The Gonz in Gisborne

Lots of these art deco style homes in Gisborne.

I had a long list to attend to, not least my need for a new paddle. With the help of the local tourist information centre I compiled a list of outlets that might be able to assist. My hope was to simply purchase a paddle off the rack, but as I checked off each possibility on the provided map, my confidence began to evaporate.

I’d initially dismissed the bicycle shop option that had been provided, but growing more desperate I walked in. The entire shop was allocated to bikes and cycling accessories so the question I put to the young kid was offhand in delivery so I was somewhat surprised and even hopeful when he referred me to ’Chris’ the shop owner who used to be a kayaker himself. Did he say he used to make paddles?

Chris, I learnt, had once been a serious kayak paddler himself. He very kindly made an initial call although without success, but was referred to someone else. A gentleman by the name of Alan Thompson. Good news. I should head down to the Waikanae Surf Club where he was involved and meet him there in a few hours time. It was next door to the Waikanae Beach Holiday Park where I was staying and he suggested that he’d be able to help! Chris mentioned something that made me believe that Alan himself was or may have been someone of repute in the kayaking world but I was unsure.

I sent a quick text message to the local couple who I’d spent Xmas Day with back at Te Araroa and moved on in an attempt to address some of the remaining items on my ‘To Do‘ list. I received a nice surprise shortly thereafter whilst at a hardware store when who should tap me on the shoulder but Porter and Nadine! They’d spotted me in the street shortly after I sent the text. Nadine had still not had the child. It was due at any moment I was assured.

They then took it upon themselves to drive me around town as I visited various shops before we headed down to the surf club at the allotted time to meet Alan. I took down my ’spare’ so that he might use it to select a replacement on. We met and it soon became clear that he would make me a new paddle, and that it would be ready in two days. He was confident that he had similar blades at home. An excellent and most fortunate outcome!

I’d booked two nights at the campground, not wanting to impose on my newfound friends but they would hear none of it. I would still stay at the campground that night but they would make me dinner utilising fresh herbs and vegetables from their garden, and collect my kayak because I would stay with them for the remainder of my time in Gisborne. It was Saturday but with Monday being a public holiday in New Zealand I would need to delay my departure until after Tuesday if I was to visit all the shops I required.

The following morning Porter collected me and we pitched a large tent in the backyard. They had offered me a bed in the house however I declined believing that with the possibility of a child arriving any moment, that they would require some space of their own. At 9:39am on Sunday January 3 2010, Nadine was whisked off to the hospital and as I would later learn, gave birth to a healthy boy of 7lbs 8oz at precisely 11:01am. He was named Seton.

I was given responsibility for feeding the chickens and checking for eggs. There were two. A white and a brown. I was meant to lock the chickens up in the henhouse but did not realise this and was relieved after finding this out that there were still the correct number the following day! I witnessed the ‘pecking order’ as one poor hen was continually pecked in the head for daring to eat the maize which I’d provided. She did not look too malnourished so I was quickly able to get over my shock. Mum, Dad and Seton stayed at the hospital overnight whilst I made use of a bicycle and explored Gisborne.

I collected the paddle the following morning from Alan, but not before learning from the internet that he was a dual gold medallist having won gold medals at the 1984 Olympics in the K1 (single kayak) and K4 (team of four) events. I found it particularly interesting that he’d designed and built his own kayak, reminding me of the story of Burt Munro as portrayed by Anthony Hopkins in the movie The World’s Fastest Indian.

Alan Thompson (left) and someone else.

Later that day I got to meet and hold young Seton wearing one of the outfits I’d picked up from the Pumpkin Patch as a gift. Very dashing he looked, too!

Seton and someone else.

I spent the rest of the day on the banks of the river watching outriggers canoes - singles and sixes - being trained and happily conversed with their coach as they went through their drills.

"Harder boys, there's a bloody Aussie here watching you!"

On Tuesday, after watering the vegetable garden and releasing the chooks from their coup, and with the shops now open I rode to the marine shop only to be disappointed in that they did not stock the items I was hoping to acquire. I did return to a café I’d chanced upon the day before and enjoyed a good coffee whilst reading the newspaper.

I had been looked after by some wonderful people and most valuable of all have gained some real friends. The trip will always be worthwhile having gained such a prize.