Tramp Reflections 829 - Open Day - Te Kauri Lodge, Kawhia

18 October 2009

We set out on a lovely Waikato, spring day with the rain hosing down. There were 11 hardy souls, with 5 club members and 6 newbies, some of whom had never tramped before. The leader knew how to get to the lodge and had done the tramp a couple of times before - but not for a few years.

We started off slowly downhill and as some of the footwear was a bit slick on the soles, their owners had to be very careful. It wasn't long before our legs and feet were quite muddy and that situation became worse after we jumped across a smallish stream - and missed!

The walk is short but was a challenge for new trampers on such a wet day and a great day to evaluate our wet weather gear. Some quickly became cold and wet, so we had to keep moving. The ups certainly helped to warm us. As we were rather slow, I became disorientated and was sure we still had a couple of hours to go. Unfortunately I voiced my opinion and some of the crew was rather deflated. No sooner were the words out of my mouth, when we hit a sign leading to Te Kauri Lodge - and there we were! Ye haa.

We sheltered under a covered walkway and shared a hot drink and cookies made by the club members. It was a lovely way to finish a tramp - albeit a short day. Nobody was keen to explore Kawhia, so we headed straight back home, for once arriving in time for tea. No one brought out their cameras in the rain, so there are no photos of the bedraggled 11 or of the insides of clouds.

Written by Val Hollands