Mangahou Release 27th October 2001 Not sure why, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a shuttle driver when the release comes about. Maybe we have started to exhaust one of the most precious resources. Fortunately, on Thursday night, Louis managed to convince Charlotte his French flatmate that it would be a great opportunity to see some of the North Island countryside. At this stage it was only Louie, Tony & myself paddling (pretty poor turnout really), but we managed to talk Pete into paddling on Friday night, after he had had a couple of beers. We were going to try and uphold our record of being last group on the river for a third release in a row, but it was decided we should try to get away a bit earlier this time. Not the best idea after a late Friday night. Not sure what the time was when we started up the hill, but we definitely were not last. We were a bit concerned by the lack of cars coming back down the hill. Once we got to the top we found out why. A van had put two wheels off the side of the road. Luckily, it had gone no further down the hill. This is where we caught up with Daimien and his mates, plus a few other people we have paddled with on recent trips. There were about 30 people standing around watching while a few slings were joined together in an effort to pull the van back onto the road. No luck though, a tow truck would be needed. So everyone continued on to the river. Again, not a huge turn out for the release. Still a lot of boats on the river, but nothing like I remember from my first trip last year. We were on the river before lunchtime and enjoyed the 30 minutes of easier paddling to the point where the gorge closes in a bit. We got to the biggest rapid on the river and jumped out to have a look. I had bought my video camera along, so walked halfway down the rapid to a good vantage spot and recorded a few people down the rapid. Tony was the first of us to run it, no problems. Then there was a bit of faffing. Pete was taking his time getting back in the boat, eventually he was on his way. He said afterwards that he was really happy with his line right through the rapid, first time he has got it right. Unfortunately, he got tail-stood by the last hole, a couple of self-admitted bad rolls and Pete was out of the boat, knowing that the bluff at the end of the rapid had a nasty undercut. Fortunately, he managed to get away from the bluff quite easily and get to the safety of the rocks on river left before the next drop. Of more concern to Pete was where his new Werner was! Fortunately, Tony had grabbed it and got Pete’s boat to shore a bit further down river when it finally came out of the eddy it was stuck in. Louis was next to tackle the rapid, he dropped into the hole on the right at the bottom of the rapid and was swiftly knocked upside down. Fortunately, he rolled straight up, but still had a bit of work cut out to avoid the bluff at the end. After seeing all of this action I was less than happy about having to paddle this rapid, especially as this was the first tough water I was paddling in my new Blitz. I decided to portage. Pete seemed okay after his swim, but his paddling was a bit shaky for a while after this point. Another swim on a 3m drop near the end of the gorge was his last for the day. After this point the river opened out a bit, but we all knew there were the rock gardens after the lunch spot. At the bottom of the first of these rock gardens we found Alan Bell (Hutt Club) with one of their paddlers who had dislocated his shoulder on the rapid. They were waiting for a rescue chopper to come and lift them out. I believe they had quite a wait. We continued on through the rock gardens. Brilliant water to paddle. We witnessed one of Daimien’s mates spend some time in a hole which I believe Daimien became quite well acquainted with earlier this year. Onto the flat water out and for some reason it seemed to go quicker than the other times I have paddled it, despite the fact I was paddling a smaller boat. Louis & Charlotte managed to get a ride up to River Valley for the Bliss-stick party on that night. Louis paddled the Upper Rangatikei the next day with no real dramas and the surprise was Charlotte also paddled it with no previous paddling experience, in an inflatable. Once again the Mangahau did not fail to cause a bit of carnage. Will be my last Mangahau trip for a while, really going to miss it. Big thanks to Charlotte for driving our shuttle. And to Tony, Louis and Pete for a good paddle. Clint