Last Sunday we set our clocks an hour back to get some more light in the mornings.It happens every year and indicates an end to summer. It was a wonderful summer with lots of paddling for many.Thanks to *El Nino*day temperatures of 26 to 30 C.Water temp. around 20 C.Even the winds ,which usually vary between 5 and 35 knots were more often than not in the lower ranges. Many reason are given for undertaking trips.Location,scenic and geological aspecs etc. How about a trip of beautiful place names. Here in Auckland we normally take off on the WAITEMATA( as smooth as obsidian) Harbour A good beach to take off from is KOHIMARAMARA(Search for enlightenment)What better reason to paddle.We travel north, across the Rangitoto channel 5km. to RANGOTOTO IS.(Rangi meaning SKY and toto Blood).Rangitoto is a vulcano(sleeping)covered with vulcanic Rock.Overgrown with mainly Puhutukawa trees.We go round in anticlockwise direction traveling East.To our right(about 3 k away) we see Motukorea Is. Anoter vulcano ( There are 48 of them sleeping in and around Auckland)But we plod on another 6 k and we round MOTUTAPU (sacred island) About halfway is a campsite with goodwater toilets aat a lovely swimming beach for those who find 16 k enough a good place to pitch a tent for the night.Others can go on throught the RAKINO channel at the bottom end of Rakino Island.Looking North from the channel one can see TIRITIRI MATANGI (the first part meaning a twig .the second:The warm noth-east breeze).The 3 k wide channel between the mainland and this island is called the WHANGAPARAOA Channel.A campside on the mainland caters for those going North. But we are just on a day trip and follow the coast line of Motutpau and later Ragitoto islands (these are conected but there is a gap wide enough for a kayak at high tide) From the we shoot across to the mainland to TAKAPUNA( the people who drank at the spring)a lovely but popular beach for a cup of tea. From there another 10 k to the south and we are back from where we started.The cliff tops are covered with Pohutukawa's their red blooms give the coastline a crimson look.Real Christmas look ,that is always the time that they are in blossom. Finaly back at the Kohimaramara About 36 k.just enough to come home tired. Why do I tell you this.Partly because of the beautiful romantic Maori names.The glorious trips ,but also because when we looked towards TIRITIRI island we saw the New Zealand Amerca's Cup Yachts,practising , checking sails and boatspeeds.Because in the year 2000,the big race for the Amerca's Cup will take place in the area I just described.Seafarers will be full of it. There are 16 entree's already and if any of you are interested, the following websides will keep you up to date, www.americascup2000.org.nz and www.teamnz.org.nz Kia Ora ( Good Health) Eddie. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Mar 17 1998 - 02:00:41 PST
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