Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th of January
Thursday the 23rd :
Southerly wind on the morning, we launch at 11:30 for 42,5 km, our average daily paddle; while our average counting day rest puts it to 34 km. Timaru points brings it’s scary lot as we pass the points nearby 3 meters breaking swell.
Further we come across thousands of sea gulls and skuas sit on the pebble beach, wondering how they feed; the answer is for the next day. Lovely night without tents, slipping under trees.
Friday the 24th :
Waking up at 5:00 for a day that we’d like to get often : 77 km, pushed by a 15 knots wind under bright sun and gentle 1 to 2 meters swell. An albatross, a giant petrel visit us, escorted by the usual sea birds, various sea gulls, sterns, skuas, pingouins and petrels. Sometimes we paddle through red clouds or spots large of 1 to 20 meters, just under sea level. They are thousands of tiny crayfishes, a treat for sea birds. Maxime catches a blue kingfish, that he will grill on a fire tonight. Late afternoon, we find a sheltered beach. Maybe too much excited by this memorable day, we’ve let go our awareness for our landing : a kayak is heckled in the ressac and a boom broken. A reminder to be strict on any of our launching or landing : helmet, closed shoes and sail properly packed.
