Newsletter 23
Southland Sea Kayakers
10th June 2005
Dear Southland Sea Kayakers
I have organised a series of kayak rolling classes for the winter at Splash Palace. They are on the following dates
Sunday 26 June 4.30 - 6.30 PM
Sunday 10 July 4.30 - 6.30 PM
Sunday 24 July 4.30 - 6.30 PM
Sunday 7 August 4.30- 6.30 PM
Sunday 21 August 4.30 -6.30 PM
I will have the use hopefully of the Canoe Club kayaks for a start and then move rolling our sea kayaks. We will need several sea kayaks per session. They must be cleaned before each session and especially all sand and gravel removed from the cockpit. Please do this before you bring it to the pool. The cost is the usual entry fee plus about $5.00 to Stanley to pay for lane hire and Canoe Club hire. Please email me to register for this course.
Network Evening:
This is scheduled for Wednesday 22 June at 7.45 PM at H&J Outdoor World, 27 Tay St., Invercargill. There will be a DVD shown on the Kayak Roll as well as a talk on rolling techniques. This is an important session to understand before the pool sessions.
Network Trips:
I have two planned for the winter on the following dates weather dependent
Saturday/Sunday 16/17 July : Lake Te Anau
Kayak from Te Anau Downs up the Middle Fiord of Lake Te Anau to camp opposite Arran Island ( lovely camping spot) and from there to climb up Flecked Peak ( optional for those with excess energy to burn ). This is a nice easy paddle and a pleasant bush walk of 4,400 feet up hill ( great views).
Saturday/Sunday 13/14 August : Milford Sound
Kayaking weekend on Milford Sound. This is your chance to see it before the wonderful Gondola floods the place with overseas tourists. There are lots of possibilities from camping at Anita Bay to having a look at Stanley's Bivi Rock ( named in my honour of course ) to vying for sea room with the red line boats. It is still a magnificent place despite all the abuse!
Trips: Lake Manapouri 4/5 June
Last weekend Simon Marwick, Paula and Rouri MacFarlane and myself kayaked from Manapouri township to Shallow Bay for lunch at the hut there. The lake was flat calm and it was overcast with the odd bout of sunshine though cool. >From there we kayaked to Holmwood Island and then on to Hope Arm arriving just on dark. We camped there in pleasant conditions and Simon managed to light a fire much to the scepticism of myself. Next day we kayaked on to Stockyard Cove and walked through to the west side on the track. Then we made our way slowly back to Manapouri. I have my folding kayak which went well though I discovered I needed to do more customising on it.
Kayak trip from Lake McKerrow to Doubtful Sound.
By Max Grant
On the first day, Ian Algie, Bob Wishart & myself, launched our sea kayaks into the Hollyford River and kayaked to the Lake McKerrow Island hut. We portaged a grade 4 rapid, saw deer from the river and had a very enjoyable trip in cold conditions. It rained heavily that night, causing the Hollyfod to rise over a metre.
The second day saw us paddle across Lake McKerrow to the Martins Bay hut. Good conditions and encountered a pod of 12 dolphins early in the day. The trip down the Holyford River and across Lake McKerrow has some of the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen in New Zealand. Were hit by an earthquake that night while in the hut.
The sea was very rough on the third day - I tried to get out through the surf but received a thorough pounding by some fierce waves, had to roll and eventually made it back to shore with no intention of trying it again that day. So we paddled up river and swamp to the other end of Martins Bay where we made camp for the night. Found the site where the McKenzie homestead was.
Fourth day saw a flat sea and an early start. Stopped in Anita Bay, off Milford Sound, for lunch and continued to Poison Bay. Found a good camping spot at the end of the Bay. A big day's paddle but were worried about an expected southerly which was forecast for day six.
Fifth day was another big day which saw us reaching Caswell Sound. Also received good news from one of the fishermen we met on the way who told us that the NW'erlys would stay with us for the next day before the weather deteriorated. This news was confirmed by our mountain radio report that night. Kayaked 62 kms this day - I was exhausted.
On day six we encountered strong NW winds which virtually pushed us down the coast and into Thompson Sound. We carried on to Gut Hut on Secretary Island where we stayed the night. No sooner got ashore and Willy the Weka came bounding up to me. I'm sure he recognised me from our previous visit. It was the same out hut but without the boat shed and ramp, but it still had the shower and was a welcome luxury, even if it was a bit cold.
The last day was completely calm. Enjoyed the spectacle of Doubtful Sound and it's shear cliffs during our paddle to Deep Cove, where we were met by Reg Calder. Reg and Jo transported us over Wilmont Pass and Lake Manapouri to Manapouri township, where we enjoyed a celibrationary feed at the local pub, back in civilisation again.
Drove back to Gunn Camp the following day to pick up our car. Was good to talk for some time with Murray Gunn who seemed quite impressed by our trip.
The kayaks we used were; Ian - Plastic Penguin. Max - Plastic Tasman Express. Bob - Plastic Prijon Kodiak.
