Date:    1/02/15
River:    Hurunui River, North Canterbury, NZ
River Conditions:   16.9 Cumecs at Mandamus. Grade 3, water clear.
Weather Conditions:  Warm, clearing overcast with NW winds.
Number on Trip:    2 kayakers.
Time on River:  1.75 hours.
Comments:   After getting back from the Clarence River I was pretty tired but I was still keen to be back on the river so when the weekend rolled around I checked to see if there were any trips planned. The club had a rescue course planned for the weekend and according to the trip list, a combined trip on Sunday. John H decided to do a Gully run on Saturday but I didn’t think I was going to be up to that. Sunday came and as I turned into The Peg car park, it was pleasing to note the cars with kayaks on their roof racks, a sure sign of a trip in the making. However it turned out to be just for the rescue course and they were just going to be doing that around Jollie Brook and I just wanted to do a river run. Mike had turned up with a similar idea and after a brief wait to see if anyone else would turn up, we headed off to paddle Maori Gully by ourselves.

On the drive up we decided that the best idea was to get changed at Seawards and the drop the car off at the take out and then walk back to the put in. Mike volunteered to do the shuttle while I fended off the hoards of sand flies and waited. The walk/run took about 20 minutes and we were soon on the river, which was cool, clear and most refreshing.

At 16 cumecs, there isn’t much push in the river so there is plenty of scope for play and we warmed up on the Magic Roundabout, cutting back and forth across the flow and random currents there. From here it was a relaxed paddle past Simon’s Hole and on through the boulder gardens and Bum Rock. With the low flow allowing me to paddle up a number of the routes and to try coming down alternative lines, lots of fun.

The 1st boulder garden in Maori Gully.

The Elevator was bouncy but didn’t present any dramas, next was Cheese Grater and given the excitement it provided last time, I decided to make sure I ran it well right of centre. However when I reached the edge, I realised my chosen line was full of rocks (the very ones that give Cheese Grater its’ name) and a quick change of plan, which resulted in another slightly exciting kick to the left but no real dramas. I signaled to Mike to go right and he got down the line I probably should have taken.

Cheese Grater showing its teeth.

Down the remain big rapids and a bit of chat with a couple of other kayakers doing Gully runs. This was followed by more relaxed surfing and making moves before the take out appeared. I had a nice swim while Mike did a few more practice rolls, then the dreaded hike up the hill and back to town, well satisfied with a very pleasant outing.