DAY 356...A Real Nice Bed

Sunday 16 October 2016

A smoothie for breakfast then a nice run along the meandering paths of this beautiful lake-front on a chilly morning. I looked at the white caps on the lake and they seem small and soft. I was even tempted to head out on the lake for a paddle once the sun actually arrived. Well, I thought about it but it never actually happened. Sunday was to be a little bit of a rest day for me.

Taupo has put on a lovely sunny day along with a very brisk, cold wind but I’m not complaining. I have enjoyed a day with three lovely cats, two wonderful friends and for a lot of the day I hung about, sitting on a deck sheltered from the wind and resting in the nice sunshine, wandering about in a garden, cleaning out Cuzzie just a little and enjoying not hearing the pounding ocean today. Well, it probably isn’t pounding that much but with my eye always on the weather forecast I know the swells are actually dropping. More like being flattened by the stronger winds. I wander about a few shops but it’s not as though I actually need anything in Cuzzie apart, perhaps, from a softer mattress! I enjoyed just lying on a couple of wonderfully soft, expensive beds and dreaming briefly of sleeping on a bed worth $7k! Maybe, but not in this lifetime, that will just have to remain a dream.

I cook my most-loved chocolate brownie and sneak a small corner of it before it has cooled, with soft melted chunks of dark chocolate. I also had to laugh, as I’m starting to look at other paddling adventures. But this week, it looks like bush walks, a few paddles on a big lake, with my head down, just doing my stuff. Cuzzie and my life is being reduced down to very simple stuff right now, with more days of water therapy. But perhaps the best thing is that I’m with people who actually get it, and I get a home-cooked Sunday roast dinner (yum!). As I wait for this beautiful spring weather to settle down a little, I hug myself for having learned patience and having belief, both in myself and Mother Nature, to wait for some great paddling days ahead.

My smiles today:
Waking in a soft bed.
Small waves on a lake.
Fresh trails, cool winds and snow on the mountains.
Three lovely cats.
A Sunday roast dinner.
Lying on an expensive bed in my holey leggings and bare feet!

My thoughts today:
There’s nothing like having good, honest friends.

Goodnight from Red and Cuzzie. 

Ma Te Wa.

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Good night.

DAY 355...Adventure Highway

Saturday 15 October 2016

The morning sunrise was pretty amazing and Mount Taranaki was looking like it had a fresh coating of snow, but I was too busy trying to locate my missing socks to get out of Cuzzie and take a picture! Honestly, it took me about twenty minutes to find them today, they had shaken loose and fallen to the bottom of the storage bag. I really thought I was going mad (or madder than I am already) so I missed the opportunity of taking a superb photo, but there will be another one for sure.

Off on my run from a new starting point along the coastal walkway today. Even at 7am, the car park already had plenty of surfers standing up on every great vantage point to be able to view the swell. At that stage, no-one was actually in the water although some were pretty close to it. As it was a lovely morning, there were lots of people out early on the walkway, enjoying a nice Saturday morning and I enjoyed running along with so many smiling faces around.

Back to base and breakfast underway, coffee with my new freedom-camping mates from Germany, Mimi and Flo. The swell is up, the surfers are out and as the wind blows the sea spray off the big waves it makes them look as if they have white veils streaming off the back of each. There are also the regular white-baiters and a few fishermen at the river mouth trying their luck at high tide. Everyone is enjoying the wonderful sunshine while they can as it is not forecast to stay all day. If you manage to get out of the cold brisk wind, the day is lovely. Now what to do? Just sit and watch the surfers today or get on the move and go for a drive? I can never sit still when there’s the possibility of a road trip, so off I set along the coast, then turn inland on the Adventure Highway. There are lots of tiny lambs and some massive black bulls scattered over the green, rolling countryside. All the trees are pale green and spring is truly here.

Cuzzie gets blustered about and is rocked to and fro by constant wind gusts. As I drive, I think. It seems to help with my planning. Along the way, I drive through some heavy patches of rain and head further inland, to arrive eventually at a lake that is also covered in whitecaps! I have to laugh as no matter where I go the damn wind continues to menace me. But, as I was heading to a planned swimming pool location, it was of no real concern. I’m glad I went for that drive. I always enjoy the opportunity of discovering new places; it must be the gypsy in my soul!

Water therapy completed, a few lengths nailed and it was off to visit friends, to spend a lovely night eating and watching sporting events on a big TV screen (a total novelty!) and a real bed tonight, with no sound of the ocean. Now that is a change and for once, actually a nice change. For the kayakers following my journey, unfortunately it doesn’t look like there are going to be any sea adventures for many days yet. We have fine weather, yes, but big winds, so no progress further north for the moment. In the meantime more hiking perhaps, maybe a lake paddle, but otherwise a fairly gentle Sunday.

My smiles today:
Surfers. They love the weather and the waves that I dislike.
My freedom-camper friends.
The colours of this spring countryside.
Running and swimming.
A rare T-bone steak and crispy potatoes, roasted in duck fat!
Wind and whitecaps.
Seeing spring lambs reminds me of Anna.

My thoughts today:
Go, fly, roam, travel, voyage, explore, journey, discover, adventure.

Until tomorrow, goodnight from Red. 

Ma Te Wa.

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 Dream, or a nightmare.

Lambs and the green pastures.

DAY 354...Others

Friday 14 October 2016

Awake at 5.30am. Out and onto the pathway for my run. There was no rain as I started, but it had been teeming down all night and it’s going to be back for sure before this run is over. After thirty minutes or so, I turn off from the ocean and the sea spray to go inland along a small river. Numerous white-baiters are dotted along the shore, all looking intently into the water, just waiting to sweep their morning catch into their huge nets. While I’m around, they only seem to stand there waiting, not so much as a yell or any untoward movement, but catch the whitebait they obviously must, just not when I’m about.

Further round the river bend, I come across a very busy mother duck with no less than eleven ducklings! She’s busy trying to get them all down onto the water for a morning swim. It takes her a while and, as they all scuttle past me, I’m tempted to scoop one up just for a moment but I don’t dare upset the mother duck! They ducklings can only be described as CUTE! Anna would have loved them!! 

I turn just after that and pick up the pace a bit as I can see rain approaching. If I had been hoping to stay dry, then I had no such luck. Huge, black, stormy clouds come sweeping across the ocean and it begins to pour. Oh well. As I run, I see a familiar face coming towards me. A face from Auckland. As we pass each other I say “Hi!” There’s a look of utter disbelief from Scottie until he works out who he has just run past. We stop, turn round, retrace our footsteps a little and quickly exchange details before returning to our respective runs and our headphones, promising to connect later by email.

Back to Cuzzie to do a quick, boot camp-style circuit in the park. If there had been anyone else around, I guess I would have looked rather nuts doing this thirty-minute circuit in the pouring rain but no-one else was daft enough to brave the appalling weather. By the time I had finished, I was saturated and probably looked like a drowning beetle as I lay on the ground doing my workout.

At last I’m able to get my wet gear off, to brew a hot drink and then get on with some boring mundane stuff. A quick Cuzzie clean, laundry to be done and food to buy. I also find a free wi-fi location to do a heap of updates to apps on my mobiles, an ongoing saga. It doesn’t take long to get all this done and then it’s time to catch up with more friends who are in town from Auckland. Xabi & Pippa and their gorgeous wee daughter Alaia. We had a great lunch at Federal in Fitzroy and then, after big hugs and my thanks for the lovely café lunch, we head off in separate directions. Me to go walking in the park. What a lovely, serene and tranquil place. I spend way too long wandering the tracks, looking up at the now clear, blue sky and at beautiful, dappled green leaves. Down by the ponds there were more ducklings and a water sculpture that, to me, looks like floating popcorn!

