A story from many moons ago.
A Spur of the moment get away...
A Spur of the moment get away...
Day 1.
Sunny Summer Days!
Click on small photos for larger image and captions.
Sunny Summer Days!
Click on small photos for larger image and captions.
Flipping, wave riding, crazy Hector's Dolphins make a welcome sight as I arrive at my destination, but nah was my camera skills quick enough for their lightning fast antics! Going to have to work on my shooting anticipation and reactions.
The bay was an auditorium for a wildlife show, people lined the shore, paddled up to their waist or floated on assorted craft, they even set up deck chairs and rugs to watch the show as the dolphins performed and Sea Lions cruised only metres away, the only thing missing was a David Attenborough voice over.
“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.”― David Attenborough
The sun set on the calm and surreal bay with no hint of the things to come...
The bay was an auditorium for a wildlife show, people lined the shore, paddled up to their waist or floated on assorted craft, they even set up deck chairs and rugs to watch the show as the dolphins performed and Sea Lions cruised only metres away, the only thing missing was a David Attenborough voice over.
“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.”― David Attenborough
The sun set on the calm and surreal bay with no hint of the things to come...
Day 2.
5am I'm woken by the ocean as loud as thunder! that seemed to be felt more than heard as it did it's best to beat back the last remains of Gondwana Land, driving rain, tent buckling wind and singing Yellow-Eyed Penguins! I guess diving into a maelstrom of an ocean is worth singing about!
5am I'm woken by the ocean as loud as thunder! that seemed to be felt more than heard as it did it's best to beat back the last remains of Gondwana Land, driving rain, tent buckling wind and singing Yellow-Eyed Penguins! I guess diving into a maelstrom of an ocean is worth singing about!
Click on small photos for larger image and captions.
Breakfast, cuppa tea (forgot whiskey) and SURF! ...so I told my nerves!
My first surf out in solid waves for a long time tested my nerve, I dodged a few bullets, dropped into a few spinning tunnels and got my ass whooped! Surf 1 done!
The day in the life of a Gondwana Penguin.
Click on small photos for a larger image and captions.
Click on small photos for a larger image and captions.
Late afternoon proved too windy for stand up surfers (think long strides, bent over, one step forward, two steps back kind of windy. Any attempts to catch a wave and they were blown off the back or they became part of the lip and plunged over the falls into oblivion) the boogie boarders were loving it however, the surf show went on...
Day 3.
A better forecast of abating winds and cloud and a chance of perfection...
A better forecast of abating winds and cloud and a chance of perfection...
My cell phone springs back to life as I near Big River Town and back to civilization, phone coverage, technology, bills, demands, expectations...and all I can think about is barrels and more barrels...
If you visit don't forget to pack some respect for the people, wildlife, land and sea of this unique area, where just quietly the wild is returning and taking over! Oh and maybe throw in an extra thermal and beanie!
If you wanna have a go at surfing, there is an awesome wild place way down south to give it a go, they have great equipment warm wetsuits, soft-tops and offer safe, fun gentle waves for first-timers or those finding their feet!
http://www.catlins-surf.co.nz/ For surf school and accommodation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catlins
http://www.catlins.org.nz/
I haven't been barreled like that for awhile! Who's up for the next adventure!?
If you visit don't forget to pack some respect for the people, wildlife, land and sea of this unique area, where just quietly the wild is returning and taking over! Oh and maybe throw in an extra thermal and beanie!
If you wanna have a go at surfing, there is an awesome wild place way down south to give it a go, they have great equipment warm wetsuits, soft-tops and offer safe, fun gentle waves for first-timers or those finding their feet!
http://www.catlins-surf.co.nz/ For surf school and accommodation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catlins
http://www.catlins.org.nz/
I haven't been barreled like that for awhile! Who's up for the next adventure!?