When leaving LAX I was pondering about the adventures to come, but unexpectedly didn't realize what a 12 hour flight felt like with anxiety and excitement flowing through my nervous system while sleeping uncomfortably next to a snoring man. Finally making it through customs and feeling the cool humid rainy air prepared for the upcoming adventures. First of all the van we picked up will be called the “White Snail”. Although it has made it across the Northern Island with the request of windows down always and along with the built-in dry rack for our stinky clothes. The van has made the group enjoy the beautiful scenery of New Zealand at top speeds of 70kph, which is not fast.
Alright, now we all understand the situation of the van. Let's get to the main attractions. The Kiwi Farm Show was incredibly funny and educational. I have never seen a heavier set man disappear and reappear riding a massive male cow on stage in the matter of no time. The show was one of a kind in a old smelly barn. The coffee bean bags hung up for wallpaper or maybe for the stage sound. There was four volunteers from our group who got to shear a sheep manually. I never get to see that everyday now do we mate.
The little village of Waitomo was the first hostel experience. The days flew by so fast its hard to remember everything. It’s a good thing I got my little explore journal (thanks Strohmer). Waitomo gave us the opportunity to boulder and rock climb in amazing rocking climbing spots like Wharepapa. I have never rock climb outside before but I have the scraps and bruise to remember it today. The struggle with bouldering on a rock face was a personal growth within itself. The idea of trusting your body to hold your body weight up on the tiniest little ledge to reach for the top was challenging for me. The support from others on the ground is beneficial and the feeling of reaching the top was unexplainable.
CAVING- Now I hope everyone has seen The Descent because I feel the only way to describe the experience is visually seeing it, but minus the scary creatures. We got to repel down into the black abyss and crawl around underneath the ledges of the cave wall. The caves had glow worms along the top of the cave walls. They would glow in the darkness of the abyss. They were like stars underneath the ground. The glow worms are larva maggots and would eat insects through their silk line. They glow brighter when they are hungry to attract the insects. Now couldn't it be nice to glow brighter when people got hungry, it would save a lot of low blood sugar folks.
The rafting trips have been blurred into one extraordinary trip, but we rafted many rivers and each one was worthwhile. The soreness of my shoulders can tell the stories. The first trip was with two guides and it was a quick trip. We were on and off the river in an 1 hour and 30 minutes. The boats seemed flat, but according to Blue and Scott they were "fine". The boat experience was not anything I have been on before. We surfed rocks and ran into everything on purpose. The native plants of New Zealand were on the right side of the river and Douglas firs on the left. The excitement of the trip came to me just as fast as it left. We were back in the White Snail before I could get dry.
The day trip in the chocolate milk flooded river was a strengthen experience. It was shallow waters and paddling constantly. I fell out of the boat on this trip, but swam right back into the boat as fast as I could.
The class 3 river rafting day trip was cold and most beautiful river I have ever seen. The techniques being used were needed at crucial situations. The moves and line-ups of the boat needed to be completed correctly. The boat flipping could be a dangerous situation for everyone because of the white water being extremely rocky and technical. The guides did a phenomenal job even with a scare of a boat being wedge against the whitewater and rocks.
The two-day rafting experience was amazing in every aspect from the blue-green clear water and the wonderful river smell I love so much. The canyon floating, forward, back, and J-stroke paddling can only be experience. The leadership created among Pauly's crew is unbelievable. They were willing to teach and give experiential learning. They were patient with the new learners and gave tips to the more experiences ones too. The kayakers falling out of their boats and having to wet exit is a heart racing experience for everyone. The feeling of falling into the white water rapids can't be explained, but the swimmer better be ready to swim and stay cool-headed under water. Adam said to tell a joke while you are under water to help stay calm. The secret campsite the guides only knew about was allergy central for most of us. Even with the snot running down everyone's noses we pulled through and enjoy the prefect hidden campsite. The next day rowing the gear boat was a different aspect on the river because it's completely opposite line ups. The ability to read the water with a heavy boat is hard work. The more miles put on the river will help my skills.
Now in the 100k/hr gust winds of Wellington waiting for the next adventure to beginning, which should be the Te Papa Museum. So until the next itchy scratchy sand flea bite. Cheers.
---Angie Caschera
Angie! I love the commentary! I feel like I was on the river with you...I makes me think of the rogue river and a trip i took down the green river in high school..the class 3's were crazy, right!?! feels like going over ocean waves! You have already done so much and the trip is not even half over..I love the pics and can't wait for you to come back and tell me more about your amazing adventure. Afte this going across the country in the bus will seem like a piece of cake (except dixie has requested that she join you, mostly because she wants to eat a texas hot and go to the corn palace in neb.)
ReplyDeleteI love you sis! Be careful skydiving, take lots of pics, and dont forget to meet a cute surfer!!