All too soon it was time to head back to have my water therapy session and swim a few lanes. Just before leaving Cuzzie to do so, I get a text from a mate up north. When I said I was going to do a few, quick lengths, maybe forty, his texted reply was "Forty? May as well round it up to triple figures. Giving yourself a break on a Friday when no one’s around? Lol!!” Well that was all I needed! After a hundred and twenty lengths I stopped. My dear mate, you just come and swim with me and see what you say when you have done only forty lengths! In a weird way, I was happy he had questioned my shorter distance. I probably was thinking of being a little lazy!

Back into Cuzzie and off down the road to a new location for tonight. Dinner cooked, blog written, looking forward to relaxing and enjoying my meal. Then I make the big mistake of the evening. I hit the “delete” button instead of the “save” button and all my hard work on my daily blog has gone, disappeared into the ether. (Oh, s***!!!) I wait another hour or so before starting to rewrite it, hoping against hope that somehow I could retrieve it, but no such luck! Now it’s been re-written, it really is time for bed.

My smiles today:
Running and training in the pouring rain.
Ducks and ducklings. So cute!
Café lunch. Thanks, guys.
Just one text message made me up my swim distance. Haha thanks, Ev!
My chats by mobile and texts to friends always make my day.
Alaia jumping in puddles in her very cute, wee, pink gumboots.

My thoughts today:
Talking to your best friends is sometimes all the therapy you need.

Red, Cuzzie and Louise. 

Ma Te Wa.

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CUTE!

Sculpture in the Park. To me it looks like floating popcorn!

Huge, beautiful and calming trees.

Day 353...Cuzzie and I Go Driving

Thursday 13 October 2016

Up before the crack of dawn. I sit in the dim light of Cuzzie, then check the weather and try to get out of my huge camper-van bed. There’s no one else to worry about waking so, gradually, I get out on the tracks to go running. A beautiful morning. There’s a swell but it doesn't look too bad. That would annoy me at the start of my run but then, when I see the surfers out on some rather big waves, I pinch myself and say “Do you want to land up the coast on these?” (Ahh, no.). Once again, I give myself a stern talking to. “If you want to gap it, then do it!! If so, just throw away your weather forecast and go! But, if you’re not prepared to do it, then shut the F up about it! Just accept it and focus on other more important things!!” Yes, like the pavement running and the small inclines, sometimes I need to focus and concentrate on what I am trying to do.

Back to Cuzzie and happy to feel the cool wind in my face. Happy also to feel the warmth of the sunshine. New Plymouth was destined to have another stunning day. I chatted with a young German couple in a small 4x4 who have been freedom camping in the same locations as me lately. Eventually, we all decide to get on with our day and have a group dinner tonight in Cuzzie. But, for the moment, I am off to take pictures of possible landing places and to mark them on my Navionics maps on my phone; it helps me to know that I’m in the correct location when doing my checkpoints and it also helps me to measure distances when some beaches and bays are not so well marked.

As I drove up the coast yet again, stopping to look at river mouths and stream access points, I‘m pretty pleased with my weather forecasting app. The dumping and rolling 2.4+ swells looked bloody awful today, not at all what I want on the next paddle day. Lunch, then numerous beach wandering took up most of my day. At the last beach, I had a nice chat with a lady walking a beautiful Rottweiler. I love them with a passion and in another life, actually used to own one. He was friendly and very well-behaved! This one was enjoying some beach time with his owner. Then it was back to focusing on my afternoon training session, back to the pools for another session.

Dinner on the BBQ and it’s a beautiful evening. What a lovely day it has been and I’m very blessed and lucky to be able to just take my time. Although I did actually think about work today. About what and who and where I will start to look, but I decided not to focus on these issues anymore because something will happen for sure when it’s the right time for it to do so.

My smiles today:
Stunning warm sunshine again.
Surfers catching waves.
My run and my swim. I smile at the end.
Steak for dinner with other nomads.
Hearing visitors say how beautiful they find New Zealand.

My thoughts today:
Today will never come again. Be a blessing, be a friend, encourage someone, take time to care. Your words should heal not wound.

Goodnight from Red and Cuzzie. 

Ma Te Wa.

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DAY 352...Me, Myself and I

Wednesday 12 October 2016

My evening ended with a bit of a rant down the phone last night. Sometimes I just have to vent and, for the person at the other end of the phone, probably the best thing to do is just listen, to let me have my say. That’s just me, I’m afraid. The only way I know of clearing my head of the heap of negatives I have absorbed, to rid myself of them once and for all. As far as I was concerned they were gone, and feeling far the better for it I curled up in Cuzzie for a good night’s sleep. Not sure that the person at the other end felt the same way though, they probably had a sleepless night as a result!!

I was just on my own today and planned to do the entire coastal walkway. Come early morning, I put on my headphones and started walking. I watched a couple of guys head out on sit-on tops into waves from the Surf Club, to play in the surf and I had lots of fun just watching them catch the waves and also getting nailed surfing back in. One of these days, it’ll be  fun to go out and play in the surf myself for a wee while. As I did this coastal walk, I listened to my Spotify songs, something I haven’t done for many months, and it brought back lots of memories as I jogged and strode the 15km distance. I also had a couple of phone conversations, probably looking and sounding like a real nutter, busy talking to myself!

My list of things to get done today was in the forefront of my mind so, after a late breakfast and with my list on my lap, I got started, since then it hasn’t stopped all day. As my list gets ticks and lines through completed jobs, I start to feel that I’ve at last achieved something on an otherwise off-water paddling day. If I could have weaseled my way out of some things on that list, I certainly would have done so, like forgetting to pay my parking ticket or do the stats for my paddling. They do make for interesting reading if (unlike me) you are into facts and figures! 4645kms paddled so far.

As I shut down my laptop the rain has at last stopped although the wind is still howling but, as I glance out of my camper-van window, I see a beautiful sight: a kite-surfer having so much fun out on the waves, airborne many times and absolutely racing across the water. As he comes into the river mouth to turn he waves at me sitting watching him from the warmth of Cuzzie, away from the cold winds. Maybe, one day, I’ll be brave enough to pursue more training in the kite-surfing world but, for the moment, it’s been a joy just to watch a very skilled athlete take on the West Coast wind and waves, without once crashing into them. 

Now the evening sun is shining. Everyone seems to be out walking their dogs. Some young guys are trying their luck at white-baiting and fishing at the river mouth in between drinking a couple of beers. As for me, my job list has now been completed and I can happily head out to the pools to finish my day. Although many would doubtless call it water torture, for me it is water therapy.

My smiles today:
Walking and jogging to my music.
My job list completed.
Watching a kite-surfing master in action!
Enjoying watching others having fun in the waves.
Seeing the waves meeting the river.
Snow in Queenstown. Anna, how wonderful for you!!

My thoughts today:
I had to smile when I read the following. Somehow it explains me, and my need to vent, exactly.
"I have 99 problems and 86 of them are completely made-up scenarios in my head that I was stressing about for absolutely no logical reason at all!"

Until tomorrow from Red and Cuzzie. 

Ma Te Wa.

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Kite-surfing guru.

DAY 351...Anna Heading South

Tuesday 11 October 2016

Early check of the weather to confirm that it was turning to a strong gusty north to north west wind, then I roll out of bed and go walking on the beach beneath us and sit at a picnic table for a long while listening to a podcast that was recorded last week with Chris Desmond at "Uncomfortable is OK" (http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/4731875). I’m pleased it was released this week which, officially, is Mental Health Awareness Week, the 2016 theme being "Connect with nature for good mental health and well-being". A motto and theme in which I firmly believe and what I try to live each day. If you have any spare time, please listen to it. Perhaps it’ll explain me, my dream and my thoughts a little more clearly. Perhaps it will also help someone dealing with a family member or friend with a mental illness. To those who already know me, you will probably just smile and nod. To people who have not yet met me, this is a small insight into Lynn's (aka Red’s) world.

