Re: [Paddlewise] Freya Hoffmeister - NZ

Hi Melissa, "Hi and thanks", from Freya.

After she had a few days off while waiting for swells to decrease we took
Freya out at dawn on Sunday, back to the place she had landed on Thursday.

The surf had decreased but was still dumping on the steep shingle beach with
the larger sets over two metres, easily enough to smash boats and bodies.

We watched the surf for a while and Freya finally decided to launch with our
help. After a bit of a battle with the surge we launched her into a low surf
which she got through, with one high brace after being knocked half-over.

She lost her speed in the set and the next wave was one of the biggest of
the morning.

I have no idea how she managed to get through it. Her kayak stood on end and
the wave collapsed on top of her. Martin and I sprinted away from the area,
expecting her smashed kayak to be flung out on top of us. After the carnage
cleared she rose from the spray and calmly paddled away, stopping to give us
a wave before continuing south.

We were left shaking and gob-smacked, while some watching fishermen were
still clapping.

She made good progress and was met further south by another friend who
camped with her before helping her launch again.

Last night I had a call from her, sitting in "A meadow in the middle of
nowhere", as she put it. Another long day, she is in good spirits and making
good progress.

She asked how big the surf was when she left, as she had her head down. She
said it took her an hour to lose the adrenaline feeling from her legs!

Paul Caffyn is going to meet her for a few days, but the forecast is for
gales, so her paddling may come to a halt again for a while.

Cheers

JKA


-- 
John Kirk-Anderson
Banks Peninsula
NEW ZEALAND


on 9/11/07 09:35, Melissa Reese at melissa_at_bonnyweeboaty.net wrote:

> Hi John,
> 
> On Thursday, November 08, 2007, at 11:56:36 AM PST, you wrote:
> 
>> I've currently got Freya Hoffmeister, the "Lady in Black", in my
>> lounge, writing her blog while she waits out a big swell before
>> continuing on her attempt to circumnavigate New Zealand's South
>> Island.
> 
> Freya is my hero! :-)  Please convey to her my best wishes for the
> happy continuation of her journey!
> 
> In addition to admiring her adventures like this one, I've always been
> a great fan of her art with regards to her G-style and gymnastics
> inspired kayak handling/playing.
> 
> Lucky you, to have her "captive" for a day or two! :-)
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