Beach Livin'

After 2 months of emails back and forth, tentative dates come and gone, we have finally arrived in Waikuku Beach for a visit with Mark and Katie. Over the past few years, Chlo and I have come to realize that the outdoor industry we are a part of is VERY small. It seems that everywhere we go we bump into someone we know, or at least someone who knows someone who we know (can you follow that?)

Example: Mark, Chloe and I all work for Nahanni River Adventures as guides (1st connection) and then Mark and Chlo went to school together last year at Queen's (2nd connection) and now we are in New Zealand at the same time...the list goes on.


Regardless, we finally made our way up to Waikuku Beach (just north of Christchurch) and were welcomed into the laid back, beach going, daily surf life of Waikuku. Where you can pick peaches off at tree on the walk to the beach for a oceanside snack and pick apples from a tree on the route home to put in a pie for dessert! In the early afternoon we headed down to the beach, just a short 2 minute walk. The four of us walked down to the Ashley River and then back up through the little village and each had a go at the "flying fox" - a zip line of sorts at the local park. We had the beach to ourselves, no one was around, the tide was high and the surf was low.

In the late afternoon we decided to check out the surf again, so we geared up and headed back to the beach. Mark, Chlo and I, with our boards in hand, jumped into the ocean and played for a good hour! Mark, has been trying to surf everyday since he arrived 2 months ago, gave me some well needed advice. The surf looked a little different than back home in B.C. Chlo had the best surf of the day on the Boogie Board, her timing was perfect and she was rewarded with a nice ride. I must admit, I did not have as much surfing success as I did in Tofino last fall. Nonetheless, we had a blast and left the beach tired, a little chilly and feeling like our brains were waterlogged.

Upon returning from the beach, we showered up, started a fire and made a lasagna for dinner. We settled in at the table (now 6 of us, Mark and Katie's roommates arrived home - Graham and Lori) with great food, amazing people and local bottles of wine. Thank you very much Mark and Katie!