This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
Punters: Barbara (Leader), Renee, Gail, Natasha, Yongqing, Michael (scribe). After a slow ride out of town it was dinner at Featherston and then ee f on to Eketahuna and the road end arriving about 10pm — just after gar] ae dark —to camp under a fly. There were strong gusts of windanda "*. slightly sheltered grassy spot was full of gorse stumps. Although Gerald had his own group to lead he helped us sort out a spot to set up the fly and even asked Allen to move the bus to try for better shelter (thanks, guys!). But it didn’t help. The wind was so strong that at 1am the pole at Barbara's end flew apart and despite jury rigging it with her walking poles she still spent most of the night redoing it, so none of us had much sleep — except for Natasha — she slept through it all, grrr.
We were up rather early as the fly finally lost its fight with the wind and collapsed on us at 6am. We discovered that the bus trailer is a great place to boil a billy when it is very windy! Too bad it couldn't sleep 6 punters! As a result we were off at a most uncivilised time for an easy tramp — 8:30am. Unbelievable for an easy tramp! So on with the tramping. It was true easy style — nice and slow, plenty of breaks, plenty of conversation (except on the steep bits), and everyone happy to stay together. There were some lovely rimu’s on the way up with their bark almost flaking off, and plenty of comments about crazy “fitness essential” trampers who went to Roaring Stag the night before.
We got to an empty hut and the previous night caught up with us so after a brew we went to sleep (though not wide awake Natasha ©). Then about an hour later a private trip arrived followed by the mediums and then the easy mediums. That wasn’t the plan but the wind was ferocious up high so everyone retreated. About twenty something people for a 12 bunk hut — cosy though the easy-mediums did camp outside.
Barbara had planned an amazing dinner and it lived up to expectation — a scrumptious vegetarian chilli dish and then the master touch for desert: strawberries, madeira cake — and whipped cream. Heaven. Thank you Barbara ©.
The night was cosy and it rained heavily. The river rose about a metre and we were a little worried about the sidestreams on the way back but the river was going down fast by the time we got away and no dramas.
such a rush to pass us. © Back at the bus we ate, got changed, lazed in the sun and waited for the last group .... then the dramas began.
The Orient Express, on possibly her last trip for the club, was bleeding air from the air brakes. After much scratching of heads and getting help from the local farm Gerald and our driver, Allen headed up the road with the local farmer seeking cell phone reception. Meanwhile back on the bus we dozed and wondered if we would get back tonight .... Eventually they returned to say a mechanic from Eketahuna was on the way. It only took a few moments for him to spot the problem — a piece of string holding the air brake bleeder in place had got wrapped around something and was holding the air brakes open. I guess the wind in the weekend maybe got into the engine and tangled things up.
So finally it was back to Wellywood and civilisation. Thank you Barbara for a wonderful lead, and thank you fellow punters for making this such an enjoyable trip.