First breakfast, then into town to do stuff and for me to get a unit to charge my laptop from Cuzzie’s house battery (thanks, Jay Cars for your help). All sorted out and it seems to be working (what a bonus!). I apply a new sponsor’s sticker to my gear; thanks to the wonderful people at Gull NZ Ltd for your belief in me and in my journey. I leave Anna to hook up to her home world on the local free wi-fi system in the New Plymouth information centre.

A late lunch and a walk along the coastal walkway, by the beautiful white-arched Te Rewa Rewa bridge. I was also mesmerised by the many whitebaiters waiting patiently to fill their nets with little fish. It seems to me that there is an awful lot of waiting and hardly any activity, but who am I to talk? Look at my own waiting times! As we walk, I make a mental note that it’s about time to try out the entire walkway, not just a small section of it. The one thing I most certainly have at the moment is time! This afternoon we sit listening to the ocean, a change of guard time in my world. Everything has to change and nothing is forever, so time for a change of support crew. Anna is heading to an adventure in the South Island tomorrow so today was about hanging out until her ride arrived to collect her, watching her skilfully pack a very large and very jam-packed backpack with all of her gear. I have to smile, as I do remember once upon a time having only a backpack containing all my possessions in the world!! Unfortunately, it’s no longer quite like that nowadays! Anna is heading to Queenstown and then out to Glenorchy for a few weeks of work and to experience the beautiful South Island of our country. I’m more than a little envious because it’s a place of which I myself have very fond memories.

Friends forever, my lucky charm Anna is departing. Oh, how she will be missed! It’s going to be back to being solo for a little while, training and weather-watching all on my own, to keeping my back-up team up to date as to when and where we might have a paddling plan. But, until then, it’s head down to keep my fitness levels up, with a training plan in place. Certainly, I’m never one to sit around so off to the local pools I go for some water therapy and then make up Cuzzie’s bed to curl up for the night. It's strange to be alone again after four plus weeks with a fellow crew member.

My smiles today:
Backpack memories. My first OE.
Warmth again today, after some early morning rain.
Solo time ahead for the next few days.
Jay Cars, a marvellous little unit.
Swimming, it soothes my soul!
The whitebaiters.
Cuzzie and camper-van life.

My thoughts today:
Never make excuses. Always wake up with a smile knowing that, today, you’re going to have fun accomplishing what others are too afraid to do.

Until tomorrow and solo adventures. G’night from Red.

Ma Te Wa.

PLEASE TXT REDZ TO 2446 TO DONATE $3 TO MHFNZ.

When you visit New Plymouth this bridge is a must see.

A wonderful view.

Goodbye to my dear Anna. A sunset from her favorite location.

Day 350...40kms North

Monday 10 October 2016

Whenever the weather gives me a chance to paddle, I most certainly try to do so, so it was a normal paddling morning for the team. I paddled out of New Plymouth harbour at 6.40am and headed towards my first checkpoint at Waitara. Surfers were out on the waves closer in and, as Anna stood at the edge of the river mouth, we had a brief chat. Then I headed further north and we confirmed my next checkpoint would be at Wai-iti, three hours away for me and probably a thirty-minute drive for the support crew.

As I paddled, I looked up at the cliffs. There was green grass to the edge then sudden, steep drops, with brown and rusty-red earth that’s being washed away by the ocean. Cool nooks and caves have been formed along this section of the coast. On the way, I passed the huge Methanex factory with smoke and steam pouring out of all the chimneys.

As I turned to wave goodbye to New Plymouth, Mount Taranaki was clear and in full view. It’s a bluebird day and, as I paddle along, I give thanks to the sky for the beautiful conditions. There are always two or three big rolling swells that seem to barrel through as I paddle along but none of them are breaking until they’re very close into the shore. In other words, a pleasant enough paddle so far, with bright blue skies, sunshine and only a rolling swell. As usual, a nice day doesn’t always last and, true to form, the weather is due to turn by 3pm. I’m always a little tentative, knowing by now that this anomaly mostly seems to arrive early and arrive early it did! Just before Wai-iti, the wind turned, picked up the swell and almost before I knew it the ocean had gone from peaceful to white caps in under an hour.

Mother Nature sure doesn’t make it easy. As I got closer to the checkpoint, I was debating with myself on whether to push for another 28 kms or end the day at 40 kms. For once it seemed that my head did the talking and not my heart! I knew there was an okay beach or river mouth at Mokau. Then a few more swells and ocean spray passed by me. I managed to contact Anna to tell her I was landing, then locked everything down, wave-counted and paddled hard towards the beach.

I could feel the drag of a wave forming right behind me. I’d got that wave count a little wrong, but there wasn’t much else I could do once I was committed. I was very close to the beach when the water and foam actually hit me so I was a little damper than I might have hoped for but not that bad all things considered. Once on the beach, Anna said she was relieved I’d decided not to continue any further. As the wind was whistling off the ocean by then, I agreed wholeheartedly! Even when we were off the beach and back by Cuzzie, Louise was being rocked by the stiff ocean wind that had certainly picked up even more speed by then. We couldn’t even keep Cuzzie’s back doors open while we were packing down because the wind kept blowing them closed again.

Was it good to be off the ocean early? Yes and no is the only way I can answer that! Yes, because it was my head that took control. No, because I like to make it to the furthest possible destination each paddle day. First some popcorn and sunshine while sheltering from the cool wind. Then it was back towards the city to grab some needed items. Although New Plymouth let me paddle today and I may well now be in Wai-iti, I’m still not that far north. It looks like it’s going to be sunny again tomorrow but it also looks as if the winds are going to be back. In a weird kind of way, I just have to laugh at Mother Nature and say “Thanks for giving me at least one day of paddling,” and we’ll be back training in the meantime.

My smiles today:
I paddled. Yahoo!
Wai-iti. A wetter landing than I might have wished for.
Blue sky day and Mount Taranaki in full view.
The heat of the spring sunshine.

My thoughts today:
Nothing happens without total focus, so break down your big vision into small goals and take it one step at a time.

Goodnight from Red and Anna.

Ma Te Wa.

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The cliffs.

DAY 349...Sunday

Sunday 9 October 2016

I’m really not sure about today. It started early with the rain returning so heavily that I began to think I was back in Fiordland again! We didn’t stay long in bed as we all had places to be and wanted to get on the road early, with Anna and myself heading south and Jase returning to the city. Crumpets cooked for the team for breakfast and coffee made for Jase. I watched jealously as Jase drank his coffee, it’s already over two weeks since I stopped drinking this liquid (a possible factor why I had such a huge headache for a couple of days back down the line). To be honest, it would seem that coffee and I are not a great combination because it always seems to end up the same way. Perhaps I was born to drink herbal tea.

Back to today, by the time we left the campsite, we had a lake around us but luckily no need to be towed out this time! As we got a little further on our journey south, the rain stopped and we just enjoyed the empty roads, looking at the scenery with the green rolling hills. There was a lack of lambs early on today but soon, they were back in abundance again. The trees everywhere seem greener each time I pass them, as they develop more and more spring growth and the weather becomes far warmer.

Back up over the hills we go and sight the coastline in the distance. We cross numerous bridges, with rivers filled to the brim with very brown, muddy water due to all the rain and now there are so many paddocks looking like lakes. It has to be one of the wettest days for sure. There are fresh slips on the Mokau as we drive towards the river-mouth. Then our stomachs start rumbling, so we stop for two reasons. To eat and to take a walk out to The Three Sisters and The Elephant. We probably made it there and back just in time before the incoming tide got too high. There were sections where we were up to our knees in water! But I’m glad that I went and really happy to see these amazing natural rock formations as we walked over the black sands. Anna located a beautifully formed seahorse that had been washed up onto the beach. A pretty rare sight I would imagine. It was as though it had been air-dried and Anna was very happy with her find. Back into Cuzzie and on to the well-driven road to New Plymouth. Now it’s time to try to re-focus, time to get back into training and just to wait.

