“In a world where there are few great challenges left for the adventurous, it is easy to understand how the hearts and imaginations of many New Zealanders were captured as they followed the progress of the lone canoeist during the fist solo circumnavigation of the South Island by canoe.”
So begins the advertising literature for OBSCURED BY WAVES by Paul Caffyn. One immediately thinks of a kayak loaded to the gunwales with gear, pushing on whenever possible to complete this major feat. It wasn’t altogether a solo trip but I guess the statement is covered by journalistic license, which other more recent adventurers have used to cover deliberate falsehoods and exaggerations.
Actually the trip took part in several stages, the 1st part being done in company with Max Reynolds. This covered from Te Waewae Bay to Jacksons Bay, taking about 27 days, carrying most of their gear, and using food drops as well. This covered the Fiordland coastline, but right throughout the book the maps only seem to cover day by day sections, and there is no one larger map to give the trip perspective. No doubt a NZ reader would follow the course without any trouble but I still only have a sketchy knowledge of the location of many places named. After this trip both paddlers returned home, but a couple of weeks later Paul got itchy feet, and only then decided to try the complete circumnavigation. He then went on to do this, starting from where they left off, paddling an empty boat and being met each night by a support party.
OBSCURED BY WAVES is a well written book with some beautiful colour photos, and is a must for anyone interested in canoeing. He covers fitting a skeg to his Nordkapp, and other minor modifications to improve the comfort. He paddled in huge seas and occasionally needed more than one attempt to break out through massive surf, and occasionally coming to grief in an attempt to land in similar conditions.
It has approx 200 pages, 35 B&W and 16 colour photos, 16 drawings, and 30 maps. Cost is $12.95 (including pack and post) and is available from
  FIVE BAR
  24 WILBERFORCE AVE
  ROSE BAY
  NSW, 2029
There is a 10% discount for clubs (min.5)
Paul is an experienced mountaineer, having made two ascents of Mt Cook, plus a winter ascent of Mt Tasman. He has also spent time in Tasmania in the southern area, climbing the NW face of Federation Peak amongst other things.
As already stated, this is an excellent book, and well worth getting.

Laurie Ford