Carpe Diem SIEZE theday

It was raining. Not the soft delicate kind, but torrential fat wet raindrops. Ruapehu was closed with howling winds and the options for an adventurous weekend were narrowing with every drop of rain.

In a bach next to the Tongariro River, we were surrounded by the sound of water rushing over the massive a spot of rafting was in order and signed up for an afternoon of exhilaration.

Having not planned on a river trip we arrived at Rafting New Zealand headquarters feeling a little underprepared, bringing with us a vast selection of thermal gear that we had brought with us to go skiing. However, we booties, socks, thermals, wetsuits, more thermals, helmets, and lifejackets in no time and we were ready to go.

Taking part in an outdoor adventure is something that seems to draw together a wide range of people and in doing so creates a sub culture that crosses all ages and cultures. The world seems a small place when you’re

After a twenty-minute bonding bus ride we arrived at the put-in spot on the river to meet our guide. We hit the jackpot with 23 year old, Lee Wellington. Buff, young with muscles straining through his shirt, we knew we were in safe hands. Easy on the eye, with talent to burn, we quickly settled down to learning the calls required to navigate the mighty rapids.

the hilarity did not stop until long after we left the river.

Calls of “forward and back paddle” from our talented leader, Lee, were followed with precision, however, the call of “over left” saw a little slower response from the team as our somewhat older brain cells took a while to discern their left’s from rights until eventually we all moved in the wrong direction! Our patient and unfazed guide, Lee, simply called “other left” and we all changed tack.