A few careful strokes later ...

Let us return our attention to the river and cast a watchful eye on the proceedings. How is our little company faring? Let me tell you in depth. Five yellow canoes have managed the first rapids without getting entangled in this nasty log stuck right in the middle of the main current. Now, isn't this easy? But what is happening over here? Oh no! One of the canoes is spinning. The stern is coming around, and now it is floating backwards. What a delightful surprise for the two passengers! Can you make out who it is? I can hardly tell from up here. It must be Katie and Leo. Yes, it is them. Well, still, this is not the right way to drive a boat. They should better turn it around. And look, they are handling the situation quite well. The tip of the canoe is just about to enter the main current again.

Oops! The boat is rocking and bouncing as it is swept along sideways. Courageous attempts by both passengers to counterbalance the waves. They might just make it! This is exciting. Here comes another wave. Oh no, someone lost his balance - the boat dips dangerously onto the side, turns - and overboard they go. The water is not too cold, rather refreshing on such a hot summer day. Two heads bob up next to the yellow thing which is now drifting keel up, and cling to the sides of it. The river lazily drags the entourage along. Wow! To be honest, dear reader, would you have expected real action so soon? What a fight, what a show by our first contestants for the Kiwi Trophy, soon to be awarded to the canoe entertaining us most excitingly whilst navigating rapids.

Let me just catch my breath, before we continue with this awesome spectacle. It is no use hurrying, murmurs the river. Enjoy the beautiful scenery - the steep banks covered with palms and fern, the sun shining through the green leaves. The water is quiet and clear, and swimming is a pleasure. Little insects are humming about, and the excited chirping of a few birds is only answered by the soft babble of the small waves washing ashore.

Let's have a picnic!

A little further downstream they finally maneuver the canoe onto a stony bank. Cheerful laughter greets the two, and amiable teasing as well. The whole company has taken to this sunny place, and while some grope in the barrels to find lunch, others help to scoop out the water or dive into the crystal-clear river. The sun warms hearts and dries clothes, and white bread and delicious cheese make a meal worthy for a king. Not to mention all those delectable fresh fruit just waiting to be savoured.

Having repacked everything, our group continues their journey. They entrust themselves to the pace set by the wide river and find delight in bantering, as laughter leaps from boat to boat. They race towards swift rapids, and cruise into dark ravines opening up in the steep canyon walls. Arms move paddles stroke after stroke, as bubbling and splashing water rushes to part beneath the tip of the canoe.

Helios in his chariot had already traced a fair part of his afternoon journey when we observe yet another landing operation. Dark sand covers a small bank, heated up by the sun. The river widens here into a deep and chilly pool. On the opposite shore a high cliff rises twenty meters into the blue sky. Swimming and diving doesn't seem to be thrilling enough for Ulf and Hartmut. Swiftly, they take a boat to the other side of the pool and make their way up onto the rock. Inching their way to the edge, they try to find a safe jumpoff point on the overgrown ledge. Will they really jump? It is a mind-boggling height, by the estimate of the audience.

Meanwhile, Luke is investigating the bottom part of the rock. A wise decision. We should always make sure to know what we are jumping into. He discovers the rock will by all means never play its part in this event. It angles out even further below the water surface, measurably increasing the leap needed to reach a safe depth. Alas, thus we are deprived of some thrilling action. The audience sighs quite relieved, and returns to indulge in the hot and smooth sand. Life can be so beautiful.
In the following hours, we accompany our friends a fair distance downstream, to a place called Ohauora.

Night settles down on Earth, and a quiet moon rises above the jungle

With the fading light of dusk the companions busy themselves with setting up this night's camp, high up on a river bank. Without the sun, and an empty stomach, warmth suddenly has faded away. Fortunately, Hartmut already has a crackling campfire blazing, and is preparing a delicious meal. Ravenously it is devoured, and as the orb of night, looking like a big yellow pancake, rises, thoroughly satisfied human beings lean back and recount the day's adventures. As I may add, wine and whiskey and the embers of the fire made them all feel very comfortable.

Honored reader, I will leave you here, whilst I rest in Morpheus' sweet arms. I shall return to entertain you and depict our further journey on the morrow, when the sun has risen above the crests of the canyon walls.   more ...