27th Dec. Buller source the first day. I hadn't realised there were two campsites on Lake Rotoiti. Consequently we paddled the whole length of the source of the source of the Buller into the wind. But hey, we got warmed up. The river itself was low fast and rocky. It was a good introduction and honed some technical skills which we used later on. No drama - like last year when we paddled it and lost one boat and two paddles.
28th Dec. We arrived in Murchison the same night and set up camp. The next morning Rham (excuse spelling) possibly the first Nepalese paddler in the country joined our team and we paddled Doctor's Creek section on the Buller followed by the Upper Matakitaki. Doctor's Creek had some excellent wave trains which we stopped on until we were too tired. Matakitaki was low but still interesting. The play hole was getting sticky.
Richard and Duncan left the group to do a two day Kayak rescue course with Mick Hopkinson. Mick is an aging Yorkshireman. He is probably the biggest name in NZ Kayaking having been paddling for so long and listing first descents on the Duncosie River in Nepal as just one of many legendary feats. Having four of sixteen fibreglass boats remaining intact after the descent may give you an idea of the size of this achievement.
29th Dec. Meanwhile - we added Kenji from Tokyo and John from Manchester to enhance our eclecticism and took on the Earthquake section of the Buller. This section is renowned for mighty big water and the Gunslinger rapid. We all got down with style. The big water is freaky if you're not used to it but even our less experienced paddlers got buzzed from ear to ear.
30th Dec. The Glenroy River. MAGIC. There are two difficult rapids on this honey pot of a river which Graham Charles' Guide book (the new Bible of NZ Rivers) will affirm. Kenji and I experimented with our lines on the upper rapid but got down OK. Dean and Luke portaged.
I went down the second bigger drop without even stopping. I think I may have forgotten where it was. At that flow, it wasn't too bad - at a higher one I would have been caned like a toad on the road. Kenji came down after some deliberation, took an endo and rolled but cleared out of the recirc with some grunting. He whooped for joy. We all were very happy.
We moved onto the Upper Matakitaki and kicked its butt but hard. It was low but the wave trains were good and the play hole was at its stickiest. Kenji popped the lid after getting bubbled around for a while. Some others helped pick him out. He was fine but wanted a little time before getting backdecked down to his boat - "Kenji no swim". Ah huh! Dean took a turn and got spit roasted for a while before rolling out.
31st Dec. Off to do the Glenroy for a second time. By now Duncan and Richard had rejoined us. To this group were added Dave Alderton (another towering Kupe paddler of awesome strength and ability - and very liberal minded about soccer etiquette), Pete and Kirsten (Rescue Coursers and outdoors people both) and Ceri. Bernie dipped out due to an illness which turned out to be a virus but not Hepatitis. Dean paddled the upper rapid upside down but manged to kick shit out of some hefty boulders on the way.
The bigger drop made for spectacular viewing. Dave came down, looped, got recirculated back into the guts, popped around, then came loose and scampered down the rocks that followed. Pete and Richard had similar fun but the most entertainment for those sick enough to like watching someone get trashed (like me) was provided by Duncan. Duncan sached out of the eddy, misjudged the flow, tried to scramble back into the eddy - too late. The current had him.
Backwards went he down the true right side,We had a late lunch then Dave, Duncan, Luke, another friend of Dave's and I zipped off to the Lower Matakitaki. We clean-bowled this quite grunty section at high flow and then scooted back to camp. It was late afternoon by the time we packed up and headed off to Owen River pub where New Year goes off like blue cheese in the sun.
Where the rocks do munch not guide,
Glanced a rock but rolled just
In time to save his hide.
Again went he against a rock till his nose was on the bottom.
To Duncan's arse the rock seem'd like old misbehaving Soddom.
A while in air was Duncan and uncomfortable extreme
Till flow and grit caught up with him and dropped him into stream.
The Glenroy was the second most enjoyable paddle of the trip for me. The Lower Whataroa was the first, but that comes later. And someone else can take the story from here.
Mark
Click here for the second part of the Buller trip report by Luke.