We check out a beach and then realise as we arrive that we have seen this checkpoint already!! Oh well, it’s always good to look a couple of times, just to be sure. As we drove today, we seemed to see numerous large tractors on the country roads. The farmers are busy and every day is a working day for them. I also think that tractors seem to be getting bigger than when I was a kid on the farm. I swing wide each time we have to pass one of them or hug the edge of the road when we are going in opposite directions. Free wi-fi located, things to do while we are connected to, others’ networks, then it’s time for dinner and hopefully an early night. Fingers and toes crossed for a paddle very soon. Hope you enjoyed your Sunday.

My smiles today:
Standing in a lake of rainwater.
Mud between the toes.
Making breakfast for the team.
Feeling the sunshine. Wow, it really is beginning to get warmer.
Seeing city names that remind me of home.
Anna and her air-dried seahorse find.

My thoughts today:
When your WHY is big enough, you’ll discover your HOW!

Ma Te Wa from Lynn and Anna.

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The Three Sisters featuring Anna's seahorse.

Fun tunnels.

DAY 348...Big Seas, Big Winds. Stuck.

Saturday 8 October 2016

A wonderful sleep, but the sunlight had us all up and awake early. The crew had me working today after breakfast. Out came my hairdressing scissors and Anna and Jase lined up for haircuts and, much to the entertainment of the other campsite guests, I had them sitting on crates outside on the grass. Haircuts over and done with, I was released from my “must do” jobs! When cutting people’s hair, I often wonder if I’ll ever forget the technique or lose the skill. Then we headed off in the ute (Cuzzie is enjoying a well-deserved break today) to look at 4 metre plus swells and to see if any surfers were crazy enough to be out on the ocean, but not a one was sighted. The waves, the swell and the entire ocean look horrible. Well, at least they do from my perspective. Anna, on the other hand, thinks they look wonderful, while Jase looks out on the ocean in disgust.

Instead we just tiki-tour up and over the hills and along the tops of the cliffs, looking out and over the impressive vantage points way up high with the birds. We wander the streets of the little surfing town of Raglan and then sit talking with some locals over a coffee and a sweet peppermint tea, chatting in depth about their passion against seabed mining. Raglan was one of the first places to react to the situation due to the unique relationship between Iwi and the local community. Experienced ocean folk, including surfers and fishermen and women, immediately recognised the threat to the entire West Coast posed by the scale of potential mining operations. They were stunned at the lack of regulations or standards surrounding the seabed mining proposals, realising that it would be up to them to protect their own backyard. Kiwis Against Seabed Mining grew in response to that wave (kasm.org.nz).

Once back at the campsite, I decided to fly my kite in the field next door, joining in with another family doing the same thing. Compared to them, I still need practice that’s for sure! As the sun was still shining, I also decided to give my gear bags a much-needed clean and tidy up and that felt like a weight off my shoulders as I hate clutter and mess. It was out with the old and unused together with repacking of lots of my stuff. Jase (aka "Tim The Tool Man”) had a list of little jobs to do, so he was a happy chappie and Anna and I had to smile as he glued and repaired a couple of things.

To end a lovely day, we catch up with a very long-lost friend, Malcolm, with whom we are so happy to have reconnected (it was a total joy). That’s another of the many things this journey is truly about, making new friends and catching up with old ones! A one-pot dinner is created while we chat, then it’s doors shut, heater on and dinner in the comfort of Cuzzie. Tomorrow we are on the road again, starting to head back south, not for any reason other than I need to be closer to New Plymouth. I have now seen enough tracks to walk and places to visit.

My smiles today:
Locals and the innate knowledge they possess.
Rekindling friendships.
4 metre swells and big winds (jeez!).
No rain for today.
Flying my kite.
Seeing familiar, happy faces.

My thoughts today:
I honestly love being around positive people. You’re not judged. There are no dramas. Everybody just wants to relax and have a great time.

Big hugs from Red, Anna and Jase. 

Ma Te Wa.

PLEASE TXT REDZ TO 2446 TO DONATE $3 TO MHFNZ.

Reconnecting after many years.

Jason and Red at it again.

DAY 347...Side-road Heaven

Friday 7 October 2016

The storm hit with a hiss and a roar. With thunder and lightning, heavy rain, and strong winds. Then it left us alone. We had rain but no more thunder or lighting. I was awake early so today I headed out onto the beach and spent a great hour running and walking up the beach at low tide. No wind as the harbour was protected today. No-one else on the beach at all, and a great feeling of "gosh it is going to be a great day". I got rained on but not too much. It saved the heavy downpour until I just managed to get back under cover. How lucky was that?

I spent lots of time chatting to Grant who owns the campsite about kayaking, greenland paddling, and general kayaking stuff. Anna was able to chat to home for awhile also (thanks so much for the use of the wi-fi). Grant also is a wealth of knowledge of where to go and what to see. We head off once Grant gives us and Cuzzie a tow. Like each camper-van this morning we too were stuck in the wet muddy grass. Then I took a deep breath and broke a rule I had in place and headed a little bit further north, along every gravel road we could find. 

It was magic. Water falls, amazing bush, the rolling green hills turning onto bush covered mountains, and then on the other side of the road cliffs dropping down towards the foaming huge ocean covered in huge swells. (Don't look that way!) We stopped and took a hike to the Bridal Falls. Then we ate lunch and we stopped and tried hard to get up close to the lambs in a paddock. Then the winding gravel road again, meeting the tar-sealed town one, and we were back in civilization. Not so keen on that but we needed top ups of many things. The cupboards have lots of tuna for me and some bread and jam for Anna but not much else.

Another nice end to the week is that we have a return visitor for a day or so. Jase has arrived to visit and it is always nice to see his smiling happy face. We had sent him the shopping list so he arrived with all the supplies. What can I say about today? It has been another truly great adventure day. It confirms in my mind that everyone has to get off the main roads and go see the real NZ and not just the so called tourist spots. A tour that is off the beaten tracks every time is a fun day. Even Cuzzie seems to enjoy being covered in mud.

But back in civilization I stare at the waves hammering into shore and wonder if they will calm down, and also pinching myself that I have three days of paddling yet to get to this town. Maybe by the end of this month, or maybe this is the month that keeps me on dry land! Anyway, enjoying the moment, the day, and making sure I keep reminding myself of how lucky I am to be this kayaking gypsy seeing the country like very few others.

My smiles today:
The back roads of NZ.
Anna still in love with lambs.
Grant, he has to be in my top 5 of the best campsite owners.
So much rain making every waterfall incredible.
Mud between my toes, you just have to laugh.
Kettle fried chips.

My thoughts today:
"How long will you chase your dreams and what will YOU do when the world rejects you?" - Kevin Hart

Until tomorrow, from Red, Anna and Jase.

Ma Te Wa.

PLEASE TXT REDZ TO 2446 TO DONATE $3 TO MHFNZ.

West Coast driving.

Side view of Bridal Veil Falls.

DAY 346...Successful Circle

Thursday 6 October 2016

Such a peaceful spot we had last night, tucked inside the harbour away from the waves and the wind and only birds for company, nobody else. I found this morning rather eerie as it was strangely calm. We had rain last night, but not as much as we had been expecting. The rest arrived just as I planned to go out for a walk, together with thunder, lightning and a heavy hail storm which lasted on and off for most of the morning. By the time we got ready to go on a road trip, there were large pools under the wheels of Cuzzie. I thought for sure we would be stuck but somehow we managed to drive without any problems.

My main mission today was to locate the owner of the land just past Albatross Point in order to gain permission to land there when I eventually get back on the water so, off we went, along all the beautiful back roads. We had classic spring weather, a mixture of sunshine and heavy rain. We were both continually delighted by the rolling countryside Anna describes as being “hills and valleys that all look as if they are covered in soft green carpet". Hillsides covered in pine trees always make Anna want to hang up her hammock and just lie there, reading a book.

