The MIGHTY Wairoa - 7th May 2006

It was the last flow of the season so it had to include a run on the top section of the Wairoa. A nice easy (???) grade IV/V in a stunning gorge. Nerves jangling, myself, Dodgey and Hayden put on below McClarens Falls to paddle off into the dark depths of the gorge.

A play wave (humpty dumpty) is the first stop. Although I wasn't really in a playful mood. I just wanted to run the river!!! Its then a nice bimble through some grade IV rapids named Mothers Nightmare, Devils Elbow and Double Trouble. Hmmm interesting choice in the naming. No real dramas mind - just a bit side ways on Mother Nightmare - not a good start, but hey, best to get the muppetitis out of the way on the less serious stuff.

The 'Toaster' waterfall was next. Aptly named due to the slot on river right that you really don't want to drop into. Rafts dropping into here look like a slice of bread in a toaster. And if you do drop in in a kayak there is a good chance you will be toast - nice. There is also a 'save yourself' chain bolted to the rock next the hole should you drop in too far left. Thankfully this was not required by anyone today. My line over the toaster was described by a fellow paddler as 'pretty close'. I ventured slightly to far right and got a real good view of the slot as I slid down the rock. Eyes like saucers!!! All sweet though, I made it.

Then there was the 'Rollercoaster'. Chicken chute round the 'Cauldron' by boofing into the eddy river right, then it was a matter of a nice simple ferry glide across the main flow just above 'Rollercoaster' itself. Hmmm, don't wanna mess this one up. Bus Stop eddy is the starting place, break out into the flow, big boof off the rock int he middle and see what happens - the only real instruction is to avoid the undercut at the bottom.

The Rollercoaster

So off I paddled, boofed for all my might, but not really far enough right. Oh well, Everything was white. I cleared the first hole - sort of, and popped up in the third, then it was a simple paddle out to the eddy to look back up at a suprisingly meaty drop. Awesome. Job done. It was now a nice bimble down the grade III section to the car.