New Zealand adventures: Kaikora-Seafest

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What a cool spot. Again we got stuck with a bit of bad weather in Kaikora. We went there for a sea festival and it was a beautiful sunny day. Live local cover bands and all the local food and beverages, cooking lessons, and much more. People seemed to dress up as if it were Halloween. A bit different than I thought but we had lots of fun. The next day or two in Kaikora was cold and rainy. We spent a day catching up with online stuff and found ourselves another cool Irish pub, Strawberry Tree. We had a shot with a little fish in it called white bait (they look like minnows and didn’t taste like anything) The pub owner if from Ireland and there was a nice fire and sofa to cozy up to. Really a great pub! The next day when it was cold and rainy again we decided we were going to do the hike we had planned on the day before. At the beginning of the hike were a bunch of seals and they like to sleep all over the place. It was really cool to get up so close to such a big animal. Preparing with our belly’s full of warm potato-steak pies we set out in the rain to climb to a high spot to see if we could see any whales. No luck, but a nice watery hike. On the way out of town we stopped and todd went for a quick surf, there was no one out there except him (not very crowded beaches this time of year I guess). I sat on the beach with my little beach-chair, an umbrella over my head/camera, gloves on, my ipod jamming (listening to some Bob Marley, thinking warm tropical thoughts) and my tri-pod in hand trying to get some good photos of todd surfing, it was quite a juggling act with the wind and rain. A freight train passed behind me and I waved to the conductor. I can only imagine what he was thinking….. a girl in a orange coat and brightly colored umbrella on the beach in this weather! I got a smile and wave back. As I was just getting back into my pohto grove and music again, I was surprised by another surfer coming up behind me dressed from head to town in black, he scared the crap out of me! A really nice guy from Australia, he warned me of an aggressive seal on the beach and to tell Todd if I got the chance. Tired of the rain we left on our way north towards the wine festival! Yeah!

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Kaikora is one of the richest coasts for surf in New Zealand, and anywhere really. A nature created surf machine producing lefts, rights, and year round surf. When the weather cooperates….which it didn’t. Rain, cold, and an angry seas. Pretty tough to bring us down and a great few days of getting centered again….laundry, internet, and a warm fire place at another Irish Bar. Fortuneatly, the main reason for being there was a huge Seafest which was held on Saturday. The setting was a huge circus tent surrounded at the perimeter by food and alcohol booths….micro-brewery’s and wineries held down the fort as three bands rocked cover songs. We ended up meeting lots of people, most of which offered up their driveways and offers of barbeques. Two woman took a liking to us and we ended up on the dance floor for a good hour until things finally closed down as sunset started pulling the shades down on the day. Kaikora is surrounded by a rich history of whale hunting. Seal colonies are prevalent and there is a hike up around the bluff of this already geographically gifted landscape. I was reminded again and again on this trip how much I love the outdoors and how fortunate I am to live in Manuel Antonio. I’ve commited to a life of travel and to return to the jungle and beach and the warmth after traveling…..I have yet to see a better home base. I did finally get a surf in on our way out….finally needing to use my hood as it is the coldest water I’ve ever been in. Every day we would stop and annalize the surf breaks but luck wasn’t on my side, which was fine, I know I’m going back to great surf! Kaikora rocks, I have a tendency to feel comfortable in touristy places that are that way because of their natural beauty. Give thanks!