Saturday 12 January 2008

The arrival of the Trans-Tasman kayakers in a few hours.




Justin top and James below

It is 3 am in Jakarta. A beautiful night and the stars dancing heel and toe. I am so excited about James and Justin arriving in New Plymouth soon.On crossingtheditch website they have just under 10 km to go.

My brother Barry, who lives in New Plymouth, has just sent me the latest update. Thanks brother.

" A great cloudless sunny day , no breeze to think of , no swell either At Ngamotu beach 5 km from NP they will come through the breakwaters into the inner harbour past the 8 restaurants up onto a sandy beach 1 km long backed up with a grassy area which is full of picnic tables, where the first NZ company ships arrived from Devon / Plymouth areas on my birthday not yours as it was in Otago .

Action plan .

Security has been dispatched in rubber duckies to clear a path for the
Kayakers. The port is full of Oil Tankers , Drilling ships , container ships, the fire tug boat.

People have been told by radio to park their cars far away as possible and
walk to Ngamotu beach .

Police & Venture Taranaki staff will be on hand .

2 Chairs have been put near the water so they can be carried up the beach on
the them . (High Tide 12.30 aprox )

Entertainment & food,drink stalls have been set up with Mr Whippy & Snowcone
in attendance (a good NZ tradition ).
The Parahaka festival of peace is on 60km away so theIR will be a rush on for
cultural performers between venues .

The media have been looked after and given their accreditation passes .

It will be a great welcome. "


Thanks Barry. I hope you will be taking down some shoes for James and Justin.

What a remarkable chapter in world adventure and exploration. It is right up there with the great Kayaker Franz Romer who on March 31, 1928, set out alone from Lisbon, Portugal, to make the first recorded crossing of the Atlantic in a sea kayak.

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