Safe kayaking
Stanley
10th June 2005
Dear Southland Sea Kayakers
I have organised a series of kayak rolling classes for the winter at Splash Palace. They are on the following dates
Sunday 26 June 4.30 - 6.30 PM
Sunday 10 July 4.30 - 6.30 PM
Sunday 24 July 4.30 - 6.30 PM
Sunday 7 August 4.30- 6.30 PM
Sunday 21 August 4.30 -6.30 PM
I will have the use hopefully of the Canoe Club kayaks for a start and then move rolling our sea kayaks. We will need several sea kayaks per session. They must be cleaned before each session and especially all sand and gravel removed from the cockpit. Please do this before you bring it to the pool. The cost is the usual entry fee plus about $5.00 to Stanley to pay for lane hire and Canoe Club hire. Please email me to register for this course.
Network Evening:
This is scheduled for Wednesday 22 June at 7.45 PM at H&J Outdoor World, 27 Tay St., Invercargill. There will be a DVD shown on the Kayak Roll as well as a talk on rolling techniques. This is an important session to understand before the pool sessions.
Network Trips:
I have two planned for the winter on the following dates weather dependent
Saturday/Sunday 16/17 July : Lake Te Anau
Kayak from Te Anau Downs up the Middle Fiord of Lake Te Anau to camp opposite Arran Island ( lovely camping spot) and from there to climb up Flecked Peak ( optional for those with excess energy to burn ). This is a nice easy paddle and a pleasant bush walk of 4,400 feet up hill ( great views).
Saturday/Sunday 13/14 August : Milford Sound
Kayaking weekend on Milford Sound. This is your chance to see it before the wonderful Gondola floods the place with overseas tourists. There are lots of possibilities from camping at Anita Bay to having a look at Stanley's Bivi Rock ( named in my honour of course ) to vying for sea room with the red line boats. It is still a magnificent place despite all the abuse!
Trips: Lake Manapouri 4/5 June
Last weekend Simon Marwick, Paula and Rouri MacFarlane and myself kayaked from Manapouri township to Shallow Bay for lunch at the hut there. The lake was flat calm and it was overcast with the odd bout of sunshine though cool. >From there we kayaked to Holmwood Island and then on to Hope Arm arriving just on dark. We camped there in pleasant conditions and Simon managed to light a fire much to the scepticism of myself. Next day we kayaked on to Stockyard Cove and walked through to the west side on the track. Then we made our way slowly back to Manapouri. I have my folding kayak which went well though I discovered I needed to do more customising on it.
Kayak trip from Lake McKerrow to Doubtful Sound.
By Max Grant
On the first day, Ian Algie, Bob Wishart & myself, launched our sea kayaks into the Hollyford River and kayaked to the Lake McKerrow Island hut. We portaged a grade 4 rapid, saw deer from the river and had a very enjoyable trip in cold conditions. It rained heavily that night, causing the Hollyfod to rise over a metre.
The second day saw us paddle across Lake McKerrow to the Martins Bay hut. Good conditions and encountered a pod of 12 dolphins early in the day. The trip down the Holyford River and across Lake McKerrow has some of the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen in New Zealand. Were hit by an earthquake that night while in the hut.
The sea was very rough on the third day - I tried to get out through the surf but received a thorough pounding by some fierce waves, had to roll and eventually made it back to shore with no intention of trying it again that day. So we paddled up river and swamp to the other end of Martins Bay where we made camp for the night. Found the site where the McKenzie homestead was.
Fourth day saw a flat sea and an early start. Stopped in Anita Bay, off Milford Sound, for lunch and continued to Poison Bay. Found a good camping spot at the end of the Bay. A big day's paddle but were worried about an expected southerly which was forecast for day six.
Fifth day was another big day which saw us reaching Caswell Sound. Also received good news from one of the fishermen we met on the way who told us that the NW'erlys would stay with us for the next day before the weather deteriorated. This news was confirmed by our mountain radio report that night. Kayaked 62 kms this day - I was exhausted.
On day six we encountered strong NW winds which virtually pushed us down the coast and into Thompson Sound. We carried on to Gut Hut on Secretary Island where we stayed the night. No sooner got ashore and Willy the Weka came bounding up to me. I'm sure he recognised me from our previous visit. It was the same out hut but without the boat shed and ramp, but it still had the shower and was a welcome luxury, even if it was a bit cold.
The last day was completely calm. Enjoyed the spectacle of Doubtful Sound and it's shear cliffs during our paddle to Deep Cove, where we were met by Reg Calder. Reg and Jo transported us over Wilmont Pass and Lake Manapouri to Manapouri township, where we enjoyed a celibrationary feed at the local pub, back in civilisation again.
Drove back to Gunn Camp the following day to pick up our car. Was good to talk for some time with Murray Gunn who seemed quite impressed by our trip.
The kayaks we used were; Ian - Plastic Penguin. Max - Plastic Tasman Express. Bob - Plastic Prijon Kodiak.
Safe kayaking
Stanley