes.  High tide comes and goes, the thunder and lightning stop before sunrise.  The waves overnight sounded like jet planes leaving an airport, it sure was one huge storm going on out there.  I messaged my support crew at about 630am to say all was good and the winds had mostly kept away from me.  Nat said Cuzzie felt at times like she was going to blow over, and had been tempted to move the van during the night.  Oh, the power of the wind!

It rained nonstop until about 10am and then it has been on and off heavy rain all day.  I had popcorn cooked on the gas cooker for lunch, coated in coconut oil and coconut sugar, yum.  Wacaco coffee made and I sat in my tent in solitary confinement.  Nowhere to go unless I wanted to get wet and cold, so I sat knees tucked under my chin and zoned out, lisened to the sea, watched the wind and rain outside while I sent some messages.

I at last saw a little bit of dry sunshine and went to say hi to the sandflies as they had been knocking on my tent door for hours waiting to give me a sandfly group hug!  Time to try and light my fire, I had stashed a bagful of drying wood and managed to get some flames going.  I boiled two pots of water, kept warm and spent some time outside in the smoke and warmth.

A couple of walks along the beach to get another bagful of wood, as everything was soaked this was not an easy chore.  My largest Paua has been cut up and is ready for breakfast, lunch and dinner tomorrow.  I am probably going to head back to my vacuum packed meat after this Paua meat is finished to use some of the food that may spoil.  As you would imagine the plan was to be just a little bit further along the coast by now.  As I always say, from a bad moment something good will always come.  At the moment I have no clue when this good will arrive, I just keep hoping and being positive.

To all of you who ask, "Do you get bored?"  YES is the answer.  Especially when I am confined to my tent, but as I said earlier at least I am not on the ocean in this weather with no land in sight, that to me is truly scary.

No chance to charge a thing today as every twenty minutes it rained so by 430pm I gave up trying, tomorrow the sun will return.  Nothing else to report in my day, no exploring, not much of a day, just me, the sandflies, T2 and the ocean.

My smiles today:
Paua for dinner, got to thank the ocean for that.  How many of you are jealous?
My tent and extra flysheet survived the storm, brilliant.
I am dry and warm
I have a fire going on a wet day, great camping skills.
I hear seabirds.

My thoughts today:
Nat and her book again reading my mind, "If an undertaking was easy, someone else already would have done it" (Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson)

Red

DAY 135... Green Islets Fifth Day

Wednesday 9th March

Another sleep in, another day of going nowhere, a day to enjoy as tomorrow is meant to be really bad!  Got to love what MN is throwing my way at the moment.  Let's wait and see if soon I can leave and see some new and beautiful places along this section.

Every night this week before I go to sleep I have imagined in my mind of waking up to no T2!  It is not that she is lying on the beach, waves lapping on her sides,  she is pulled nearly to the tree tops.  If I could have worked out a pully system to lift her up there I would have!  I try to reassure myself that she is high and dry, but every time I get up and pull her higher into the trees and scrub.  Insane as it is.  There also have been extremes of late with very high and low tides continuing today and for the next few days, so my nighty ritual will continue.

My daily chores done as normal I wander up and down the beach, cleaning my teeth, hunting for small pieces of firewood, scavenging for anything washed up on the beach.  Nothing exciting today, yesterday evening I found a huge crayfish tail, fresh, but totally empty.  My heart did skip a beat but the fish had cleaned out this shell completely.  Oh well, I still have Paua to munch my way though.

Wacaco coffee machine out, (these are very cool, portable espresso coffee makers, see video here) fire going well enough for me to heat the water, all set up for another morning of a few messages, how is the weather and what do I need to know about.  Then continuous moving of the Goal Zero solar panel to recharge my batteries and InReach unit before the sun disappears behind the 30-50m cliffs behind me.  They give me protection from the NW winds, these are supposed to be worsening so I will be glad of them I am sure.  Messages done I shut down from the outside world until later, it takes me a little time on the small keypad to write messages, and I am restricted to 160 characters, a bit like the old brick cellphones.  A skill I am relearning quickly.

After three firewood missions up and down the beach I am starving so Paua and crispy kumera pieces for breakfast, with a little bit of gravel as well.  I am sure I will feel something is wrong with my cooking when I return home, as there will be no grit in it.  When I return home... Mother Nature alone knows the answer to this.  Nat is forward planning my food drops for me further up the sounds, friends of friends of friends are going out in a boat and can leave a parcel for me.  I have accepted but I am hoping to have passed these locations by the time they will get there.  But it is good to have something to look forward to, not everyone will be this kind.

I sit on the beach on my big plastic bag, legs crossed writing my blog, watching the sand hoppers jumping all around me.  The sandflies come and go, depending on how much breeze comes along.  They have decided I am tasty enough to bite though my woollen clothes and jacket, so getting peace from them has become harder.  The wind is picking up and I have been told gusts of 60-80 knots are expected.  I hope the cliffs will give me enough protection, I have my tent and fly sheet firmly secured so fingers crossed.

No fishermen again today, the weather is bad everywhere.  It is now 6pm and the sandflies are insane this evening, so I eat dinner down in the ocean, standing in the cool breeze and wading in the clear blue water.  I sat and meditated today, I sat and talked to Mother Nature as well, sort of sent a message of respect to her, and I sure do have a lot of that how.  Sitting in my tent after dinner all I can hear are sandflies trying to get in, it sounds like rain on the tent sides!  Honestly they do make good fritters.  There must be something useful for these insane insects.

Nat is working her magic in and on my website, she is so amazing and on to it.  Weather updates and food drops organised further up the coast, I love her work.  The other crew have also been sending messages, so have my family and a few friends, thanks to you all.  I have taken many videos of Green Islet, I hope to share these with you once Nat has worked some more of her video magic.  (did you see the Stewart Island video we made?  Worth a watch, here).

My smiles today:
Seeing sunshine, yay, a day outside!
My sandfly repellant, it works.
Fresh, hot water.
Fresh Paua.
Being at peace with being alone.
Meditating, especially as I am usually the one who cannot sit still!

My thoughts today:
Today Nat sent me a quote from the book she is reading, (Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson)
"Excellence is born of preparation, dedication, focus, and tenacity; compromise on any of these and you become average."

Red, T2 and my fire

DAY 134...Green Islets Fourth Day

Tuesday 8th March

I woke to a weather report from Nat, "Shit, getting shitter."  There are dead sandflies and small fire stones everywhere in my tent.  The OCD of my home life's ways has had to leave me on this trip.  It was raining at 7am this morning, I quickly jogged to the rock pools to harvest some Paua, as they do not move quickly they were still there.  I grabbed a large one for my brunch and there will be enough for dinner as they are massive.

Back into my sleeping bag I crawl and wait on the rain to stop.  I send some quick messages via my InReach and then turn off the world.  I am not sure what the day will bring but sure as heck there will be no paddling.  By 930am I see some blue sky out of my tent and I head out to do some more recharging.  To my surprise the sandflies have gone on holiday today, is it colder? Windier?  Are they bored with me?  I am not sure but I will enjoy the moments without them.

