End of Leg One

Log

Date: Feb 26th

Weather: sunny

Swell: slight E

Wind: moderate-Strong SW

Distance: 24 nautical Miles

Camp: Bruce and Lou’s

Blog

We awoke at 4.15am, packed up loaded the boats at the estuary, then pushed out into the outgoing river current. We paddled darkness through the small surf break, and found ourselves under a starlight sky and paddling through water full of Phosphorescent Plankton, they water was thick with them, stunning. Our bow wake and paddle strokes glowed and if you dipped your hand in the water they stuck all over it in a glowy like goo.

The sun rose as we paddled to the end of the large peninsula blocking us from our camp and our final destination of leg 1, Takapuna Boat Ramp. The golden sun gave us a wonderful welcome as we passed through the channel between Whangaparoa Peninsula and Tiritiri maitangi Island which the weather was reporting to be blowing 30 knts. We pleasantly found that not to be the case close to the mainland and we came into view of the big city of Auckland, its sky scrapers glinting in the early light.  we slogged out the 24 knms to Takapuna, paddling under cliffs laden with very expensive houses all along the edge of them, making the most of the veiws, though risking the land slides. before 12.30pm we arrived at the Boat ramp and we done, energy levels low but spirits high.

On arrival we called the Calvary and my mates Bruce and Louise came to pick us up and give us a place to stay for a couple of days, while we restock, repair and eat. Cheers guys.

So that’s leg one complete 280 Nautical Miles 20 days and a couple of sore, hairy, smelly guys!!

Bring on Leg Two!

Feb 25th; On Air In Orewa

Log

Date: 25^th Feb

Weather:Sunny

Swell: small E

Wind: Strong SW

Distance: 14 nautical Miles

Camp: Orewa Camp Ground

Back Country Food Review

Meal: Chicken Tikka Misala

Impression: Looks tasty and awesome, does taste good, though not as rich and creamy as a real dish. Very yummy, great flakes of almond. Awesome quantity. Again we are eating a two serve portion each as with each meal. Great.

Stars: 8 out of 10

Blog

We awoke early at Ruth and Ian’s and snuck out before they awoke. We were on the water by 8am, after carrying our boats down from there neighbors white mansion house to the beach ( a very short trip). We then crossed back over to the mainland and slogged against another brutal head wind.

Eventually we arrived in Orewa and the smell of fish n chips lured us ashore through the surf. We ordered a feed of Fish n chips and then I blundered into the local radio station, told them what we were doing and we ended up on air with an interview. Cool.

We then decided we wouldn’t go any further than the local camp ground at the end of the beach tonight, and slog the last 24 nautical miles out the next day and be on the water at 5am again. So we paid $36 to pitch a tent, had a great shower, Dave got more junk food and some fresh fruit from the store and I made friends with our neighbors.

The solar panels are struggling to charge the storage batteries and they struggle to charge other things, so the neighbors allowed me to put the video camera charger in their car for a long time. Loran and Grant where visiting, as usual each year, from Victoria BC for 3 weeks. Grant is originally from NZ though found Canada while at university. They invited us over for a wonderful desert of ice cream and sticky cake. And we talked to the early hours of the morn. About 12.30 am that is , though we where to wake again at 4.30am.

Some Man’s Land

Log

Date:Feb 24th

Weather: sunny

Swell: moderate SE , 4 meter NE

Wind: Strong SE-SW

Distance:12 nautical miles

Camp: Ian And Ruths

Back Country Food Review

Meal. Sweet and Sour LamB

Impression: Look Awesome, Tasted Fantastic. Great flavor, good meat amount, great pieces of Pinaple great with extra water.

Stars: 9 out of 10

Blog

We awoke to strong winds still throbbing. Had a lazy morning discussing the merits of continuing or staying till tomorrow. When at about 10.30 pm we suddenly got a “hi guys!”

