News on the Shoulder

Had an ultrasound scan on my shoulder this morning. I have a 'small focus of abnormality involving the left distal supraspinatus tendon.' Which i am told means I have a 'partial thickness articular surface tear.'

Which in english means I have 6 weeks of physio to look forward too and no paddling for 3 months!!!

Fuljames - Easter Weekend

Easter was spent at the famous Fuljames wave in Taupo. It is on the Waikato River, which due to its numerous hydro schemes has hugely variable flow. In order for the wave to work the flow has to be up around 200 cumecs. This happens daily during the week as this is when the businesses in the area need power. Weekends however the flow is just a low base flow. However, thanks to some excellent work and pleading by Nicki we had a 2 days of FULL flow all to ourselves over Easter. We even got granted permission from the local Iwi to camp right above the wave. It was a 30 second walk down some steps to the eddy and some natural hotpools. AWESOME!!!

However there was a problem. The week before, paddling the Kaituna, I buggered my shoulder. However, I was not going to miss out on a rare occasion of paddling the Fuljames wave. It was the site of the first freestyle world champs after all. The wave is pretty sweet. I also deliberately didn't seek medical advice on my shoulder post Kaituna so that i wouldn't be going against any advice this weekend. Of course the Dr's would tell me not to paddle, but then if they never told me, I would be guilt free. Ignorance is bliss.

After hearty breakfast of beans and a few cups of coffee to clear the hangover from the night before, and a dose of ibuprofen for the shoulder, we kitted up and went for a short float down the river above the wave whilst we waited for the flow to optimise.

It was very, very, VERY boily (Bitches boily), which provided endless entertainment in a tiny playboat. Then we hit the wave. The first run down was just a blast through. Then it was to the eddy and onto (hopefully) to rip it up pulling some really sick moves. Well that was the plan. I think I am now world class at mystery move no's 1 through 5!!!

Sadly my rides were relatively short lived. I simply could not take the pain in my shoulder. Easter Sunday was spent playing official camera man, kicking back in the sun, sipping beer (medicinal) and cheering on the spankings dished out by Fuljames at full bore!!!! Excellent weekend!!! Its off to Physio for me!!!

Kaituna - 1st May 2007

It was time for a trip down to the Kaituna, just north of Rotorua. In recent times this river has been in the news as it is subject to a potential hydro scheme. It will totally ruin the river - one of the most famous rivers with paddling circles in the world!!!

Anyway, we headed down on the Sunday morning, bright and early. Only myself and Rhys had paddled the river before so it was wind up time for the rest the guys. Tales of beatings and long visits to the green room were exchanged.

The flow was a lowly 300 on the guage - definately a playboat run. Superb. I was however a little nervous as this was the first outing for me in my playboat for over 6 months. My ankle had prevented me from contorting it into the none existing foot room. But I was good to go.

The amazing thing about the Kaituna is the water is warm. If only every river were like this. The first major section is Powerhouse. A short section that used to be an old mill. Deep in a bush filled gorge you head over a small pourover/drop (about 2.5m) into and 'eddy'. This eddy is somewhat boily and not really a fun place to be. Then with a barrage of water from river left its a short ferry glide to position yourself to boof the wier. A swim here would result in a very very green experience. In classic Ben fashion I pulled somewhat of a mystery move over the first drop. The cushion wave I wanted to brace on wasn't there so I ended up pencilling (read: virtually front looping and face planting in the eddy) the drop. No biggy, a quick roll (read: 3 rolls) and I was good to go over the wier. Which was boofed without a problem. The rest of the group, including a very very scared looking Ash made it without too much drama.

Next stop the Waterfall. Tutea falls is described as 'one of the best boofs in New Zealand'. Well I am sure it is. If you time it right and actually boof that is. Cramming into the last chance eddy above the drop we ran through a few various scenarios. Not really sure why as in my view there is only one line and thats down. I think it was actually Rhys who called for the stop so he could build up the courage to padle off it. Haha. The drop is at the end of a narrow gorge so there is no scout. You effectively run it blind from the river and wait for the whistle to signal the all clear. Rhys went first. Whistle. I was off. Starting left, heading right, boof, hit the pile and paddle to glory!!!! Well that was the plan. All went well, semi boof, hit the pile, however the surge (which is totally luck of the draw) caught me and down I went.

I rolled up on the far river left against the rocks. Hmmmm, interesting. It seems I had gone deep, and flushed across. Problem my paddle had caught the water coming over the fall. And that was that, my shoulder was wrenched back and was buggered.

I paddled to the side in pain. Sat on the rocks to watch the rest of the carnage as the others dropped over the edge. Not one boof amongst them!! Haha.

I had to paddle the rest of the river with a gammy bung shoulder. Thankfully it wasn't far, the whole run is only a 30-40 minute blast. But that was it, my paddling was over.

Fab trip. Love that river. Shame about the injury....

