Ten vehicles left the Miller’s acre assembly point for the shiney, Mt. Patriarch day trip at 9:30 on Sunday 26th March.

Trip leader Andrew Mackie lead us up the Maitai, past the reservoir to Maungatapu saddle where we had a short breather and lookout from the viewpoint. A cold breeze soon had us on the move again. This time to murders rock, site of the infamous murder of a wakamarina storekeeper en route to nelson, by Sullivan, Burgess, Kelly and Levey (if my memory serves me correct.) Levey turned queens evidence, the other three were duly hanged and buried in the Shelbourne St. cemetary.

Continuing, we passed uncle Alf large’s former property at the Maungatapu – Pelorus Road Junction, now part planted in olives. Alf was killed in the Great War of 14-18.

Another smoko/ wee stop was taken at 11:30 at Pelorus Bridge, while a flat tyre was changed.
Then onwards, ever onwards, a rare sight these days, a forward control Landrover in the main street of Havelock.

Just short of the Wairau river bridge, contractors were stringing additional conductors on pylons to increase the capacity of the Blenheim- Stoke section of the national grid.

Lunch stop was at Tailors Dam on the outskirts of Blenheim. This is a flood control dam, to retain floodwaters in the Taylor catchment, thus saving Blenheim from inundation.

Lunch over, up and over Taylor pass, right turn up the Awatere (grapes everywhere) and right again heading for 1700 metre Black Birch, once an observatory, now a telecom microwave link site. The last 200 m altitude was in cloud, so views from the top were limited to about 100m.
Conditions were chill with strong winds, snow lay around tussock clumps and ice had formed on the towers and stay wires.

We didn’t linger long before descending to the road gate and trip conclusion; make your own way home.

Welcome to the Rowan Coutts Family (in their jeep wrangler) along on their first trip since joining the club.

Thanks again Andrew for another good day out, into country we wouldn’t normally get access to.

Mountain Man.

P.S.
Mt. Patriarch was closed due to the extreme fire risk, Black Birch was the substitute.

Photos here