Date: 29th September 2010
Trip leader: Andrew Mackie
Trip report: Bob Dickinson
Following a suggestion by some bright spark that the Club should run some midweek trips, Andrew Mackie volunteered and offered to run a simple day trip as an experiment. Using the club’s e-mail list we were advised that the trip would run, rain or shine, and to assemble at Faulkner Bush Reserve, Wakefield at 9.30 am on the 29th.
This we duly did - or at least 8 vehicles and their owners. After the normal driver’s briefing we left in light drizzle, and traveled up to Lake Rotoiti for a morning tea break at the lakefront. By now the rain was fairly steady and it stayed this way for most of the day.
We drove up a sodden Howard Valley and observed how much the recent snows had melted back. It was then up the hill into mist on the Porika Track for a brief stop at Sabine’s memorial and then up through a few patches of snow to the top. The steep descent into Lake Rotoroa provided limited views, so we carried on to Lake Rotoroa for a short break. The main attraction here was a pair of black swans and their young. The young chicks (signets) were a fuzzy/downy grey unlike their black parents.
Over the Braeburn and then a simple downhill run into Murchison for lunch. This took place in the covered yards at the Showground, which provided good shelter from the rain. After lunch most of us went through the Murchison Museum who have an updated display of the 1929 earthquake. One couple on the trip found a Nelson Photo News from about 1970 with a photo of their wedding day in it. Great amusement.
After this cultural break we drove back up the State Highway to Glenhope and then turned off on to the Dry Weather Road. The impact and devastation of the recent bushfire was very noticeable. We followed the remains of the old railway line down to Tapawera, where we were rewarded with an ice cream. This was the end of the official trip.
Thanks to Andrew for organizing this pleasant midweek excursion.
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