Adventures in 2018

Paddle Tasmania promoted a course on packrafting and it piqued my interest. I already had experience whitewater kayaking, but packrafts are different and warranted some upskilling. I am glad I made the decision to attend. Great place to do a course and a great course with master instructors.  It was just what I needed to fill in the safety, handling and other aspects of rafting that were absent from my knowledge. 

Lake Titicaca, conjures up thoughts of a timeless tribe of people living on a flotilla of reed islands in a huge elevated fresh water lake.  Though now somewhat contrived, they are valid thoughts.  Lake Titicaca is huge at around 190km long and 80km wide in places. It shares a border with Peru and Bolivia. We stayed on the Peruvian side, arriving at Puno.

 Rainbow mountain is promoted widely and it lure a tantalising one. Though with some skepticism, tainted and yet encouraged by various reviews, we had to go.  Be warned, those vivid images so often seen on various websites and brochures are not reality. Photoshop technicians do not want us to to know the truth. What is true though is that hidden behind all that mascara, blush and foundation is an undeniable natural beauty.

The Ausangate trek is a multi-day trek at high altitude ranging between 4500 to 5000m, we did a one day option taking in the lakes and first day scene. This is a walk I have been hankering to do since my aborted trip in 2010 after getting shin splints walking to Machu Picchu (a great walk see my 2010 blog )

How many people get to see Machu Picchu? I am one of those lucky individuals, and not only that, to have been there twice. For my first visit in 2010, it was the culmination of a trek across the Andes see my blog:  Machu Picchu (2010)   The second time round was just as special because this time I am with my daughter.

I had to get away from the city and those mountains with their dominance over Huaraz's skyline beckon my attention. Steph wasn't up to an elevated multi-day hike so we elected to pursue our own interests for the next few days. As it turns out she ended up almost as high as I did anyway. (For a different perspective, Steph's blog is an interesting read: Steph Over Seas )

During my last visit to Peru I heard about the magnificent hiking in Huaraz.  I put it in on that overflowing bucket list of places to visit. I did not imagine that I really would get back to Peru, but here I am. So it had to be that we came here when Steph requested that I be her travel buddy. Stephanie was reticent, but when she saw the photos on the internet, Huaraz was placed on her list as well.

Our specific purpose of our visit was to visit the UNESCO listed ruins of Chan Chan. I knew there was this pre-Incan civilisation in the process of restoration, but not much more and nothing else about Trujillo. It was on the list to research, but time slipped quickly by between decision and trip execution and well; we’ve arrived and so we are winging it on scant knowledge and a bed for the night.  No excuse really, Wikipedia and other resources will quickly show that Trujillo is steeped in history and culture.

My daughter Steph expressed the desire to visit Peru in an early celebration to her final year at university. None of her friends were available, and as I visited Peru in 2010 (see blog Peru 2010 )  perhaps I could be persuaded to revisit and act as her chaperone… Daddy… Now who am I to refuse such a pleading call for assistance from my progeny ? That was in February, and in June we’re off on a jet plane from Melbourne to Lima.

Day 4 of our four day paddling trip on the Hawkesbury River. It was only 18km to Parsley bay, our exit, so we enjoyed our sleep and departed at 11:30am.

Day 3 of our four day paddling trip on the Hawkesbury River.

Day 2 of our four day paddling trip on the Hawkesbury River. As Ros was with us, we elected to take the canoe that was on offer at our accommodation out with us so Ros can enjoy the river too. We paddled upstream for an hour or two before turning around.

The next four posts are about a kayaking trip I did with my friend Livio on the Hawkesbury River from Portland at the mouth of the Colo River through to Brooklyn in NSW. We had good weather and stayed in accommodation along the river. A great fun trip, hopefully this will inspire others to do the same.

Cathedral beach is well promoted on various brochures and web sites about the Coromandel peninsula  and signposted as you travel towards Whitianga.  Does it live up to its hype ? I think so.

What to do today ? We had a big day yesterday with all that driving and bike riding. It’s chucking it down with rain, seems to be the story for our week in New Zealand. Perhaps the lost springs in town, nah it’s supposed to pour later in the week, so let’s leave it till then, and Caroline wants to go horse riding so a massage might be needed afterwards. Ah, I know we can co and see the hot water beach.

Somehow I convinced Caroline that riding a bicycle will be fun, and look how tantalising the pictures are in the brochures and website  for the Hauraki rail trail .