Leaving Auckland

Self discipline for a paddlers come in many forms and shapes, sometimes you have to wake up before dawn to break camp, sometimes you just have to stop.eating.naughty.food.~

And I failed miserably. Too much ethnic cuisines in Auckland (Korean, Indian, thai) is giving me a bloody D+. What a bloody great way to kick start my journey!

My lower back is also sore from moving my heavy backpack. I have no idea how much it weights now, quite possibly over 50kg. I'm a mess before I even start! (I have to say, this is rather typical.)

I'm leaving Auckland at 7:40 this evening, so I will still have a few hours of day light to admire the scenaries before I will again try to abuse my back and sleep on the coach.

I'm debating myself the possibility of launching on New Years day. If Grahame has time, I'd really like to get a chance to spend some time with him and hear out his tales, he seems like quite an interesting character, and I feel really lucky to have him make my Nordkapp.

I guess I will just study the tide and decide.

First and Last Post from Hong Kong

Tomorrow is another big day.  I'm flying to Auckland, and for better or worse, I'm sure I will come back a different person.

In a week or two, I'm going to launch my brand new Nordkapp and attempt a circumnavigation around New Zealand south island.  But the game started in May 2008, when I finally put my foot down and promised myself I'm finally going to do it, this year is going to be my year.

Freya ... Paul ... Justine, they seem like great people, they are obviously very disciplined and very good at what they do, they come across as fun loving, rather than ambitious.  Yet I feel very intimidated.  I'm not strong, and I'm not very experienced, but I imagined that sea kayaks offer the passport to the world to whoever willing to put in the discipline and preparation.  I've always said you don't have to be super strong to be a sea paddler, what you need is training, discipline, maturity.

Now is the time to put my theory to the test.  I've already admitted to feeling very intimidated, but if I can just remember what I love about paddling, about backpacking and hitchhiking, then it shouldn't be so hard to realize I always end up loving the solitude and the challenges so much that I dread the return to city life.

So long, Hong Kong.

-C