Sweet As!!!!

Ok not really Auckland. I'm camped in my van at Karekare again. I thought it somehow fitting that my last night in the van should be the same place that I spent my first night. Besides it pretty here.

The last week I spent doing mostly nothing in Rotorua with Erin, Leslie and Jack. I hadn't planned on being there so long. I was supposed to be selling the van and heading to Whangarei to get the boat ready.

But, well Erin said there was a release on the Tongariro this weekend. It’s pretty rare for them to release this river. I only stayed and paddled the Saturday release, which was the easier of the 2 releases... really couldn't stay for Sunday. The access 10 run of the Tongariro for those that want to know is a lot like Middle Tellico at 3', but maybe some more eddies and pools in between rapids. Good, easy, fun. I was happy I managed to borrow an EZ and got to finally paddle in a boat I know.

The real reason I spent the week in Rotorua though was because Erin asked me and my van to help him move his office on Friday. How could I say NO? Erin had invited me into his house, lent me camping equipment, found me paddling gear to use and even took me kayaking. I owed Erin a lot; it was the least I could do. And to be honest I didn’t realize until tonight how responsible Erin was for how much fun I’ve had in NZ.

So this reflection started with me thinking about that my 7 weeks in NZ. All the people I had met, and friends I had made. I’m going to ramble here and go in many directions.

I realized that I met some really good people in NZ. I was amazed at how nice and hospital everyone is. Almost everyone I met or talked to, the first words out of their mouth, were “where are you staying,” “do you want to stay here.” I spent a week with Erin the first time through Rotorua, 3 days with Katherine, a night at Heather’s place… (She even put up Wilson), and Andy who Erin introduced me to offered to let me stay at his place. And he lent me paddling gear. Shoot, Andy’s sister offered me a room with her family in Ashburton. Even the bartenders in Te Anau drove me to my van so I wouldn’t have to walk.

I then realized that many of the people I met, I met because Steiny gave me Erin’s email address. I wonder if he knew how much I paddled when I asked for his friend’s contact info in NZ. Anyway, thanks to Erin I was headed to Murchison to hit the mighty Buller. Here I met Arab, Leann, Jillian, Dave, and Heather. Thanks to the boat on my car, I had the opportunity to try and kayak in Milford sound with Blake and Eve, didn’t happen but good people. Back up in Queen Charlotte sound, Heather from Murchison put Wilson and I up for a night. She also found us another boat and paddling gear so we could head back to Murchison for some last few days of whitewater. This trip we met more cool people… the talking tents, Dave, Angus, and John (who took us down the Lower Matakitaki).
I can honestly say, I’ve been very lucky with the people and friends I’ve made. I couldn’t ask for friendlier or better people.

Ok, enough of the butterfly theory, let’s just says NZ has been good to me.

The other think I did in Rotorua… well I shaved my head, just a #3 blade. Figured that would be good for 3 months on a sailboat.
I went to a traditional Maori village, where they do the traditional songs, dancing, and serve you a traditional Hagi meal… as far as meal think traditional Hawaiian type meal.
The dancing was really cool. I’m thoroughly impressed by the way they can make their eyes go real white, and the tongues and all the yelling. I finally saw a traditional Haka. It’s the intimidation song/dance that the All Blacks (Kiwi National Rugby team) do before each match. It is very intimidating. It’s an old Maori war cry/challenge.
Oh yeah, the other thing that was cool was the bus driver to the village. He was proceeding to explain the Maori saying of Kia Ora (Welcome) in like 54 different languages (well he claimed 54, but it was a lot)

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