This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
need to incorporate the following points (not in any order). 1) Good food 2) Re-charge internal batteries 3) Reduce stress 4) Reasonable weather (not under my control) 5) Sleeping in the outdoors - flys only - no huts 6) A medium fitness trip 7) Views of nature 8) A selection of various tracks,
By Derek Page including: a) well-maintained tracks b) not-so-well-maintained __tracks c) along ridges d) bushbashing e) on the tops 9) Wildlife 10) River travel 11) An insight into navigation 12) Botanising
I’m sure there is more to add.
Where could we go to achieve all these? And by the way, numbers in the narrative refer to the points numbered above.
We drove out of Wellington (that is always the best way) on the Friday night, stopping first to pick up some Chinese takeaways. Twenty minutes later we were at the roadend. The food was consumed and #1 achieved. Not bad so far, 11 to go. Whilst the fly was being put u Pp, a cup of tea was brewing. Efficiency here! After erecting the fly, some fig biscuits were set upon and soon they were being digested by our stomachs, with the help of a cup of tea.
After that we zipped into our sleeping bags and with the help of the moreporks moreporking (9), a cloudless, windless night, and the noise of the nearby river rivering away, we drifted off to sleep (4) (5),
We had two lots of animals visit us that night. The first was fourwheeled with two-legged animals inside it. Hoons! Boozing and then ducking down to the river for a midnight swim. I was going to get up and tell them could they please keep the noise down, but thought I would not achieve (3) by doing that, and besides, I did those things when I was their age (9).
Later in the night, other much_ I. "friendlier visitors - four-legged, clambering, sniffing, poking, prodding their noses over our packs. Possums (9). Would Lorraine wake up, shall 1 wake her? Better not, who knows how she would react. She didn’t - (wake up).
We awoke on Saturday morning with the help of magpies cajoling (9). After a light breakfast, we headed up a track (8a) and onto the ridge (8c) where we turned right. Half an hour later we were on a saddle. There were new DOC signs and old signs. The new signs were obvious, the old signs not. They were ina unique position ~ at least 5 metres up a tree! I got Lorraine to see if she could spot them .- she couldn’t. Mind you, she is not as tall as me. I have to admit, the first time I came to this saddle I missed them too. It pays to have shifty eyes, not just left and right (11). After a short break we continued up a not-~so~-well-formed track (8b) and at 1pm we left the bush behind to come out onto the top. What an exquisite sight and site (7) to welcome Lorraine on her first 1000 metre climb. A complete 360 degrees of no clouds, (4) blue sky and the lack of wind. It was one of those 72 days where it is perfect.
We moved along on top (8e) of the volcano-shaped peak to a spot by some tarns and put up the fly. It was welcome, due to the sun being at its highest. The billy was boiled and lunch was consumed. The rest of the day was taken by looking at what nature had designed for us to view from this point. A brief training period on how to orientate a map (11) and we Were in business_identifyingpeaks, points, and plains.
The main range was in view with imaginative faces on faces, To the south, a peak which has a wellknown crossing associated with it was seen. To the southwest, a large table top was showing itself strange! I just love this. It makes your mind wander randomly, forgetting about life and just admiring the views like this (2, 3, 7).
An uncle said to me “when you are outdoors with nature, use all your senses to appreciate it”. That, I always remember wherever I go.
Today sights, sounds, smells, touch and taste of today was - oh so wonderful.
Dinner dragged us away. Main was pasta with many fresh vegetables. Followed by dessert of a small Christmas pudding topped up with hot custard, nectarines and apricots (1). The usual brew followed with bickies.
The stars that night were out in millions (11). The band of our white milky stars was overpowering (7). Your thoughts begin to wander again about life, universes, restaurants, and what would I do if a flying saucer suddenly appeared etc. What a day, everything was perfection. We woke up at 6am on Sunday about 20 minutes before sunrise. For those more scientifically correct, the sun does not rise, the earth turns. Who (bl___dy well) cares anyway (3).
I -Looking -to-the-east-our-planet earth was showing off our star by refracting its light into a reddish ochre on the faces of the main range (7). We spent an hour watching this. Breakfast was downed, followed by a brew of tea. Fly dismantled, packed, and we were off by 0830.
