This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
HERE WE GO AT LAST - DAY TRIPS!!!!! Karin Boswell Dear Editor - we should have responded to your gentle prodding before this, but we really didn’t have anything unusual to report - until now. . In the past two years we have been reasonably lucky with the weather with only one or two trips cancelled. One trip last year to Cannon's Point ended with a few taking a wrong turning and wandering around the streets of Totara Park attempting to find their way back to the Bridge Road carpark. Two girls failed to turn up, so the father of one gave the car keys to his son to get back to the vehicle while he searched for the girls. Unfortunately the son left the keys on the footpath where the crowd were gathered, went back to the vehicle without them, and several expeditions had to be despatched to find girls and keys. All ended happily with celebratory cups of tea all round. This year on the 24th March we finally cracked the tramp I have had to cancel twice because of rain and mist - ROUND KNOB.
As it was only a week before a group of Sunday Enthusiasts were off to Ruapehu to do day tramps over Easter, I decided to make this a ‘get fit for Easter’ tramp by starting them off in Stratton Street, Normandale, climbing up a steep firebreak to Old Belmont Road, along to and up Round Knob, then complete a grand circle around the tops to Belmont Trig, and down the farm road back to the cars. Approximately 4 1/2 hours tramping. The hero of the day was Don O’Brien’s little son Ben - just turned four, who not only walked the whole way unaided, but led the way brandishing his wooden sword at some startled cows and their offspring. We are training him to be Chief Guide in the year 2007! A few days later 14 from Wellington (not counting Alex Gray's party) and two from Aucidand met at the Ruapehu Lodge - eager to try their feet in new surroundings. The ‘Auckland WTMC’ contingent and friends were staying at Pokaka, and combined efforts with us on Friday to some glow-worm caves, and a jaunt to Lake Rotopounamu. — The plans were laid for the major event on Saturday - the Volcanic Plateau crossing, starting at Sam: All 20 of the Pokaka crew and 8 of ours were geared for the crossing. 6 more of us were the back-up to take the cars from Mangatepopo around to Ketetahi.
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Four of us took a leisurely climb to the hot springs to await the Crossing Contingent who arrived in record time, hardly giving us a chance to soak our feet in the stepped down pools of hot mud and spring water ‘descending from the violently active thermal valley on the flanks of Tongariro. The weather during the day varied from overcast, mist and drizzle, sunny intervals, with cold temperatures up on the plateau. We met Paul Green who was keeping an eye on-his domain and told our party that he estimated there were probably 500 people up there, not counting the triathlete runners who pounded down the track towards us through this gruelling section of the Round the Mountain’ event. A picnic-ike atmosphere prevailed at the Ketetahi carpark where the Pohaka crew had to wait until their three drivers were taken by our cars back to their vehicles at Mangatepopo, then return and collect them. That evening an exceptional day was capped off for us all, and especially me, with my 60th birthday being celebrated with our friends who produced an enormous and beautifully decorated cake for the occasion. This was followed by a video of the whole days events being shown through our TV. Barry Small, our guest tramper from Auckland, had expertly videoed the crossing, accompanied by his own fluent commentary of the happenings en route. Easter Sunday was wet and misty and gave us all an excuse to relax until the afternoon when a break in the weather enabled smaller groups to explore tracks from the Bruce Road. That night our wonderful Pohaka crew arrived and a hilarious session of showing them the video ensued, with many ribald remarks about a certain ‘star’ of the video (it's all right Don, we won't let on!). Of course Monday was brilliantly fine! A first-time chairlift ride for some, then back to the Lodge to pack and reluctantly leave for home ended a memorable and happy Easter for us all. The Day Trampers were: Dot & Dave Catchpole (leaders), John & Judy Armstrong, Don & Adrienne Jeffs, Karin & Duncan Boswell, Trev & Mary Walsh, Ollie Stempa, Neil Carey, Millie Quinn, Pauline Miller, and our Auckland friends Barry & Wendy Small. Auckland WTMCs from Pohaka were: Brian & Diane Aitken, Norm & Jacqui Whiteside, and Kelly & Judy Yip and children. Kevin and Beth Griffiths came up from Turangi, and Barrie Noyce from Serac Lodge to add to the Sunday night festivities. (Many thanks for the trip report Karin - it was well worth the wait! A belated happy birthday - may your next 60 years be just as active as your last!)