The owner had turned up to find us on his lawn, though instead of being grumpy about it, he was inqusaitive and asked us about our adventure, then said we where welcome to stay as long as we liked as he wouldn’t be heading out into that wind. Though we had already decided to push on, and so we did. Thanking him for his understanding and ongoing offer.

We packed the boats and slogged out into the bay. Rounding the next head land, we meet the increased north swell coming through in pulses of about five mountainous swells at a time. As we came into the the channel between the head land and Kawau Island on our left, the huge swells broke spectacularly along the cliffs and rocks to our right, and we bounced slid and dropped through big seas, as we bashed against, 25 gusting 35 knot winds. A real slow slog.

Thinking we where really tough, I was supper surprised to see a group of kayakers appear as we rounding the island to find a sheltered bay. I paddled out to the kayakers to find them to be a group of school kids in very un sea worthy bathtub style kayaks in amongst the white caps. The teacher was happy to see us, and we shadowed them back to the school camp on the island. We thought we might be able to tcamp there and maybe give the kids a talk about our adventure, as they where all very interested when we told them what we where doing with such big boats. However this wasn’t able to work out. Thought he camp manager Peter was able to hook us up with Ruth and Ian, in the next bay around. Due to the kawau being completely private, there was no where to camp, though Ruth and Ian offered us a bed.

Ruth is an avid sea kayaker and heavily involved in the local scene here. She was very excited to have us there and we talked late into the night.

Thanks Ruth and Ian for having us and the great home grown salad!!

Feb 23rd; No Mans land

Log

Date: Feb 23rd

Weather: sunny, passing storm fronts

Swell: rising NE 1m

Wind: variable

Distance: 20.2knm

Camp: Omaha Bay; near Leigh

Back Country Food Review

Meal: Teriyaki Beef

Impression: looks great, lots of color with the green and dark brown, tastes superb, very yummy and filling.

Stars: 9 out of 10

Blog

We left late and reluctantly from the warm comfortable house in Mangawhai. On the water at about 10Am After cleaning the house and leaving it spiffy. Fought the current back out the river, then hit the seas to Goat Island Marine park.

The weather which was forecasted to be crap, with winds in our face, turned out to be awesome hardly any, most of it just from the SW which was quite nice, as the boats love chewing through a head wind, this slight one just made it sublime. Eventually we arrived at goat Island Marine Reserve, to find a stonking swell coming in and a bunch of surfers rushing out to make the most of it. Thinking of camping here originally, we were quickly told by Ivan the Glass bottom boat operator the swell would be three times this tomorrow. That information, the fact he camp was a long walk up the road, and that Ivan informed us of a great secret spot around the corner in Leigh we could camp the night at in a sheltered bay, we where off.

45minutes later we were all set up on a nice piece of grass near a rarely used beach house, thanks for the info Ivan. Winds are now picking up and tomorrow looks like a messy windy day, oh joy the fun to be had. 30knms form Auckland now, the first leg of our expedition is almost over, though the journey has only just begun.

Feb 22nd; 32miles to roast lamb and hot showers

Log

Date:22^nd Feb

Weather: Sunny with passing storm fronts

Swell: small SE

Wind: Slight N – NW

Distance: 32.6KNm

Camp: Brucie’s Cabin Mangawhai

Food Review

Meal: Mrs Black’s Roast Lamb

Impression: Fantastic, succulent and tasty, could have eaten it all night!

Stars: 10 out of 10

Blog

Feb 22^nd; 32miles to roast lamb and hot showers

OK finally I got dave to write the daily Blog, so here it is!!

Todays mission…. to get up at 04:00 a.m. and paddled 32 miles. The obvious question is…. why the need to get up so early and paddle such a long distance? Well, with the right choice of carrot dangling in front of our noses…. in this case a favorable tidal current and the prospect of staying at a friend’s cozy Oceanside home with hot shower….. the answer becomes quite obvious. So, up at 04:00 and on the water at 5:00 a.m.... that was the easy part.

