Stage 6: Lower Clutha River
(Under construction. Photos to be added.)
Due to travel commitments, Fred and Ruth had to leave, and I took on David, a merchant navy man. David and I planned the longest and final leg of the journey. The raft, with the mast and the sail de-rigged, set out on high water from Roxburgh on March 15th.
As we approached the Beaumont Rapids, the river narrowed amid steep, rock-studded hills, and turbulence increased. The raft ran swiftly through a rock-lined gorge, emerging beneath an old swing-bridge at Horseshoe Bend. The landscape opened. The rapids broadened. We steered past rocks and snags. Many times we were caught by eddies, which would suck down one end of the raft, spinning us around before releasing us. Late in the afternoon, we reached the town of Beaumont, as planned, and there secured the raft.
The next day, the rapids ended as we travelled midst native forest in the Rongahere Gorge. At Tuapeka, several wire cables in and over the river posed a serious danger. They appeared suddenly. We pulled the sweeps hard over to run under the first cable with scarcely any clearance. Fortunately, we likewise negotiated the remaining cables safely.
Now, the hills almost disappeared and the land became green and pastoral. At Clydevale, we intended to tie up, but when we were putting in, we ran suddenly beneath heavy willows and overturned. We climbed aboard again, and with only the spare sweep to attempt a landing, continued our journey as dusk spread over the river. Later, we landed safely in darkness behind a small island at Pukeawa.
With the generous assistance of Laurie Latta and Earl Robinson, rodeo stars from Pukeawa, we righted the raft the following day using horses and a tractor. Luckily, the raft’s steering gear was intact. After adjusting tension ropes on the aft rowlock, we were again underway, bound for Balclutha - the largest town along the river. All went well and we soon moored the raft near the Balclutha Bridge. Only 18km remained to the coast.
At 10.30am on March 19, we cast off from Balclutha, steering down the Koau branch of the Clutha – one of two tidal branches from Balclutha to the ocean. About halfway, we raised the mast and hoisted the sail. Shortly after 1pm we touched land at journey’s end, on an isolated beach near the Clutha River mouth. We were welcomed with cheers and celebration.
“Destiny 2”, bearing the scars of the long journey, and with her flag flying in the salt breeze, had at last arrived, having travelled 440km from the Southern Alps to the Pacific Ocean.
The next day, the rapids ended as we travelled midst native forest in the Rongahere Gorge. At Tuapeka, several wire cables in and over the river posed a serious danger. They appeared suddenly. We pulled the sweeps hard over to run under the first cable with scarcely any clearance. Fortunately, we likewise negotiated the remaining cables safely.
Now, the hills almost disappeared and the land became green and pastoral. At Clydevale, we intended to tie up, but when we were putting in, we ran suddenly beneath heavy willows and overturned. We climbed aboard again, and with only the spare sweep to attempt a landing, continued our journey as dusk spread over the river. Later, we landed safely in darkness behind a small island at Pukeawa.
With the generous assistance of Laurie Latta and Earl Robinson, rodeo stars from Pukeawa, we righted the raft the following day using horses and a tractor. Luckily, the raft’s steering gear was intact. After adjusting tension ropes on the aft rowlock, we were again underway, bound for Balclutha - the largest town along the river. All went well and we soon moored the raft near the Balclutha Bridge. Only 18km remained to the coast.
At 10.30am on March 19, we cast off from Balclutha, steering down the Koau branch of the Clutha – one of two tidal branches from Balclutha to the ocean. About halfway, we raised the mast and hoisted the sail. Shortly after 1pm we touched land at journey’s end, on an isolated beach near the Clutha River mouth. We were welcomed with cheers and celebration.
“Destiny 2”, bearing the scars of the long journey, and with her flag flying in the salt breeze, had at last arrived, having travelled 440km from the Southern Alps to the Pacific Ocean.
End.
