Tramp Reflections 841 - Canoeing the Whanganui River

19 - 23 March 2010

Members in the canoeing group were Kevin Bailey (leader), Clare Summers & Don Stover, Sheila & Nick Toppin, John Spencer, David Chen and Siew Ling Ong.

"Paddle, paddle, don't change, faster, dig deep, whoaaa! Stop!" - that was my first day's introduction to the start of what I considered my epic canoeing trip, starting at Cherry Grove, Taumaranui, over 199 rapids and ending at Pipiriki after 145.5 kms of paddling. The following synopsis is a collection of my memories of the trip:

Friday 19th : Ohinepane camp site

* Afternoon break at Lauren's lavender farm

* Dinner with 2 wines (Kevin's)

* First night trying to sleep was pure agony; every bone in my upper torso and hands were aching so much that the only way to avoid further pain was to try sleeping without any movement. We all know how difficult that is! I avoided the box of panadol I brought.

Saturday 20th : Whakahoro school house & camp site

* Lunch at Ohura falls

* 500 m trek from landing to accommodation (killer distance when carrying barrels! This was when I wanted porter service!)

* Afternoon coffee/scones/Guiness at Blue Duck cafe

* At the cafe, Sheila & I took turns to massage each other to try and soothe our aching muscles. Clare shared her waka paddling techniques so that the paddling power was from the shoulder/upper torso to prevent further aggravation to our aching bodies/arms

Sunday 21st : John Coull hut & camp site

* 2 x canoes overturned - dumped Clare & Don, David & John

* Two friendly DOC volunteers who kept the hut clean and tidy

* Very clean eco toilets

* We camped while a group of Aucklanders stayed in the hut (Karate club on 3 day trip)

* Dinner with 2 wines (Siew Ling's)

Monday 22nd : Tieke Marae campsite

* Visited Bridge to Nowhere

* Sheila bumped out of her canoe; trying to get back into the canoe she dumped Nick out too!

* Marae well kept and clean - a serene spiritual site

* Leslie the weaver showed me some flax preparation tricks

* We camped while the group of Aucklanders stayed in the hut

* John would like to strangle the howling dog from Ramanui which kept us up in the night

* Possum going through the bag of rubbish had Kevin up in the early hours to chase it away

Tuesday 23rd : Last day

* It was the worst weather we had in our entire trip. Heavy rain in the morning and this got John singing in the rain

* Kevin & Siew Ling got "dumped"

* John & David's canoe got "swamped " assisting Kevin & Siew Ling

* Sheila & Nick got "dumped " by Autapu rapids

* The sight of the Blazing Paddle van waiting for us at Pipiriki at 1.30 pm was pure relief even though the trip was amazingly wonderful. Also amazingly by the fifth day, our bodies got used to paddling; Sheila & I did not feel any more pain in our bodies

I had a knowledgeable personal guide and I learnt heaps along the way - eg. million dollar cabbage, Paradise ducks, spur winged plovers - pesky birds that annoy the paradise ducks and punting holes along the banks. The Whanganui River scenery is truly beautiful, enchanting, pristine, peaceful yet at times eerily silent and mystical. I could feel the spirituality in it. I now feel the need to watch "River Queen".

One of the highlights of each day was gathering together in the evening to unwind and to review the day's events. The group was a good mix including David our constant laugher. Any awkwardness at the beginning soon disappeared and we got on well to make the trip a wonderful positive experience; especially for me - one who had never canoed before and the last camping was in 1975. On reflection, I could see why all the fuss I got from worried friends when I signed up for the trip - I had so many friends ringing on the night of 23rd to check that I am home safely unlike "Deliverance"! I thoroughly enjoyed it so much that I would consider more camping. This was such a major adventure for me that I have granted myself bragging rights!!! However, I promise not to overdo it. Will I do it again? Yes, a 3 day trip and my partner to be as skilful as Kevin because I can't keep the canoe straight and I am not a strong paddler. My grateful thanks to the group - Clare, Don, John, David, Sheila, Nick and last but not least Kevin - the "inner soul" man (whose left inner sole keeps coming out) - who helped make my journey so happy and positive.

Written by Siew Ling Ong

Photographs by Kevin Bailey (Canon PowerShot A530).