glad

That was indeed a saving grace. My five day trip was not nearly as dramatic. Thank goodness.

Awesome pictures!

Secondary title: Lose your head, break your paddle

On the last day of my 3 week trip to New Zealand my paddling partner, Steve rented a plastic boat for me. We paddled in Littleton Harbor, an old caldera open to the sea. This is an area surrounded by about 2000 ft hills about 15 miles out of Christchurch on the South Island. Here’s a partial picture of the harbor; http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/corps/corp2353.htm A geologist friend had warned me that the weather “was going to pot’ towards the end of the day, but I was on the food committee not the route planning committee, so I didn’t know what flavor of ‘pot’ the weather would take. Mistake number one. We had a few hours of lovely paddling meeting some larger swells as we ventured just outside the mouth of the harbor. Turning back, our next stop was an island, known to be a leper colony and the final home to skeletons of scuttled boats rotting on one side of the island. As we left our island picnic I heard the boomers behind us. Then I watched the sky in front get blacker and was trying to judge it’s intention. We were trying to find a channel to free us from the water draining out of the area and I became increasing concerned about the darkening sky bearing down on us. The lightning started going off and though my partner disagreed, I headed off the water to a sheltered location. I pulled the boat up onto the beach, secured the paddle under the bungees, turned it over into the wind to lower it’s profile. Then I just watched. Because it was a mountainous area the wind funneled down and concentrated under our boats. I watched that big wind pick up our semi-loaded boats and toss them a full five feet into the air. What a sight! A bigger horror was watching the very expensive, borrowed, composite, 4 piece Lendall paddle come half-way loose and break like a toothpick under the force of boat coming down on it from 5 feet. Many days of paddling in New Zealand and not one scratch to be destroyed on my last day. Luckily my paddling partner decided to join me on the beach instead of paddling downwind in the blow, cause he had the extra paddle and we had about 3 kilometers to get back to the put-in. On reflection, I should have taken the paddle (partially graphite) with me and tethered it to a short tree or secured it somehow away from the boat. I’ve done this before, why didn’t I do it this time? Time was short, possibly I was distracted. A good lesson learned. Anybody have other suggestions about paddle stowing in storms?

Thanks Liz - I have lots of stories and pictures. Am just trying to figure out what time it is and get organized. k

Suz - I took my MSR stove and empty fuel bottle on an Air New Zealand flight in my checked luggage. They did check it carefully,however. I called the airline to find out their policy. Air NZ might be more liberal cause they figure lots of folks are going to camp. Try to get every trace of fuel smell out or else you'll be standing at the check in waiting for it to evaporate. Karen

Thanks, suz!

Would any one be willing to loan me a light breakdown paddle for my New Zealand trip? My two piece is too big to travel with. Mine enclosed in my rifle case will be an extra bag at a ridiculous extra expense plus it stimulates a little too much excitement at the airport. If anything happens to the paddle I will gladly replace it. Thanks, Karen

How bout a slide show? Folks could do a show and tell. Karen

Thanks for putting this link up! Karen

Karen

I hope to be visiting the South Island of New Zealand sometime during the end of Feb to early March 06. If anyone has any ideas about kayaking clubs or folks to contact to do a 7-9 day wilderness trip, I'd appreciate the help. Thanks, Karen

Please keep me on your list. Karen

I am a major MAYBE not for sunday surfing. In fact, just put me in a room with soft cushions. After being bashed around and towed by holding onto a boat (that's what really killed me)- I'm still a hurting cowgirl. I spent the week with ice, hot tub, ibuprofen, antacids for the ibuprofen, stretching and trigger point work. How bout a walk? (just kidding...sort of). KG

If you know how to contact Chuck could you please let me know? Thanks, Karen

Thanks, Sing!

Do you mean the armpit? Just south of Plymouth on the Bay side? Thanks! Karen

The hypothermic victim should be handled very carefully with limited contact. Too much manipulation of the extremities sends cold blood and toxins to the heart resulting in devastating consequences to the heart.

Do we know yet? Thanks! Karen

Thank you Rick-It was truly a pleasure to see your amazing, seemingly effortless boat control in some tricky places. An inspiration. Karen

Way to go, pops and wife! Good for Ryan. I think that's grand. Does he want to do it again? K

Liz-you can try Nickerson's in Brewster. It is supposed to be very beautiful and next to some nice kettle ponds as well. Karen

Great trip report, Dee. It was great to paddle with you both. Our undisclosed island basecamp was as far out as one can get in Blue Hill Bay. Because of a favorable tide we were able to make it out to our destination in just enough time to make it worth it not to unpack, make camp and repack our boats. A day trip crossing from our basecamp to Great Duck, a Nature Conservancy Island was lovely. With practically no wind we enjoyed the wide ocean swells which swept in from the open Atlantic. One of the challenges was guesstimating the amount of drift and resetting our bearings. One of the best things on Great Duck was the outhouse, very clean and complete with the most recent Cosmopolitan magazines. I was right at home! This end of the island is a College of the Atlantic research site - I found out later from my niece who had been out there. An old boat house we explored had turned into a bunk room for four. We lucked out with the weather in a big way. It was wonderful to be in such a primitive site; raw and severe in it's beauty. Steep berms with large, slippery stones were the nature of the game. On our last day, once suggested, it made total sense to camp an extra night with the BSKC folks. The wine and bourbon sweetened the deal. I kept remembering my friend, Dan's 'rule of threes'. Once you exceed the rule of three you are asking for a disaster. In our case 1)dense fog, 2) limited daylight with no real room for error, 3) a small target destination. I couldn't imagine how hard and scary it would have been to try and navigate in the fog AND the dark. Headlamps might not have worked in viewing compass headings. Losing our $160 room in a cozy B and B paled compared to a scary night on the water. I miss the wind blowing through my tent...

Yes, it was an exciting and beautiful day in Duxbury bay. Thank you Adam for the report replete with the hunter's point of view. Unfortunately, Mark and Adam missed Leslie and Karen completely covered in Duxbury mud, slipping all over ourselves as we solved in usual style 'our differences' with maximum profanity. In my blonde defense, before getting oriented I did execute 5 flawless greenland rolls. I have to admit when I saw the lightning going comfortingly in one direction- away from us but then change it's course and shine from orange to white my adrenaline kicked in. I wondered about the wisdom of the course and why we hadn't left in an earlier lull. Luckily our crossing was short and we got to watch the storm from the porch of a cool summer home built in the 1800's by a ship captain. I never got to see the two seater outhouse-what a shame. But one could sense visions of large gatherings of hungry sailors, peaceful, lonely and chilly times in this dark and cavernous house. What a great day!

Patty- there is a slight possibility that I and another paddler may see you at Greasy Pole or at Kettle from Manchester Harbor. Could be a little dicey out there. Could you mail your cell to drkglad@yahoo.com? Thanks karen