But I am on a mission, so we weave our way towards the end of the road where we locate a local or two at a nearby store. I have to smile while I wait, watching a group of kids select some lollies from the counter cabinet, so typical "Can I have five blue ones, four red ones and what can I get with the other ten cents?” This happened with each of the five kids lined up in front of me at the counter. The poor store owner but it is the school holidays, after all! Then, when it came to my turn, I wasn’t there to buy anything at all but rather to have a chat in order to find out about beach and farm access. Before you know it, we’ve been given the names of some contacts together with their phone numbers. A very good result and proof positive that meeting and chatting with people face to face usually works far better than sending an impersonal e-mail, and that the locals are always the best source of information.

Everything seems to be going well and actually, the rest of the day continues much the same way with waterfalls, caves and beautiful stone bridges along the way. We walk on some great little tracks, even if they are lovely wet ones! Each time the sun comes out, it transforms the bush into a beautiful shade of green. I comment to Anna that most of our hikes have been in rain and that it always seems to be wet underfoot but we laugh at the thought and at least we have no more downpours while we are tramping today. We stop for lunch at Marokopa Waterfalls. Anna has a PB&J (peanut butter and jam) sandwich but I just have a milk-shake because, weird but true, my stomach is still upset from the weekend.

We have driven a huge, back-country circuit today and again, it’s been far nicer than being on or near the main roads. We did venture near Waitomo but, what with the battery of tour buses and an overflowing, chaotic car park, the prospect of a visit to the caves with all those milling crowds didn’t appeal to us at all. Instead we completed the circle and headed back to our quiet little campsite in Kawhia. I chatted to Grant, the campsite owner, for a while. Not only receiving lots of beach and coastline information, but also discovering we have mutual friends. New Zealand is such a small country!

Then, my stomach started rumbling loudly, so Anna and I started cooking dinner, got the heater going and began thinking about tomorrow. Grant has planted a seed in my mind as to which roads to take next, to get to some other as yet undiscovered beaches and coastline, especially as one of my mottos is “why not?”, nothing ventured, nothing gained! It’s been an enjoyable, wonderful, successful day, meeting some lovely locals and getting some great results while still waiting for Mother Nature to let me get underway on the water again. Gosh, love it or loathe it, I can’t help but wonder at her control over me!

My smiles today:
Winding country roads.
Primo sights today.
Wonderful locals, thank you all for your advice and for sharing your contacts.
Kids in the local store buying lollies. Brings back memories!
Waterfalls churning out muddy rain water.
Our beautiful, green-carpeted paddocks.
So close and, yet, still so far away from my home.

My thoughts today:
“Sometimes you have to sit on the edge, not knowing what tomorrow will bring or where it will take you, but knowing that what you did yesterday will surely set you off in the right direction. Trust that the decisions you make each and every day will provide the future you want.” - Alex Gillespie (Thanks).

Goodnight from Red and Anna.

Ma Te Wa.

PLEASE TXT REDZ TO 2446 TO DONATE $3 TO MHFNZ.

Mangapohue Natural Bridge.

Marokopa Falls.

Red at the entrance of Piripiri Cave.

Day 345...Sights and Locations

Wednesday 5 October 2016

An early morning beach walk was what I needed this morning, so with a few layers of clothes on to protect me from the blustery wind, I ran down the very long, steep black sand dune, a natural slide for all the local kids. The sea was looking agitated and nasty as I walked along, but that was only to be expected. The gulls swooped overhead and were in their element in these winds. I left the beach to climb up the steep flight of stairs back to Cuzzie. Anna was already up and eating breakfast on my return, so I joined her. Then it was “Let's get on the road, no point in sitting around when there are things to do and many places to visit!”

Firstly, I wanted to go for a swim. Well, it was a nice thought but, since it’s the school holidays, they remove all the lanes after the morning swimmers have been so no swimming today! Gas bottle filled, water tank filled, then we were on the road. As we drive, I look at the ocean and think “what if” a few times, while Anna looks at the paddocks for sheep and lambs! But then I remind myself that this habit of mine needs to disappear, so I’ve managed to leave my “what ifs” behind for the moment to concentrate on hunting for possible landing places.

We leave the coastline and, after a while, stop for lunch. At our chosen roadside picnic spot, we sight a crazy rooster and feed him the remains of Anna's stale bread. Then we change seats to allow Anna to drive for the rest of the day. Following the main road north, we eventually turn and head back out to the coast, to another harbour entrance at Kawhia. Anna is falling even more in love with this part of the country's rolling green pastures and, of course, with the pine trees and the bush. This is an adventure for me, as I’ve never before been to Kawhia. Tonight is a new location, new people and a new adventure.

Did we do the Waitomo glow-worm caves? Not today, because we are both still trying to decide if we are ready to pay $50 per person. The plan for tomorrow is for hiking and more sightseeing. Somehow, I don’t feel particularly drawn to the small towns hereabouts but am happy to be back at the coast, watching the swells and the encroaching storm.

My smiles today:
Our country’s rolling green hills.
Crazy roaming roosters!
Locating dump stations!
Being able to explore, thanks to Cuzzie!
Getting off the main roads.
Warmth and sunshine.

My thoughts today:
There is such peace and tranquility to be found in this country.

Enjoy your day. Goodnight from Anna and Red. 

Ma Te Wa.

PLEASE TXT REDZ TO 2446 TO DONATE $3 TO MHFNZ.

DAY 344...Yes/No

Tuesday 4 October 2016

I was ready to paddle this morning. Until I got that gut feeling when I looked at the forecast and made a decision pre-6am that it was a “no go”. I was not paddling after all! This sounds far too easy a decision, but it never is and never will be. To pass up the chance of being further north and have another 50 to 60kms notched up was all I wanted. But there was a conflicting question in my head. The swell, mixed with the ocean chop, together with that storm coming in from the north. After spending this long on this adventure, I have at last promised myself to listen to my gut instinct. I listened and then pulled off my gear and told Anna to go back to sleep. But no way was there any sleep for me! I lay and listened to the ocean, the waves, the wind, some early morning birds and then the beginnings of a breeze. 

As soon as it was light, I pulled back a curtain and sat looking out onto the sea! There I sat for the next few hours, just looking and trying to be rational. I have and will always have a tough time on these most marginal of days. If it had only been a paddle of an hour or so, it wouldn’t have been a problem. But for a 7-10 hour day on the water, it has to be a winner of a day. Bugger being on the water on a marginal day on the West Coast! I will wait and in any case, I’ve a number of other great things to do today. Firstly, to catch up on my e-mails and then to organise some meetings with a few people in the sunshine by the New Plymouth Museum. But it takes me a while to try to be happy about today.  Eventually the mood lightens and my head clears. I collect a parcel from the courier company and then head around the city to just get stuff done.

At last we locate a car park and sit in the sun away from the now fresh, cool wind and were joined by Sharyn to chat more about my journey. It will be great to see the article she has written in the not too distant future. Also caught up with Michael Peach for a quick photo. Another bit of news is that Gull NZ has welcomed me to their sports people's page (http://www.gullsports.co.nz/sponsored-athletes/lynn-paterson-ocean-kayaking/). I’m humbled by their generosity and their support for this leg of my journey.

Now the clouds are rolling in and the wind and waves are on the rise. Anna is excited at the thought of seeing the 6 meter plus waves that are predicted for later this week. But, while waiting for this to happen, we are off to help Anna discover how cute and cuddly the baby lambs are. As for me, I have some more location and landing checks to carry out. Cuzzie and the girls are on a road trip. No ocean kayaking stories for the next wee while, apart from a lake or two if we happen to find any, or perhaps a large lagoon!

My smiles today:
Anna and her pervading calmness.
My crazy brain.
Passing forward.
Sharing stories.
A brave and tough stand-down decision.
Free wi-fi locations.

My thoughts today:
Choose your words carefully! If the words you spoke appeared on your skin, would you still be beautiful?

Until tomorrow. Goodnight from Red and Anna. 

Ma Te Wa.

