Tramp Reflections 775 - Charlies Place

10 February 2008

Considering the Waikato is in drought and the weather very warm, a request was made to the trip leader, John Whitehead for a tramp which included plenty of water. Sunday morning we awoke to overcast skies and a fine misty drizzle at Charlies home in the Kaimais – just our luck.

Seven of us stayed Saturday night with Charlie, for a pot luck dinner and celebrated his 88th birthday to be joined on Sunday morning by a further 10 trampers. At 10am we set off with Charlie accompanying us for a short distance down the road and onto private property where we followed a track cut through the native bush several years earlier. After a short walk we dropped steeply off the track to bush wack our way to Waitekohe stream. Walking up stream we came across a few water holes, one of which Adrienne couldn’t resist a dip before continuing on to a waterfall. We retraced ourselves back a short distance to turn off at a marker indicating a track to Thompsons Track and Eliza mine.

The track to Eliza mine was up a steep ridge where some people ventured into the mine with torches and we stopped here for lunch. Unfortunately we had no views of the surrounding hills and sea due to low cloud. A section of track was retraced before continuing up to Thompsons track which was an easy walk; only minding a few large pot holes formed by 4WD vehicles before turning off on a loop track to return to the stream where we had turned off – a surprisingly short walk.

Our return journey downstream was pitted with hilarity and laughter as people slipped on the rocks and wallowed unintentionally and intentionally in the water holes. At the last water hole where we left the stream, most of us had a final dip in the deep water. Although overcast for most of the day, the intermittent misty rain was hardly noticed. We arrived back at Charlie’s 5pm, feeling rejuvenated from our venture in the bush and water. Many thanks John for a fun day shared with Debbie and your daughters. Also to Sheila and Nick for collecting and driving the bus.

Isobel

Images; Just walking in the rain - Adrienne, Sheila, Nick, Tess, Debbie, Gail, Janey, Don, Claire, Isobel and Sharon; fun in the last water hole.