![\"Trailer](\"https:\/\/leetraynor.com\/blog.multi\/kiwi7\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/11\/Trailer-with-boats-loaded.png\")
<\/a>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.<\/p>\n
The final stretch was quite variable. After a rather easy section the swell and the wind returned \u2013 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
OpenStreetMap<\/h5>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/leetraynor.com\/blog.multi\/kiwi7\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/0330-Motukawanui-Mahinepua-CC5_00-1284x720.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBack to base. GPS quality: 30\/30, coverage: 100%<\/p>\n
Buy Motukawanui to Mahinepua GPS: \u20ac1<\/a><\/li>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\u2019t make any sense because it had to be deployed before you realised what was going on. You can\u2019t say to someone, \u201cLower brace!\u201d and they say, \u201cYeah, what\u2019s that? Lemme see, oh, yeah,\u201d because by that time they\u2019d 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\u2019t go for a swim.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Jarrad offered to take me shopping which saved quite a bit of time, then it was data-crunching \u2013 first all the tracks which were intact, then the pictures. With all the data saved it was time for dinner \u2013 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\u2019s) 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\u2019s (closing down) which have quite a good hokey-pokey, so I was left with Saltwater Lodge for a Farmer\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Am tired, fulfilled, but still wondering how to get a true sunset series done with rawopint.<\/p>\n
\n\nWhere<\/td>\n When<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nLeave Motukawanui<\/td>\n 9:10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nMorning tea<\/td>\n 10:15-10:50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nArrive Mahinepua<\/td>\n 12:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n
<\/a>Back to base. GPS quality: 30\/30, coverage: 100%<\/p>\n
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\u2019t make any sense because it had to be deployed before you realised what was going on. You can\u2019t say to someone, \u201cLower brace!\u201d and they say, \u201cYeah, what\u2019s that? Lemme see, oh, yeah,\u201d because by that time they\u2019d 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\u2019t go for a swim.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Jarrad offered to take me shopping which saved quite a bit of time, then it was data-crunching \u2013 first all the tracks which were intact, then the pictures. With all the data saved it was time for dinner \u2013 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\u2019s) 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\u2019s (closing down) which have quite a good hokey-pokey, so I was left with Saltwater Lodge for a Farmer\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Am tired, fulfilled, but still wondering how to get a true sunset series done with rawopint.<\/p>\n
| Where<\/td>\n | When<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Leave Motukawanui<\/td>\n | 9:10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Morning tea<\/td>\n | 10:15-10:50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Arrive Mahinepua<\/td>\n | 12:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n |