A Flying End to the New Zealand Trip

24 November

Our last proper day of the holiday and probably the most active. We walked from the campsite to the beach at Paihia and hired a double canoe. The weather has been hot and sunny all day and I was well sunblocked as we set off to find a waterfall that Dave had heard about. The lad that we hired from considered that we should find it and get back within four hours. However he must have thought I was a girl! We paddled there, and played about with the waterfall, in 50 minutes. And I promise I was not racing, although Dave complained that my stroke rate was too fast. We left the river at a slightly more leisurely rate as Dave called out the timing to get us in sync. Each time he stopped counting out loud the rate gradually speeded up again. Back in the bay we went to investigate some of the islands, landing at one to have lunch.

Then as both of us had tired shoulders and arms we headed round one last island and back toward teh beach. It was then that we saw what was going to be our last holiday treat.

Parascending! We had first seen it at Queenstown and had wanted to do it there but due to my illness had not gone. Unfortunately there are no photos of this although Dave had his Go-Pro with him and took some video footage. We were strapped to a parachute that was fastened to the back of a fast boat. then as the boat went forward the parachute filled and we were lifted up into the air. It was great fun looking down on everything and surprisingly comfortable in the padded harnesses. We were flying for about 10 minutes and were about 1200 feet in the air. What an amazing end to our New Zealand trip. Tomorrow we head to Auckland and the following day to San Francisco for a few days before the homeward trip. We will be back.