|
Lookout to Lookout fundraiser |
|
Date: 29th August 2010
Trip leader: Phil & Sam Madill
Trip report: Phil (Trip leader) & Sharlene Madill - because we forgot to nominate someone!
Forty-eight vehicles left from Faulkner’s Bush Reserve after completing registrations in the drizzling rain and proceeded along 88 Valley Road. We passed by the Wai-iti Dam at the top end of 88 Valley. This dam was built and is owned by the TDC. It is designed to capture and store up to 800,000 cubic metres of rainfall and catchment run-off. The dam operates by a controlled release of water back into the natural river system during the dry summer months and irrigation season. It was officially opened by Jim Anderton on Oct. 5th 2006.
At the end of 88 Valley we entered the forest to drive up to Inwoods Lookout on Wai-iti Road which is a public access road to the DOC Richmond Range (currently closed due to logging). Inwoods Lookout is the highest fire lookout in NZ at just over 3,500 feet. The lookout was opened up for those wanting to view the insides of a working fire lookout. We looked around and enjoyed the view with a morning tea break before leaving the lookout. We travelled back down from the lookout and were now in the Golden Downs Forest and drove through this forest for the whole trip. Golden Downs is well known for its autumn colours in the various trees along the way. Some of the trees are Red Alder, Larch, Eucalyptus, Oaks to name a few. These were planted by the old Forest Service and are now maintained by Nelson Forests Ltd. The forest is owned by Nelson Forests Limited who leases the land from the NZ Government under a Crown Forest Licence arrangement. The forest is used by many recreational groups especially during the winter months e.g. car clubs, 4WD club, pig hunters, horse riders etc. Access is by way of a permit.
We travelled over Kerr Hill, past the Pistol Club, crossed the Motueka River and turned into Gibbs Road to continue our trip through the Golden Downs.
We came out on the Korere Top House Road, crossed the Motupiko River. After crossing the bridge we came out on to SH6. Our lunch stop was at the Clark Valley reserve – this area is maintained by Nelson Forests. After lunch there was a spot prize draw for the public participants. Some of the keen younger folk on the trip were charged with the task of picking the lucky numbers. We travelled through an area where recent work had been carried out on roads and skid sites in readiness for logging which is currently underway. We wound our way down and eventually came out on to Dart River Road. A very good view of The Devil’s Thumb was periodically seen between the cloud cover.
Lying in the middle of the road was a dead pig. Vehicles at the end of the convoy examined it and could find no evidence of being shot or dogged – so the conclusion being that it fell over the 4 – 5 meter bluff and met its end. Needless to say it was closely examined but was too old to keep.
We took a sharp right onto Trig R Road 97 to the Sherry Lookout – a 7km drive up to the lookout through current logging and with very narrow passage in spots and lots of debris and limbs from the logging operations. At the lookout, again, we were able to see inside it and get a feel of what it was like to “man the lookouts” in days gone by. The day and trip was successful and was appreciated and enjoyed by the public visitors who were very happy to support the fundraiser.
This annual public charity trip raised $2,502 which was donated to the Nelson Rescue Helicopter.
Club members support and assistance on the day was much appreciated as handling such a large number of vehicles can have its challenges. The day ran smoothly with no mishaps – thanks to all who assisted.
|
Past club trips 