PLEASE TXT REDZ TO 2446 TO DONATE $3 TO MHFNZ.

Our favourite spot at the moment.

Local artwork.

Hi to Dorothy!

DAY 343...The Locals

Monday 3 October 2016

A night to lie in bed, just to listen and rest after a long day yesterday, content from having had whitebait for dinner and feeling tired but well as I drifted off to sleep. We had visited a beach location up the coast, between Whitecliffs and Albatross Point, where I hope to land later on. This morning poured with rain for a few hours, so we both sat dry and warm in Cuzzie, happy to read our books until the rain passed and the sunshine appeared. 

I went to thank the lady who had given us the whitebait but she was out on the river again, catching some more. Instead, I stopped and talked with another couple, Rod and Dot, also keen whitebaiters, and came back with a small bucket of their morning catch. They were both very wet from having been out during the rain storm and I have to commend them on being so keen! I also have to say a big “thank you” to the Marokopa Camping Ground for our discounted rate. 

We headed down to the beach and the river mouth as the tide was coming in and walked as far as we could before clambering up some rocks to look out over the river mouth and the waves coming in across the bar. Mmmmmm, I thought. Maybe it is okay. I never ever want to say that it looks easy or even okay as it all depends on the day. There is so much that can go right or wrong, but I had seen worse! We wander back along the beach and stop to look at a paddock full of lambs. Just then, one of the local farmers comes down the hill on his quad bike. We get chatting and then some more locals arrive and we get chatting some more. Very soon we are off out with them on their boat to go fishing and for them to go cray diving. A great chance to see the coastline and get to know the good local landing points.

The swell over the bar was best handled by experts today! We crashed and bounced a bit andI was a little concerned about Anna but, as I glanced back at her face, she was smiling, so everything was okay with my Red Team. Out behind the swell it was a fairly pleasant although there were a few larger swells. I drove the boat for a bit but gave the driving back to the captain as I was far too slow and careful for these West Coast blokes (Stein, Ken and Mike).
When we dropped anchor, Stein went diving while the others fished. Not much success on the fishing side but Stein came up from the dive with a bagful of crayfish, so everyone was fairly happy. Then we moved on to another fishing spot and this time Anna and myself were allowed to use the fishing rods, with the result that we caught a large gurnard, a couple of Kawhai and two very small snapper (that we threw back). The swell started to pickup in earnest, so we headed back, with Mike telling Anna just to look forwards, not to watch the waves chasing us in across the bar! 

We then went for a trip up the river, past numerous whitebait stands and under an old, damaged swing bridge. We all ducked but, oops, one of the fishing rods got caught and was dragged into the river! Gone they reckon, but they’ll go back and dive for it another day! A late lunch of fresh fish for us today, cooked in a beer and cider batter, fresh crayfish and a hot cup of tea. Anna was happy to have avocado and ham on toast instead, fish not being her favourite dish. Before we leave, Anna heads out into the paddock to see if it’s possible to get up close and personal with a lamb, to try to give it a hug, but not today! Then we had to get on the road, to find some local Internet and mobile coverage and get a weather update. Back we head to a more central location, agreeing that we’ve had a really amazing day. Marokopa we have loved, mainly thanks to all the locals.

My smiles today:
The locals and us. 
Sunshine and the ocean.
Fresh fish.
Anna trying to get up close and personal with the local lambs.
Cuzzie on the back roads.

My thoughts today:
We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives. Thanks guys, today was amazing!

Goodnight from a happy team, Red and Anna. 

Ma Te Wa.

PLEASE TXT REDZ TO 2446 TO DONATE $3 TO MHFNZ.

Stein after his diving efforts.

River mouth at Marokopa.

Anna determined to get closer to the lambs.

DAY 342...Bad Night, Great Day

Sunday 2 October 2016

A storm blew us all to sleep last night. Well, maybe I should re-word that! A storm blew all night trying hard to blow everything loose. Heavy rain and big winds and this was not helped by the fact we were parked right by the ocean. Anna seemed to crash sound asleep, Jase put in his earplugs to try and get some sleep and I just lay awake and listened to it all until eventually, it lulled me off to sleep.

What woke me wasn’t the storm still raging overhead but rather, the fact I was feeling decidedly unwell! That’s totally not like me at all, I don’t get sick very often, but I had the damn cold sweats and then had to stagger to the campsite bathroom. I was so sure I was waking up everyone in the camper-van in the process, as I desperately tried to clamber out of Cuzzie’s sliding door! But for some reason it was stuck! Instead it was over the front seat and out of the passenger door that I went, and then I was in the bathroom for the next hour with a really bad case of upset stomach bug! I felt so freezing cold, I headed back to Cuzzie to grab a jacket and as I opened the door I was greeted by Jase heading out to see what was wrong with me, thinking I had perhaps fallen and hurt myself! He gave me such a fright in the dark of the night! Moments later, I grabbed my jacket and was more concerned about returning quickly to the bathrooms again.

What a champ Jase is. He came along just to make sure I survived the next wave of sickness! In between the waves of nausea and more, I did manage to laugh with him at my very sorry state! I have to say that I really hate being sick! A long while later, still shivering and feeling very sorry for myself, I wandered back to Cuzzie and literally crawled into my sleeping bag. I was more than ready to go to sleep in spite of the still raging storm. What a horrid night!

I woke with the sun and lay trying to decide if I felt better. The answer was a tentative “yes” but it certainly wasn’t my normal early pre-dawn rising. Nevertheless, I was still the first to stir in Cuzzie. I headed to the showers to see if this would improve my morning and, ever so gradually, I started feeling better. Once the others were up and ready, we departed the campsite and, with a hungry Anna and Jase, headed for a café called "Federal". French Toast for those two and, for me?  A rather more gentle breakfast of eggs, as I still didn’t think my stomach could cope with much more! The peppermint tea and honey was the most truly enjoyable refreshment this morning. Thank goodness the weather didn’t let me go paddling today!

The rest of the day was spent practising flying with my kite-surfing practice kite. I’m still nowhere as good as Jase, but it was fun playing in the sunshine. Then it was off to have an arm and back massage. I’m utterly grateful to Roger Gooch from Body Smart Therapy for taking time out of his Sunday rest day to give me a massage. Your generosity is amazing, the hugest “thank you” to you Roger, such a very skilled and knowledgeable man.

Back I return to find that Jase and Anna have been training in the sunshine on a small, outdoor gym circuit course. Poor Anna had to give up as her French toast was being tossed about to much! Again, the day was running away from us. Jase had to return to Auckland and we needed to head up the coast to check on new beach landings. The last part of our day took us a hundred plus kilometers along side roads, with so many sheep and lambs, that Anna didn’t know where to look next. She simply loves our fluffy sheep!

Eventually, at sunset, we ended up at Marokopa Campsite. A gem of a location, a white-baiter's paradise it seems, and we were where we were kindly gifted a small pack of fresh white-bait. My dinner was fritter heaven! Happy to say that Anna was not so keen to try a fritter, so they were all mine. Thank goodness my stomach had settled by this stage! No raging seas at this campsite and I’m really excited at the thought of exploring the beach tomorrow. The sandflies from the south have been replaced by the North Island mosquito (yuk)! No Internet or cellphone coverage at all tonight, so I satellite a message to all to say goodnight. Go the Inreach unit, it’s fantastic!

My smiles today:
Feeling so much better (phew).
Anna’s love for lambs and goats.
Fresh whitebait. Yum!
Country side roads. Amazing fun.
Flying kites.
Roger Gooch and his incredible massage.
I’ve maybe found a new challenge for 2017!

My thoughts today:
The warmth of your heart prevents your body from rusting! A great, thought-provoking read.

Goodnight from Red and Anna. 

Ma Te Wa.

PLEASE TXT REDZ TO 2446 TO DONATE $3 TO MHFNZ.

Kite flying with Jason.

Jason, Red and Anna in front of the Art Gallery.

