A perfect Auckland Canoe Club trip today, run by our training officer Peter Van Kuyk. We departed Armour Bay, near Laingholm, at the leisurely hour of 11.15am.
We were a group of 13 and a mix of seasoned, intermediate and newbie paddlers.
Many of us were relatively new to paddling on the Manukau and certainly to paddling up to the Nihotupu dam. It was fun seeing the spillway and the dam towering beyond.
Our trip toward French Bay was a bit of a slog into a head-wind in some frisky waves that made some of our number uneasy.
We regrouped in a sheltered spot and Peter was flexible and changed the destination to nearby Laingholm.
There was a bit of excitement there, with a bush fire and a contingent of local firefighters, two appliances and a police car. They had some very long hoses and the fire under control by the time we left.
We enjoyed a bit of everything with a tail wind on the way home – washing machine waves, surfing and a serene ending.
Peter suggested we meet at Stripe cafe, which we did, enjoying cheesecake, coffee and camaraderie. This was a novelty, as many of us had known each other for many years, nay, decades and never been for coffee.
Peter was inspired in his planning by feedback from newer members wanting later starts and some socialising. This was a trip that ticked all the boxes.
While we would love Peter to lead more trips, he has set an example for others in the club to follow. May there be more delightful, beautiful, focussing, relaxing and convivial club trips in the remainder of the year.
