Manawatu River Sunday 23rd

[TuiMan]

 

[wizard1]

Why aren't you at work..............or in your garage?

[tinnyjet]

Why aren't you at work..............or in your garage?

Why aren't you Wizard....at work.....opps nearly forgot UNEMPLOYED

[wizard1]

Ha, ha, hardy ha.

[wizard1]

Boredom set in earlier today, so a couple of hours ago I chucked the boat on the ute and headed down to the Ballance bridge. Spent an hour on the Manawatu up to Ngarpuru twin bridges.

Very interesting to say the least.  The river is very clear, and very low.

Places we boated without even thinking about a few weeks ago are now shallow and boney. Channels are now becoming very defined, and in a lot of places is the only route to go up further due to the wide, shallow area's.

Also with the river being so clear, it is somewhat disconcerting to be able to see what's under the water,..................in places....JUST under the water.

Had a good run up, bounced a couple of times, nothing major, and avoided all the very shallow parts.

Coming back down was great, took several really wide shallow bits flat out and got through ok into deeper water, running over the stones in places. Surprised when I got the boat back on the trailer, no bottom damage, and only a handful of stones lodged in grill, but not enough to affect performance.

Should be VERY interesting by Sunday if no rain between now & then!!!! Interesting to see how far up we can get this time.

[tinnyjet]

Sounds good Wizard can't wait

[wizard1]

Yep, should be a good run George.  

[wizard1]

Well tinnyjet and myslf put our boats in about 10.00/10.15AM at the Ballance bridge this morning.
We headed off up the river in grouse weather. The river was good up to the Ngapuru twin bridges, with some interesting sections. From the twin bridges on up, it was an awesome fun day, with river wide and shallow in many places, making you careful to choose where to go. Other places it was barely a boats width wide, with many twisty narrow sections. In many places the river was so wide and shallow, that you just had to go like stink and hope you had taken the right course, cos you couldn't slow down or stop or instant grounding.

We went up another 4/5 kms past where Shaun, GDR and myself went a month or 2 back. The river is very interesting at the moment, and we both did a LOT of gravel grinding and bottom bashing.

Unfortunately, I bashed a couple of things too many, and have some MAJOR repairs. Looks like boat will be laid up a few weeks

A good days boating with you  George, thanks.

Anyway, photos to follow.

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[wizard1]

Tinnyjet warming up.

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[wizard1]

Tinnyjet playing round

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[wizard1]

Looks like a grounding

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[wizard1]

Ngapuru twin bridges.

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[wizard1]

 

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[wizard1]

Heading towards a lunch stop

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[wizard1]

Bush bashing

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