Waituna Lagoon
Waituna lagoon western end. New country for me.
Big skies, low landscape, sky reflected in the water. Bluff hill and Stewart Island in the distance.
I poked about the reeds at the shoreline for something to look at. Found some potential duck shooters preparing their hides for tomorrow. One old guy has been on every opening day for the last 54 yrs!!! Said they used to catch eels 5-6 inches in diameter and you had to get to the shot ducks first, before there would be a swirl and there went an eel's dinner. They had watched the lagoon outlet close over 3 weeks ago with the waves.
Banks of compressed peat with thick dense manuka scrub above.
Landed on the beach between the lagoon and the sea. brilliant views. Dog Island lighthouse shining in the sun against the dark background of the east side of Stewart Island. Ruapuki Island clear. Sat behind a pebble bank out of the cool breeze for lunch. Can of tuna and hot soup. Yum.
Time to head back straight across the lagoon but I had no idea where I had left the car!! Pottered further east and startled another duck shooter as I glided up beside him in the reeds with the sun behind me. He warned me of the resident sea lion that is very aggressive, "...don't know what you
would do in your kayak. You couldnt out paddle it..." It, and others have been blamed for the dirth of trout in the lagoon. Fortunately he managed to tell me where to head - straight into the sun.
I suddenly hit dead water and soon saw a shag coming towards me at an incredible speed against the breeze. So I stopped and discovered a beastly current. Where from and where to? So much for the breeze assisted cruise back. Apparently there is a creek that empties into the lagoon and I had paddled past it earlier without knowing it was there.
Got back to the car ok to discover a guy in a rather flustered state. He had attempted to wheel his trailer down to the water but it had got away on him. I thought he had parked it in the bracken very nicely!!
Home via town to drop off a print and a slide film. Cant wait to see them.
B
Big skies, low landscape, sky reflected in the water. Bluff hill and Stewart Island in the distance.
I poked about the reeds at the shoreline for something to look at. Found some potential duck shooters preparing their hides for tomorrow. One old guy has been on every opening day for the last 54 yrs!!! Said they used to catch eels 5-6 inches in diameter and you had to get to the shot ducks first, before there would be a swirl and there went an eel's dinner. They had watched the lagoon outlet close over 3 weeks ago with the waves.
Banks of compressed peat with thick dense manuka scrub above.
Landed on the beach between the lagoon and the sea. brilliant views. Dog Island lighthouse shining in the sun against the dark background of the east side of Stewart Island. Ruapuki Island clear. Sat behind a pebble bank out of the cool breeze for lunch. Can of tuna and hot soup. Yum.
Time to head back straight across the lagoon but I had no idea where I had left the car!! Pottered further east and startled another duck shooter as I glided up beside him in the reeds with the sun behind me. He warned me of the resident sea lion that is very aggressive, "...don't know what you
would do in your kayak. You couldnt out paddle it..." It, and others have been blamed for the dirth of trout in the lagoon. Fortunately he managed to tell me where to head - straight into the sun.
I suddenly hit dead water and soon saw a shag coming towards me at an incredible speed against the breeze. So I stopped and discovered a beastly current. Where from and where to? So much for the breeze assisted cruise back. Apparently there is a creek that empties into the lagoon and I had paddled past it earlier without knowing it was there.
Got back to the car ok to discover a guy in a rather flustered state. He had attempted to wheel his trailer down to the water but it had got away on him. I thought he had parked it in the bracken very nicely!!
Home via town to drop off a print and a slide film. Cant wait to see them.
B