Kia orana koutou

 

It is midnight

 

There were 5 NZ teams entered and two medalled . Taniwha Grizzlies Tigers Master Men (Mike Weiss, Nick Lowes and Co) 1st placing and wait for it 40 Plus ParihakaTime Travellers whom I am paddling with - YAY were placed 3rd. 

We received Lei and a plaque, along with many photos taken with Hawaiian Airline representatives. 

 

Who did I catch up with - Mario (Fijian) who is living in Hawaii but used to paddle for Waitakere, and Tiffan who paddled with us (Aratika) for a couple months and was right into Rugby and now living in New York. . Those who went to Rio would have met some of the Brazilian paddlers. They won the OPEN MEN and have free entry into Moloka'i Hoe.   

 

We have just arrived home from celebrating onsite as well at our local corner Restaurant Bar.

We had approx. 26 Mixed teams in our race. We had to stop 4 times throughout the race due to Barges, Ferries etc who has right of way.   We managed to get a 6th paddler Jeremy from the local club who was 45yrs. We entered 40 plus as there is no Golden masters aroha mai.   

 

Unfortunately Marty H could not paddle as Taniwha stuck him in Seat 1, after the race he thought the pulled a muscle in his elbow not too sure whether he would recover.   All good. Jeremy was it.

 

 When we crossed line I politely told him the crew he just paddled in was 60 plus.  He was beaming from ear to ear and said wow - now I know I can still be paddling when I reach 60. 

What a race it was truly from Seat 1 to Seat 6.  The team stayed on a steady rate no HEE just paced it out at 65-70 stroke.. Communicated by constantly  " the next 2 -4 changes is a drive:"which worked as it ensured we were on the same page. Jeremy our Seat 5. paddler gifted me with a top to acknowledge my steering as he sits in all seats and paddling with someone who has never paddled in the Hudson and able to pickup on the different current - really humbled by his gesture.

 

People - it was truly hard on the way home as we had the tide against us this year no one was allowed to take shelter by taking the advantage of paddling into the each wharf area.  GPS Yacht bot was strapped on to our waka and penalty. My gosh those ferries just come flying out.

 

The Green channel turn marker as you passed NON AMA turn it chimed with the current as it sways back n forth. We had 4 waka we had to negotiate the turn with - all sweet for those who have paddled with me know give me a space I'm in... haha of course without the help of the team.

 

Sunday apopo and we going Up Town Central park area as our Bus tour you can split your tours, so you don't have to do it all in one hit- we did Downtown, Wall Street etc interesting and steeped in history.

 

Just seen the hotel I will be staying from Monday until Wed. Right in the middle of everything that happens in New York i.e: Time Square, Clothing guru's, Broadway Theatre live and movies. Food places galore.

 

Well must end here my eyes are starting to droop and my head is nodding to stay awake - well what do you expect after couple of sips or two of you know what with the paddlers from NZ and other countries.

 

To those that paddled at Matariki, thank you for the up dates - you did well and especially our J19 Women. Our mixed Open Teams - Aratika and Waiheke well done all..

 

Keep training and get to do overseas races.

 

Kia manuia

Louise

as well from Dave and Lynley McFarlanes, Sherry and Tony Carne and rest of the NZ contingency.