As you get older you pick smaller hills to climb.
Motukorea has all the grandeur and the beauty
of Kangchenjunga, but can be done in one assault
from the food and wine at Karaka Bay basecamp.
Join those who dream of greater things but know
that when the clock strikes midnight another decade
will have passed forever.
To reduce carbon emissions Tony is going to have one party for both his 50th and his 20th.
No presents please. The time of materialistic consumerism has passed and doom is nigh. The rust, rot and decay of things as well as bodies means that the curve of counterproductivity was reached when I had more wonderful art work than I could decently look after.
The idea is to spend a day trying to forget that the yacht needs a new deck, the boatshed needs a new roof, and the Hokianga predators are breeding faster than we are killing them. It will also be a chance to remember so many great mates who have passed on. All that before we even think about global warming. Some alcohol will help to kill the pain.
Roll-on roll-off facilities for wheelchairs, the sick, the elderly and their servants carrying food and wine provided at the Kohimaramara boat ramp (east end just where the boardwalk ends) with the boat departing promptly at 2.15pm. There are drop off facilities and there should be parking close by. If you have never done 40 knots in a wheelchair before just ask the skipper and he will give you the ride of your life. Lifejackets provided for anyone who bombs out on the corners.
The boat will go to the Karaka Bay base camp, and then load up and go on to advanced base camp on the beach at Motukorea, departing around 2.30pm. Thirty people maximum should be enough to dig in chillie bins in preparation for the big assault. Life jackets will be provided for anyone who wants to jump off. One or two wimps to look after the grog would be welcome, as well as sherpas to carry a Tino Rangatira flag to the summit. (The Treaty was signed at Karaka Bay on 4 March, but that was apparently some years ago.) The boat will then return to Karaka Bay for thirty more troops. Anyone who is suffering from sunstroke or exhaustion will be evacuated.
At 4.30pm the boat will depart from base camp to take wheelchairs back to Kohimaramara, leaving stranded on Motukorea anyone who did not realize that the moving finger having writ moves on and all thy piety nor wit can cancel half a line. Wave and if we have time we will rescue you.
Then it will be time to prepare press releases for the Herald, telegrams for the Queen, and to generally celebrate either making it or not making it. Who cares? As Hillary said, in relation to Malory, getting down is just as important as getting up. Those who cannot make the second assault up to the car park can stay at base camp for the night.
To see some images of the assault craft check out www.boat-charter.co.nz/facilitator1.htm
If bad weather forces a cancellation, or for more information, check out my web-site at www.tony-watkins.com/content/view/ I will try to keep this up to date, and probably will not be able to deal with too many phone calls. Fatigue is still a bit of a problem after my stroke.
Music, ideas, entertainment, stories, fire dancing, operatic arias, food, wine all welcome.
Anything except dogs.
Karaka Bay
Sunday 2 March 2008
Say 2pm onwards
The latest update
Sunday 2 March 2008 11am
It's all on. We go for it as scheduled
Sunday 2 March 2008 10.30am
There is a very light West wind. (18km/hr at the airport) This could ease a little.
It is very calm at Karaka Bay and ideal for the boat to Motukorea.
The light drizzle is likely to hang around but does not look as though it is going to get much worse.
I think we go for it. The house is full of food.
Unless the skipper rings me the boat will be at Kohimaramara at 2.15pm.
Last hight the North East wind is still pounding in, but the rain had eased a little. The wind turned west in the night.
It was impossible to know quite what would happen as the weather pattern was quite complex.
Keep your fingers crossed.
