50. Motukawanui – Mahinepua (CC5) – Paihia

Saturday, March 30: Rather cloudy with 20 knot easterly winds on the water, a drop of rain, and a few showers in the afternoon

Kayaking: 10.8 km

Jarrad’s

Wake up call for everyone was 7:30 and our breakfast was rather simple this morning: Muesli with the fruit salad thrown in and milk. Everything had to be packed in again, and the hut swept out as best as possible.

Because it might rain or otherwise be wet on the water we were advised to put on the dry tops, and I had all of the electronics under deck. The bay we were about to cross looked calm enough, but the problem was going to be the combination of high swell from the north with wind from behind us. Once out of the sheltered bay we were in the thick of it and Magnus directed us to stay together and aim for the point almost directly west, where we would then take a left hand turn.

It was a bit of a battle and we were all sweating away in our dry tops by the time we had reached the point. There the left turn was indeed quite sheltered and we chose a rather steep beach for a morning tea break. My dry top then went into the cockpit for the rest of the trip.

The final stretch was quite variable. After a rather easy section the swell and the wind returned – both somewhat stronger with the swell reaching about 1.5 m and the wind perhaps its promised 20 knots. Quite a battle to get through the waves to a rocky outcrop and somewhat further along where we turned to the left and rode the waves in as best we could. I got one really good ride leaving the others to wonder where I had gotten to, but was beginning to tire a little and didn’t put in much effort. Then it was flat and calm again and we entered the estuary and parked the boats at the back of the beach.

Interactive Map

Now the great unpacking. Everything was stripped out of and off the boats and sorted, the boats loaded onto the trailer and the duffle bags and tubs (with the wet gear) into the back of the van. Time for one last lunch: Bread of various provenance, spread, salads (lettuce, tomato, cabbage) sliced as they were with salami and cheese. I spoke to Edgar about the sense of teaching people the lower brace to save themselves from falling over. In my opinion it didn’t make any sense because it had to be deployed before you realised what was going on. You can’t say to someone, “Lower brace!” and they say, “Yeah, what’s that? Lemme see, oh, yeah,” because by that time they’d be in the middle of a wet exit. Edgar agreed somewhat and said the worst thing was that people stopped paddling in a difficult situation and that caused then to fall over, which I could only agree with. In any case I had had no need of any bracing and I kept paddling and didn’t go for a swim.

On the drive back we came to a point where Motukawanui and some of the other Cavallis could be seen, as well as Mataura Beach which was a lovely long surf beach with smoothly breaking waves. Will have to check it out.

Edgar had been wondering out loud whether to see a doctor about the toe that he had taken the nail off before the trip and which was still inflamed, but none of the clinics in Paihia were open on a Saturday, only in Kawakawa.

In the course of time we arrived in Paihia, first at the Anchorage to let off Edgar and Delcie. They unpacked their stuff while we waited, which was followed by handshakes and hugs. Then up to my place, which the two were quite impressed with, and I unpacked everything as well. Noticed, however, that the closure on the sunscreen very easily pops open and had already distributed itself on a couple of other items. Anyhow, end of a great adventure.

Surprised Jarrad who was snoozing in front of his telly, then dragged all my stuff upstairs, opened the suitcase, found one last suite of clean clothes, collected stuff for a shave and a shower, went down and did so and got into the clean stuff.

Jarrad offered to take me shopping which saved quite a bit of time, then it was data-crunching – first all the tracks which were intact, then the pictures. With all the data saved it was time for dinner – I was aiming for pizza and an ice cream. On the way into town came across Edgar and Delcie, had a brief look at what was probably the only genuine pizza place in town (Ruffino’s) but it looked like it was virtually closed down (loss of a close friend, tangi, not all menu items available) and there was a similar story at Cellini’s (closing down) which have quite a good hokey-pokey, so I was left with Saltwater Lodge for a Farmer’s Delight pizza (chicken and bacon) for $23 and a handle of Speights Old Dark for $7. Was not optimal. Decided to head for home because of impending rain, rather than join my fellow paddlers for a coffee at the waterfront.

Am tired, fulfilled, but still wondering how to get a true sunset series done with rawopint.

Where	When
Leave Motukawanui	9:10
Morning tea	10:15-10:50
Arrive Mahinepua	12:00