In early February, I completed the Instructor Selection Course through Outward Bound NZ in Anakiwa, the small coastal settlement a stone's throw away from Picton.
On day one of the course, we met at the Picton Ferry Terminal and after a handful of initiation exercises, we ran a few km and swam out to the OB cutter, a 30-odd foot sailing boat which we were tasked with navigating back to Anakiwa, our first test of teamwork.
This week was something of a hybrid between an OB course with some sleep deprivation, physical and mental fatigue and a five day job interview. We were being watched by the directing staff for the entirety of the course and appraised on our behaviour.
At the end of a rather long and tiring day, we were told to pack our kayaking and overnight kit and to board the bus, we weren't staying at the school tonight! This was a trend upheld for the next few days as we learnt what the students feel like to constantly not be in the know.
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| We stayed in this neat wee shelter, kicking the rats out who were not thrilled to see us. |
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| Day two and we were tasked with showing our kayaking skills and testing our navigation and time-awareness skills. |
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| Moo! |
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| Finally back at base, we got to explore the school and see examples of student accommodation. |
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| OBNZ - the school |
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| Looking across the bay to Anakiwa by night |
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| Life wasn't all hard work and PT sessions while on course, there were lots of opportunities to swim and soak up the sun |
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| One of the MBS (Mind Body and Soul) courses getting rowing right. |
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| Sunrise, the perfect time for a 3.2km assault of the mind and body |
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| Not a shabby wee place |
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| I think I could quite get used to this as my office! |
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| The OB 2014 selection course crew |
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| A token gesture, planting a tree. A tradition upheld by each course group who attend OB. Now a swathe of native bush surrounds the school. |
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| On the launch sailing back to Picton |
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| No trip up north is complete without a dunk in the stunning Pelorous River. |
