Springing Into Action (sorry!)
Springtime has arrived! Today, is the 1st September and that means the season of fresh growth and new beginnings is here. As I sit, looking out of my office window, the sun is shining, daffs’ cheery faces are beaming, blossom is blooming and the birds are singing. (Well, I presume they are as all I can actually hear is traffic and The Jets on the radio!)
The last couple of weeks have been unseasonably mild. Luckily, we missed the coldest and rainiest spell whilst being away for a month seeing family and friends. Anyway, last Saturday was a stunning day as there was just a light wind and the sun was shining. It was one of those days to be out in the great outdoors. In my case running in the Port Hills and paddling on the estuary.
Running up the Rapaki Track to Mt Vernon was my first hill run for a few months so a minutes’ breather at the top was required! Pausing to look down at Christchurch, the shimmering estuary and the snowcapped Southern Alps in the distance, I felt lucky to be living in Christchurch. There can’t be too many places that have what we have on our doorstep!
Running back down to the car park I was looking forward to my paddle on the estuary. It was the first time I had been out there. Normally, I paddle on the Avon’s millpond surface or on the ‘moving water’ of the Waimakiriri. However, the Waimak, due to the heavy rain in its headwaters, had been in flood during the week and was still running high at 300-400 cumecs at the weekend. In fact, I read in the paper that some kayaking wally had already been washed out to sea from the Waimak’s mouth (he survived). I didn’t want to make the headlines either so the estuary it was! I really enjoyed my paddle on the estuary and felt that my kayak (a Barracuda Beachcomber) was in its element and so it should be …it is a sea kayak! The only downside was that I had to hose down the kayak and rinse out my PFD, once I got home. Not because I had a ‘swim’ but because I want my equipment to last. Salt water and all that…
I hope next weekend’s weather is just as good!
The last couple of weeks have been unseasonably mild. Luckily, we missed the coldest and rainiest spell whilst being away for a month seeing family and friends. Anyway, last Saturday was a stunning day as there was just a light wind and the sun was shining. It was one of those days to be out in the great outdoors. In my case running in the Port Hills and paddling on the estuary.
Running up the Rapaki Track to Mt Vernon was my first hill run for a few months so a minutes’ breather at the top was required! Pausing to look down at Christchurch, the shimmering estuary and the snowcapped Southern Alps in the distance, I felt lucky to be living in Christchurch. There can’t be too many places that have what we have on our doorstep!
Running back down to the car park I was looking forward to my paddle on the estuary. It was the first time I had been out there. Normally, I paddle on the Avon’s millpond surface or on the ‘moving water’ of the Waimakiriri. However, the Waimak, due to the heavy rain in its headwaters, had been in flood during the week and was still running high at 300-400 cumecs at the weekend. In fact, I read in the paper that some kayaking wally had already been washed out to sea from the Waimak’s mouth (he survived). I didn’t want to make the headlines either so the estuary it was! I really enjoyed my paddle on the estuary and felt that my kayak (a Barracuda Beachcomber) was in its element and so it should be …it is a sea kayak! The only downside was that I had to hose down the kayak and rinse out my PFD, once I got home. Not because I had a ‘swim’ but because I want my equipment to last. Salt water and all that…
I hope next weekend’s weather is just as good!
posted by pandc at
2.9.09
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