I collect some really damp firewood and light my fire, I sit on the smoky side and smile.  As a message early this morning from Auckland said they were jealous of me, well, jealous of my Paua and maybe not of the new 'feral' red and my new found perfume, fire smoke.  

There is so much blue sky and fluffy clouds zooming overhead, it makes the ocean, deep blue and the waves shimmering foaming white madness a really incredible sight.  

So far today I have got brunch and dinner sorted, the fire is sorted for a while, Wacaco coffee machine working its magic and I am sitting on my large carryall plastic bag.  Mike Scanlan, you rock for suggesting this, it is my firewood collecting bag, my gear carrying bag, my ground cover to sit on and it cost only two dollars, best and cheapest piece of equipment I have with me.

I have been like the weather today, I have looked to the sky and thanked my son (wherever he is in the world) for actually making this incredible journey of mine begin.  I have had a thoughtful moment or two, shed one or two tears for life, for experiences, for his one staying that has stuck, "Mum, if you want to do something, then nothing is stopping  you, Just go do it."  He is right and now I fell alive again, no need for any of us to pay massive amounts of money to go to a retreat! 
Just hook up with a Bluff fisherman, get them to drop you off on a remote beach and pick you  up again once the weather improves enough for them to return.  Cheap, simple and incredibly good for most, maybe all.

The other thing I laugh at is that during my down time in Invercargill we saw an advert for NZ Survivor!  Well what a laugh, Nat has helped me enter, now this will be hilarious.  Probably not back in time for filming, but, something made me smile and be entertained.  The heavy rain returned and I retreated to my tent, fireplace piled high with wood hoping it will last until the sun returns.  Today was going to be an extremely low tide so one hour before I head to go rock cave exploring, it was a bonza today.  The Paua I found, I actually said "Holy Crap," out loud, so huge my entire hand span could not measure it.  I have bent my stainless steal knife dive knife when prying it off the rock.  Dinner for four days this one, and the rest still on the rocks for me and my daily store.  I have this one on a rock in seawater on the bottom of T2 until tomorrow to eat.  Poor T2.

I skipped along the beach and nearly danced back up to the fireplace after this rock hoping adventure, truly amazing, thanks Green Islets,  you are being rather nice to me.  Wind, rain and massive swells, nothing new on the paddling front, so I am enjoying my simple life, water collecting and boiling, foraging for wood, fire making and collecting food, MN will let me paddle sometime soon, another day of no fishing boats always means bad weather.

Sleep time in my world, a good day has been had.  Maybe handstand practise tomorrow and collecting even more firewood, no need for Paua hunting as I have so much to eat.

My smiles today:
The hugest Paua I have ever seen in my lifetime.
My new fragrance, firesmoke.
My bent dive knife, LOL.
My support crew and their daily updates,
My brother for his support on this journey.  Thanks Phil and thinks to his wife Pauline.
 

My thoughts today:
It is the people in your life who want you in theirs, the ones who accept you for who you are, the ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who care about you no matter what.  Thanks to you all.

Goodnight from Red, T2 and my fire.

DAY 133...Green Islets Third Day

Monday 7th March

If it was going to be easy, then everyone would be doing it.  Shit, this morning was tough.  I said no to paddling then immediately felt guilty, lazy and soft.  I even said sorry for disappointing the support team.  No is not very easy for me to say or accept and I have sat and pondered outside with the sandflies, the morning sunrise and my damp fire wood.  To go, to stay, to have a crystal ball (now that would solve it all).  Next trip I will locate one and pack it!  Nat, please start looking on TradeMe.

With no one to blame and no one to dump my emotions on I sat, looked and wondered, was a 3m SW rising swell really that bad...YES!  It is over what I outlined my limits to be so why the mental dilemma?  I have no answer, but let me tell you all I am still not that rational.  The best thing for my mind today was that no fishing boats came past, now that says it all about the weather.  They are skilled, big and tough, and if they are not even on the water then bad weather must be on it's way.  That does help to calm the caged tiger, well a little, not totally, there is still that crazy inside me until I get on the water and say holy crap you idiot.

To everyone who has had to sit on a beach, solo, and wait for a weather change, emotionally I am with you in every way.  One day we may get to chat about what we felt, did, and how we pushed on.  Maybe I am the most impatient, time will only tell.

I focused on chores, beach walking and fire building.  I up-skilled my fire striking tool abilities, watched the ocean and waited, it may be four more days at this location.  As the day continued whenever I found myself looking at the ocean and thinking, 'maybe,' I would go for a walk to one end or the other of the beach with my large white plastic carry bag and search for firewood.  The sandflies were on form today, the bay I am in is sheltered so there is no wind to keep them away.  It must be due to rain as there are clouds of them outside my tent now!

I spent all day outside, drying my kayak gear and moving my solar panel about until the tide was low enough to go and look at the many rock pools.  It reminds me of days with my Dad when he used to take us surfcasting off rocks, only we had to be content to forage in the rock pools as we were not able to cast the big rods.  I was in a happy place and having fun.  Today become my lucky day, three sightings of white Paua, and of course no knife.  So back to the campsite to get my Sony Action Cam, a container and the knife.  Back to the rock pool and dinner sorted.

I discovered some really deep, clear rock pools, in fact one so big I had to take a swim, it was nice to sit neck deep in the cool water, I felt like a mermaid!  You may all laugh at me, but it was good for my soul.  I quickly changed and covered up again before the sandflies attacked me and carried on.  There are deep rock pools everywhere and I have found a bigger one for tomorrows swim.  I wandered towards the huge hole in the rock and there I found my next seven dinners.  Huge bread & butter plate sized Paua, black and white, I am ecstatic.

Back at the campsite I cook my Paua in coconut oil with thick slices of kumera till crispy on the fire.  I cannot control the heat on the fire so some are more crispy than others!  The Paua is sweet and tender, I can't leave this location until my newfound stash is eaten :)

Day three at Green Islets was a challenge, but when you are solo you have to sort yourself out, and for me it seems a better way.

My smiles today:
The amount of tracks on the beach from me walking up and down, calming the caged tiger.
Practising handstands on the beach, no improvement yet!
Sitting engulfed in woodsmoke to try and find some peace from the sandflies!
Skinny dipping in my rock pool.
My delight on food foraging (Tim the Blue Cod will be getting steak as bait, how dare you suggest Paua)
My bed tonight, I am at ease now.
I am so glad I do not have a mirror!

My thoughts today:
How the really small things in my life make me smile and be happy.

Red

DAY 132...Green Islets Second Day

Sunday 6th March

Last night before I went to sleep I could hear the engines of a cray boat nearby, all I could see was the bright light on board the craft as they worked the other side of the cliff with the big opening.  I felt kind of safe as I am sure they were checking my location but, who knows.  I tucked myself into bed and slept, no rain later on in the evening thank goodness for that.

