This is the tale of Two Vessels, 2 very different vessels but connected none the less.
In 2018 Clinton (Ozy Clint) and myself were organizing our annual hunt to the west coast of New Zealand. to spend time on the mountains and hunt the mighty Himilayan Tahr with our recurves.
We had not been in this area altogether since 2015
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Left to Right: Mark(Myself) Clinton (Ozy Clint) and Paul Rea.
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A chance meeting with Shankspony (Center) along the way 2015
Our 2018 trip would be much different though. As this would be Paul's last walk in with us. This time he would be free from the burden of a heavy pack and would not be hindered by terrain nor weather, not even time.
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Paul sadly lost a short battle with cancer on April 24th, 2018 at the age of 43, leaving a wife and 3 teenage kids behind. (I realize why this story has taken me so long to write as I still can't believe it really)
Paul's wife and mother had tasked us with putting a part of Paul somewhere that he would be at peace. This was a task Clinton and I didn't take lightly, But we knew what had to be done and very humbly excepted this honor.
The weather on this trip was typical Westland weather. The hours of walking with laden packs gave us time to reflect on the times we all hunted these mountains. I knew Paul would have been unhappy at the fact we were having to carry him, He would have been thinking what a burden he was being. This made me smile as I walked steadily along to our destination.
Entering the valley a faint rainbow greeted us on our quest. We even ran into another Aussie on the walk-in (He had also been hunting Tahr) that had known and hunted with Paul before. what are the odds?
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The weather had blocked our path to the top of the mountain. We could not cross the river and the creek that would provide our accent was a torrent. Such is Westland.
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In for the rest!!!
Bisch
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We selected a special tree where we cross the river to climb the mountain. (Clinton and Paul had swum the river here on a previous trip on the decent from a successful hunt)
We had asked Paul's family if we could each have one of his arrows to mark this special place. As we released them straight and true into this old Ent of a beech tree, we released his soul into the mountains and his empty vessel would blow in the wind and return to the earth. For he did not need it anymore.
Wow
Well done, Mark and Clint; my hat's off to you. Godspeed Paul.
Shick
Very touching story,RIP Paul. For you guys hat off for the great tribute to your buddy. We belong to the earth we'll come back to the earth.
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We hunted where we could and did some long walks on our side of the river. Ultimately we ended up having a lot of reflection time this trip.
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RIP Paul, he was blessed to have friends like this.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
One of the best threads I have read in a very long time.
Thank you very much for taking the time to write this.
Gary
Touching Tale. Adds even more depth for me to the meaning of 'Brothers of the Bow'.
Well Done Brothers! :archer:
This is a very touching story. You are all very blessed to have had such a friend, and your tribute to his memory is truly admirable.
Thank you for sharing this story, and thank you for being the kind of friends you guys were to Paul.
Paul was lucky to have you guys , thanks for taking us along on the hunt
Fantastic Tribute........very special !!! :pray: :pray:
Excellent! High caliber men have high caliber friends. It's obvious you all are great men!
Best to you,
Matthew
WOW, hat is off and heart goes out to you all. :thumbsup: Lost my oldest son in 2008 , it's a hard road...
A fine tribute! What beautiful country!
Awesome tribute guys! Thanks for sharing this trip with us.
We had some blue skies but the river remained too high to cross. The weather was due to get worse.
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Then the weather moved in. We spent a few more days in this winter wonderland then made preparations for the 7-hour hike back to another cabin.
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Thank you for sharing with us that GREAT tribute to Paul.
Beautiful country, plenty of room for a man's spirit to roam.
:coffee: :campfire: :archer2:
What a wonderful tribute to a great friend and story. God bless you both during this Christmas Season!
What a beautiful tribute to your buddy. Thank you for sharing
I have many fond memories of hunting with Paul in NZ.
His smile was contagious and his story telling was enthralling.
Paul fording the river. His memorial tree is beyond the boulders in the background.
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Paul once had a fantastic stalk on a bull tahr.
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The smile says it all. drying our gear at the motel before flying home.
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I was blessed to share some amazing experiences with Paul. He was with me when I found a Bull I shot. Couldn't wipe the smile off our faces.
Between Mark, Paul and myself we are all genuinely happy to see others have success. We would all be as happy for the others as if it were ourselves.
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Before Paul was sick I wrote a poem inspired by our adventures in NZ.
After his passing it seemed so fitting that I read it aloud after returning his 'empty vessel' to the earth.
A fitting tribute.
