Trip leader:    Ian Hanford

Size does matter and sometimes small is good. Only 9 vehicles meet at the Belgrove weighbridge for a days play. The weather prior had been absolute c--p so it was doubtful if the trip would be on at all. However when you set a day aside to go 4x4ing and looking forward to it, it is disappointing to say the least to stay home and mow the lawns!.

Talking to the landowner at Mt Murchison he thought it would be a waste of time going up there to be in thick cloud, the road was saturated and wouldn’t do it much good for a heap of vehicles to go up and back, so that part of the trip was canned.
Departing from Belgrove we travelled to the Clark Valley and cut through Elvies Rd to Tui. I didn’t have time to do a recce for the trip so it was with a little guesswork we found the turnoff to the Huia Cave. About a K in on a good track to a disused lime works quarry. Bob had been there sometime last centaury so was a bit more guess work and the blind leading the blind until we found the cave. Quite impressive with the Tadmore River flowing through. The river was running a little high with all the rain so it was with a little stone hopping  we were able to venture a short distance into the cave. The cave extends for some 200 meters and you can get through with some wading. We decided it would make an interesting mission sometime in the summer. Back to the Dry Weather Rd. Now this is where a smaller group is an advantage. As part of the railway trip I am putting together I am very keen to find where the railway went through the Tadmore Saddle. I always thought it would be tunnelled but apparently there is a major cutting which would be interesting to find, so we all kept an eye out for any sign. Just to digress, I’m sorry to postpone this trip but Jim McMahon and I are working out of Greymouth for the next month or so and only home for a day or so at the weekends so decided to postpone this trip so I could put it together properly. Anyway, at the top of the Tadmore Saddle Bob radioed up and advised if there was a track on the right take it and he may show us a dam. Half way along this track we found bridge abutments for the railway and the track leading back to the saddle. I sense a mission here for the Four Wheel Drive Club tramping division to check this out. So on to the end of the track and sure enough there was a small dam. Built in the 50’s by the raspberry growers in Tadmore to divert water to the Tadmore river for irrigation as those pesky pine trees were gobbling up all the water.

Mr No Tow Nicholls had lived in the area for some years and like the rest of us didn’t know either the cave nor the dam existed. Tis a bad day if you don’t learn something! Lunch was partaken in brilliant sunshine and great company.
On to the end of the dry weather road were a decision was needed to head for home or on to the Parika. As Graeme said, it would be rude not to, with no one disagreeing it was upwards and onwards to Lake Rotorua for a comfort stop then onto the Parika. Near the top Graeme asked if we were going to do the Pylon track. Well we’re not the knitting division of the country woman’s institute are we, so off up the pylon track which wasn’t too bad. Down hill following any sidetrack to the bottom bog hole. One advantage in being leader is you get to drive the tricky bits before everyone else stirs it up. So no trouble for me ( well it is a Pajero!) but once the top was taken off it became quite greasy and interesting. It was about now Bill decided to take a short cut through an area that looked quite solid but wasn’t, and got bogged to the door handles. This is were the recent winch challenge paid dividends and he was eventually extracted. Just a wee note of caution, when stuck in the mud and there is much wheel spinning and mud flying it is not a bad move to wind the window up. Oh well, will give Jill something to do, yeah right!.
And so with everyone back on track it was time to head for home with some stopping off at the “club rooms” for a debrief.

On the trip were:-
Bob, Bill & Jill, Graeme & Chris, Lex & Kids, Brian & Linda, Mountain Man Dave, Neil & Family and great to see new member Andrew VanHought.

Thanks everyone for making a great day out.
Ian.