The Papatahi Crossing That Wasn't

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THE PAPATAHI CROSSING THAT WASN'T The Papatahi Crossing developed into grassy flat facing Palliser Bay had to be a Mount Mathews-Palliser Bay trip. As revised, and we settled for a sheltered there were insufficient numbers to war- bank clear of the Mukamuka Stream. rant a truck for a Crossing. Soon a roaring fire was operating and So it was by train to Woburn and the inevitable brew was placed on an over the hill to Wainui and on by taxi excellent fire grid, salvaged, and crunched to the start of the five mile. And into the fire. with torches wobbling and winking in Saturday stew a la Whiteside was the pitch black we were off over the Gut quickly put to the fire. The waiting for Buster. same being substituted by brews, bis- Having a "spell" near the Log Cabin cuits and bludged cigarettes. we contemplated the merits of night Settling back in the sacks with tramping and almost decided to roll out bloated bellies we savoured the fine black our pits and sleep on the track. But night and the cheerful blaze of the fire. thoughts of a brew at Bains Hut drove Much later, must have been about 1 us on. o'clock, I awoke to a clear star-filled The darkness recalled to mind a first sky. One star seemed much brighter trip in the New Zealand bush. Almost than the rest and drew my attentiona year ago to the day I had staggered even more so when it moved, first to down this same track with no torch, the right and then to the left, then back thinking that if this was tramping they again. Must be the stew I thought, and could keep it. But here I was, still at closed cne eye. But it was still there, it, on an anniversary trip, so to speak. semi-hovering. Nobody will believe you, Had also managed to buy a torch by this I told myself, so turned over and went time, which made a difference!!! to sleep. Thinking of flying saucers and Arriving at Bains, and an empty hut, Martians. Woke an hour or so later we were thankful of a steaming brew, and it had gone, so UR must have been the and were soon hitting the sacks. stew!!! A late start the following morning at Next morning dawned and after a 10 o'clock exactly. Bill Drake decided leisurely breakfast and pack-up we set 10 o'clock and we all stood with off round the coast towards Turakirae watches poised awaiting the appointed Head on a bright, nippy and semi-sunny hour. day. Towards mid-day and near the end Then off, up Matthews Stream and of the road we stopped awhile to view a we were soon on the track to Mount grave on the hillside, which is built of Matthews. The steepness of the slopes whale bones and various rocks. There making unused leg muscles felt, and the must be a story about this somewhere? threat to give up smoking became a After paying our respects we pressed reality. on round the coast. And rounding the Half-way up, on a saddle we "had headland were rewarded with a magnifive", scroggin and chocolate washed ficent view of the Kaikouras, crystaldown with fresh air. The last water clear, with their snow caps aglisten. being down in Matthews Stream. Whales a-blow were also sighted by keen- After the "spell" we pressed on in the eyed types, a first sight for a number direction of "up". Difficulty being found of the party. in forcing a way through some thick And sO we came to the road end and scrub which has overgrown the track. after the last delicious brew had a mad scamper back by taxi to Wainuiomata, At last we were on top, the view where Paul Green had come to met us being superbly obliterated just at the and on over the hill to Wellington to end right moment by thick mist. So not another excellent weekend round the tarrying long, as it was quite cold, we Orongorongo area. pushed on down the long spur and -PETER ATKINSON. into the Mukamuka Stream. The weather had been threatening most of Those on the trip: Margaret Webb the day but had managed to stay fine (Leader), Bill Drake, Shona Baker, but later the wind changed and turned Norm. Whiteside, Brian Devon, Gary to blowing up the Mukamuka Stream. Lund, Len, Barry Cordwell, Paul Green, Our proposed camp site in the lea of a Peter Atkinson.