T2 was catching water for me but she was now looking a little like a bath tub!  I got up and my first job was to find the sun and put out my solar charger, if I did anything today it was to get everything fully charged and a fire going.

Most of yesterday I spent in the tent due to all the rain so covered in insect repellent out I went.  Solar panel going I went off to collect firewood, it was mostly damp so it was rather a mission to get a fire going but at last I did and the smoke and the heat kept the sandflies at bay, I sat close while I cooked my breakfast.  Then I made a hot coffee!  It was extremely satisfying.  I went on a big mission to locate lots of firewood with my large white carry bag.  I had a great time and I was happy the fire was going.  I piled it high with wood and went for a walk to the massive rock wall with the hole.  It was amazing, awesome and huge, Cathedral Cove does not seem so incredible anymore.  Back to the campsite with more firewood, I restocked the fire and ventured past the rock face to another beach.  I wandered in and out of rock pools always hopeful of something exciting, but today nothing.  I even ventured out to my lucky Paua spot from yesterday, but nothing.

Most of my day was about fires and walking, in fact I did not spend any time in my tent today until after dinner when it started to rain.  I knew it was coming as the sandflies seem to go insane just before it starts and even the fire was not keeping them at bay.  In I climbed, sand and stones everywhere so I had a tidy up, killed a few sandflies and then got about my weather updates.

The forecast was not great, swell is way past my limits, ah, what to do!  I tell myself to be patient, no point hating it, just wait, it will calm again, one day.  The torch is out so I can finish my blog, the rain is gently falling and it is time for bed.  All I want is a couple of calm days, but I must be sounding like a stuck record!

My smiles today:
Seeing the fishing boats today.
Watching the sea, the waves and the swell.
My massive beach balks to forage, Girl Grylls unsuccessful today.
Dropping my cooked steak in the sand and having to rinse it before eating.  I had to laugh, what an idiot!

My thoughts today:
Should I stay or should I go?  If I have inner doubts, STAY!  Listen to your insides.

Red

DAY 131...Green Islets

Saturday 5th March

Rain and wind last night, then wind, rain, thunder and lightning this morning from 8am till 10.30am.  I was inside the tent, listening and eating last nights reheated dinner.  Still hungry  I waited for the rain to stop and cooked myself a pot of popcorn with lashings of coconut oil and coconut sugar, then I felt better.

As it started to rain heavily again I had a brainstorm, it was not that cold outside and I was covered in three days of sea salt.  I grabbed my soap, stood outside my tent and had a shower.  Clean and refreshed I climbed back into my tent, got warm in my woollen clothes and had a mug of sweet hot tea.

So what do you do when there is more rain bucketing down outside and nowhere to paddle?  Firstly I killed every sandfly in my tent!  Secondly, in between rain showers I put my solar panel charger to work, just outside my tent door.  I did some forward planning of the next section, but that still could be days away.  I rearranged stuff in my tent, then when the rain eased again I went for a walk along the beach, studying the waves.  There were huge green cliffs behind me and the hugest rock wall with a massive hole in the middle.  I headed that way to explore, but soon it started to rain heavily again.  It was not low tide till four pm today so no luck for foraging for food just yet.

Back to the tent again I went, being happy I had set up the double fly sheet system, it is the blessing of this trip, it keeps everything dry inside my tent, no leaks, nothing gets wet.

In between rain showers I went wandering and as low tide neared I headed to the other end of the beach.  I waded knee deep in between the rocks, hunting.  I saw a group of seals, they were startled by my presence and all headed toward the ocean, but I left them alone and headed back to my rocks.  I spotted some Paua!  I was happy and grabbed one for my dinner, yippee!  I wandered back to my tent and right on cue the rain arrived heavily, so in I climbed to dry off and rest.  There is nothing I can do to change this weather, and no need to get stressed or worried.  If it was only rain and the seas were calm I would paddle but, heck, the seas are so ugly, so I am just resting.

You have to love the sound of rain on your tent, to me it is restful, and calming so I will just absorb it and enjoy.  No fire tonight as it is now torrential rain, but I'll have an early dinner, wrap up cosy warm and chill inside my tent.  I am hoping for less rain tomorrow to try and get things recharged more.  I think I will be at Green Islets for a few days now, until another weather window arrives that I can paddle in.

My smiles today:
Paua, success!
My flysheet, it rocks.
Showering outside in the rain.
My daily diary, it helps me smile.
Wading in rockpools.

My thoughts today:
Wrap up warm and get outside.  Even when it is raining if I get out in it I feel better.  I feel alive accepting what each day throws at you.  Going with the current is easier than fighting it each day.

Red

DAY 130...Port Craig to Green Islets

Wednesday 4th March

Tonight I lie and so wish others could share this moment as my words, my descriptions, even my pictures do not tell the real story.  I wish that others could smell the burning fire, taste the food cooked over it, be lying in a tent listening to the fishing boats passing and the waves lapping, feel the wind on the tent and be curled up in a sleeping bag and feel how blissful it all is.  Words and pictures do not do this place justice, we all need to experience it, feel it and say 'WOW,' far better than any other world.  The wind, yes, it has arrived, but I am protected by the trees.  Today I think I have discovered a new meaning to awesome, beautiful and amazing!  I need new words.

This morning I was up at 5am, a big day, ten hours paddling I hoped for.  As I packed up everything, I sat for a moment on the sand before departing to hold my pounamu and asked for me to stay careful and safe.  Off I set at the same time as three other fishing boats, they also had been in Port Craig overnight.  I hugged the coastline until they had all passed and then moved out and away from the upcoming waves and rocks.  As I got further along most of me was glad I had not padded further yesterday, the beach landings were all rather yuck and looked like disaster zones for getting a dry, easy launch the next morning.  Sand Hill Point was fine, but I had to keep way out past Waitutu River, it all took some time and patience today.  Each ten km were  ticked off and as I got to my forty km mark I thought, yep, I am going to nail this.  Along this section a a fishing boat pulled up to say hi and ask where I was heading.  He was gong to Preservation Inlet, Dusky and then back so said he would keep an eye out for me and let Meri back at Bulff know he had seen me.  

He dodged in and out of the Green Islets and then wind gusts hit me.  What?  They are not meant to be until later in the day.  Holy crap, as I pass into the other side of Green Islets it was a huge swell, head on winds big gusts and just plain nasty!  Then another boat came up beside me and he asked where I was headed.  "Preservation," I replied.  He said "mm, it's blowing 30 plus knots up there, the wind has arrived early!  Would you like a ride to Gates Harbour?"  I declined but he said he would check on me.  Thanks guys :)  They motored off but I could hardly see them as they dipped in and out of the swell.  It was horrible, actually nasty.  Another ten km of this to get to Gates Harbour would be asking for trouble so I turned back to Green Islets.

