This was a weekend of tramping, not with boots and packs but paddles and kayaks. The Rotorua lakes have much to offer in on-water exploration, especially the two choices taken for this weekend - Rotomahana and Rotoiti. Our group of nineteen people were based at the Lakeview Bible Camp near Ngongotaha, where we were for last year’s trip featuring Mt Tarawera, except Jill and Claire who stayed at Jill’s dad’s place just down the road, and Alex who had come from Tauranga for Saturday only. Friday - To Rotorua We left in two vans - driven by Paul Campbell and Johan - and this time travelled via Hamilton and Cambridge instead of the usual State Highway 27 as there were three people from Hamilton to be picked up. Once they were picked up we stopped for munchies at the Burger King at Hillcrest before carrying on to Rotorua and the Lakeview Bible camp. Saturday - Lake Rotomahana The day dawned cloudy but with a bit of blue sky, and we were excited about being on Lake Rotomahana in our kayaks exploring the Steaming Cliffs and other thermal wonders. We were up and away to be at the end of Ashpit Road on the western side of Mt Tarawera at 9am to meet the people from Sunspots with the kayaks. It took some time for us to select our boats (most of us had single canoes, but there were a couple of double ones as well), try on our lifejackets and spray skirts, and be shown the basic kayak techniques and safety procedures. John was appointed leader for this day trip as he had canoed the lake about 13 years ago and knew of the places of interest around the lake. It was about 10:45am by the time we were in the water and paddling our way westwards along the lake towards Patiti Island and into a moderate wind. After about three-quarters of an hour we pulled into a sheltered place in the lee of a tiny island beside Patiti Island to group up and have a rest.

Then it was out into the wind again towards our intended destination - Waimangu, the Steaming Cliffs, the Thermal Beach and The Wash. But most of us didn’t get there - the wind became much stronger, gusting over 30 knotsand most of us could not carry on. Even the leader John was overcome by the conditions and was forced to the other side of Patiti Island and after unsuccessfully trying to return to the sheltered spot was grateful for Paul C, a very strong canoeist, to tow him there. The other Paul, being the overall leader of the weekend, was concerned for John’s safety having disappeared out of sight of the others and arranged Paul C to do this. Alex capsized and like most of us had to rely on help and mutual assistance from others in the group and we welcomed a lunch stop back at the shelterd spot. By now Paul U. had phoned Sunspots on a cellphone provided by the company. There was no choice but to abandon the trip and return to our starting point - that was for everyone except Jeff, Johan, Judy and Margaret who were in two singles and one double kayak. Of those three only Jeff had kayaked previously - and was very strong and fit - and all four made it to the Thermal Beach for lunch. On the way back, in large waves whipped up by the now with-it wind, Margaret capsized and was helped by the other three into the double canoe for the rest of the journey. Had it not been for the others Margaret could have drowned; the weather was so rough that Johan and Judy capsized while trying to get her back into her boat. The rest of us made quick time back to the starting point with the wind behind us, with not only paddling but also letting the canoes drift with the paddles acting as sails! It was bout 3:30pm when we were back and on dry land. Paul U being concerned for the others phoned Waimangu Thermal Valley and also considered police SAR, but before it would get to that Donald and his staff from Sunspots would have done a hunt on the lake first. However we saw “black spots” on the water, and a look through the binoculars confirmed it was the missing four coming in safe and well, much to our relief! Lessons to learn from this experience include having to abandon a trip if the wind gets up too much, and the importance of staying together as a group and never going alone. Even the four who had made it to the Thermal Beach stayed together and were able to offer assistance and maybe have saved the life of Margaret who was thrown out in the rough conditions. The presence of a strong and experienced person (Jeff) was an invaluable help. However our greatest fault was that none of us should have ventured past the island due to the wind, and the whole group should have stayed behind the leader. John was still in the sheltered part of the island when the four took off ahead; had they have stayed with him they would have started out and abandoned the trip when he found the going too tough. Also, on a future trip we will have to consider taking professional guides - this would add to the cost but the extra money will buy safety and peace of mind. Above all, many thanks to God for His protection! We were glad to be in the vans heading back to the Bible camp - and the showers! We had just over an hour’s idle time till dinner, which we filled in by playing 500, reading or sleeping. 