31 January 2010

Leaders: Terry & Norm Beazer 

It was hot. Very very hot. That was last year.  This year it rained. It was wet.  Very, very wet.  So naturally we had a record 31 people turn up - 9 members and 22 others.  It was fine though overcast at Papakura as we left, yet three times we enquired before setting out: do you have your rain gear ?? Do weathermen lack credibility ??  Sure enough, as we approached Paeroa, it became darker and then down came the rain.

So it was a quick stop over at Paeroa for some, to belatedly acquire some wet weather gear.  One stylish couple were regaled in green and black plastic garden bags, others had managed to pick up something better; there were a few umbrellas too.  But there were still some who had no wet weather gear at all.  Why not ??   It was raining steadily by now.

We stood together bravely at the start of our hike, the rain just bucketing down.  Much later, a 10 year old visitor asked, “Why do you do this ?”  Excellent question.  No immediate answer to that lucid but simple query. Did I mention, it was raining ??  Really really very wet.

The pace was variable, and we quickly got strung out. There were frequent stops so the back end could catch up with those at the front.  Morning tea was taken standing up, the rain constant and at times heavy.  We stopped only briefly at the Museum and little railway.  We were offered a discount price for all to enter the Museum and obtain respite from the rain - but this inducement was not taken up. Instead, the unspoken goal was the cafe and the thought of warm hot drinks and shelter.  We reached the Waikino Station soon after midday and spent nearly 40 minutes there - long enough to refresh, not long enough to get too cold, we hoped. 

Cheerfully, as if accepting our fate, we trekked off into the dismal dullness again, the rain unremitting.  

Remarkably there was only one small incident, when one of the party suffered severe cramp for a short moment.  A quick recovery was made and we continued resolutely to reach the Windows turn off.  At that point, some of us parted company - with just 20 electing to complete the full journey through the tunnels and back home via the Crown track.  Oh yes, I meant to say - it was raining, steadily.

This turned out to be the highlight of the trip.  The Waitawheta River was in full flood, ugly brown churning and boiling with standing waves, the steady thunk of rocks on the move - nature showing us a little of its muscle, and giving us sober warning of its power.  We reached the suspension bridge and watched the river in silent awe. 

The Crown Track was closed at this point, a rock fall somewhere further on.  So it was back again to retrace our steps through the Windows tunnels.  We found a “new” route down, following the Waitawheta River on its opposite bank to the Crown Track, all the time aware of the river itself.  We reached the lower bridge and met a Police officer staring anxiously at the water.  Two people had been reported swept away an hour ago at Dickies Flat.  We guess they were fortunate and had made safety, as there were no reports in the press.  Some noted the thundery sounds - no, not an electrical storm in the distance, just rocks in the river bouncing off each other - a good place to keep clear of.  We pondered the possibility of being caught far upstream perhaps in a flash flood.  Sobering thoughts.

We reached home again in good time, thoroughly wet but still smiling.  “Why do you do this”  ??  Dunno.