Maybe the winds would have dropped, maybe not, but, better safe than sorry on this coast,  better to respect the locals knowledge, they know the weather more than me.

Green Islet is beautiful, so are the sandflies.  I have a new scheme, if and where possible I stay in the water and smother myself with repellent before I land.  When I land I quickly put my scarf up over my head and cover my face, then strip off my kayaking clothes, lie them on the beach and get changed.  The sand flies seem to like the smelly kayak gear, so it gives me a couple of minutes peace before they return.  The insect repellant works, they stay off my skin.

I am feeling a bit gutted today, I was going so well, I got so close and then Mother Nature (MN) won.  Oh well, I must respect her, 52km done today and that is not bad.

I gather firewood and light a fire, the smoke helps to keep the sandflies away.  It takes me a while to decide what to cook for dinner, but eventually I make up a large pot of food, with enough for tomorrow too.  Venison mince, potato, beetroot and onion all together to make a stew, it is actually yummie and I cooked it all on the fire, saving gas, brilliant.  The night arrives and I retreat to my tent, the fire is out.  Tomorrow I will explore, no paddling for me.  Big winds, huge swells, it could be days before I get out again.  So close to Preservation, but still so far away.

Thanks to my support team for the weather updates, thanks to the others who remind me not to be gutted about having to stop, but to be happy and enjoy the places so few other people have seen, I am privileged.

My smiles today;
3 dolphin sitings
Sunrise this morning magic
Todays paddle, 'half epic'
My location, awe inspiring
Mother Nature, you won today
Killing sandflies in my tent

My thoughts today:
For everybody out there who has had a bad day and is caring for someone dear to them through depression big hugs, you deserve it!  keep smiling, I know how it feels, totally.

Red

Message From the Wild South-West Coast

As I look out towards the incredible west coast I take a deep breath to digest this incredible journey I am on.  I have completed so much so far and I am now asking you all to please share my amazing incredible journey with everyone you know: every corporation, individual, company director, marketing guru...just everyone.  I want to spread the word but now I need your financial backing to help with the dream.  In return I offer myself, my drive and determination, my inspiration and my incredible vision and story to assist others to motivate, goal set, dream big, have positive smiles and to be happy with the simple.  MHFNZ is an incredible organisation, striving to help others deal with and care for the mentally ill and depressed, whether as a carer or the sufferer.  I personally can relate to all as a carer who had a grenade explode in her lap, I have an incredible story to be told from this journey and I need someone now with the same vision as mine, an incredible big heart, an open mind and a dream big attitude like I have to set out on this adventure.  I am positive there is a company, organisation or individual who would like to connect with me and the team to dream big and open eyes.  In return I will dedicate myself to you, free time for presentations, my name, my inspiration.  I am not trying to fly to the moon or to climb the himalayas, just paddle.

Please share and contact Nat (redznzjourney@gmail.com, 021881534) if you can assist in any way, we are looking for anything, from $10 to $20k.

Thank you

Big Hugs to you all
Red

DAY 129...Monkey Island to Craig Point

Thursday 3rd March

It was great to curl up in Cuzzie last night, there was a chill in the air so we had the heater on.  It was good to be ready for the next leg of this crazy odyssey I started way back in October 2015.

This is the section everyone has asked me about.
Where will you stay?
What will you do solo?
How will you cope?
You will be in a tent? Yes!
There are no roads?  No!
And numerous other questions.

It is strange but true the closer to each big event, trip or adventure I ever do the quieter and rather more withdrawn I get.  A sort of way of preparing myself I suppose and trying to keep a tight lid on any excitement or self doubts so I am never disappointed.  Last night was like this for me, a lot to focus on and a lot to make sure was ready in my brain and with my gear and my mindset.  A lot may think that this just is a natural trait of mine, I am bullet proof and "fearless" as my pants pic said!  But in reality it is many years of self discipline and giving myself a shove into uncomfortable situations.  Yes I get nervous and yes I have doubts.  I just try and channel them into making me move forward even if it is sometimes rather silently and sometimes shyly!  So when Nat mentioned last night I seemed tired I just nodded, it was my way of dealing with things.  I am not a talker when it comes to me, I just try and personally solve things.

Back to this morning.  I was up early and dragged T2 down to the water edge and started on packing all my gear and supplies, far enough away not to have the incoming tide wash her away.  It all went in, even my fav jacket Nat managed to wedge piece by piece into the front stowing hold.  Enough food, Nat is happy, I saw her out of the corner of my squeezing the remaining small potatoes, beetroot and onions into every nook and gap she can find.  Honestly it is a wonder poor T2 still floated!  Potatoes!  Thanks for the caring support crew team.  Okay final hugs and I am off, waving goodbye for a smallish paddle, just until the weather turns, to Port Craig.

My paddle was okay, if you like the big open bay to bay kind of paddles.  There was not a lot to look at except migrating birds.  I had a biggish swell and the tide and current were against me, making some of this paddle like I was going through thick mud.  Slowly I pushed forward, I looked toward the horizon and it was calm.  It was calmer than forecast on the horizon, and maybe, could I go further than Port Craig?  I sort of aimed away a little from my destination, but then stopped gave myself a stern chat, day one was not the day to go against plans.  So on the calm oily sea I headed into Port Craig.  32km of paddling done & dusted!

Onto the shoreI unloaded, it was low tide so a little way to clamber but to a great camping site that many have stayed at way before me.  My tent up, pics taken, food in mouth eating and a caretaker for the Humptrack Hut appeared to check on me.  She was worried I was going to leave a mess behind, I assured her I would not and she headed off to grab mussels from the rocks.  It is sad in many ways that others have left there waste behind and then we all get the assumption we will do the same.  I found a hand made brick bbq so it was lit and roaring and my dinner of venison mince (thanks again Tim) was cooked.  I added Nat's potatoes, herbs and tomato paste, I cooked enough for my breakfast as well!

One day I will walk this great track and visit Port Craig by track and my feet, but this time it is the coastline and once I arrived and landed I have to say it is a really pretty place, the sand flies like it too.  Most of my gear is charged and I am now in my tent warm and satisfied, listening to the rain on the tent gently falling.  The weather has arrived as predicted, let's see if it goes by tomorrow morning.

My smiles today:
The huge amount of food I have.
The stupid sand flies in my tent!  Why do they rush to get in then want to get out, not even stopping to try to bite you?  Weird bugs.
This gorgeous location I am in that many others have seen before me.
My fire, always makes me smile.

My thoughts today:
Doing what you like is freedom, liking what you do is happiness.

Good night to all, Red & T2.

Red taking a deep breath before starting the 400km around Fiordland

DAY 128...Bluff to Monkey Island

Wednesday 2nd March

It has been days since the alarm was set, today it was set for 530am and even I was awake before it went off.  I then wondered why it had not gone of, I set it for PM not AM!  Not really any stress as did not really need it.  Up I got and got myself dressed and ready for today's paddle from Bluff to Colac bay or further if possible, let's just see how it all goes on the first 50km.

