More kayaking this week. And, I must admit, against all my preconceptions, I actually enjoyed it. Weird I know.

(Glynns car is looking good don’t ‘cha think? :)

So I didn’t exactly enjoy having to get up at 06:20 after Tills party (a reasonable amount had been imbibed). I was pretty petrified at the first glance at the river. We’ve had quite a bit of rain over the last wee while and the river was quite full. I didn’t even have a creek boat (read nice boat with lots of volume and no nasty lines to tip you over) to paddle, and I felt lot more off-balance in the boat.

Still, with Waricks ‘PADDLE PADDLE PADDLE’ echoing from last year in my ears I got down all the rapids intact. In fact, not even a swim. Of course this means I wasn’t playing hard enough (but it also meant I was keeping my hot body out of the freezing water).

The pic above was Dave playing in the final rapid.

Then it was off to Tekapo to camp for the evening.

(pic from the trip with Mick – no I didn’t have the BMW this time!!)

Meridion Energy dammed the lake and made a massive canal down through multiple power-generating dams town to the coat. When they did this they changed the river patterns (no kidding) and a condition of being allowed to proceed was that every year (12 times I believe) they release water down through a specially constructed white-water course.

It was kinda fun to watch it fill up.

The course itself is a 3 (or 3+ maybe?) so that’s out of my league at the moment. Especially as the sides are brushed concrete that would happily rip through wetsuit and skin with ease.. maybe next time I’ll run it!

We did the grade 2 which leads onto the course.. but also – there’s a play wave at the top of the course which is safe enough to get onto, and really fun to just try to have a go at playing.

I had a go on it, got capsized a few times and had a couple of swims.. however.. it was lots and lots and lots and lots and…lots of fun!. I put a short video up of me on the wave… I was pretty happy with my (very short lived) performance!! :)

This weekend being Easter we get Friday and Monday off – so it’s off up to Paynes Ford for some climbing.. fingers crossed we get the weather. Otherwise it’ll just have to be lots of time spent in the mussel inn. Sigh.

On Friday my sisters parents-in-law were in ChCh on a holiday with friends. I had a really enjoyable afternoon with them (not least ‘cos of the presents ;) thanks!) Mary-Joy somehow charmed her way through the customs ppl when she hadn’t disposed of the two apples in her bag (let alone the honey which she’d forgotten about). Seriously folks, if you do come to visit, coke & heroin is fine – but beware of bringing an apple into the country.

Anyway, had my first tram ride around the city, and then took them to the botanical gardens. All too soon (after the obligatory pint in the dux) they headed North to Hanmer Springs, hopefully they’ll be back before too long – I really approve of my sisters choice in in-laws!

Also that evening Till had his leaving party.

It was a great party – and it was sad to see Till leave..Though one less German in the country can’t be a bad thi.. I mean.. at least we still have Jana :)

Well, it was a funny old week, and great to get away with Glynn, Dave, Emma and Matt for the weekend. Left ChCh on Friday night and drove across to Lake Kaniere over by Hokitika. Hokitika is the place where the wild foods festival is held. If you want to read how huhu grubs taste.. read on :)

We camped that evening by the lake..

..I was so happy I’d brought my tent back from Ireland.. I’ve really missed having it actually! Mind you.. I woke up the second morning to that shrill whine which tells you that there are insects intent on sucking your life away millimeters from your ear. I waged warfare and my tent is a little redder now ;)

That morning it was down to the lake and after launching in off the jetty Dave and Emma took Glynn and I through the basics again. Practiced how to paddle in a straight line (not as easy as you might imagine to do properly), how to turn quickly (sweep strokes). How to rail (turn your boat so that water flowing over it wont’ flip you over). How to T-Rescue (when another boat comes along and you grab onto it (under water) and flip your boat up again.. and finally rolling. I was totally happy – it took me three attempts, but I did get a roll working. Not that I managed to do so on the river! but still.. most happy.