Mountain Bowhunter
From river bed to mountain summit
The forecast is rain then mercury plummet
A hunter goes forth with hope and a smile
Driven be destiny, persistence and guile
A relentless pursuit in a land that is frozen
Hardship and challenge the reason he's chosen
To hunt the most majestic and noble of beast
So that his soul and his body may partake in a feast
He marvels at a landscape that is icicle encrusted
Having emerged from his shelter keener than mustard
Feeling on his face chilled wind from the pole
Freedom's sweet breath giving life to his soul
Soon he feels warmth from the sun's life giving rays
Surrounded by beauty he takes time and prays
That this day he'll remember from now until when
His number comes up and his own life must end
He looks for some sign while walking the trails
Moving so slowly, no faster than snails
Not giving up even beyond when he tires
Till at last he has found what his heart so desires
There right before him the beauty and grace
Of the animal that drew him to this time and place
Fate has so ruled that these two shall meet
Parted by distance best marked in feet
When said destiny comes time to fulfill
The hunter moves in and prepares for the kill
He draws on the string and shoots an arrow well aimed
The animals body and spirit is tamed
When at the end the beast has been slain
The hunters emotions include sorrow and pain
But he knows life's circle of which death is a part
And knowing this fact he has comfort of heart.
Paul was a Lord of the Rings fan. In fact some scenes were shot in this valley.
This led me to paraphrase a famous scene.
"One does not simply walk into Westland.
Its white tops are guarded by more than just bush.
There is weather there that does not sleep
and the great mountain is ever watchful.
It is a rugged wilderness riddled with rivers and glaciers and peaks.
The very air you breathe is an intoxicating vapour.
Not with a weak spirit could you do this.
It is folly."
I also wrote a Haiku.
Thick fog slowly lifts
Jagged peaks and hairy beast
Food for soul and body
I'd like to think his soul is in a place of abundance.
It's ironic that Paul said to me upon finding a tahr skull in a beautiful spot on a mountainside on our first trip to NZ, that he couldn't think of a better place to lay to rest.
Rest in peace, Brother of the bow. :archer2:
I think it was around here in 2011 that Paul found that Tahr skull, I also remember that comment.
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We made it back to the other cabin and spent a few more days hunting and gathering firewood to restock the hut supply.
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Here is a link to a few photos Paul's wife and daughter put together for his memorial. It really shows what kind of man he was.
Enjoy.
https://youtu.be/TBTX1VsH8B4
You guys are just a fantastic example of what real men are made of,, i am humbled just to read your words. Thanks for sharing a very difficult time. That is a beautiful place.
Thank you for sharing this.
Mark and Clint. That is a special little piece of forest! If you get to it the same way that I do, then you follow for a short while a small stream of such beauty and peace that I can never pass it without stopping. This photo was taken on the trip I met you guys, and I'd guess Paul's tree is within 100 yards if its not visible in the background.
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I could not think of a better spot!
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Yes Shanks, we follow the same stream that you speak off. We call it Rea creek now. (Why not? it has no name on the map) the natural course you follow down to the river crossing is indeed beautiful temperate forest. it is clear of undergrowth and a pleasure to walk through. Paul's tree is what we feel, 'on the path' to the river crossing. your are naturally guided to it by the bush when seeking to cross the river there. the path of least resistance so to speak.
we left the GPS co-ordinates and the reason of it's significance in the hut book. it was the last page though. don't know what happens to old hut books, whether they are left there and a new one placed there???
We had a thought that it would be great to return there one day and see that more arrows had been added by hunters as they passed by. A small token gesture of acknowledgment.
I never knew you took that photo as we left that hut that time. I like it. The anonymity suggests it could be any group of friends heading off in search of adventure.
Meeting you guys that night at the hut was a trip highlight. May we meet again someday.
I can promise you guys that when I get back there, I will search out Paul's tree and leave an arrow.
Somehow this brings to mind one of my favourite poems.
For Whom the Bell Tolls
by
John Donne
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
Quote from: shankspony on December 21, 2020, 01:31:28 AM
I can promise you guys that when I get back there, I will search out Paul's tree and leave an arrow.
Somehow this brings to mind one of my favourite poems.
For Whom the Bell Tolls
by
John Donne
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
That is a very fitting poem. I hope we can meet again in those mountains. And Paul would be honoured to have you visit his tree.
Often times when we would be sitting out the rainstorms some times lasting 72 hours, in a small couped up tent on the top of the mountain with only room to sit up and nothing to lean against and nothing but freeze-dried meals. We would dream and talk about other trips where we could have a tipi and a stove with chairs and any food we wanted.
The 3 of us would all describe the same thing, to paddle somewhere (a kind of southern hemisphere float trip) with deer hunting and fishing in the cold weather.
