This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
We . left the’ “Railway Station at 8 o ‘clock on 2. glorious Saturday morning. Clear blue skies: promised well for the weekend, - but ' unfortunately by the time we got on’to-the Five Mile Track it was clouding over. The Track wasn't, too muddy and we set a leisurely ‘pace ,~ arriving at: Paua in time ‘for: luneh; “A new and: somewhat tortuous ‘Tromtey was found down the last part of Jacob's Ladder! After building a fire and hanging our socks up to crisp, we walked up to the D.S.I.R's Animal Research Station. Here we were shown™ around and talked to one of the scientists about the Ecology Division's work in the Orongorongos. This includes studies of the vegetation and of the distribution and habits of various animals, birds and insects. Before leaving we were treated to- the "luxury" of a cuppa: with~ "real" milk. The quarters are very comfortable - scientists having to.live there for up to three months spread over the year. The club was very kindly offered the use of the Station's telephone in an emergency. : Back at Paua we got the stew ready and those (three) of us who had decided to sleep out put up a fly. The Medium Trip arrived late in the afterncon after walking the Whakanui Track, and set up camp and prepared their "gourmet" chinese meal while we munched our “common” stew,
It started to rain later in the evening and by the time we kipped down it was falling heavily and the wind had got up. However it wasn't cold and we spent a dry and pleasant night out. Sunday morning was clear, and late in the morning we made our way downstream to the Butcher Track. The river had risen in the night and was quite deep and swift in places, providing good opportunities for practising river-crossing. After fortifying ourselves with large helpings of scroggin we pulled ourselves up through the gorse (ouch!) and scrub. It was worth it = occasional glimpses of the Orongorongo Valley spread ; out below us, and the views from the top, of the Wainuiomata Valley © and Wellington Harbour and Heads, were fantastic. A rather quicker journey down the other side brought us to the bus pick-up point in time to share and enjoy a late tunch by the river with the sandflies, ~ : Altogether a relaxing and very enjoyable weekend. Thanks go to our leader. Those on the trip: Warren Thorburn (leader) Neil Carey Dean Pag: Craig Boswell Graham Cowan Peter Brocklehurst Bridgette Hatton Tania Duncan Tracy Lyons Philip..Kéerwick*, Norman Catchpole Debbie Boswell Jane Chapman