DAY 341...A Trip To Remember

Saturday 1 October 2016

The team sleeps in and I get up and head out to do a pile of washing that is well overdue. As I sit in the warm laundry and drying room, I think about yesterday’s paddle and talk to other early birds who are up and about. Now that I’ve washed and dried everything, the rest of the team have got up at last. It’s a tiring life being part of the support team!

What do I want to do today? Well, after we satisfy our hunger do you know what? I want to go back to visit the Cape Egmont lighthouse, just to be able to stand there and say “Yep, I paddled past you yesterday!" We take Jase for a tiki-tour to places we’ve discovered and have grown to be our favourites around New Plymouth. We let him climb Paritutu solo, my excuse being that I only had jandals on, not the best of footwear for slipping and sliding down the rocks! Believe it or not, Jase was up and down that rock in 12 minutes flat, and that included time to take photos at the top, too!

We beach walked, sat and ate a late lunch in Cuzzie. I started studying maps of the coast but decided I can do that in more depth tomorrow. Thanks to Brian, I have coastal charts as well. Cheers, they will be invaluable! We then left a very happy Anna to read and snooze while we headed off to meet some friends for a couple of hours. It’s a day of pinching myself on where I have actually managed to paddle to but also a reality check on where I still have to get to. There are more tough days ahead but, before that, it seems as if we’ll have a few more days off the water yet again.

My smiles today:
Lighthouses. I love them.
Catching up with friends. This trip has reconnected me with many of them.
Campsite views. Just beautiful!
Cafe brunch. Thanks, Jase
Being a tour guide for a change.

My thoughts today:
Today I woke up. 
I’m healthy.
I’m alive.
Thank you.

Goodnight from Red, Jase and Anna. 

Ma Te Wa.

PLEASE TXT REDZ TO 2446 TO DONATE $3 TO MHFNZ.

Kisses for Red at Cape Egmont Lighthouse.

DAY 340..Another Cape

Friday 30th September 2016

A brief outline for fellow kayakers:
64kms paddled,
Northerly wind 9 to 15 knots,
Northerly swell only 1 meter,
32,640 strokes paddled,
11 hours on the water,
4 checkpoints along the way,
Approx 10 minutes stop each time,
Approx speed 6.11kms per hour. A tad slow!

Now for the story of the day: 

At 6.30am, off I head with a dry mouth and a tight feeling in my stomach. It’s like a millpond as I leave Opunake, but we are protected from the northerly wind that’s blowing up towards the Cape. All I can think is “How far will I get before it turns into a head-on battle?” First check-point was perfectly okay. Now I need some luck! 14kms to the tip of the Cape and now all I can think about is how close I can get before I get slammed by the wind and the swells coming round this particularly unpleasant section. I try hard not to think about what I had read in Paul Caffyn’s book about how he couldn’t see the lighthouse because the swells where so huge!! I knew it wouldn’t be that bad. But I also knew that Mother Nature wasn’t going to allow me to have an easy passage round and past this treacherous Cape.

Then, 4kms before I get to my checkpoint, we are slowed by the wind, a current and bigger swells coming straight at me! Eventually I get into a position to be able to chat to Anna on the VHF and said “Let's see what it’s like round at the boat ramp,” because I had another 4kms before having to make a decision on whether to end the day there or continue. Just to make matters a little tougher, a small rain storm came through as well, but there seemed to be lighter skies towards New Plymouth. As I passed behind all the surf breaks, I also noticed that it seemed somewhat calmer further up the coast. Much to Anna’s surprise, I said I was going to aim for Okura, some 22kms away and that the time would probably be really slow; an estimated 4 hours. The pace didn’t improve any and a whole lot of patient determination and not a few blisters later, at last I managed to VHF Anna to say “Hi. I’ll see you in New Plymouth!” But it took me another 12kms, it was a really slow slog to get there as I had tried unsuccessfully to get closer in to the shore.

I had to work really hard for every kilometre today. Eventually the day is a success and, as I paddle past Back Beach, seagulls dive bomb me. I dare them to try and peck my head and I was ready for them to try and fly off with my hat! Then it was the last straight, in the lee of the rock wall and into New Plymouth harbour. Today, a couple of news reporters from the Taranaki Daily News came to say “Hi!”. Thanks guys, for coming out on a wet and windy Friday evening, it was good to chat. Thanks, too, to Sharon for the long chat. It’s great meeting like-minded people who have been following my blog.

At last, we’re parked up at the campsite. I’m tired and hungry. I’m making do with some Whittakers chocolate while Anna and I cook some steak and veggies and wait for Jase to return with some hot chips to have with a well-deserved dinner. In the meantime, I’ve also been busy treating a few too many blisters, which is what happens when I only get to paddle a few days each month, my hands get soft!! Now it’s windy and raining but, actually, I don’t care. Bed is calling and I need a good night’s sleep. No need for weather checking tomorrow, that’s for sure!

My smiles today:
New Plymouth, we have arrived!
Jase being there to welcome me when I land.
Anna has fully mastered her support crew duties.
Eat, sleep, paddle, repeat!
Meeting Sharon.
More blisters!
VHF working again.

My thoughts today:
You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think!

Goodnight from us all. 

Ma Te Wa.

PLEASE TXT REDZ TO 2446 TO DONATE $3 TO MHFNZ.

Hi, New Plymouth!

Rocks by Back Beach.

DAY 339...Nearly, But Not Quite

Thursday 29th September 2016

You might all be thinking that I would be curled up in bed for hours this morning but, I’m sure you all realise that sleeping late is not a skill I possess and in any case, really early this morning, I heard a rather loud “thump” as Anna fell from the squab she was sleeping on! Then as usual, it was weather forecast time and a message and text or two to say it was a “no go” even attempting to get to and past Cape Egmont today. It was blowing really hard early on and, with Cuzzie rocking in the wind, it was obviously not going to be a Red paddling day. But, even so, I still lie staring at my weather app in the dark, hoping for a miracle. Just in case I may have missed something with my blurry eyes! 

Once everyone was awake, we laughed about Anna falling out of bed in her sleep, we ate breakfast and focused on the day’s alternative plan; to drive to the next couple of checkpoints, locate them on the navigation app and then work out an A B C plan for the next day out on the water. The drive was good, the locations easy and a pull-out plan in place. Then, as always, it starts to niggle me. “It’s not that rough, honestly Anna, maybe I should try to get on the water today and do a short 30 km section! Let's grab some lunch and get my gear a little drier and...” My brain was racing way ahead, working overtime! Anna nods in agreement but says nothing and, as we drive back to Opunake, I add "But maybe I should make just one call to check out that I’m thinking straight!” She nods again and says "Yes, I was thinking that, too!”

We pull over by the surf club and have a conversation on the speaker phone with a third party about the pros and cons of my crazy thoughts of paddling today. But, once the logistics have been discussed, together with timings etc., it became patently obvious that it wasn’t such a great plan after all. More about me eating, drinking and repeating for the rest of the day and adding in the paddling part back another day. My hair-brained scheme was cleverly averted and we’re back to something like normality. “Phew!” Anna probably thought “a near escape!”

We hook into the local library, watch as the local kids terrorise the librarian and eventually, they get evicted for the rest of the day. I seem to spend way too much time on e-mails and now have a brain that’s only functioning on one thing at a time! Rain starts falling heavily now, far more than earlier, the wind is up and down, speeding across the land and off the cliffs onto the ocean. It’s probably best that I’m not on the water today!

Jobs done, gear washed and kind of rinsed, bags still to tidy but not now. Perhaps another day. A new pot lid sourced as the old one was damaged and broken. Items that I don’t need any more delivered to the local op shop. I am forever chucking out what I no longer need in Cuzzie. For me, it seems that nearly everything has a “not needed anymore” limit. We escape back to our cliff-top location for another night of looking out over the Opunake surf beach and settle down to read, write and then cook dinner and wait for a better weather forecast! I was being hopeful but think my next day paddling will most likely now be in October! Opunake is nice. Actually, do you know what’s really nice? The fact that we are nearly in New Plymouth, by which time we’ll be able to celebrate getting past another Cape!

