The Tide is High and We're Moving On

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  Nelson, New Zealand
Monday, December 19, 2005

M: The last week has been a bit zany. We were in Wellington for a grand total of about 24 hours to meet up with Di, Jessie's friend from camp, and to regroup, do laundry, etc. It was particularly hectic because the day we got to Wellington happened to be the premier of King Kong, so streets were closed, an old plane had been put in the middle of the main square, old cars and a facade had been placed in strategic locations and there was a red carpet lined with Peter Jackson fans. It was really funny to be part of that craziness, especially because it was so unexpected. We didn't actually see anyone on the carpet, but saw people projected onto the big screen at one end of the red carpet. Closest star siting for me.

Then we flew down to Nelson, which was the point of departure for our 3-day kayak in the Abel Tasman. We left bright and early Friday morning to head down to Kaiteriteri Beach to launch for our paddle

Jessie and Di Surf Landing at the End of Day 3

. The first part of the first day was "guided" meaning there was a guide with us to show us a couple of tricks of the trade and make sure we could read our maps. The unfortunate thing was that it was raining. A lot. It wasn't cold, but kayaking in the gray and rain is not the ideal circumstance. Still, we started off, hopeful for penguin, dolphin and seal viewing and sure that we could tackle any circumstances.

J: Yeah, that and with the promise from everyone that the days were just going to get nicer. So that first day was crazy! We had a double and single kayak...I started out in the single, Missy and Di in the double. About half way through the first day we hit the "Mad Mile" it mad it was, at whom it was unclear...taking it out on us, though. Huge swells after the rain finally let up did not make for easy and peaceful kayaking (or deliver what the brochure promised, as Di pointed out). Anyway it actually made me seasick and I worried about how much I really loved kayaking after all. But eventually we made it through arriving at our first stop: Anchorage (not as close to home as you may think). The warden at Anchorage (aka the park ranger) was hopeful for a sunny second day for us as well as dolphin sightings (maybe he was just trying to lift our tired spirits).

Day two we started out with a short hike to Cleopatra Pools (fresh water waterfalls and natural waterslide--for really really tiny people)

Missy and Jessie "Kayaking" in the Lagoon on Day 2

. It was a fun little jaunt in which Missy almost said good-bye to her raincoat--yep, she dropped it into the waterslide and we got to watch it enjoy the ride, hoping it wouldn't make it to the next waterfall a little downstream. Di to the rescue (although later she swore she wouldn't have risked life and limb to save it, despite my saying "Get it! Get it! Fine, I will get it!"). We returned to the kayaks after that and paddled four pretty leisurely hours. The highlight of this day commends Missy'a fabulous navigating (no, really it was good--the map was just a little deceiving). We paddled up this little side river into a lagoon (thinking it was a different lagoon that the guide had recommended). It was still quite beautiful, although I did have some trouble steering us around some plants in the water right after Missy complimented my steering prowess--oops! We ended that day in Bark Bay.

Sorry, I haven't really described what it was like in the Abel Tasman--gorgeous despite the clouds and rain. We were kayaking along a coastline, in and out of bays around heads (which look like small mountains of rock and trees and other plant life. The water is a beautiful deep blue where it is deep and a more crystal blue-green where it is shallow. The beaches were nice as well. Missy thought the sand looked like butter crunch (it wasn't all that soft). We saw lots of birds while we were both on land and in the water: ducks (that can hold their breath longer than mallards), huge pigeons native to NZ (actually kind of pretty), and some herons (we think)

Taking a Lunch Break from Kayaking on Day 1

. Also Missy and Di saw a huge stingray on the first day.

Back to the kayaking. We woke up to the rain on our third day (the day that was supposed to be the most beautiful of the three), but by the time we got it together to get into our kayaks it had stopped and the promise of some blue skies appeared in the distance. We paddled out to Tonga Island, a seal and sea lion colony. They were so much fun, playing in the water close to our kayaks, sleeping lazily on the rocks, introducing their pups (yep, really the cutest, tiniest little seals) to the world. We couldn't get enough of them. We did keep hoping for dolphins and penguins (yep, penguins), but to our grave disappointment we saw none (Di said another failed promise from the brochure)! But the clouds did part on the third day and we were able to enjoy some calmer kayaking and beautiful weather before making our last stop on Onetahuti Beach/Bay and catching the water taxi back to Kaiteriteri Beach. That night we stayed at a nice backpackers and had our first NZ fish and chips (we had been looking forward to it for well over 24 hours, tired of peanut butter, rice cakes and tuna and rice crackers). Yum!

Now we are heading down the west coast of the south island...and we gleckel on!

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There is Sea Life (on Day 3)!!

We Made It!

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