Date:   23/11/19
River:    Hurunui River, North Canterbury, NZ
River Conditions:  66 Cumecs at Mandamus. Grade 2 – 3, water swift & clear.
Weather Conditions: Sunny & warm with occasional strong easterly wind gusts.
Number on Trip:  8 kayakers (4 doing Maori Gully).
Time on River:  3 hours
Comments:  The stars finally aligned and I was off on my first white water trip of the season. It was good to load up the Blitz and head off to the Belfast Tavern, even if I was feeling a little nervous. We sorted out vehicles and then we were off to Hurunui. I was travelling with Crispin and his son Zac, with Zac practicing his driving skills by driving us most of the way. We were team Bliss-stick, as our roof rack was predominately Bliss-stick boats, with a lone Jackson kayak.

We stopped off at Devil’s Fang Falls for a brief inspection, with the river running a bit higher than normal, there were plenty of lines to choose from. Many of the rocks under water, but there was a foaming mass of white water below the central line and going down the left hand side would have been interesting to say the least. We picked our lines and noted the features for future reference, then back into the cars.

When we arrived at Jollie Brook, there was a big group of WWCC beginners gathered for additional training on the river. We also found that Crispin’s roof rack had come loose on one end and the boats were only just held on, so it was lucky that nothing had fallen off. We unloaded and got changed, then waited around while the shuttle was run. We got on the river for a bit of a warm up before our shuttle drivers returned, it was good to be back on the river and to find out that my skills hadn’t departed, even if my fitness was somewhat lacking.

Once our drivers returned, we started off downstream so as not to crowd out the beginners. I enjoyed working my way down through the boulder gardens, surfing on the various holes and waves, splashing through the wave trains, and feeling my confidence returning. We took our time, enjoying the sun and the river, taking photos where I could.

We had a good team and everyone was keen to play and push themselves. It is good to be on the river with a solid group of people, enjoying the sunshine and a great flow, it always reminds me why I love white water kayaking. At the bluff before the confluence with the South Branch, Jono demonstrated his skills by getting over the pillow at the base of the bluff, which looked somewhat daunting at the increased flow, and up into the micro eddy against the rock face. Others gave it ago, but no one pulled it off quite so successfully.

I always get nervous coming up to Devil’s Fang Falls, even though it is relatively straight forward and I’ve done it many times, I still get butterflies. Today I took the lead as I wanted to get into position at the bottom so I could get photos of the rest of the group. Having scoped out the line from the road, I took the right line, avoiding the centre rooster tail and the turnover at its margin, then breaking into the eddy at the bottom to quickly get the camera out before anyone followed me down. Everyone else came down a similar, though the odd person disappeared in to the foaming mass towards the centre, there were no dramas. Once down, Crispin, Jono and a few others had a bit of a surf in the hole at the base, sometimes with only theirs heads visible above the foam.

At this flow, the next rapid with its’ popular play wave and not so forgiving run out, had few takers. I intended to drop in to the eddy on the right to take photos, but found myself washed through and heading for the bluff. I dodged that turmoil and got in to the left hand eddy and only managed to get a few pictures before we carried on downstream. By now I was feeling a bit tired but still enjoying the river. I wasn’t feeling confident enough to do Maori Gully and was quite happy to get out at Seawards. Chatted with Zac in the sun, while waited for the shuttle to be run, before heading down to the Maori Gully take out to wait for the rest of the group to arrive. Crispin and Zac did some work to lash the roof rack in place, before we loaded up and headed back to town, with a brief stop at Brew Moon for beers & pizza.

Date:    17/11/2019
River:    Avon River, Christchurch, NZ
River Conditions:   1.983 cumecs at Gloucester Street bridge. Water mostly clear. Grade 1.
Weather Conditions:   Sunny and warm, nor-easterly breezes.
Number on Trip:    2 people.
Time on River:  1 hour.
Comments:  Another beautiful day and Lauri was keen for a paddle so we got up and sorted out the boats and gear. It isn’t as much drama to get kitted up and out the door as it was to begin with. Greta the Shelduck showed no interest in following us down to the river and was happy to remain sitting on top of my car, so we left her on her perch and trundled down to the Avon, Lauri towing her Prijon Fly on her little trolley and me carrying Blitz on my shoulder, enjoying it’s lightness over the much heavier Salto.