 

As planned we caught the tail end of the outgoing tide….. the same tide that made coming into Ngunguru such a slog was now helping propel our kayaks out to the ocean. It was such a pleasant and peaceful start to our day…. slowly paddling in the moonlight…. guided by the stars, distant lights and the rhythm of the ocean. After a couple of hours we stopped at a small lagoon for our breakfast and were treated to a beautiful sunrise. As with most of our stops this was both pleasant, but brief. Soon we were back on the water and back on our long day mission.

We paddled for a few more hours before we decide to stop at another beach….. our last reprieve before our approach to Bream Head and our 10 Knm crossing of Bream Bay. We land at the beach and quickly make PB&J sandwiches before jumping back into our kayaks. A massive back cloud had been approaching from our stern and threatening to dump us with rain and winds so we got going asap to avoid getting thrashed in the increasing surf and to take advantage of NE winds.

On approaching Bream Head wewere struck by its impressive rocky spire….. a tall beacon visible from miles away and now dwarfed us under its mass. The ocean swell around the headwaters gave up the usual bathtub sloshing from side-to-side treatment as though we were on a ride at the local fair. Once around the headwater we got our first glimpse into Bream Bay…. well, it was actually pretty foggy at this stage so we didn’t see too much. Anyway, we set course for crossing the bay and set about the task at hand. It’s now 11:30 and we’ve got approx. 15 knm under our belts. The journey across Bream Bay is pleasant…. a steady NE breeze gives us a much welcome push and we slacken the pace a bit to paddle side-by-side and immerse ourselves in conversation.

After a couple hours into the crossing my legs are getting restless and I’m already being distracted by thoughts of getting onto land and stretching my legs. Of course the fact this isn’t a possibility just makes matters worse…. I’m sure there is a life lesson here somewhere, which I’m sure I’ll have time to explore during tomorrows paddle. Anyway, we complete the crossing and head towards Mangawhai Heads. Our goal almost achieved, a couple of final hurdles were presented….. big surf waves, which we successfully negotiated….. yeah!.... and the dreaded falling tidal current. Of course the place we are now staying at, is at the end of the inlet! We dig deep and expend the last of our energy reserves and reach our goal at 4:15p.m.….. 32.6 knm.

At this stage it’s raining, we’re getting cold and we are definitely tired. But yes……we are rewarded. It was touch-and-go for awhile, but we got word that the key to house we had hoped to stay at, was with neighbors across the street….. the Blacks’. It’s about a 5 minute walk up a reasonably steep hill to the house from the beach, so the task of taking our gear and stowing our kayaks began. After my first load of gear to the house I’m approached by an elderly lady from across the street….. I’m assuming Mrs. Black. We had barely made introductions before she offered us a hot meal. Before I had a chance to answer she added….. “you’d probably like a meal as much as you like breathing…. Huh?”. Well, I had to agree.

After sorting out our gear and having a glorious hot shower we headed over to the Blacks house for roast lamb, sweet potatoes, green peas and pumpkin. It was a challenging day, but very rewarding and what made it so very special was meeting the Blacks….. strangers who invited two grubby kayakers into their home for a hot meal. Ahhh yes….. these are the moments that remind me we are blessed to be doing this adventure.

.Dave.

Note from Jaime

Sadly we also came to discover that Christchurch; a town in the south island where I was born, had been hit by more earthquakes (first one hit in sept 2010), and had been devastated. 65 people where known dead, many more trapped in buildings and power and sewerage systems out. The news footage showed what looked like a war zone. My good friend Tom who lives there, had his life still, but lost his home, our thoughts go out to the victims and of the disaster, it makes the slight suffering we are choosing to put ourselves through a joke, and I feel guilty at continuing the trip and not flying down to help, though it was made aware that at this point more people down there would be a hindrance as there is no power and sewerage and not enough accommodation for the homeless let alone the helpers.

For now we continue south, my mind heavy with the suffering and carnage happing as we enjoy our luxurious kayak trip.

