Pegasus Lake as a Dragon Boat venue:
Aoraki are always on the lookout for suitable venues for our events. Lake Hood is superb for quality racing on it's Olympic-grade rowing course. And Kerr's Reach is great for Christchurch urban regatta, but is limited by its width, and the water quality. So when Peter Johnson of CPC told us about the new developments on our northern outskirt, we were very interested...
Noel and Meri visited in early October 2009 and this is what we saw: [and More photos...] |
 |
 |
| 1. Developers have nearly finished the General Store at Pegasus. When the town is finished, the Main St to the left will have shopping, restaurants, bars and cafes by the lakeside (west bank) |
2. These sections are already sold, so of course Aoraki can't use that for Paddler tent sites - they will be further to the right (north). |
 |
 |
| 3. View back to the Swing Bridge. Construction is under way but notice the sections are well grassed. No dust bowl here! |
4. A side arm of the lake (west side, looking east). Construction of the Yacth Club and "Main Street" on the other side of the lake. |
 |
 |
| 5. From The Esplanade, looking across the Swing Bridge. On race day, this will be swarming! |
6. This is as far as the public can drive so far. Need to have an escort past here. |
 |
 |
| 7. This is one of the sections (unsold) we will use for Team Tents, warm ups. And maybe car parking. |
8. This is the "top right", ie the north eastern arm of the lake. Finish line is straight ahead (looking across the course) with Paddler Tent site to the left (by the blue light poles) |
 |
 |
| 9. Check out the WHITE beaches! They look a little odd with the base of the lake still visible though. |
10. In foreground is the 'north east arm", white beach is crew loading, and to the left in the background is a fence. Team tents go behind that (and the fence is removed). Finish line is to the right (out of shot) |
 |
 |
| 11. . |
12. |
 |
 |
| 13. Just to hte left of the main race length, when looking down the course. This is "Crew Loading" |
14. Fantastic beach in the foreground. Teams will run aground here if they forget to stop! |
 |
 |
| 15. |
16. |
 |
 |
| 17. The beach in the foreground is directly at the end of the lake, the beach behind is "crew loading". |
18. |
 |
 |
| 19. A bit of glare from that crushed-shell beach! |
20. Quite a way for the water to come up yet. |
 |
 |
| 21. The lake is mostly filling from the seepage from the Canterbury water table, but meantime ... |
22. .... water is being piped into the top end of the lake to help fill it in time. |
 |
 |
| 23. |
24. Nice gardens along the public walkway. |
 |
|
| 25. Plenty of planting is under way. But the lake is still very exposed to the winds. |
More photos... |
