Kayaking Adventure: Laughter, Mishaps, and a Few Hungry Wekas
What are we most excited about on this kayaking trip? Not drowning. At least, that was the first answer given. And honestly, fair enough.
But beyond the fear of an unplanned swim, there was a lot to look forward to — dessert, beautiful sandy beaches, snorkeling, the possibility of steaming fresh mussels, and maybe even spotting some seals. Sounds idyllic, right? Well, let’s just say the trip took some unexpected turns.
Paddling Into The Unknown
Apparently, you can get to Anchorage in two hours if you’re an Olympic paddler. We, however, had a ton of gear and zero Olympic credentials. But we did have a boat date, which is arguably better.
Our first stop was a picturesque beach where Andy whipped up some bacon-filled wraps. The rest of us, affectionately referred to as “servants,” contributed as best we could — mainly by chucking things around. The spot was great, even if it wasn’t exactly gourmet dining. It was like the most magical Disneyland day, but with slightly less organization and significantly more sand.
The Great Bathroom Rating
A crucial part of any backcountry trip is the bathroom situation, and we took our review duties seriously.
Four bathrooms. Cold, but functional. A real lock = big win. Didn’t smell bad, another plus. The consensus? A solid 9 out of 10. Some might say that’s generous, but when you’re out in the wild, a flushing toilet is practically a luxury resort.
Wildlife Encounters: Weka versus the Tent
As Dad dutifully packed down the tent, a shocking discovery was made: the local wekas had staged a full-on raid, making holes in our (expensive) tent in their quest for chips. The reaction?
Dad: “Yeah, I’m a little pissed off about it, really.”
Understandable.
Meanwhile, Mum was focused on her morning workout — squats, deadlifts, and chocolate. A solid fitness routine, if you ask us.
Gourmet(ish) Dining
Dinner was a true culinary experience: gluten-free pasta, parmesan, sour cream, pesto — all smashed together into what we called “dinner.” The ratings were mixed:
- “Maybe a six.”
- “Compared to last night? A tough one.”
- “I do like canned tuna and chips.”
- “Honestly, for tramping food? A seven.”
Would the rating improve if a chocolate bar was added afterward? Unanimous agreement: yes.
Meanwhile, a very serious debate unfolded. How many wekas could one eat in a single sitting? Mum estimated three babies would be the perfect portion. Dad, ever practical, said it all depended on how well they were fried. Thus, KFW (Kaiteriteri Fried Weka) was born. “Eat more wekas, save more tents.” We should probably trademark that.
Nighttime Chaos and the Morning After
Sleeping under the stars sounds peaceful in theory. In reality, it involved Mum trying to convince Lila not to get up, a lot of yelling about going to the bathroom, and general confusion. Dad, however, slept pretty well . . . probably because he wasn’t involved in the late-night drama.
The morning brought another gourmet spread: bacon, hash browns, hot chocolate, and the realization that our adventure was nearing its end. The final day was a mix of snorkeling, packing, and deciding whether to light flares just for fun (probably not the best idea).
The Great Escape
Astrolabe and Monohau are known for their wind and currents, and as luck would have it, the wind was in our favor. We probably should have brought a sail, but hindsight is 20/20.
As we waited for the water taxi, we bundled into warm clothes and reflected on our grand adventure.
Did we conquer the sea? Not exactly.
Did we eat well? Debatable.
Did we laugh a lot and make incredible memories? Absolutely. And that’s what an adventure is all about.
That’s a wrap — until next time! Watch the video to see the highlights from our trip.
FMC thanks Andy Carruthers for his permission to reproduce this article, first published on his ‘Great Walk Adventures’ blog (January 2025).
