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:*..*iii; ;:;ffi*- z 't ..J ,. "il*h.,.", ;:il 7r .i..i.lf+1::::: Paddling from Picton in ancestor's path Tracy Neal [email protected] The re-creation ofan historic canoe voyage tackled in stages from Mana to Nelson has revealed that changes in technology are both good and bad. Adventure mates Steve Gurney, of Coast to Coast fame, and Steve Moffatt of Canterbury giided into Nelson yesterday largely unnoticed at the end of the final leg ofthe journey from Picton to Nelson. it started 3% days earlier, but was delayed a little by strong southeast weather which the paddlers struck after coming through FYench Pass. They made it to the Nelson Yacht Club ramp yesterday afternoon after starting from Whangamoa Heads that morning. It was the final stage of the trip started in Mana several weeks ago, with the aim of crossing Cook Strait. The pair have given their love of adventure a pu{pose by following in the footsteps of early explorers, most notably Moffatt's great, great uncle, George Park. Moffatt used a replica canoe ofthe original used by his ancestor for the voyage, while Gurney paddied his hi-tech version. In 1890 Fark and his brother William became the first Europeans to canoe Cook Strait. Moffat and Gurney have now sailed and paddled the same route. George and another brother James were also famous for a South Island crossing in 1889 Last leg: Paddlers Steve Moffatt, left, and Steve Gurney, f inish their paddle f rom Picton to Nelson. The pair have also crossed Cook Strait. Moffatt's canoe is a replica of a Rob Roy Canoe. Photos: MARTTN DE RUYTIR/FA|RFAX Nz when they carried wooden kayaks from the West Coast, up the Taramakau river, over Harper Pass and then paddled down the Hurunui via Lake Sumner and a1l the way out to the east coast. The modern-day pair struck similar weather to George Park's 1890 voyage from Marlborough to Nelson, which he did alone after William had to return to his Palmerston North bookshop, after the successful crossing ofthe Strait. Gurney said there was a danger they might have been blown out to sea during the strong southeast wind they strrrck this week, but it helped to know the advice George might have given them. "What was really going through our minds was, 'what would George have done?' "He would have just sat it out." The pair camped ashore at night during the trip. An early written account of George Park's journey suggested it was a little ad hoc. '"There were no signs of the previous day's storms when the day broke clear and calm, so George Park decided to set offfor, Nelson." di-fference between that era and now was that "George had. nothing to do, so he paddled for Nelson". planned it for some tirne. George Park's canoe had a smal burden from Maud lsland to Bulwer. Moffatt and Gurney also had sails. but Gurney's canoe . being modern and more advanced on the technology scale, can also . Moffatt's wooden replica of the' original is capable of down-wind - only. "There's a marked differenie in how they sai-l," Gurney said. On his arrival, George Park was invited by the Ne1son Cycle Club to a supper at the T?afalgar Hotel arranged for some visiting cyclists. Moffatt said locals were witling to help George Park wherever he stepped ashore. Curney said by using both types ofcanoe they were able to draw comparisons between old and new, and while technology had been a help in many areas, such as electronic navigation and communication systems, it had also been a hindrance. "It's good that we can now gauge progress and our position, but we have lost some stuffas well, such as not being as aware of the weather and conditions and being less in tune with the environment." The pair have another adventure planned, to be revealed next summer. Happy landing: Peter Moff att, left, of Nelson congratulates his brother Steve Moffatt.
