This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
WHAKANUI TO PAUA HUT........6 - 7 FEBRUARY 1993 by Sue Walsh We were a motley looking crew, standing at the roadend adjusting all our straps. squeezing into shining tramping boots and trying to calculate how fit we all were. Even though it was February, some of the leftovers of Christmas feasting were still hanging around. The odd groan was heard as packs were slung on and one or two prostrate bodies who didn't want to admit a pack onto their backs. Penny certainly had her work cut out! We straggied off to find the track. after a consultation with the map, and left Anita and Rex with the Duchess for their easy journey to the Orongorongo Valley it's funny how a lot of tracks start with an uphill slog, especially when the body is still in sleep mode; the awakening Is rather rude. We took the initial uphill climb slowly, soon getting into the swing of tramping again. We followed in the wake of our Fearless Leader and two misplaced Fits, going up, over and around the hills until we came to a semtsuitable lunch site. A quick debate decided us to carry on until we dropped down to the Orongo Valley and a sheltered sunny spot with heaps of sun and the odd wasp or two. Bodies were soon sprawled all over the place soaking up the rays, munching food and drinking copious quantities of tea. A nearby stream lured two or three of the punters to cool off in the shade with their feet in the water: very nice! A tew of us soon set off and meandered down the river enjoying the cool watery bits The main pack followed shortly after and we were soon all at Paua Hut getting organised for the main meal of the day. While one group started on the meal, Leanne and Matthew went through a pile of rubbish that had been left by the door, sorting out what could be burnt and what would be carried out. Fortunately the bulk of itt was burnt as there were some undesirable things in amongst the rubbish. Penny, meanwhile, was keeping a watchful eye on the other punters cooking dinner calling out helpful hints and directing operations from a comfortable pit! Bot We were soon seated around a makeshift table pigging out on fettucine, veges' and chicken. This was followed bya: scrummy cheesecake with fruit salad and marshmallows. Who were those people who had second helpings? Graham and. who? Tea and coffee finished off the meal then, bit by bit, people congregated outside on the bank. ‘Anita and Rex strolled by and stopped for a chat and then disappeared, very disappointed we hadn't left any cheesecake:'for » them!! It was a beautiful evening in the valley, very still and quiet. The moon rose and stars started appearing everywhere A Morepork could be heard in the distance, and splashes and murmurs followed a torch, presumably looking for eels long the river The conversation continually chopped and changed covering topics from the sublime to totally awe-inspiring Everyone finally crashed in their pits around 10.30 until the morning arrived. We had a slothful start to the day enjoying a lazy breakfast and meandering around the hut. Penny and I popped around to visit Anita and Rex who were busy sunning themselves in decadent comfort to finalise details for meeting at the Catchpool. Three of us were going to cruise out along the Five Mile with a stop up the river for some sunning while the others were going over the Butcher/Baker track. Do you ever get the feeling that something is not quite right? At first I thought it was the extra helping of cheesecake that I'd eaten, but common sense appeared for a second and I realised that it was the pack! As we were now walking, I decided to check it out once we stopped (common serse had quickly disappeared). After a few minutes stroll we stopped and I promptly dived into my pack to sort out the problem I found that I'd been carrying an extra load in the disguise of an adolescent boulder! Bruce promptly got the full force of
my reaction, but his look of injured innocence left me in doubt. Leanne also denied all knowledge, just as the others did when we met up with them later; but I have my suspicions............ We met up with the others at the carpark and swapped stories of unbearable heat, giant sandfiies and rocks that kept following people. The arrival of Rex and Anita soon had us in the back of the Duchess and heading for an ice cream stop Another great weekend was drawing to a close.
The punters were: Penny Harrison (Fearless Trip Leader), Matthew Craig, Leanne Pool, Bruce Pool, Kath, Graham Morley, Daniel, Andrew, Sue Walsh (Rock Carrier, Scribe).