Kayaks and Sunsets on Lake Taupo
One of my favorite things to do when traveling is go kayaking. In Memphis I’m a bit limited in where I can, or would want, to go kayaking so generally I just don’t do it. I wait until I have opportunities when traveling and then take advantage of whatever beautiful river or lake I’ve happened upon.
In New Zealand, Lake Taupo offered the almost perfect kayaking opportunity. I say almost perfect because the weather didn’t cooperate with us. We set off in our kayaks in mid afternoon after having clear skies all morning. There were a few clouds in the sky but nothing to indicate what was coming. We were so blissfully unaware.
We kayaked a while, maybe around a mile down the coast. And then we saw the clouds darken and the rain begin to fall across the lake. We had not gone as far as I wanted, so I didn’t want to turn back yet. I thought the rain might stay where it was and we could continue. As we kept paddling the rain crept closer and closer. Soon it was raining on us and we started paddling toward shore as the rain fell harder.
Sitting on shore we waited until the rain let up… or at least that was the plan. Once it seemed like there was a break we got back in the kayaks and started to head back to the hotel. But then we saw the lightning and heard the thunder and decided that wasn’t the best plan of action. As we searched the shore for a place to hang out until the storm passed we realized we were out of luck and had nowhere to hide.
Then the woman who had been swimming with her family and got out of the water when the lightning started like we did came down to ask us if we wanted to wait out the storm with her family. We put the kayaks in her shed and then went up and had coffee and tea with the family while their four year old son entertained us. We tried to wait out the storm but it never got much better and after an hour we decided to try to get back before the sun went down and made the situation worse.
We made it back without incident and ended the Lake Taupo Kayaking Adventure that had started out as an easy paddle down to the city center. Was the first time I’ve ever gone kayaking in the rain or had any kind of storm show up. It turned out to be really nice meeting and spending some time with a family from Auckland vacationing at Taupo. But next time we will check the weather before we head out.
At least the day ended well with a beautiful sunset, even with the clouds. Every sunset I’ve seen since being in New Zealand has been gorgeous.
