Ali goes canyonning in wanaka

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After my busy day yesterday I was too tired to put, finger to keyboard to update. today, still feeling tired and slightly achey, sitting on Wanaka lake front with my tea and oj waiting for a full breakfast i feel calm and relaxed. 
The sun is shining from behind me and my table is half shade half sun. The lake infront of me is dark and mysterious it's calm, deep waters reflecting the surrounding hills and mountains as though they are really below the surface. To my right in a small marina yacths and powerboats clink gently as they bob on there moorings and The chatter from my follow customers, in a multitude of different languages, mingle with the piped music and click clack of skateboards on the street to give the whole that feeling of serenity and peace. 
A total contrast to the high energy of yesterday. My day canyonning, for the uninitiated that's walking to the top of a stream or river that descends through a canyon with swift running water, waterfalls, rapids and other features then getting to the bottom again within or as close to the water as you can, and hopefully in one piece.
This is done with a combination of jumping, climbing, abseiling sliding and swimming. And it was great. I was part of a group of 3 with a guide and it was honestly fantastic, after a short, and for me draining uphill struggle we entered the canyon by abseiling down a steep layered grey cliff into a crystal clear mountain stream pooling gently under a rock strewn descent, the water was freezing but after the walk up the hill side with the sun on your back in a wetsuit it was perfect. 
From this calm eddying pool we started down, a 20foot gushing, pounding, White water churning waterfall, the abseiling was not difficult and we were on a safety line but as you step out into the White water the sheer force is spectacular, like a Turkish massage muscles are pummelled by the gushing water before you descend enough to be in the spray and gentle, icy rain where rainbows surround you it the fine mist.
Over all we abseiled 7 waterfalls of different heigths but the best by far was coming down in the throbbing water to an overhang when a leap of faith was needed, still while you are standing in the White swirling pushing water, after you make it you swing through the torrent into a small cave, green moss glints on the Walls and the darkness is broken only by the light dimmed and altered after it's passage through the sheet of water small ferns grew in cracks in the rock and the sound of the cascading water was muffled by the cave. Glorious.  
After the abseiling came the sliding, sitting in the fast moving waters and being pushed along worn shining rock out into the abyss before falling into the blue pools below. These slides were done either feet first or head first and only complete faith in the guide could have given me the courage on some of them to know I wasn't leaping headfirst to certain doom. 
But for me the best is always the jumping, leaping from great height into churning White water, the fear of not knowing what is hidden below the surface, and the shock of that freezing water as it quickly surrounds you on entry the sound of water thundering, filling you ears and the gasp of release as you're thrust back above the surface and you realise you survived. The jumping was mixed with diving, in a helmet and even some sommersaults from high rock plinths. The highest jump was from about 25 feet out over a ledge and into a deep dark blue pool shaded by cliffs on either side. 
The return to base camp was by death slide over the canyon top but honestly after the rush of everything else it was a bit mundain. 
I was surprised by the trip including lunch, something I wouldn't have expected if the trip had been done in the UK. When we were finished and before we drove back to town we all sat under a tarp strung up between trees and ate cheese, salad and bread from a large flat boulder, all washed down with lashings and lashings of blackcurrent and raspberry juice diluted with fresh stream water, it was fantastic totally against any health and safety rules but here in this place and after that day honestly who cares! 
My evening was just as adventurous if a little less energetic, I went to the cinema and saw the girl with the dragon tatoo, the Swedish film with English subtitles was good, if a little graphic. But the cinema was a gem, arriving about an hour before the performance I planned to eat in the reccomended cafe before the film but as the time and the glasses of wine clicked by, my food still haddn't arrived and I was worried that I'd either have to bolt my food or miss the beginning of the film, but when it did arrive I was told that all I needed to do was grab a tray and I could take it in with me, which I did. The cinema is made up of terraces of 2/3 seated sofas and the front end of a Morris minor for that true drive in experience. The customers lounged relaxed In to the chairs and I sat with my shoes off and my feet tucked up underneath me with my lasagne on my tray and a glass of Pinot noir with an australian harley rider in the front row. I have to admit that after my day a couple of drinks and a good meal I may have dropped of for a little while but it felt so much like being in your own living room that I don't think anyone minded. 
Well my breakfast was fantastic, bacon that actually tasted of something and dark brown rye toast and I've been sat here for an hour and a half just watching and listening to the world.          

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Comments

[Jane]

Brave or what!
Ali, this makes me feel breathless just to read it. What a fantastic adventure! The only thing missing from your descrition is how you managed to keep the box of Cadbury's Milk Tray dry in order to calmly produce it at the end of the journey. Love J