Hi everyone,

Wow!! We had the best weekend ever, very fitting for the 150th Marlborough Anniversary Weekend. Saturday saw us in Nelson, browsing the culinary delicacies of the market – cumin and walnut cheeses, red onion and pumpernickle bread, thai noodles… mmm yum, and Sunday morning jaunt up and run down the fantastic Tirohanga Track, Picton followed by the one of the most magical experiences of my life thus far!!

No, I’m serious… you all have to book a trip with Will Parsons of Driftwood Ecotours right now!

Our group arrived – husband Mouli, daughter Indigo, son, Tarn and a friend Marama to be greeted by Will and Rose, his wife, and were welcomed inside to get an idea from a linen and wax map of the reserve and the splendid view from their deck of where we would be kayaking, a quick browse through a beautifully illustrated book of the extinct birds of New Zealand ( a whole book – that is so sad!!) including of course the Moas before heading to the shed to don life jackets etc  and select kayaks.

Once we had taken to the water a whole new world opened… so near Blenheim, but yet another realm. The Opawa River (smoky river) edged by beautiful flowering rushes is home to a host of birdlife, and the birdsong is music to your ears along with the sound of your paddle. Shags glide along and dive for mullet, we pass Mihis (duckshooting hides and thank our lucky stars it’s not duck shooting season!), further along near the the former Pilot’s House we meet whitebaiters catching the high tide to go across to the far side along by the Wairau Bar. Here we were treated to Will’s homemade Morning Glory Muffins and a welcome cup of tea, served in his Primus teacups – all quality! Will tells me his recipe is on his blog (which is in my blogroll, guys) – so I’ll be hunting that down, they were delicious!

The light on the water and the reflections, the wonderful mantle of colour on the Wairau Hills meant that I was stopping frequently to take photos…more of that later…

Driftwood Ecotours Kayaking Tours are  in the words of our twelve year old, “a must-do experience” and Will is doing a Christmas kayaking deal of 4 for price of 3 if you book before December 31st 09, so please book soon and tell him Tika and tribe sent you.

We took to the water again paddling leisurely along the  boulder bank, and in the distance the water was dark with black swans – a beautiful sight. We picnicked on the bank, doning more layers as it grew cooler with the dusk, tucking into Will’s wonderful homemade fare. Feasting and watching the sun setting, we counted our blessing – how lucky we are!

Paddling back on the inky river, lit by a moon, near full, it was like moving through a Japanese painting, ethereal spoonbills ghosted past the eeiry lights from Montana Winery and a wonderful feeling of peace..a fish nearly jumped into Marama’s lap as she paddled along, splashing back into the black water..

All in all it was a wonderful evening, and I can’t speak highly enough of this trip. The only downer was I got my camera wet!! My fault I left it in my lifejacket pocket when we hauled up the kayaks. However all is not lost I have recovered the photos from the trip, which I will add as a gallery just as soon as I can. [have done!!! - camera still sick though ]

So for now,

I’ll away and get back to work.. ahhhh

Tika

p.s please ask if you’d like to use my photographs – donate to Forest and Bird, or plant a tree!