We seal launched from the bank, after packing Lauri’s trolley into the back of her kayak and headed down stream. Lauri noted she enjoyed the feeling of weightlessness of gliding over the water that kayaking gave her and it has been really great to share this with her and to see her enjoying being out on the water again. It is so nice to have such easy access to the river without the drama of driving anywhere.

We paddled down river as far as Dudley Creek and since the water level has reasonably high, we paddled under the bridge to explore the creek. Before the quakes there were a number of nice houses along the stream banks, accessible from Banks Avenue, now there is just grassland and trees, giving the feeling that you are paddling on a quiet brook through the countryside. We paddle as far as we could, disturbing a group of scaups, before our way was blocked by a low concrete bridge.

We turned back and paddled back upstream, collecting a couple of floating drink cans that had been discarded in to the river. Lauri also spotted a floating dolls head, looking somewhat worst for its time in the river. We retrieved it, as a slightly grotesque trophy and to reduce the amount of rubbish in the river,

We paddle passed Swanns Road bridge and said hello to the black swans, who were no longer sitting on their nest as they were the proud parents of five new signets. Then back down to the jetty and home for lunch, to find Greta still sitting on the car roof and asking for food too.

Date:    2/11/2019
River:    Avon River, Christchurch, NZ
River Conditions:   1.885 cumecs at Gloucester Street bridge. Water mostly clear. Grade 1.
Weather Conditions:   Sunny and warm, nor-westerly breezes.
Number on Trip:    2 people.
Time on River:  2.5 hours.
Comments:  It was another beautiful day with not too much wind, so we decided to have a round of disc golf on our “private” course. Shortly after we started, Greta the Shelduck flew over from our place and down towards the river. We cut the game short at only one round of the five holes and returned home to get the kayaks.

When we finally got to the spot she normally hangs out in, she wasn’t there but we did get to meet another of Greta’s “guardians”, who she regularly visits for food and friendship. He filled us in on some more of Greta’s backstory, including that Flame & Molly, were apparently her parents and quite regularly hound (duck) her for hanging around with humans or not getting a new mate & producing more ducklings. It has been quite interesting to hear the various stories about her form the many people who have interacted with her before she turned up outside our place. She has certainly got around and seems very good at making friends where ever she goes.

We paddled downstream enjoying the sun, warmth and beautiful scenery, not too far, just down to the riverside retreat corner. Turning around, we paddling back up to the Swanns Road bridge and found Greta, dabbling in the water and preening herself. Soon after we arrived, Flame & Molly arrived and began scolding Greta, with Flame & Molly on the island and Greta on the water. Lauri had positioned her paddle between the two parties and Greta ended up standing on the back of Lauri’s Prijon Fly to continue the “discussion” and to cadge duck food from Lauri.

The discussion continued back and forth for some time, dinner time came and went, with the sun slowly sinking. I headed home to feed the cat and put my kayak away, before putting on some warm clothes, grabbing some food and heading back to the river to rescue Lauri from the Shelduck family dispute.

When I returned, things had calmed down and the strategy of feeding both sides seem to have brought about a fragile peace. I got Lauri to paddle down to the jetty and helped her out of her kayak, which wasn’t easy as she had been sitting in it for a couple of hours. She decided to walk back to the duck off while I carried her kayak home. When I got back, the peace was still holding so I coaxed Lauri home and we had pizza for dinner at about 9:20pm, having been on the river since a little after 4:15pm.

Date:    2/11/2019
River:    Avon River, Christchurch, NZ
River Conditions:   1.863 cumecs at Gloucester Street bridge. Water mostly clear. Grade 1.
Weather Conditions:   Sunny and warm, nor-easterly breezes.
Number on Trip:    2 people.
Time on River:  1.5 hours.
Comments:  Lauri was keen to spend some time with Greta on river and so we were up relatively early and got our kayaking gear sorted out. As we were almost ready to head down to the river, Greta flew in and refused to follow us.

We put in and paddled a short way upstream passed the Swanns Road bridge and then decided that downstream would be a pleasanter trip as both sides of the river are Red Zoned, so there is no traffic noise. It was a beautiful day to be out on the river and our boats cut swiftly through the water. We passed a number of whitebaiters and a pair of ducks with over a dozen ducklings scattered all over the river, that they struggled to gather together as we approached. There were plenty of black swans and a few pairs of Shelducks.

We paddled back up stream, hoping to see Greta at the Swanns Road bridge. She wasn’t there when we arrived, so I wandered home to try and coax her down but she didn’t want to budge. Greta was still at our place when we returned from our paddle and didn’t leave until we walked her down to the river at dusk.