My smiles today:
Anna falling off the bed. Oops, sorry, Anna!
Opunake, it feels kind of good.
Another boat ramp located.
Libraries and school holidays, despite delinquent kids!
A wonderful couple stopped and gave us a cash donation for MHFNZ. THANK YOU!
Rain, clouds, and wind then calm! You either have to smile or sit and cry!

My thoughts today:
Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.

Until tomorrow. Enjoy, smile and big hugs from the team. 

Ma Te Wa.

PLEASE TXT REDZ TO 2446 TO DONATE $3 TO MHFNZ.

Grey skies and lots of rain.

DAY 338...Special

Wednesday 28th September 2016

As usual I woke up in the early hours of the morning, even knowing my alarm was set! That’s because I worry I’m going to sleep in. Honestly, what chance is there of that? You only have to ask the poor support crew! The rest of the day goes like this:

At 5am I get up and ready for my day’s paddling. Yes, you read that right!! As yet, there’s not even a breath of wind, nor any sound of waves (incredible)! I get dressed, pack up the final bits of electronic gear from the charging stations, then sit and eat breakfast. Having given Anna a wake-up call, we are unloading Louise by 6am and, with head torches on, carry her down to the beach. Today I don’t even get wet on my launch! Although the connection was a bit dodgy, we manage to hook up by VHF and hopefully, it will improve.

Patea was the first checkpoint at 8.30am with 14kms done already. Then it was on to Waihi Beach. As I paddled along, the cliffs reminded me of driving along sections of the Desert Road, through Tongariro National Park. The incredibly varied earth colours make for great scenery, as do all the caves and tunnels that only a very few people have probably ever seen. This coastline not only has lots of pleasant surprises but some unpleasant ones as well, especially the waves I have to pass and navigate through at each landing point. I try not to take risks so, mostly, I paddle out the back of any white foaming waves, not wanting to have any “heart in mouth” moments. On the next section, the currents and tides are against me, so I slow down a little, with the result that I’m about 30 minutes late for checkpoint number 2. Then the fun starts with VHF issues!

I only hear Anna very faintly once and then nothing! Hoping she can hear me, I say “Let's talk at Ohawe” (only 6kms up the coast). I was hoping that, maybe, we could have mobile coverage there. But alas, no. Finally, I just talk, asking Anna to wave her pink top in the air if she can hear me, which she actually can and understands what to do, so I get a wave from her. Well, at least something worked!

Onwards to Kaupokonui, thinking that will be enough for today. As expected, the VHF still isn’t working and there’s no mobile connection to Vodafone but, fortunately, my Spark is working. The beach looks horrible! A very terse text to my helpers in Auckland to ask them to call or text Anna to let her know that plans have had to be changed and the destination is now the boat ramp at Opunake. I still have 23kms to paddle and I’m praying that I’m not going too slowly, otherwise it will be dark. 

It started raining just on 4.30pm, so I pulled up my rain jacket hood and kept on paddling, dodging a few more big swells. As I got closer to my destination, thankfully the ocean flattened somewhat and I was able to enjoy myself again. To the extent that, over the last section, I even thanked Mother Nature for having let me nail this 83km paddle today. It’s been a very varied and a very lovely scenic day. But I only wish I could have explored the caves as well. Of course, there were a few ugly ocean waves and the occasional section with washing machine moments, but I have had it way worse. At last I was able to talk with Anna by mobile, telling her I’d only 2.6kms to go but she already knew that, as she had just checked my tracker. To be totally honest, I was just every bit as excited as her by now, because the longest paddle on this journey has been done today!

I land on a calm boat ramp and, as the rain falls, we unload the kayak and gradually pack up. Popcorn has been made and there are hand-picked flowers along with a lovely note for me from Anna to say congrats. What a lovely way to end my day! As always, this distance couldn’t have been achieved without having the support crew and Cuzzie waiting for me at the end of a huge day. We park up on a hillside above Opunake. I’m warm and tired but happy. Can I paddle again tomorrow? Guess what? Mother Nature thinks not! Jeez.

My smiles today:
A calm launch and a calm landing.
Who wouldn’t be smiling with 83kms done today?
Warm, salty popcorn with lashings of coconut oil.
Electrolytes do work!
Blister treatment. Meths threading!

My thoughts today:
Wake up with determination and go to bed with satisfaction.

Goodnight from Red, Anna, Louise and Cuzzie.

Ma Te Wa.

PLEASE TXT REDZ TO 2446 TO DONATE $3 TO MHFNZ.

Arrival at Opunake.

Little waterfall by the Opunake landing.

DAY 337...Early Morning Walks

Tuesday 27th September 2016

Awake and checking the updated weather at 5am! As we are only a 40-minute drive to the beach, I’m always a little hopeful on the marginal days, but today was not quite a “go for it” day, although it is getting better. As I was already awake, I got up, dressed and headed out for a walk just on 6am, passing others out on their early morning exercise regime. The morning was cool and calm as I walked through Hawera Park, startling all the local ducks and then continued towards the water tower in the centre of town.

That was a good start to my morning, getting out and about and enjoying the sunrise. I returned to Cuzzie, grabbed all the ingredients to make my famous brownies and started heading to the kitchen to get them underway. But, just as I was leaving to go to the kitchen, a pet rabbit bounced past Cuzzie. He looked huge, like his breed was a Flemish Giant. I was tempted to wake Anna because she would have found him "so cute”. I was more than happy with the delicious aroma of chocolate brownies being baked pre 8am. In fact, not only was the smell incredibly good, but so was licking the leftover mixture off the spoon!

Once Anna was awake, we got organised and were soon on our way, but not before surprising Mister Rabbit lazing under a tree. Anna was impressed, he was far more loveable than the damn cats (she really is scared of them!). We manage to locate the free wi-fi with both power and space to do some more online stuff. I love the local libraries, some days wishing I had a PR person. That would make my head and brain feel so much lighter. Once these tasks had been completed, I had to do a final drive past and beach check of all the checkpoints on the next paddle leg. It was looking a lot better, the skies were getting lighter and the rolling swell not nearly as big, with less numerous white caps than of late. Ohawe looked great, Waihi looked good, Patea looked okay but we are still waiting for the wind to drop at Waipipi. Then, we will hit the road and finally, the water, for a much-needed ocean paddle.

Bacon and avocado sandwiches for lunch (mine minus the bread!), followed by warm chocolate brownies and then we were on the road to our destination. We spent the afternoon checking and re-packing some gear I had been wanting to rearrange and also making sure that everything is still fully charged and in working order. Sod’s Law always seems to dictate that the day you want to use something, invariably you go and find that salt water has caused an issue or two with your equipment.

Then it was back to sit on a hill, watching the waves and asking the wind and the swell to take a chill pill. I’ll be happy to crawl into my sleeping bag tonight, happy to rest, perchance not to dream! It’s a calm, quiet evening in our world, with time spent talking to Anna about places to go and visit, people to go and see and all the “must do’s” in the South Island when she heads there in the summertime. There’s a one pot wonder for us tonight, followed by hot chocolate and who knows, perhaps I’ll share some more of my brownies. I hope your Tuesday has been fab. Mine, well, I have had many things to smile about today.

My smiles today:
Walking and jogging in a beautiful park.
Numerous trees in blossom.
Ducks.
A cute pet rabbit.
The ocean, the waves and the coast.
A wonderful, calming phone call.
The aroma of freshly-baked brownies.

My thoughts today:
Over thinking can destroy your mood, so breathe and let go!

From the Redz NZ Team, Goodnight. 

Ma Te Wa.

PLEASE TXT REDZ TO 2446 TO DONATE $3 TO MHFNZ.

Red and Anna on the giant swing in Patea.

Mr. Rabbit, so cute!