Feb 21st; fish n chips up the river

Log

Date: Feb 21st

Weather: rain squall, overcast, then sun

Swell: messy 1+meter East

Wind: 20-15 knts SE

Distance: 12knm

Camp: Ngungaru river bar

Food Review

Meal: fish n chips from Ngungaru takeways

Impression: awesome

Stars: ten out of ten

Blog

Awoke to s beautiful morning, had a heated discussion about little things that we where getting pissed off about, sorted it out and shook hands on team work. We then paddled out into a big black on coming storm front. Continued on, and the rain came, then rounding the head land further south, the winds and swell came, we again where slogging it out into a SE head wind and rolling swell.

We slugged out 12 knms and paddled into Ngungaru River, to have fish’n chips at the recommended local store. But it wasn’t open till 4pm. Oh man. It was 3pm, so we decided to camp on the river sand bar amongst the dunes and come back for dinner. That we did, and man did we pig out, $27 worth of fish and chips, yum yum, And then a big fat chocolate bar from the corner store.

We plan to be up super early tomorrow, 4 am, and try and slog out 30knm if we can, there is a weather bomb, or tropical cyclone due to arrive3 Thursday and we hope to make it as far south as possible before it comes. 30 knm from here is Bruce and Louise’s cabin at the beach, and a chance to have hot showers woo hooo!! So bring on the big slog.

Feb 20th; Paddle Strokes Ongoing

Log

Date: Feb 20^th

Weather: Sunny

Swell: mod SE building N

Wind: SE moderate

Distance: 23 NAUTIUCAL MILES

Camp: Whananaki

Blog

Feb 20^th, paddle strokes ongoing

We awoke early to a great morning. Packed up leisurely and then set of for a big slog down the beautiful coast.

We stopped for lunch in a isolated bay that as the tide dropped became more entrapped by a surrounding reef. Very cool, but a bit tricky to get of the now rock fortified beach.

We came upon a more inhabited area with camp ground and people, though instead went for a nice clear area on the chart that said restricted. And found a sun burnt naked man, and a great place to Camp.

Had fished all day though not a single strike. Hmmm!

Feb 19; Amongst Ghosts of whales

Log

Date: Feb 19th

Weather: Sunny

Swell: 1 m SSe

Wind: light variable SE

Distance: 14 nautical miles

Camp: Whangamumu harbor at the whaling ruins

Back Country Food Review

Meal Beef Stroganoff

Impression. Hearty, flavourfull and yummy. I bit plan to look at, enjoyed a bit of added salt. Very basic and very yummy, another good standard meal.

Stars: 8 out of 10

Blog

We packed up early, eat breaky then paddled out to the melody again, as we had been invited for Tea and coffee before we left for our onward voyage, we happily obliged. It was great to have a second breakfast of fresh pancakes Roz had made. Eventually we tore ourselves from the boat and reluctantly paddled north towards cape Brett.

We stopped In a couple of bays, the first the tourist epicenter , which I quickly got disgusted at and had to leave, the second was the fabled camp area we where allowed to camp in. it was full of giant mansion tents, and some very attractive woman!!

We got chatting with two sea kayakers, Craig and Sandy. Sandy from Vancouver and Craig Originally form NZ, both now living in the middle east and here on a kayaking holiday. They gave us some good info, some more fresh food and we had great a great talk, before heading on.

We slogged it straight for the Cape, we sat an looked at the light house, then squeezed through a tight channel out into the big SE facing bay on the other side. Big swell and wash made Dave jump into paddle hard mode, though I roped him in and made him paddle out to the outer island while I paddled through the famed Hole in the wall. A big sea arch that goes through the island. The seas where big and as I went through it, the waves where bouncing and refracting of everywhere as the surge came from behind me. On the other side it was calm and peacefull, though I twitched with excitement, and then went through again, back to Dave waiting in the swells. Unfortunately my waterproof cameras played up and I got no footage. Good fun though.

We paddled on and then went for a really nice bay called Whangamumu Bay. Here we found the remnants of an old whaling station, loads of Sailing boats, and an awesome stream to Bath in. lovely.