Tramp Reflections 809 - Off Track On Pirongia

8 March 2009

After crossing everything possible for good weather I picked up Christine (a new tramper doing her Duke of Edinburgh Badge) at 7.30am and proceeded to collect Sharon, Michiel and Anna from Dinsdale. The five of us headed for Pirongia where we met Kevin and his daughter Laura and followed our trusty leader (Kevin) to the start point of our tramp at the end of Te Tahi Road.

We eagerly hit the track at 8.30am heading up the mountain. Yippy!

Off track we go and 20 minutes later we find a little stream, but alas it isn’t the one we are looking for. With a further little consultation with the map and compass we were off again going up heading for the water we are looking for. Kevin decides further consultation is required so climbs a tree to ensure that the rock is still in the right place (and of course it is!). We offered to throw lunch at him, oops I mean to him and it is agreed we stop for a bite of lunch. Michiel made friends with a wasp, or was it the other way round?

A minor relocation was decided upon but working on the theory that Michiel’s friend would follow him Sharon decided to stay put as she was still within talking distance. Lunch was devoured then someone (who will remain nameless, no it wasn’t Kevin) went for a ‘wee’ walk and encountered Michiel’s friend’s buddy – OUCH!

Off we went again and were soon in the stream we were pursuing. This adventure lasted nearly two hours when we headed bush again heading up toward the track. We arrived back on track and the short climb up to ‘Tiwarawara’ saw the time advising us it was 3.00pm where we stopped for yet another snack.

Then it was the ‘home run’ back to the car for another little munch and a much enjoyed yummy coffee thanks to our trusty leader at about 4.30pm. The weather held out for us and we only encountered one small shower. What a fantastic way to spend a Sunday!

Written by Linda Hutt

Photographs by unknown (?).