I chatted to another person in the kitchen this morning, he was heading out to go shark diving.  I wished him all the best, it was going to be an amazing day on the water today so he was lucky.  Crazy they were from near Piha and it was nice chatting.

Down to the launch with my hot cup of tea after eating my breakfast, it was cooler this morning so hat and rain jacket on this morning for launch.  There was still a messy swell going on at this beach but it did not cause any real dramas just a small amount of water in the cockpit until I got out the back of the waves.  It stayed rather sloppy and uneven for the first 10km of this paddle.  It was slow and I just had to deal with it, the currents were not working in my favour today, it was to be a long day with this slow speed.

Across the ocean I pushed towards Colac Bay.  Today had its challenges, it was not the wind or the swells it was just after Stewart island paddling this next section was just ocean and not a lot else, a few birds, penguins and me aiming toward a hazy coastline in the distance.  Ticking over the kilometres, it was a tad uninspiring and it was no record breaking paddle to Colac bay.  I text Nat and asked if she could go ahead and check the other landing as at 46km I had decided I had to push to get to Monkey Island, 28 km further.  I needed to get as far along this section as possible today, it was a day of reminding myself of the saying "Are you made of sugar," and to just keep trucking along.

There were some really pretty sections and some challenging rock back washes and breaking waves on a couple points but at last the 26km mark arrived and I was glad, even happier when Nat had told me that the landing on the beach had half a wave.  She was right, easy landing, 6pm at night on a gorgeous beach at a busy Doc Campsite.

We have charged up everything for my next hop to Port Craig before the wind picks up mid morning.  I have eaten the best dinner, Bluff oysters wrapped in bacon and barbecued, (my dad's favourite dish) it just needed Worcester sauce but we had none.  It is calm and peaceful tonight, it is colder tonight as well.  Tomorrow it is goodbye to Nat and Cuzzie, I will be solo till Jackson Bay.

I will write my daily blogs but sorry to say they will be late to you all, we will do our best.

Bed time it is, sleeping time is needed, let's see what tomorrow brings, 30km or...?

My smiles today:
Hanging in today and successfully paddling 74km, it was a mind battle.
Bluff oysters and Bacon, John Ross Paterson style.
No wind and sunshine for most of today.
A calm beach landing, total bonus.'

My thoughts today:
All of them are focused on what tomorrow will bring.

Goodnight from Red, Nat, T2 and Cuzzie.

Dinner!

Easy landing by Monkey Island

Day 127...Goodbye Southland

Tuesday 1st March

Apparently it is the first day of Autumn, now that is a sobering thought.  It is cold in the town of Invercargill, shoes and socks, woollen hat, leggings, hoodie and my sharkskin jacket, and another day of wind and some morning rain.  We had a few final things to get done, people to say thank you to and a couple of electronic charging issues to get sorted.  We spent the morning in and out of electric stores as I satisfied my concern of having enough power packs and rechargeable battery packs for this next solo leg.  Nat was amazing at sorting out the many different options and fending off the eager salesmen in the stores by knowing way more than them about the products we were looking at.  Purchases made and we were both satisfied.

We sadly and reluctantly returned the vacuum pack unit to Tim, (thank you matey) said our farewells and know we will be catching up with this wonderful man and family before too long.  Thanks for the eggs and the bacon, brilliant breakfast food.  We hunted for Bluff oysters today but nothing until tomorrow and honestly we tried every contact we could.  Nothing available, still being sorted and tomorrow is the day.  I can not wait.  Raw with vinegar and also I am going to cook some!  Fried oysters remind me of my Dad, he adored them.

It is a long time since I have been able to even contemplate paddling, the ocean has been out of control and past my safety limits but it seems tomorrow may be okay.  I am sure you all wonder how I am coping, well when it is so windy and rough the coping and downtime I am okay with.  Today I went for a long walk in Queens Park, Invercargill.  Nat had told me how beautiful it was and she was not wrong, it was really nice to walk around, wrapped up and warm just enjoying the open spaces.  Great for my mind and body.  Talking about my body I have had a couple of sore fingers after some of my bigger paddle days so I headed to see Karl at Sportsmed Southern Physio.  Thanks Karl for being so generous and I will keep you posted as my trip continues.  It was nice to know it is nothing to be concerned about and I will massage and stretch when I am able, that is a promise from this obsessive redhead.

Back to Nat who was having rest in Cuzzie after our final lunch in town at The Batch, thanks team it was great food and lovely service as usual.  We have headed to Bluff for the night, on the way we drove up to the viewpoint to look out over where I have come from and where I am going to.  Gosh it was cold and windy up on the top but he view was spectacular.

Cuzzie and all are now tucked up in the Bluff campsite  We have been a regular camper at this place for a little while now, it seems that some places we gravitate to and it takes a long time to move on.  Bluff and Invercargill has seen al ot of us all in the past few weeks, it has been enjoyable I have to say, everyone has been so helpful and wonderful, thanks to you all.  Everything is charging and we are cooking up a storm tonight, I am keen to try and push onwards and upwards now so let's see what this weather can do to help me.

My smiles today:
Warm cosy house and waking up in a bed but still using and in my sleeping bag.
Nat still rocking around the entire day in bare feet, it was 8 - 13 degrees today, too cold for me and bare feet.
Trying to locate bluff oysters today, no luck!
The offer from Tim that Amber was keen to help out on Redz NZ Journey as crew.  Amber you may well get a call.
The feeling of calmness in the campsite his evening, the wind is dropping, yippee!
Cuzzie, my campervan, she makes me smile everyday, I actually love this wandering gypsy life.
Meeting truly generous amazing people.  Thanks for everything to the Bluff, Invercargill & Stewart Island locals.  All of your help is and has been amazing.

My thoughts today:
No matter how educated, talented, rich or cool you think you are, how you treat people ultimately says it all.

Red

View from the top

DAY 126...Filling the Tins

Monday 29 February

Huge blustery wind, rain and cold this morning when we awoke.  At least the large water feature that was forming late last night under Cuzzie had disappeared, but Nat still felt as if we had been in the movie "The Wizard of Oz" and had just been caught in a massive tornado and swept up and dumped in another world!  As she woke she asked if we where in Kansas or the land of Oz?  We got sorted and packed ready for our return into Invercargill and final gathering of stores for me.  Today I felt as if we got anymore food for this trip I was going to make T2 explode at the seams and it was making me feel sick shopping for it all, but Nat was on the thought pattern I may run out and that was not going to happen on her watch.

I spent some of my time today chatting to the students at S I T about my journey and my dream, thanks for the invite and thank you for listening.

Next we headed off to meet up with an Auckland friend who is now living in Invercargill, Tania it is so great to catchup with you.  Thank you for the big bed to sleep in and the chance to spread out and charge things, vacuum pak some meat (Tim this little unit is brilliant, we my return it one day) and freeze things ready for my trip.  

