Ladies Trip 21 August 2004
Well ladies
You missed an exciting and interesting paddle last Sunday.
As there was only one victim we changed our trip to something a little more challenging - down the Waikiwi Stream. I bet you don't even know where it is.
Dressed in many layers of clothing and using pogies, the only part that was exposed was our faces, and they were COLD.
Due to the high water level Keri Antoniak and I put in on the Lorneville-Dacre Highway. There is a pull off area right beside the bridge.
A slippery mud slicked entry was required to get into the 'ditch', then we were off. 25 minutes later we shot under the North Road bridge just north of the Bainfield Park Residential Home.
A short bit of excitement was added when we caught up to an island of floating foam. Argh, it was a drowned sheep, it's eyeball steering up at us through the murky water. The three of us got caught in a large slowly swirling eddy. The look of disgust on Keri's face was worth the effort of taking my camera.
Care needs to be taken with overhanging fences, hot wires and low farmer's bridges. One bridge was just too low and we had to portage over the top. The creek was meandering at this stage and we managed to cut off some corners by paddling across a flooded paddock and through an open gate.
Things got a bit tedious as we followed Ferry Road due to straightening of the creek. It took some time to at last break out into the Oreti River due to being hit by our first snow flurry - head on.
We had been laughing about the squalls tearing by all about us and how we were managing to escape them but this one got us. The tide turned and we had a very quick down river run to the Dunns Road bridge accompanied by our second snow flurry. It's amazing how long a snowflake stays un-melted on the tip of your nose.
Trip statistics. (Average cruising speed. No rush. Time for photos. The km's are approximations)
Lorneville-Dacre road to North road. Sufficient water only on a high flow.
3.5kms. Approximately 20 min's.
North Road to Dunns Road bridge can be done on a moderate flow. If too low you get caught in the weed further downstream. try for out going tide further down. 17kms. Approximately 2.00hrs.
Take out/put in points can be at various bridges in between. But make sure you know which one you have left your car at!! There are at least 6 bridges not counting the farmers ones.
But try the following:
North Road to Thomsons Road (off Bay Road) 5kms
Thomsons Road to Ferry Road (don't get confused with the Staunton Road bridge) 4km
Ferry Road to the Oreti River and down to Dunns Road 8km
P.S. You wont believe this but I got sunburnt.
Belinda Mulvany
You missed an exciting and interesting paddle last Sunday.
As there was only one victim we changed our trip to something a little more challenging - down the Waikiwi Stream. I bet you don't even know where it is.
Dressed in many layers of clothing and using pogies, the only part that was exposed was our faces, and they were COLD.
Due to the high water level Keri Antoniak and I put in on the Lorneville-Dacre Highway. There is a pull off area right beside the bridge.
A slippery mud slicked entry was required to get into the 'ditch', then we were off. 25 minutes later we shot under the North Road bridge just north of the Bainfield Park Residential Home.
A short bit of excitement was added when we caught up to an island of floating foam. Argh, it was a drowned sheep, it's eyeball steering up at us through the murky water. The three of us got caught in a large slowly swirling eddy. The look of disgust on Keri's face was worth the effort of taking my camera.
Care needs to be taken with overhanging fences, hot wires and low farmer's bridges. One bridge was just too low and we had to portage over the top. The creek was meandering at this stage and we managed to cut off some corners by paddling across a flooded paddock and through an open gate.
Things got a bit tedious as we followed Ferry Road due to straightening of the creek. It took some time to at last break out into the Oreti River due to being hit by our first snow flurry - head on.
We had been laughing about the squalls tearing by all about us and how we were managing to escape them but this one got us. The tide turned and we had a very quick down river run to the Dunns Road bridge accompanied by our second snow flurry. It's amazing how long a snowflake stays un-melted on the tip of your nose.
Trip statistics. (Average cruising speed. No rush. Time for photos. The km's are approximations)
Lorneville-Dacre road to North road. Sufficient water only on a high flow.
3.5kms. Approximately 20 min's.
North Road to Dunns Road bridge can be done on a moderate flow. If too low you get caught in the weed further downstream. try for out going tide further down. 17kms. Approximately 2.00hrs.
Take out/put in points can be at various bridges in between. But make sure you know which one you have left your car at!! There are at least 6 bridges not counting the farmers ones.
But try the following:
North Road to Thomsons Road (off Bay Road) 5kms
Thomsons Road to Ferry Road (don't get confused with the Staunton Road bridge) 4km
Ferry Road to the Oreti River and down to Dunns Road 8km
P.S. You wont believe this but I got sunburnt.
Belinda Mulvany