Otago Canoe and Kayak Club

Stories
Clarence Trip 2004
Trip - Day One

Saturday 4th Minus 1 Seventeen people converge in Hamner at "The House Next Door" Our group, consisting of Rod and Brian drive to Peel Forest to collect Bridget Jessop. Bridget is the professional raft guide for this trip. At her home we also load masses of food that fills every available space in the car and the paddles, oars, seat and frame which fit snugly on the roof rack. We stop off in Christchurch to collect the mountain radio that she has booked for the group. We reach Hamner late in the afternoon and meet up with the others - plenty of time for a relaxing swim at the hot pools.
The night is spent at "The House Next Door", just over the road from the hot pools. The evening is taken up with some housekeeping, sorting river needs and finalising, with Ben Judge and the drivers, the logistics of the car shuttle. Bridget sets up her raft and oar frame, to keep her guiding the raft, only getting assistance from the paddlers in the event of unfavourable winds or an extremely low flow. Medical conditions and aspects of group safety are discussed, this includes on an off the river activities. We talk in general terms regarding a typical day. For example Bridget's ideal is to be on the river by 8am and start looking for camp by 3pm. Some assistance to collect fire wood, digging the toilet, collecting drinking water and emptying the raft is also needed. Meanwhile, in an attempt to get them into Bolllywood, two of our drivers are trying to impress Pranjalili camera woman with their range of acting and dancing skill.

Monday 5th Day 1 Chuck and Carol practice their driving skills by driving in and out of the local garage, six times, with an equal mix of reverse and forward approach. A local waiting for the air hose is not amused until he is told that we really do have a problem with the wheel on the trailer.
An hour or so of driving from Hanmer over Jacks Pass takes us to the confluence of The Clarence and The Acheron. Everyone pitches in, finding places to carry gear. By midday we are on the river. In the red raft Adrienne, Ali, Jens, Mike and Ritzy. In the blue Alan, Bridget, Carol, Chuck and Pranjali Duncan in an RPM, Dusty in a sea kayak, Maggie in a Kendo and Tony in a sea kayak make up the splendid flotilla. Below left, looking up stream towards the confluence. Below right, At the put in, looking down the Clarence Click on each picture for a larger view.


On the right our wonderful blue raft guide Bridget readying the raft for its first day on the water.

Not long on the water, but it had been a long morning so lunch stop at 1:30 pm. We reach the first chute which is run on the right by the kayakers. From this vantage the kaykers see the blue raft turn sideways and stop on the rock in the middle of the chute. After some time and assistance from Jens and his group, the raft moves and completes the chute. Click here for details - problem solving on the water!

Big Eddy is reached by 8pm and we all pitch in to set up camp. It has been a long day and some of us are finding new muscles. Bridget serves delicious chicken curry and pudding.

Camp Craft rafting style The paddle is the key to the toilet. Take it with you along with the paper and trowel. The half bottle hanging from the tree has holes in it. Upon returning, put the liquid soap / sanatiser on your hands, use the string to dip the bottle in the bucket of water and rinse your hands above the ground.

The last of the sun casts a golden glow on Dillon Cone

Day One Clarence / Acheron to Big Eddy Day Two Big Eddy to Quail Flat Day Three Quail Flat to Figit Hut Day Four Figit Hut to Pot Garden Day Five Pot Garden to Matia Flat Day Six Matai Flat to Clarence River bridge Back to Clarence 2004 starting point

Last changed: 09/10/2000, 02:43:47