Packed the boats onto the car – and off to do the Lower Hokitika. Glynn has been throwing himself at the sport hard – and tries all the crazy things that Dave asks him to – and it has spurred me on to try them too!

Really nice river though, pretty easy (though I did capsize at the very end of it), but all good fun.

The next day we did the lower section of the Arahura (top section is grade 5, just a little beyond me at the moment). More play on this river – lots of eddies to practice getting in and out of – and we all tried a go surfing on a wave. Still, I was happy enough to be finished and warm and try at the end!. But really good, I can see more kayaking trips happening for sure.

Funny now with energy prices increasing etc… the old Kerryman joke about the solar powered light bulb isn’t quite as silly sounding any more is it?

The pictures on the river are courtesy of Dave! Thanks!

Busy enough week with work… I’ve been working towards getting the system I run ready for a major upgrade in 4 weeks time. Hopefully it’ll not break completely ;) Fun and games.

We had our alarm tested. The movie of testing the alarm is worth a watch (well, I thought it was funny anyway).

Also made my first (but not the last I’m sure) batch of Caramel Squares.. Turned out quite well actually.

Just incase anyone should like to try (it’s dead easy I promise.. if I can do it anyone can (really)) – Thanks to Matt for the recipe.

Caramel Squares

Base:
350g self-raising flour
225g butter
110g caster sugar

Filling:
225g caster sugar, 225g butter,
5 tablespoons golden syrup,
397g (1 tin) nestles full cream condensed milk

Topping:
340g good chocolate (milk or dark), melted.

Preheat oven to 180C, gas mark 4. Rub the flour, butter and caster sugar together until it resembles breadcrumbs. Press into a 25cmx38cmx4xm baking tray. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden. To make the filling melt the butter in a heavy based saucepan over a low heat. Add sugar, golden syrup and condensed milk, stir continuously for 40-50 minutes. It should be a golden brown colour when ready. To test drop a little blob into a bowl of cold water, it should firm up. Pour over the pastry base and allow to cool. Pour over the chocolate and allow to set. Cut into squares.

I was pretty upset that I’d nothing planned for the weekend. Well, Saturday anyway. Dave upon hearing this invited me to come out Kayak-surfing over at sumner with Glynn. Now.. I dunno why, but I’ve not really ever been much of a water baby, and definitely not in the sea… but after one early capsize (in about 2 foot of water) (and a mouthful of sea-water too).. I completely enjoyed it.

Glynn was throwing himself at it hard – and actually managed to surf this 6′ wave in (which is big enough!)..

This was the tail end of the wave. About 20 seconds later he was holding his paddle above his head with triumph, and was promptly capsized. Still, an excellent effort. Looks like I should be off kayaking over on the West Coast with them next week. Not really quite sure how good it is for my back (which is still sore – so so SO annoying) but sure have to get out or I’ll go mental!

After that went mountain biking in the port hills.. great fun. I’m getting more and more tempted to buy one.

That evening I left for Tims Bach over in Little Akaloa. The last time I was there there were many more people there (it was summer) and there was drinking, dancing and general merriment. This time there were just 6 of us, but I actually really enjoyed just getting out of the city and have a bbq and a few beers with friends. Dragging the mattress outside and sleeping under the stars was good. Well, good ish, Aroha (who’s idea it was), as soon as she heard my glasses go into their case would make some comment about how beautiful the stars were / what a spectacular shooting star had gone by.. Lasers eventually!

This morning the others headed off early, and I just went for a short walk down and around the little old (1906) Anglican church they have here. It’s beautiful inside, wooden Maori carvings everywhere… a very peaceful place.

Went for a wander down the hill, past the old WW2 home-guard gun emplacements…

..before heading back up the hill. I was just about to sit down at a bench and enjoy my surroundings for a while, contemplating life, the universe and everything, when I realised I was about to crush a (well camouflaged but luckily not too well) stick insect.

I also put a short movie up (5 megs). You can also hear some of the native birds on the movie.. really… it’s such a great place & country!