TRIP REPORT: CAPE CAMPBELL
　
Date: 8th - 9th May 2010
Trip leader: ‘Sav’
Trip report & photos : Helen Anderson
　
It was fair blowing a gale as we arrived on the Saturday early afternoon, a bit chilly with the strong northerly blowing straight into the huts below the lighthouse, our accommodation for the night. Miles & I bravely chose our spot to pitch our tent out of most of the wind, and parked the ute in front to give us an extra wind break. All the others had cozy beds in the huts and the bunkrooms; they were either "soft" or maybe being "sensible". I found Tracy in her and Sav’s wee hut snuggled up in a lounge chair having a bit of "R & R" & 40 winks I think till I disturbed her. They had come Friday night, so had Scotty, Kooze, a couple of others and they had already been out at 6am and set their cray pots at low tide, then they spent the rest of the day around the picnic table discussing their big catch and the delicious crayfish we were all going to eat for tea.

Miles & I had our dive gear and we drove down the coast to have a look at the sea but we chickened out: the sea was a bit surgy and it was cold & too late in the day, the crays could stay out there. Back at camp we walked up the steps to the lighthouse to see the great view; we didn’t stay there long - you felt as you were going to be blown off!!! Sav had told us about a great walk across the hill top behind the huts, a bit" hairy" in places he said where you have to hang on, we gave that a miss as well, but got to do it Sunday when the wind had dropped and got the most awesome views looking down on the lighthouse and out to sea!!
There were about 10 vehicles at campsite on the Saturday night; 3 more arrivals from the Blenheim club - Mike & a young couple.

Unfortunately crayfish was not on anyone’s menu that night, none were caught and we all had to resort to what we had brought, for Miles & I it was sausages, eggs & baked beans. I think that’s what Scotty ate as well or was it the beer but he spent the night sitting a lot by himself and everyone else fanning their faces a lot and yelling out "Scotty not again !!!!!"
Sunday morning was dull and gloomy but soon cleared to be a beautiful fine flat calm day. The boys went down the coast to their cray pots at 7am but sadly still no crays. Miles & I decided to go for a wee dive but no crays or fish seen. Cookie came down to keep an eye on us.
Back at camp the day trippers arrived in their droves: a whole 17 4WDs mostly from Nelson & Motueka & a few from the Blenheim club, we totaled 27 vehicles now.

The tour inside the lighthouse started at 11.30am and in groups of 5 everyone who wanted got a look around it and to walk to the top with the amazing view with the added bonus of the topdressing plane, a "Fletcher", flying past.

With lunch over and everyone having had a relaxing time chatting in the sun and the stay- overs having packed up we headed off following our leader Sav up over the farm land up to the old WW2 Radar station which was at the top of the highest hill imaginable, we had to park the vehicles on a bit of a flat below the top, and everyone had a bit of a walk with the most awesome view around, from the Saltworks back to the lighthouse with the tiny huts below it.

All 4WDs, even "shinys", made the trip which wasn’t too hard, a bit of follow the leader.
Back down the hill we headed back out to stop at the "Leaning Hut", a small old hut built leaning over on its side a bit beside the roadside but not far from the beach.

The weather had cooled down again and it was getting late in the day so for everyone it was homeward bound after a great day & weekend away, thanks Sav for organizing it.