Day 396: Whanganui Journey (2)

Highlight:

With a relativity short day of travel (5 hours) compared with the 10-12hr I had done in the days previous. We arrived at our destination before 4pm. It was hot once we moved off the water, and the camp site had little shade. After a swim, I pitched my tent, omitting the inner and had space of 2P + in the cool shade. Cheese crackers, book reading and a nap was enjoyed.

Challenge:

One destination stop was had today. The bridge to nowhere. Charlie hadn't been before, and Kerstie and Roger were keen to see it again. Once you park up your boat it's a couple of km down the track. My feet were still in recovery mode, and I opted to sit this one out and read in the shade.

It was interesting watching the others on the river negotiate the landing spot. As you can see it's a popular spot and with 2 anchoring pegs, many arrive back from the track to question what boat and rope is theirs.

As we untied there was group we had meet at the hut yesterday trying to tie up. The group was 16 big, 10 pre-teen kids, 6 parents, 8 canoes and at least twice as many barrels. A couple of their boats struggled a bit, first attempting to park their canoes in the loading zone (set aside for the jet boats), and then maneuver into the canoe area against the flow of the river.

There was less rapids today, and as the wind picked up this afternoon the paddling became more important. We where happy to arrive at Tīeke Kāinga and set camp.

Learning:

The information sign at the lading read of the Whanganui river gaining in strength and spirit as it joined with other rivers and streams. Studying my maps I had seen that, Whanganui River starts at the summit of mount Tongariro, and is soon joined by:

• Mangatepopo Stream,
• Whakapapa River,
• Ongarue River,
• Rētāruke River,
• Whangmomona River

Summary: