30 November to 1 December 2019

Leader: Brian Solomon

Well I was planning on a quiet getaway weekend with a bit of fishing but it was not to be.

I take my role as trip leader seriously however when I handed the transport and seating plan to the rag tag bunch of trampers assembled in the carpark at Kapiti School on Saturday morning they were dismissive of my efforts. Where are we stopping for coffee was a much more interesting subject for discussion it appeared. Well 13 trampers got into cars in a higgledy piggledy fashion and away they went informing me they would be stopping in Featherston at a cafe to be decided. Me, they informed me the trip leader! Well I knew I had to exert my authority smartly to bring this bunch to order.

Somehow we got to Wall's Whare, drenched in coffee and still dropping crumbs, where I began my haircut, gear and shoe / sock inspection. Well Chantal claimed to have come straight from the hairdresser and set off with a toss of her locks. Jeez. We had a couple of newbies on the trip Owen and Marian. Unfortunately Owen’s footwear was not up to scratch so I only allowed him to come on a personal responsibility basis. They both show promise but have a lot to learn regarding deference to the trip leader and that sort of thing. Marian doesn’t seem to be picking that bit up at all well.

I was looking for a person or persons with experience, calm patient nature, unerring navigation skills, encouraging disposition and boundless energy, to be Tail End Charlie for the trip. Having all of those characteristics and a few more Darrel and Bryan volunteered for the position. The job description is for the group to all arrive at Totara Flats safely and vaguely in a timely fashion with nobody slipping off the track, down a bank and bruising their thigh causing soreness and stiffness for a couple of days. Together they did a fine job.

Sue and Elisabeth were a bit of a handful to keep on the track. They had a habit of ducking into the bush with a geo gleam in their eyes and emerging claiming to have found another geocache with a score of 13 finds by the end of the weekend.

Well we somehow got to Totara Flats, after having stops at each of the swing bridges on the way, whereupon tents were erected (higgledy piggledy) and at this point all semblance of order was lost as people headed into the river, the grassy flats, the huts and the tranquility of the fishing world. The swimmers took to the water in a variety of swimming costumes – all non standard. Tim and June wandered to Sayers Hut with June explaining about the new phone with swanky camera she had purchased which also had a free scooter thrown in. She took the accompanying snaps. Not bad I reckon.

We assembled for tea around a camp fire thanks to Owen and partook of our various meals while Neville regaled us about the bite he had on his fishing expedition. Far better than I managed I must say. Overnight the wind got up but by morning it was not too windy. Chris and Glenda demonstrated that breakfasting and packing was straightforward and we headed off on our return trip down the Waiohine river sidle track.

Those on the trip were:

Brian Solomon, Neville Grubner, Elisabeth Hynes, Marian Cox, Owen Cox, Glenda Robb, Chris Keating, Darrel Sutherland, June Shelton, Sue Pate, Chantal Heller, Tim Allott, Bryan Wilde.