Whanganui River: left a bit, left a bit.. splash!

Check out Pete's site for more photos (link on the right) as he had more luck with the internet cafe PCs!


The last 3 days have been spent on the river. We hired a 2-man canadian canoe + tent + stove and headed off for an adventure on the river Whanganui. The route from Whakahoro to Pipiriki is 87km of river through national park that is only accessible via the river. The first day we paddled (without a guide) for 40km, through some terrifying rapids (OK, they were only grade I) to reach our stop for the night - the Department of Conservation (DOC) hut. These places are cool! It was a hut with a nice warm fire and a warden and 20 beds consisting of 2 platforms with matresses on - if it had been full I would have been up close and personal with a load of strangers!
Anyway, we had a cracking meal of chilli (home-made before the trip as I was having withdrawl symptoms) and then were asleep before 10! We saw glow-worms and bats before bedtime though. The next morning was HARD. My upper-body just ached. Last night we stayed at a Maori camp (no Maoris in residence last night though) .. it was so lush and peaceful. Today we were the only ones to stay afloat through the harder rapids (2 other couples from another group were there at the same time). Victory! When we got out I was "covered in bees!" much to my disgust and ended up with one stinging me right between the thighs! It still hurts. I was not happy. Tonight we undid all our good work with Dominos pizzas, which I am now regretting. Back to the diet tomorrow, eh?! Miss you all but don't miss work! Heheheehehe. The weather has picked up here too... I'm a bit sunburnt (hard not to be when you're paddling on a river all day). Lovely lovely lovely.