It is cold tonight only 8 degrees.  It is colder than I like, best I get paddling north soon.  Now all that is left is to get going, it is a waiting game and I am a little over waiting.  While waiting I am solving small battery pack/charger issues, there is always something.  Bluff oyster season tomorrow and I am going looking for some to buy and eat.

Sitting in a big house and watching a TV seems strange to me.  Cuzzie and my small world is now the norm and everything else feels strangely odd.  I even have decided to sleep in my sleeping bag on the bed tonight so as not to get to accustomed to a house and being away from my campervan/tent life.

Time now for bed, after my hot tea, dark chocolate and crystallised ginger.

My smiles today:
Jar of hot fresh mint tea, my new drinking cup!
Feeling good about sharing my life stories to others, and my dreams.
My warm knitted beanie from the second hand shop, I wore it all day.
The vacuum pak machine, truly Nat & I kept looking for extra things to vacuum pak!
Sitting in the sunshine.
Roasted chicken frames, now this is a fav of mine!
The Bin Inn store having everything I needed today.
Nat buying new running shoes.

My thoughts today: (I located this piece of inspiration on the wall at Tania's house)
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

Goodnight from a chilly Invercargill
Red

Mmmmm, chicken frames

Meat, meat and more meat!

DAY 125...Colac Bay Reconnaissance

Sunday 28 February

The winds last night...poor T2 on the roof of Cuzzie, seriously it seemed at any minute T2 was going to take flight.  This morning as per normal there was no wind and it was pre dawn calm.  The sun woke up and we got ready to head to the local Sunday morning farmers market.  Meat and veges purchased, also nearly a gorgeous hand knitted hat from Helen!  Nearly, but I was controlled and walked away.  It may be a regret when I am freezing in the Fiordlands.  Then to Macpac to grab some additional dry bags for my next leg of my trip and some freeze dried food items that where on sale.  Knowing me they will still be in my kayak at the end of the trip!  But great backup food items if I get stuck.

A few other items where grabbed and then we were off out of Invercargill for a day of reconnaissance along the coast for the next couple of my paddling sections as I head to another solo leg.  Leftover pork ribs for lunch and then we were back to Colac Bay to setup and unpack my damp tent and fly sheet to hang on the line.  They got wind blown dry in a very quick time from the massive gusts, then were repacked into my gear bag.  Nat was prepping my snack foods, high energy bags of seeds oils and honey.  We then discussed which of my supplies needed topping up and checked on my gear, the batteries, and talked about my next solo sections.

It was then time to get some fresh air and sunshine for us both.  A walk to the beach and along the road to the boat ramp, Nat and I foraging for blackberries and just chatting.  I gave her a big hug today saying the biggest THANKYOU for the past four months.  She and the other support crew guys have been totally awesome on this journey so far, they all deserve a massive hug.

Once we had walked, talked and paddled in the waves it was time to eat dinner.  The crispy roast veges were ready on our arrival back and it was then quick steak cook and yippee dinner was ready.  Coconut ice cream for desert for me and rum & raisin for Nat, followed by a large jar of fresh mint tea and lashings of honey.  The wind has been seriously strong today and now a heavy rain storm has arrived tonight, bless this weather, it will get better soon I am certain.

All tucked up now in Cuzzie, dry and warm.  Job list rewritten, on Monday we have plans and things to do.  Also if we are lucky we will be still near enough to get some Bluff Oyster on the 1st of March before I leave for this next long section.

My smiles today: 
Helen and her funky hand knitted hats, still smiling at this.
My yummy breakfast creation of sweet cinnamon pancakes and coconut cream, gosh this new Redz recipe is damn good.
The coastline around Colac Bay, beautiful.
How calm & quiet the mornings are before MN wakes up.
Farmers markets , they always so much fun.
Trying on sparkling glitter shoes and then gumboots!  Yin and yang world.
Walking on a beach, paddling in the waves and just going "WOW, guess where I am?".
Responding to the wonderful people who have commented and donated to our journey and charity.
The campsite Labrador jumping into Cuzzie tonight saying hello as we ate dinner.

My thoughts today:
Worry less. 
Smile more. 
Listen carefully. 
Take responsibility. 
Accept what you can’t change.  Embrace the lessons.  Love every moment of your life. Start Today.

Till Monday, good night.

PS.  New tracking page to have a look at, has a few new features
www.redz.maprogress.com/redznzjourney

Colac Bay

Simpsons school bus

DAY 124...Invercargill

Saturday 27 February

Last night I could not feel tired, after a massive yummy dinner out at Buster Crabbs to celebrate the last section of paddling I just sat in Cuzzie and listened to the gale force winds rocking us back and forward violently.  It was crazy how strong they had become.  It was well after 1 am that I convinced myself to close my eyes and sleep.  It was weird and cool at the same time to be back sleeping in Cuzzie, it felt like I was in a 5 star hotel!  I sat with a hot cup of tea in my sleeping bag smiling for a long time.  Then as I woke this morning it was calm and quiet.  I lay there for a while and listened to the silence, where had the winds gone to?  They soon were to return.

Today was a me and gear maintenance day and a list making day for stuff I needed to replenish and replace for the Fiordland section.  Me first, dye pot on my head!  Scissors out to cut my fringe, then a large machine load of washing!  That ended up being done twice as so much sand and fire smoke in some of my gear that poor Nats clothes and mine looked liked they had been washed in a sandpit!  Oops, what a mess, damn and blast sand filled clothes, so most were returned to the machine for a second wash.  At last clean and on the line to dry it was time to head for an appointment in town.  As always my stomach started to rumble so it was leftovers for lunch, a race back to our campsite before our clothes got rained on and then with full stomachs we were off to go food shopping.  We were looking for new food options for the Fiordland section and so we went to three separate supermarkets!  Totally not a way to spend your Saturday.  After this we headed back to try and escape the wind, I mapped out the fiordlands and looked at some distances, also packed up unwanted used gear to return to home.  Nat rested for awhile and I cooked a nice dinner, pork ribs, mash and wilted greens.

It has been a catchup day, and more to be done tomorrow, sight seeing as well until this damn wind drops again.

My smiles today:
Meeting and chatting to many others about my journey.
Clean and dry, de-sanded clothing.
A creative yummy home cooked dinner.
At last being able to focus on my forward planning of the next section.

My thoughts today:
Life is not about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself

Goodnight from Red and Nat

Curious sheep

DAY 123...Back to the Mainland

Friday 26 February

Rain, thunder and even heavier rain the entire night.  How great it felt to know that with a double fly sheet I was not going to have a wet sleeping bag or gear over night and I would stay warm and dry.  When it rains in Stewart Island it is intense.  I snuggled down to sleep and enjoyed my night tucked up in my tent.  To me there is something special about sleeping in a tent on a rainy night, to me it is amazing and fun.