Pub Crawl - March 2007

It was time for another pub crawl round the city organised by the work social club. And in a flash of inspiration we had a bus to cart us around.

The Xray glasses were still in the development stage...

Amy should really have left before midnight!!!

When Bethan, Pete and Cassandra Came to Stay - February/March 2007

I have left this a while (my bad) so some things are a little hazy so it is basically a brief mish mash of things I can remember going on...

My sister and her entourage came to see me in New Zealand. Pete and my niece Cassandra made up the party. It was fab to see them, it had been 20 odd months since I had seen them, and I had never even met my niece Cassandra so i was pretty excited. I am sure Cassandra was thrilled to see me too!

Anyway, the Dodge brigade was here for about 4 weeks and the plan was to cruise round the North Island taking in the sights, sounds and smells. Sadly things didn't start to well and the welcome to New Zealand was kind of ruined by Maui (the camper van people) totally cocking up the booking (they were informed they had run out of stock even though it was booked some 6 months previous, and that they should go and buy a tent at the Warehouse for $75!!!) and leaving B,P & C somewhat in the lurch. So after a frantic few hours finding a suitable tent for them to spend their holiday in (they were renting a tent not a camper) they spent a night in Hotel Horoeka. It was certainly a wake up call (literally) into the sleeping habits of a 1 year old!!!

The next day B, P, and C headed up north. I was to catch up with them on the weekends and show them the sites.

I met up with them in Whangerei, we then headed north some more to the Bay of Islands, stopping on route to see the toilets at Kawakawa. Random I know, but they really are fantastic. Decked out with wonderful colours and with windows made from coloured glass bottles. Its perhaps the only place you can get away with taking pictures in a public toilet!!!

The toilets at Kawakawa

So we made it to Paihia, camping on a the beach front. Fantastic. I love the Bay of Islands. Time was spent doing the touristy type stuff. And Cassandra had her first outing to the beach. Not a bad place to have it really.

We headed over to Russell - a fantastic little town tucked within the Bay of Islands. I could so see myself living there. Chilled out and sunny, oh and they had a really good pub. always important. A trip was also made to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the historical site where NZ became part of the Commonwealth way back when in 18wheneveritwas...

I left them to head over to the west coast of the north to go big tree spotting. I would soon see them again after a short week at work.

Joy rider in the making...

The next stop of meeting up with them was Rotorua. I love this place - the 'Vegas as it is affectionately known amongst travellers, tourists and kiwi folk alike. The 'Vegas is a geothermal wonderland full of geysers, and volcanics and steam and smells and all sorts of wonderful geologicky amazingness. We swam in a hot pool (secret spot), saw mud pools, geysers (not a gold chain or cignet ring in sight), all kinds of Maori singing and dancing (Pete chickened out of the Haka) and even a real live Kiwi. Amazing. I want one as a pet, although I am not fully convinced it was real, it may well have been a robot. Anyways, it was ace, grubbing around for bugs in a darkened enclosure. Yeah so it wasn't strictly in the wild, but they are so hard to come by I think a captured one counts.

In good uncley fashion i took it upon myself to learn Cassandra a traditional Maori move - she is now an expert at sticking her tongue out!!! I know it pleases Bethan a whole lot, but i do feel i have done my bit in educating her in the world.

Cassandra looking cool

I had to head back to Auckland once again, so I left them to carry on their journey. The next time we met was in the Coromandel.

Hot Water Beach was the port of call. A normal looking beach, white sand, ok surf, but with one difference. Hot water from gepthermal springs trickles through the beach into the sea. At low tide you dig a big hole in the sand, dam the walls and kick back and relax in the hot water that has filled your handy work. Well thats the theory.

We got there nice and early to stake our claim. One problem though. The shop that rents the spades required was shut. I didn;t really fancy our chances with Cassandra's plastic bucket and spade, but luckily a friendly local lent us his spade, and gave us a tip on where to dig. Pete and myself set to work as Bethan cunningly called the baby watch card!!!

Our hole was complete and it was filled with water, very hot water in fact. Bethan had brought along Cassandra's thermometer to check the water wasn't too hot for her. Well it was. A blistering 47 degrees centigrade it got too. It was flippin hot. And arrived in waves which provided endless amusement to the numerous onlookers as every so often we would leap up with yelps of scalding pain!!!! What a fantastic place.

We moved on and headed to Coromandel City to camp. The campsite had a giant inflatable cushion to bounce on. Cassandra loved it!!! As did I. Although i think i did myself some damage trying to perfect some acrobatics. Ah well.

The final trip for me was to the Driving Creek Railway. A narrow gauge railway up into the Coromandel hills originally built to bring clay down for pottery. However it kind of grew and now winds its way through the bush to provide stunning views of the Huraki Gulf and the Coromandel.

It was back to Auckland for me, but B, P & C would soon be joining me as sadly their adventure was coming to an end. It was really fab to meet Cassandra - i feel like a real uncle now, and good to catch up with B and P.