6pm, and it was time to get back in the vans and head back into town for a meal at the Fat Dog cafe restaurant. We tucked into a wide choice of sumptuous dishes - nachos, fish, Caesar salads, lamb, etc. - then those who wanted to soaked the woes of the day away in the Polynesian Spa hot pools, a favourite place for many Rotorua visits with its main pool and the eight outdoor Radium pools of varying temperatures. Jill’s dad joined us for both the meal and the hot pools. Sunday - Lake Rotoiti It was a lovely morning, good for kite flying. We had a discussion on what we would be doing. The planned trip across Rotoiti from Mourea to Hinehopu was canned and we decided on two options. Those who had had enough of kayaking after yesterday’s rough experience could have a look at the nearby Okere Falls, while the keener ones could explore the Ohau Channel between Lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti, and the western parts of Lake Rotoiti. There was almost an equal number of people on both options. The keener ones (including Margaret - her near-drowning experience the previous day had not put her off) started at the entrance of Ohau Channel on Lake Rotorua. The entry into the channel was like a rapid but once inside it was lovely and calm. We could just drift down, using the rudders on the kayaks to get around the bends in the channel. Garry, a keen canoeist who had brought his own boat, was appointed leader for this trip and took us on an interesting paddle that first of all took in the Okere arm of the lake, where the lake empties into the Kaituna River.  We went almost to where the lake flows under the highway bridge, then turned around to follow the eastern side of the arm - with its houses and sections fronting the lake - into the wind and around to a smaller harbour further around. Christine, Don, Marian and David decided to call it a day and return to the Mourea boat ramp while the others - Garry, Paul C, John, Jeff, Ross and Margaret - carried on across the lake to the Tuimoana Springs on the south side. The Tuimoana Springs were in the sand on a beach on a tiny islet off Tuimoana Point. We could dig in the sand to find the hot water, but it would have taken quite a bit of digging to make a pool big enough to soak in. This was also a favourite place for water ski-ing, and a family in a speedboat pulled up beside us. A second boat also came in, and while the adults were getting the skis ready, the children all crowded around to dig a hole in the sand. By the time we were ready to leave, one of the young girls had done a ski run and came in to the applause of her mum and some of us. We had to get our kayaks over a submerged sandspit before carrying on back to the western end of Lake Rotoiti. By now the wind had dropped and the paddle was now quite pleasant. We had time to have a look inside the Mourea arm before having to be back at the boat ramp at 1pm where the people from Sunspots were waiting. The others had a look at Okere Falls but did not do any of the walking tracks, instead opting for a drive into Rotorua for a bit of retail therapy. We were all back at the camp for a really lovely lunch prepared and laid out on the table by Lyn and before we cleaned up and packed up Paul U read a few thoughts on spirituality from a book The Meaning of Jesus by N. Wright and M. Borg.  These thoughts included the comcept of Christian spirituality being a sense of prayer, meditation, contemplation and spiritual reading; a celebration of the goodness of creation; a focus on the Jesus of history; generating self-awareness. A time of sharing and prayer concluded the devotion, along with the singing of Spirit of the Living God and Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart. It was about 3pm when we left for home. The three Hamilton people went in Paul C’s van, allowing the other van to travel back to Auckland via State Highway 27. We stopped at Matamata for ice creams before enjoying the sights of the country’s most bland road - the Kaimai Ranges and Mt Te Aroha and the plains, etc. At the “kink” where State Highway 27 crosses State Highway 26 we noticed a car park where 27 originally just went straight across, and suggested the “kink” was put in to slow down the traffic and reduce accidents where the two highways cross. Johan’s van arrived at The Bracken about 6:30pm; Pauls a bit later. COST: $112 (kayak hire $45; travel $32; food 2 breakfasts and one lunch $15; accommodation $20). Saturday night restaurant dinner $10-$20; Polynesian Spa hot pools $10.