Unfortunately, we never realized this dream while Paul was still with us. But it gave Clinton and myself a renewed urgency, to not just dream but do.
As we had been given a stark reminder that life is too short.
We got to planning and the next year Clinton had a 12 man tipi and I had a canoe. We had a location that would give us most of the elements we were after for our trip.
We would hunt Sambar deer and fish for trout on a large lake in Victoria a southern state of Australia.
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A bit different view from our usual start of the trip photo.
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A flat site something we were not used to.
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Clinton erecting the tipi, The ability to stand up and be warm was most welcome.
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A welcome chore.
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Tools we would not usually take.
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Photos like this always remind me of the image of Fred Bear roasting them sheep ribs over the coals with the axe in the log.
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Clinton trying for a trout
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The stock of wood was growing
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The head room was sublime.
Wow!!!!!!! That's all I got!
You guys are awesome!
Bisch
What he said ^
Wow, I'm just blown away by the heart felt way you honored the life of your friend.
Hey Mark,
I knew Paul through the Aussie Bowhunting forum in its heyday, and had the pleasure of meeting him (along with yourself) at the Wild Deer Expo one year. I very quickly formed the opinion that he was a helluva good bloke.
I was saddened to hear of his passing and touched by yourself and Clinton's tribute.
Longbow Tahr is very high on my bucket list and if I'm ever up that creek, I'll be giving your mate a tribute arrow.
Looking forward to reading the rest of this adventure.
Cheers,
Memo.
Quote from: memo on December 28, 2020, 02:56:03 AM
Hey Mark,
I knew Paul through the Aussie Bowhunting forum in its heyday, and had the pleasure of meeting him (along with yourself) at the Wild Deer Expo one year. I very quickly formed the opinion that he was a helluva good bloke.
I was saddened to hear of his passing and touched by yourself and Clinton's tribute.
Longbow Tahr is very high on my bucket list and if I'm ever up that creek, I'll be giving your mate a tribute arrow.
Looking forward to reading the rest of this adventure.
Cheers,
Memo.
That was at Rutherglen Steven, wasn't it? He was a helluva bloke that helped many people in trad archery. Paul like myself had the same opinion of you.
I hope NZ allows you to fulfil your bucket list dream. Clinton and I are hanging to get back there.
Paul would be honoured to have one of your arrows mark his resting place.
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We perfected our baking techniques on our kifaru oven and grill attachment. it was so good to have these kinds of foods instead of just freeze-dried meals. The canoe definitely is a bonus in this situation being able to bring and cook different foods.
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It turned out that we were too late for the trout and too early for the Sambar as they had not been pushed down by the snow yet. It did not matter though we did some big walks had a few encounters. We had a ball exploring on our adventure, it was so refreshing to hunt and live in this luxury.
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I'm sure every one of us would be honored to add his arrrow to Paul's tree. A beautiful tribute.
Thanks for posting.. God speed Paul
Deno
Truly incredible. Great tribute. RIP Paul. Awesome pics, story and poetry.
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Spam steaks never tasted so good. The Tipi was awesome being able to stand up in a heated shelter is truly amazing. As you can see this setup is optimal for 3 people gear and firewood.
Something we were reminded of when we would be sitting by the stove drinking coffee and reminiscing. If only we had done this sooner with Paul. His stories and tales would have kept us entertained in this environment long into the night. The empty third of the tipi that lay bare saddened us. But Im sure he was sitting there with us warming by the stove.
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Paul would have enjoyed this so much. He always felt the cold in NZ and to live in a 'mobile cabin' would have had him smiling ear to ear.
The food you can cook in them amazing. sometimes we even went hunting. :jumper:
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Along with garlic bread this pizza was our greatest achievement. Flour water salt, juice from a can of baked beans, homemade salami and cheese grilled under the stove.
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This was a beautiful place and we will return one day.
It's much more difficult in today's climate, But don't just dream live, using whatever vessel you can.
Arhh yes, the grilling plate underneath the stove was the 1st thing i made for the stove when i got home.
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Paul Jason Rea RIP We will miss you. Our bother of the bow.
Thank you everyone for your kind words and blessings, it really means a lot.
I wish you all a safe and happy new year.
Kind Regards
Mark
Kayak or canoe, tent in a glade, Mora kniv, all is good with life.
:coffee: :campfire: :archer2:
Yes Sir!
Came to this through another recent thread. What a great tribute! Thanks for sharing it with us....
Gotta look that up now! (Got my stove :thumbsup:)
Love the pics and the journey. Life well-lived.
Killdeer
Mark and Clint, well done. Paul was a very lucky man to have friends like you. We should all be so blessed.