Be vai, in, MOLT
This time we followed a bit of a track, now not maintained by DOC - good. Once or twice we lost it. We lost it completely at one point (8b). A course change was necessary here (11). I shinnied up a tree and found we had veered to the east and were in fact moving off the -ridge. Moving to the left (8d) brought us to the track again and ten minutes later we were at a track junction. The track from here was maintained by DOC. I had decided earlier to head down a creek of which I had never been. the source of the creek was about 600 metres further along the ridge.
Just pass the dot point as shown on the TOPO map we turned east and found the source of the creek. A drip and a drop. From here we followed the many drips and then dropped downhill.
Some small waterfalls were negotiated, many tributaries were met, and the odd (why not even?) slip. Soon the creek was nearly a stream. What makes a creek a stream? Sun reflected off the creek, heat likewise off the surrounding rocks and stones and whenever the bush opened out - generally by slips. The creek was used in abundance by our thirst. A good advantage of travelling near water.
The view for lunch that day was a five metre waterfall (7). Food digested was the usual paraphernalia of bits and pieces, snicks and snacks. It took an hour. Mind you, most of this time was dozing, soaking up the sun, marvelling at the isolation, and listening to the water falling (or the result of water falling).
On we went. Two hours later we saw the water intake for a lodge further down stream. We diverted from the creek here to follow the associated pipe to its lodge. A little bit further down, the creek hides itself by going underground. »
Fifteen minutes later the back of the lodge appeared in front of us - we were moving forward, not the lodge going backwards! On the other side of the lodge the creek had met up with a river. Different sexes obviously because it is amazing how drips and drops multiply. The lodge was in attendance with a DOC warden and guests. Intentions book was updated, a brief chat chattered, then we headed down to the river to make camp in some trees nearby (5). A space was reserved for us - this place had been noted by me ona previous trip (11). Next priority was to have a swim to cool down and to delouse ourselves of sweat.
The local pool was clean, clear, fresh, warm and unpolluted with chemicals. It was already in attendance. The water was flowing very fast in places and by some careful navigation, rapids were used to massage our bodies (2, 3). Sunbathing followed by swimming followed by sunbathing until it was time to retrieve energy lost (1).
Dinner-was-again-a-pasta-dish- (different pasta this time, with tuna ~ no we didn’t catch it in the river), followed by dessert sweet instant chocolate puddings again with fruit (1), and the regular cuppa tea afterwards. After dishes time we walked up river to see the remains of an old flat hut which had been flattened and the nearby swingbridge (7). The old bridge was once a cage, now only a couple of cables remain, with part of the cage stuck in the middle.
Next stop was the lodge for some gossip (3). The usual subjects appeared in conversation, and whilst looking up at the stars, a UFO was seen going at a great rate of knots way above us! But, the general consensus made by the three witnesses that saw it was that it was a satellite. Damn, and probably man-made at that!
We hit the sack just after 10pm. We were visited by nothing that night; well, that I know of. You know what it’s like. Hit the bed and you’re out instantly.
A Tui woke us up that morning with its wake-up call (9). It was still a bit cold due to the sun I being below the hills. Mist was covering some of the river of which we were to travel down today (7). An early morning swim to freshen up? No, I’m keen but not keen keen. Back to sleep for another hour!
Muesli for breakfast and a spot of tea, with no cucumber sandwiches. A nice relaxing getup and have breakfast was performed. At about 9am we were packed up and ready to depart for the final day.
First a small detour across the river to read some of the signs at a hut. They didn’t tell us which way to go unfortunately. The hunter in the hut had a lot to say! Typical for this hut. Anyway, down stream we headed.
At about 12.30pm we had a compulsory swim (the first of 4 places). A large log trapped just under the water against some boulders had formed a large pool. There was a dry route along this river but we decided to stick with the river, so, a swim was necessary.
Lorraine was at first reluctant to put her pack in front of her and swim with it. It was soon accepted and she ended up enjoying this part of tramping also (10).
We stopped on the other side of the pool for lunch. Whilst the billy was on heat we went for another swim. Lunch was an extended hour. We then carried on down the river.
After about 20 ~ 30 uneventful river crossings, we had arrived at our destination. Our starting point. Many dogs and their human leaders were here ~ the day was that good. Another swim followed by sunbathing was essential to freshen up.
After an hour, it was done, and regretfully the trip was over. It is always depressing at this time. Wicked thoughts come from nowhere reminding us of tomorrow’s grind and all implications associated with it,