Off early and yet another wonderful drive – never been to any country where every day the scenery is so different and so beautiful. That was of course ‘til we stopped for a brew and our small black flying mates the sandflies made a comeback aaaahhhhhhhh!!!!! After a very brief coffee stop we trundled along towards Murchison. We noticed also that our chipping crack in the windscreen was getting longer – one to watch……The digs in Murchison stole the number one spot. Run by a couple from Somerset and just like home. Free cake, home cooking, super friendly and helpful. Just a small place but with a right mix of people. There was a young guy from Denver there and he walked into the dining area and announced he was going to make some bread and did anyone know what to do. We were sat chatting to a lovely couple from the UK and between us we sorted him out with his flour in one hand and yeast in the other. The bread making saga went on most of the evening and it was ready around 11pm when we were all instant guinea pigs – not bad was the consensus.
The couple we were talking to we nicknamed Mr & Mrs Speadsheet. They were like minded souls who had called it a day early and were previously pension software writers. Their whole retirement plan was dependant on what Mr Spreadsheet said (Mr Spread sheet was the actual spreadsheet they used and this was it’s name!) They put numbers in and got projections out, it was a most entertaining and enjoyable evening exchanging stories.
The next day we were awaiting confirmation as to whether there were enough numbers to get us out on a white water rafting trip!! Mrs D was not sure if it was a good idea or not…. The word came and we were, great stuff!! We left in a minibus with four other intrepid rafters. Two other Brits from London who were staying in a campervan Dave & Tracey, a German girl called Danni and a local Kiwi called Hamish. Our driver was Terry originally from Kent and our boat captain, steerer and guide was Marty a Kiwi from Westport.
What a mixed bunch, well you have us two oddities to start with then the Londoners on an annivesary holiday, Danni who had to come alone as her friend didn’t fancy it and Hamish who lived locally and went hunting and shot anything that moved deers, goats and possums!!!
Marty was good fun and filled us all with fear on the many commands we had to respond to as we were the engine and paddlers. The only thing in our favour was that the river was not as high as it could have been so the white water was not as fast or so he said…..
We all got changed into our rafting gear, trying to fight off the mass of sandflies who thought dinner had arrived big time as we hurriedly doffed off and changed into a team of rubbermen!!
Mrs D and I were put at the front allegedly to be the power oars, yeahh right!! The Londoners were behind us and the hunter and wee Danni were at the back with Marty behind them calling the shots and steering us through. So far so good? The worrying thing is the number of things you have to be told that will “probably not happen” like the boat turning over or falling out of the boat.
All geared up with rubber suits, life jackets, thermal vests and dinky rubber boots off we went down a lovely gentle river. Then came the rapids, tame according to Marty but not tame enough for him to keep hollering hang on and lean in!!! Mrs D kept copping for all the splash water at the front and we kept getting our rear paddle co-ordiination wrong but we got through.
We stopped on the point where two of the earths techtonic plates come together and the scene of NZs worst earthquake in 1964. The scars were still visible and the stories very interesting.
A few more bouncy rapids ensued then we had the option to get out of the boat and “body down” through a rapid. This involved floating down the rapids feet first and trying not swallow too much water. All but Tracey and Mrs D had a go and believe me – wise move – did I get some water down and catch my butt on a couple of rocks bouncing through……super.
More rapids and then the option to leap into the clear and I have to say warm waters of the Buller from an 18 metre rock. Seemed like a good idea from the boat but didn’t look too good from up on the rock particularly with Marty saying don’t jump to the right as it’s a bit rocky. Hamish the hunting machine went first – no problem straight in. Then Dave from a rock lower, then me from Hamish’s rock – it was a long way down and yet anoher lung full of water!! Good move by the girls staying in the boat and looking at us like we were stupid for clambering up the rocks.
After a few more rapids and then a steady run down we arrived at our BBQ lunch and end of the trip. Now I’m not sure who had the best BBQ us or the sandflies boy were they a pest today!!! Even Hamish couldn’t kill all these little tw**ts!! Lunch was woolfed down, we were speedily dried and redressed and a drive back to Murchison with Terry was undertaken. All in all a splendid outing apart from the SANDFLIES!!!!!
Back at the digs we cooked in tonight then sat and watched Billy Connolly in NZ on his trike. More people arrived, some on pushbikes others by car. Another enjoyable evening was had at the Lazy Cow and we did not want to leave as the next place had been briefed to us and we did not know what to expect. It was supposed to be a beach front eco-retreat, we will see.
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