As I woke before the sun, I got up and wandered down to the Oban harbour and watched the weather clouds race across the still dark sky.  I stood with my hood up and felt the rain on my face, today I was to leave Stewart Island and say a big sad goodbye to all of these lovely people.  I still had a few hours and packing of gear, T2, the wet tent and my well rinsed and rained on kayak clothes!

I went back to have a long hot cup of tea, and then as there was no rain and a just a little wind I packed all my gear into their dry bags and loaded my large plastic carry bag with them all.  I then hung out the damp fly sheet in the morning winds, dropped my tent and rolled and dried it too.  I am packing this gear away for a few days now as the weather forecast has insane winds and swells for too many days to count!  Nasty, nasty weather my way at the moment, not even a glimmer of hope.

After the gear was picked away it was time to cook up some brekkie in the shared kitchen and listen to the others chatter about their wet nights, their days plans and the tramps they had done.  I cooked up eggs and crispy sweet cinnamon pancakes which I washed down with another hot cup of tea.  Then down to the harbour to the ferry terminal to grab a set of wheels for T2, it was raining a lot and I stopped for shelter a couple of times to try and stay a little drier.  With T2 on wheels I pulled her to the ferry terminal, and booked her in for the 3.30pm ferry crossing.  MN was not going to play nicely and so I had already planned this scenario for both the Cook and Foveaux Strait, if I successfully nailed the initial crossing then no need to worry about double crossings!  We were travelling in style, thanks to the team at Real Journeys for your amazing support and generous assistance with the crossing.

I walked in the rain for a while and absorbed the final few locations in and around the town: the museum, DOC centre, the pub and cafe.  Next the fab Pip arrived and we drove all my gear down to the terminal.  Once everything was in and packed at the terminal I cooked the rest of my food for lunch and got chatting to a kindred spirit about travel, NZ and living positive lives.  Otis it is so great when you meet like minded people.  Soon we headed to have a hot drink and for me to show her all the places to go.  The day raced away and 3.30 pm arrived way to fast.  Phil came to say goodbye and we talked about next summer, T2, and my return.  I will be back and yes it will be to discover this island more, that is a promise.  Everyone I have meet please keep in contact.

Onto the ferry, I was out the back on the deck in the wind, sea spray and swell, it was a magic ride and very different to my first trip across.

Back to Bluff, big hugs to Nat and a huge catchup.  We are back in Invercargill and have been out to dinner to have an enormous steak.  Yum yum yum.  My food was delicious and I have left overs for tomorrow.  It is so damn windy, just incredible.  MN seems pretty crazy at the moment, I am happy to wait for calmer weather.  I am not going anywhere near this water for three to five days, the forecast is bad.

My smiles today:
Kindred spirits and spending time chatting.
Nat, Cuzzie and I back together again.
The wind and rain, I am glad not to be on the water.
Dinner and the left overs.

My thoughts today:
OMG the wind

Red

Thank you Maria, Nathan and Patrica for the delicious feast!

Stewart Island Video

Tonight, for your viewing pleasure, we have a video of Red's trip around Stewart Island!

Enjoy :)

DAY 122...Oban

Thursday 25 February

I spent the day in this amazing small community, absorbing the fantastic energy even on a rainy day.  I was at Halfmoon Bay School by 10 am to chat to a class, after I had peppermint tea at the local French/Kiwi Cafe, where I chatted to a total stranger, Chris from Oxford, about his travelling.  I meet the real, genuine and happy staff at Glowing Sky, they stock genuine NZ made merino clothing, if you like Merino clothing check them out.  Their staff, clothes and atmosphere, what a true gem

I was then up to the community centre for a local craft fair.  I said hi to Dave the greenstone carver and others, Sophie and partner (THANKYOU for following RedzNZJourney and your donation). Hi to Phil Dove, we will kayak for sure one day in Paterson Inlet when I return.  I then went to the food area where I had to have four bbq skewers of mussels wrapped in bacon, insanely mouth watering.

All the time the rain was falling, MN was having a bad day in her world, but through it all I smiled.  Splashing through big warm puddles of water in my crocs, wearing my faithful lucky baggy black leggings and my beloved black Sharkskin jacket.  This Jacket (the biggest thank you to Tim Curran) I have worn everyday of my journey.

My smiles today:
The kids at Halfmoon Bay School, you totally nailed it for me.  To inspire the younger generation, actually these kids today inspired me, we had fun and thank you.  This memory is with me forever.  Follow, message me, keep dreaming big kids, the morning with you has made my Stewart Island journey complete.  THANK YOU ALL.

My thoughts for today: (and for many of my days lately, just taken me many days to word)
As 2016 arrives and quickly sweeps along, I look at my next 2 plus months and the challenge in front of me and take a moment to breathe deeply.  While I am sitting looking out at the ocean I reflect on the last 122 days, my ups and my downs.  So far none have been as harsh as the insane depression grenade that exploded in my lap a few years earlier, to be a carer of someone with depression is the toughest.  I remind myself of the strength I needed to get through the hard days of helping someone dear to me (my son) deal with depression and thankfully now I look back at this intense hard time and smile a little, for this is the reason I started living for me and my dream.  

So I ask you all to spread my message and my journey, again to please look at a small donate to this charity MHFNZ as they are doing inspiring things.  If not a donation, then please tomorrow take a moment to breathe in your day.  Look around your friends, your work colleagues, the person struggling in the queue at the supermarket and check are they truly doing okay.  Maybe they are needing some help but are too proud to ask.  Make it easy for them and offer.

It is my personal mission this year to look a little deeper, for a moment longer, at my true friends and offer them some of my strength.

Red

Halfmoon Bay School kids, T2 and Red

Day 121...Stewart Island, Complete!

Wednesday 24 February

I finally got to bed well after midnight and with an early morning alarm set there was only time for a few hours sleep.  This is typical of me sometimes, sleep seems such a waste of time when there in so much to jam into a day.  Everything was ready to grab and pack for my days paddle.  There was a section of Stewart Island I still needed to pass by to make me happy and make me feel it was completed.  

When I got up I heard others packing their tents away and I was pleased my tent could stay put as there was light rain and wet tent pack downs are not fun.  I loaded my gear systematically into my large white carry bag, triple checked my electric bag had everything and that I had enough food packed for energy snacks then I headed to the kitchen to cook breakfast, extra large portions so I had spare to be packed for lunch.  I was starving as I had missed dinner last night, see what happens when I am left alone, I skip meals!  My friendly fellow paddlers had saved me cooked potatoes from last night and I gladly cooked them up with my eggs and bacon, I am in luv with cooked breakfasts!  They are great at the moment when I am paddling big distances each day.

I had some breakfast chats with my fellow paddlers, Mike and Grant, then we all were ready to head to the wharf.  Me to load T2 for my days paddle and the guys to jump on the water taxi to go to Port Pegasus for the next two weeks.  Now that sounds really pleasant!  It is still dark as we stroll down the street at 6am.  Big hugs to them both we wish each other luck and I will see them both when I get back to Titahi Bay.

