It has been 4 years since I last went on this trip when Tim got hit in the head with a raft and I had to kayak it. And I was damn glad I wasn’t kayaking this time. It’s amazing how much a river can change. This picture shows the river flows for the last few months. Lets play… spot the flood. First comment wins the ‘really obvious flood award‘ for which there is an electronic trophy.

Oh, a bunch (if you can have a bunch of pictures?!?!) of these pictures aren’t mine. I’ve put the name of the person who took them in the image name.. credit where credit is due ‘n all that. Right, formalities over, onto the trip.

It was deadly.

In the Irish sense of the word deadly. In that it was fun. It was also cheap. $200 for 4 days of rafting – including transport, food (except lunches), rafts, gear.

This is because, as every self respecting electronic engineering department should, Canterbury University EE owns 4+ rafts. As you do. And they hire them out. Cheaply. If you’re a PhD student or postdoc.

Here’s the map of where we went from -> to.

Starts out at a historic way station. The Acheron Accommodation House(1863).

Everyone is split into pairs and given a barrel. The above pic is of Maaike putting the finishing touches to ours before setting out on the first day. I was barred from trying to pack anything. Ever. Sigh. But probably a good thing ;)

I’m not going to write too much and will just leave you with a load of pictures and a few videos. It was lucky, I think, that there were no major capsizes as we didn’t have any kayak’s with us this year. If 6 people and 4 barrels and a raft start moving in different directions then it can make the reuniting of these disparate elements a little tricksy.

So thanks a LOT to Steve, Stew and Mike for organising everything.. and our drivers Clare, someone, and Joe for doing all the driving.

We did have one mishap – which was when our raft hit a rock a little unluckily and managed to puncture the side. Oops. Out came the patch, the glue, and an hours wait.

I was slightly pathetic in not helping, but then it was more than 20 degrees celcius, and I’m useless once it gets that hot!. Also, I felt it was a little more sensible to take shade rather than sit and watch other people working. But hey, I am a slacker too..

So yes, all in all an excellent trip. Hopefully will be run again in a few years time.. though I guess with people moving on from Uni it remains to be seen how lucky we will be..

finally – just a couple of video’s.

(jawbreaker rapid)
[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=7778821843136311297]

elegant non smacking off rock
[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=6697993122779299049]

Pics (and a gripping tale of death dicing, dragons, gold and princesses) to come from the rafting trip soon I hope… but in the meantime.. here’s a pic from last night of me getting a certificate for placing third (ooooh) in the Spring Croquet Tournament here in Christchurch..

The guy who’s hand I am shaking is the current world champion – which I think it slightly cool. It has been a real success these evening tournaments run by a very fun (and witty) Scotsman by the name of Magnus. He organised the whole thing – and it now sees 25 odd people playing a game a week in the evenings after work. Suits me down to the ground – and I finally think I’m beginning to ‘get’ the game. Fun.

Oh, and I’m the United Croquet Club B-Grade Champion too. me Me ME and MEEE :) hehehe.

But seriously, croquet is a really excellent game.. it’s really tactical, very skilful – ish like snooker on grass. If you get the chance to play properly (flat lawn, decent gear) then give it a go..

So, I’d been looking forward to this evening for ages and ages and ages and.. well, ages. When I was in University, way back in the mists of time, I met this quite eccentric (and horribly smart) bloke wot called Caoimhin (Kevin in English). He was studying Theoretical Physics – which is probably the hardest science course you can do in Trinity.

Anyway – had the best nights of music ever with him – we even commandeered the engineering building for a night of music… had to get about 6 sets of permission for that one (Junior & Senior Deans, Dean of Engineering, Dean of Something Else Important, Dean who has to be included on everything else)… Ah no, twas grand.

And he’s quite mad really – absailed out of the top of the front of college just for the fun of it… and, to keep Professor West interested in his exam sheet in 1st year, renamed all his maths variables names like Whiskey and Gin..

I – B(Whiskey))^-1 does not exist for any Whiskey ? Gin;

Excellent.

So yes, it was a really great night of music. My only disappointment was the really terrible organisation by this crowd. Apparently they did a terrible job of organising their tour. Ah well… next time (if we’re lucky enough to get a next time!).

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=5906622345504343451]

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-7377342974963952680]

And then out drinking until 3. Haven’t done that in a very long time.

Can’t remember the last time I was here. Ok, I looked back.. it was Tuesday April 6th, 2004. Wow.. I have been here a while. And not getting any younger.

You’d think I’d remember the tramp..

In this picture we went up and over and down a small hill – just to avoid a 1m wide stream. I’m sure in foul weather it is worth it – but not in summer!

The hike itself is a good one – certainly not a walk in the park. Ok.. it is a walk in Arthurs Pass national park.. but still… not an easy walk in the park.

So – off for the long weekend set Steve & Michelle, Myra & Graham, and Maaike and I. We were pretty blessed with the weather, only a little rain on the last day. It meant the various river crossings were grand, and the views better than the last time.

Bringing Steve along has it’s moments. Moments of greatness I mean ;) Well, of bugs and insects at least.

There was still quite a lot of snow about – which made things a tad interesting at times, as one never knew if it would hold. I gave this arch a thorough testing though.

The really quite scary part (only scary part) was up Tarn Col.. it’s a steep climb of about 120m or so. Now, on rock, this would be no worries.. but the top of the slope is covered in slippery ‘snowgrass’.. and it’s lethal stuff. Not a good place to slip with a heavy bag. In fact, quite a bad place to slip.

But no one slipped.

So it was fine :)

And then it was on to more magnificent scenery.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xkw8ip43Vk]