Kayaking Kaua'i - Day 1

With all of our gear in dry bags we finaly launched our sit-on-top kayaks only 2 days later than planned at 7am. Kaua'i Kayaking had not been the easiest or friendliest company to deal with over the past few days, but we put that behind us, and headed off down the Na Pali coast!!
It was pretty hot (85 F/30 C) and there was still a bit of a swell in the water.

The boys quickly adjusted to using their "J" stroke, which they had claimed to be experts at - this kept us going in a straight line (most of the time), and we kept a fair distance from the cliffs (Pali) to our left, as the swell crashed against them and rebounded back towards us - not dissimilar to the agitation cycle in a washing machine.

It only took us 3 1/2 hours to get to "the beach", forever remembered as paradise - Kalalaua. The scenery kept us distracted as we paddled in the heat, and sometimes cooled off by paddling under a waterfall. This place is incredible.

We arrived at Kalaulau and succesfully surfed in without entertaining the locals (we had been sufficiently warned). The boys went hunting for suitable accomodation, while the pregnant lady lazed on the beach.

We set up camp and chatted with the locals; some permanent resident hippies, but most were exhausted hikers who had just completed the Kalalau trail (most had taken 2 days to hike in, so were very jealous we had made it in 3 1/2 hrs!)

We ate very well and even had a happy hour which we invited the hikers to, after they had finished their freeze dried meals!!! suckers!!

Almost at Kalalau


Wiggen cooling off


Checking out the scenery


Paradise - Kalaulau Beach


Arriving on the beach


Our kayaks with our camping spot in the bush behind them


The "blair witch camp" - preparing a meal (we ate a lot)


Andrew organising the kayaks

Preparing for Kayaking in Kaua'i

A fantastic trip for the 3 marlenas - andrew, mandy and kevin

The night before the departure for kayking - the boys "carb loading" at the Hanelai Bay Resort

The day of departure - which didn't happen because of high surf. Instead the 2 pregnant ones lay on the beach in Ke'e


Yet another day later - we still couldn't leave because of high surf. The boys pointing to the Napali Coast - where we should be.


"Stuck" at the resort - it was tough (especially the pool)

Our House

We were very excited to move into our very own house in Wellington last October, however it's taken us sometime to get unpacked and totally liveable. So finally, here are some photos:

The View that Sold us the House - Looking over Wellington Harbour to the Snow Capped Tararua Mountains


The Bench Seat and Panoramic views from Living Room also looking down stairs to our bedroom) (Scroll to the Right to view it all)


The Dining Room and The Living Room


The Kitchen (just behind living room)



Entry Way


Our Bedroom


The view from our Bedroom


The Ensuite to our Bedroom


The "study" / Spare Room


The Baby's Room (currently used by Jonathan)


The Laundry


The Hallway (which all bedrooms except ours, come off)


The Main Bathroom





Ugly back of house looking in


The Pohutakawa Tree in Full Bloom (looking towards the back of the section)


We are also just a half an hour walk from downtown, 5 minutes to our own (cold water) swimming beach, and 10 minutes to the main beach in town, Oriental Parade. Here is a map where you can see our road, Maida Vale, near the bottom of the map. Mandy works at #13, and Andrew works near #49.

Baby Symphony

Last weekend mandy went to see the "Baby Proms" with Nicole and Ollie. Ollie who's current interest is musical instruments, was completely absorbed in everything he saw. He particularly liked the Tuba and Double Base.

Mandy carrying Ollie for better viewing


Ollie on stage with the Double Bass

Wedding Annivesary Away

Every wedding anniversary we've decided to go away somewhere instead of buying gifts. The past 2 years were 1. Tahiti, 2. Vietnam (which was crap - so we did a belated one in Cambodia). This year was less exotic but still most enjoyable. We went to Nelson, and drove to Kaiteriteri, where we laid on the beach for a few days.

View from Kaiteriteri beach


Dinner overlooking the water

Mountain Biking

So after a dissapointing ski season, I didn't have to look far to see what sport Wellington was custom-built for: mountain biking. First of all, you've got a World Cup downhill course in Mt Vic, minutes from downtown and basically in our backyard, at least one purpose built mountain bike park, and several 500 - 700 meter mountains also just minutes from town. And best of all, there are many sheltered bush tracks to keep away from the winds. Unfortunately our first ride was not in such a sheltered spot -- Mandy made a valiant effort to begin mountain biking with me, but was discouraged when she was blown off her bike, making it her last ride!

Apart from many weekend rides, I also got a chance to do The Big Coast, a 2-day ride around the South coast just east of Wellington, a beautiful if exhausting ride.

Andrew Checking out the view from Makara Peak (part of wellington's Mountain Biking Only Park)


Andrew and Zuk about to depart for The "Big Coast"


One of the great views during the "Big Coast"

Kayaking From Home

A fantastic morning of Kayaking (thanks to our friend Dave who has lent us his kayaks, a now permanent fixture in our front yard). We took them to the bottom of the hill and launched from "our" beach - Balena Bay. We then kayaked on flat water out of Wellington Harbour and around the coast, to finally "surf" in at Lyall Bay Beach. Here are some photos:

Mandy at Balena Bay


The Lighthouse that we see from our house (looking back towards our house - a little hard to spot)


Mandy Kayaking (actually just floating at this point)

Weekend in Sydney

Our long weekend in Sydney for Michael Rembach's wedding to Amanda was fantastic. We got to spend time with Mandy's Cousins (Lisa, Jodie and their families) and cousin Mark. Sydney is such a gorgeous city, and when you're being spoiled by the family on the waterfront, who could not enjoy themselves! The wedding was fantastic a "tropical" theme with amazing music, food and energy from everyone present. Here are some photos:

Michael, Manda, Andrew and Mandy


Andrew, Michael & twin brother Joel at Bondi Beach


Swimming at Cousin Jodie's House in Watsons Bay


Tony (Jodie's husband), Asher and Joel surfing in the pool


A quick catch up with cousin Mark over a Krispy Kreme Doughnut

Events in Wellington this summer

This town has been very busy over the past couple of months, with yacht races, dragon boating, off-shore power boat racing, Women's world cup bike racing and various other festivals.

Here is a cool shot andrew got of some of the "round the world" yachts in dry dock during their 1 month stop in Wellington in January. (Their dry docking added an extra 5 minute walk to our commute in the morning - very inconsiderate)