Date:    16/02/2025
River:    Avon River, Christchurch, NZ
River Conditions:   1.391 cumecs at Gloucester Street bridge. Water clear. Grade 1.
Weather Conditions:  Sunny and warm, strong NE winds.
Number on Trip:    1 person.
Time on River:  1.25 hours.
Comments:  It was a beautiful, warm afternoon and I took the opportunity to get out for a paddle. I headed upstream as I was a little short on time and it is always easier to paddle home with the current if you are feeling tired. The Red Zone was looking lovely and I passed a group of people in Canadian canoes finishing a trip at the take out near Pomeroy’s, it’s always nice to see other people enjoying the river.

The current was swift in the section by the Barbadoes Street Cemetery and the temporary “dam” was still in place. The dam wasn’t too much of an impediment to navigation and on the way home, I had a play practicing slalom between the waratahs.

Under the Babadoes Street bridge, a couple of guys were sieving the river gravels, looking for interesting relics. They’d found a few clay pipes & coins, but nothing like the Police radio or full magazine they had found on other excursions on Christchurch’s waterways. It is always interesting the things that end up in the Avon.

After paddling as far up the Fire Station “Rapid” as I could, I turned for home, enjoying the current assisted travel.

Didn’t take too long to get home and clamber out of my kayak, feeling a little stiff and sore, having not paddled much for a while.