The Worst Walk in the World

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THE WORST WAIK IN THE WORID. 23/25 November, 1956. Much is said about the "Finest Walk In the World" - but what about the "Worst Walk In the World" : i.e. Friday night up to Fields and then where do we go from there : that depends on the weather or your state of fitness or unfitness : or even who you are! It was Friday night and 7.30 p.m. the party had assembled and boarded the a truck and as it was SUPPOSED to leave at this time the usual song of "Why are we waiting was sung. with gusto : after that everybody seemed quite happy to wait until 8 o'clock, Now one member of the party was our friend from Denmark, who had spent several years in Norway. When the truck finally lurched off ( without the person for whom we had been waiting!) she carefully stowed herself amongst the packs and retired humpty dumpty fashion : to fortify herself for the great and to her unknown worst walk etc. En route to Otaki the truck stopped at an appointed place.. an appointed place is rather a vgue definition as from at least half a mile back a. long the road Johnny Symes came with the speed of an : well I leave that to your imagination. Havinc regained his breath and after threatening to say words prohibited by the Chief Guide he treated us to what he thought was a session from "Carmen Jones" - I do not know what version it was but I distinctly heard "David Crockett came riding through the Glen," Eventually and reluctantly we disembarked and then I discovered that my Denish friend had a rol'ed up sleeping bag hung on the outside of her pack... Now, I thou_ht, that is exactly how I started off in my early tramping does and I well remember being disentagled from supple-jack by three other trampers : not that I came from Penmerk and sat Humpty Dumpty style. Well we almost invariably learn the hard way: Unfortunately "The Worst Walk In the World" proved her Waterloo and after a very brave attempt she was loath to be assisted the last few yards to the hut. The next day two shooters put an end to her suffering by shooting her back to Wellington by car. On our way up to Kime we were surprised to hear a voice ahead and shortly met a creature with a kidney rotter on his back -- it stopped to inform us that "I am taking these skins out to Otaki, just came over the Tararua Peaks, must dash off now"... whew! * A piece of string supported his rifle and no socks were worn, if they were worn, they vere worn right out. The tops were misty, clouded up, windy and cold, We hit Alpha and we (Brian and self) decided to drop down to Tauwharenikau via Bull Mound, Now Bull Mouhd, to my mind, is the prettiest peak in the "araruas. Don't be put off, as I was for four years because from the map it appeared as an insignificant "bump", at the end of the Marchant Ridge, It is really a delightful area with pure grass lawns and shrubs dotted here and there - like a parkland and the green of Kaitoke, A trip, or place, that no one should miss.

We followed the track down, which being down - was extremely easy to follow. By the time we reached the bottom we were dead tired and thought that nothing could be better than Alloway Dickson : it was 5.30 p.m. and we duly dragred ourselves to this paradise only to find a party in possession and there was no need to hang out the HOUST FULL sign - we guessed that, They said"you can stay here if rou like" and i some of us are going to sleep out" and"some of us are going to be up TATE." We decided to make a finel effort and go on down to Tauwharenikau, where we had learned that there was one solitary body in residence, We viere so tired by nov that my pertner ( in misery) said that even a full scale symphony orchestra would not keep HIM awake. When we finally reached the hut, there was not one single body in residence, there was no full scale symphony orchestra : but five school boys engrossed in a Rock'n Roll session! There vas a mouth orga billies.. frying pans : jokes in between each burst of energy... and in spite of our exhaustion we added to our education that night... well, we live and learn.. in the most unexpected places. Eventually we arrived at the truck on Sunday which left at 4.55 p.m. (scheduled to leave at 4.30) without the leader.... so leaders : beware and be punctual.. even leaders may be left behind! Dave -