T2 takes no time to load and I triple check I have got everything.  Then, off we go onto a peaceful Oban Harbour, I pray for Dolphins, but alas none today.  I head out today to nail this last small section before the tide changes and the wind arrives.  36 km from Oban to Black Rock where I actually started to hug the Stewart Island coastline on the 13th of February. The initial 15 to 20 km went really well and it was far too easy.  Soon the wind was in my face and I seriously wondered, how strong was I going to need to be to push into this?  What drove me on was that soon I could turn and head back and have a dream tailwind, tide and swell.  The last 16 km was fought hard for sometime even my pace was down to 1 km every 20 mins!  The wind was being an absolute demon.  I pushed on into it giving myself small bite size targets.  Five hours later I touched Black Rock Point.  MN was awake and testing my strength and as we turned it was a relentless strong tailwind and T2 and I nearly flew back towards Oban.  Every km was done between 5 and 5.5 minutes.  It was a strong tailwind with a small swell and the current all pushing us along now.  No time to stop for a rest just a massive race all the way.  Three and a bit hours later we were back at Oban Harbour.  So much for thinking I would take it easy today and grab a water taxi from Christmas village!  Instead 72km nailed and back on the beach by 4pm, damn that was fast.  Some patches nearly too much wind, but I made it.

For those watching on the new tracker (www.share.delorme.com/redznzjourney) I was obsessed to have the dots join up.  Now I am content, Cook Strait done, Foveux Strait had been done and there was not a urge on a blustery day to even need or want to attempt this dodgy patch of water again.  T2 and I will treat ourselves and grab a ride back to Bluff.  In a perfect world today would have been a paddle from Oban to Colac Bay, but not everything ends up being perfect

Once I was back at the campsite, fed, watered and showered, it was time to talk with new friends.  I must say a huge THANKYOU to Viki at the backpackers campsite for her generous nil charges for my next two nights, her help and her shampoo!  My new look of dreadlocks has gone and I can get a comb through my light ginger locks again.  Tired and content it is now bed time.  I luv my tent life, I luv cuddling into my sleeping bag.  Tomorrow is going to be a great day.

My smiles today:
T2 and I flying on the waves and wind today.
Completing the entire circuit.
Being so truly very happy from the inside.
Getting a comb through my matted sea sprayed hair at last.
Enjoying fun and excitement in my life.
Making a new friend each day, this still this amazes me.

My thoughts today:
Keep smiling and one day life will get tired of upsetting you.

Good night from Red, T2 and Oban.

Recycled chess set in Oban

Day 120...Making Friends

Tuesday 23 February

There was lots of activity in the campsite over night.  People were coming and going to see the kiwis late at night and enjoying this wonderful place.  In the morning I wandered down to the beach to sit and watch the calm ocean.  I saw the sun start to light up the day and I watched a man at the waters edge doing his morning tai chi ritual.  I sat for over an hour just sitting and watching the day wake up, the beautiful sounds of the birds awakening, it was a joy to be able to be there and part of this time of the morning.

Soon I wandered slowly back up to the campsite to get some chores done.  Washing and scrubing the grime and salt from my gear, cooking myself breakfast & today I treated myself to bacon and my famous crispy damper bread.  Oh it was joyous, I sat in the doorway of my little tent in the sun and enjoyed every mouthful.  I listened to people getting sorted for their hiking and talked with a few people from home about yesterday's paddle.  Soon I was sitting getting my battery packs recharged, organising to catch up with the wonderful Pip for a coffee and a chat, she is another gorgeous local lady with such a cool outlook on life.  Her wonderful husband Ian was the one who stopped to check I was okay on the water yesterday in the big swells.  It was a day of catching up, meeting locals and sorting out how to nail the last small section of Stewart Island so I could truly say I had been around the entire coastline.

I had studied the weather for the next little while and decided on this small paddle for tomorrow, then head back to Bluff to plan my Fiordland trip.  I have been told I need a great three day weather window for the start of my leg, so while the winds look bad that way I am on other discoveries, I will talk with as many locals as possible to gain some of their knowledge, it has been invaluable on my journey, I have learned so much.

Back to my morning, once I left Pip I headed off to see Dave at his greenstone carving workshop, what a talent and true passion this man has for this amazing green gorgeous stone.  It is a true passion, we talked so much the day was slipping away form me, I had llots of others to try and see today.  Off I went and very quickly located Phil, a Stewart island local who loves kayaking.  I spent more time with him talking, learning, hearing great paddling stories and about other things he is involved with in the community.  We meet in this cool little cafe, with this very cool couple running it, I loved their humour, it was awesome.  l I had not started on my electrical stuff, Nat would laugh at me, I really need help on these days when I am needing to sit and charge stuff and also get out to see people.  Quickly back I headed to get it underway in the communal kitchen lounge area of the back packers.

Then I got chatting again to my mates the kayakers, they are heading to Pegasus Bay for a two week paddle and discovery of this gorgeous lagoon.  I shared my beach and pull in locations with them and then wandered down to see them load there kayaks onto the charter boat for departure in the morning.  They were getting a lift to Pegasus and then exploring once they got there.  Maybe, just maybe I could disappear off the radar and go back with them!  As we chatted at the wharf and waited on their departure two large common dolphins arrived and swam close by, what a lovely surprise.

Then I headed up to see Matt from the water taxi about my mission tomorrow.  I was paddling from Oban to Black Rock to complete my Stewart Island circle, then I would turn and paddle back down the coastline to Christmas Village.  Foveaux Strait is looking too ugly to cross, Matt is going to pick me up down the coastline a bit.  Unless a miracle weather change happens I will not be doing a double crossing, I am going to use this bad wether window to study the next leg, and get ready for Fiordland.  I am off to meet more people.  Stewart Island has amazing fresh clean water, well actually the best water in New Zealand, they bottle it sell it to raise money for the community.  I had offered to help for a few hours tonight with this process.  I was on labelling the bottles duty, we bottled and labelled 1000 tonight while chatted, thanks guys for the invite, thanks for sharing and being so welcoming.  See you all over the next few days.

My day has been totally fulfilling with so many smiling moments.  Anyone who has not been to Stewart Island you must visit!  If I had to rate this place 100% is not enough, Stewart Island makes me feel alive.  I have sat and chatted for way too long tonight in the kitchen with a group of young tourists, their comments about our amazing country are eye opening.  They love our country and I as a New Zealander need to hear what they say and see how they look through their eyes at our beautiful country, they think it is stunning too.

My smiles today:
I smile about this entire day from the start to the finish.  Absolutely awesome. THANKYOU Stewart Island, Oban you rock.

My thoughts today:
Real people, real opinions, real passion, it is a blessing to be part of this moment.

Red

Grant and Mike, ready for an adventure.