A Wet Weekend at Renata

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A WET WEEKEND AT RENATA 15th-17th February An overcast start to the trip saw us four shoulder to foot so to speak. Everyaboard Garrat Dwars bus on Saturday body slept like tops-round and roundmorning. Punctuality being Garrat's and at three o'clock Murray did a rat watchword we were away at ten past survey in the hut roof by torch light. eight, heading up the Hutt Valley towards Akatarawa, stopping on the way Sunday morning and the rain was still to pick up Pam, Alex, and Marilyn. on. John Patchett and his brother Colin arrived for breakfast after spending the The winding road past Brown Owl night in the bush due to a miscalculation gave us a good view of the bush-clad "where the hell is Renata Patchet"!!! hills, and travelling by bus tended to Deliberation as to going down the river lessen road sickness that seems to occur ended in nine hardy types braving the when sitting sideways in the usual truck elements, and the rest of us returned to transport. the Akatarawa sawmill, where a tired Fits was reunited with her owner. Disembarking at the old sawmill, which gave convenient shelter to change, The bus picked up our party at the the twenty-five of us set off up the mill and continued on to Otaki. After logging road accompanied by a black a somewhat tortuous drive over Waifemale, four-legged type, whom we nick- kanae Road. Praise indeed to Garrat named Fits. for his skilful driving, and obliging service. An hour or so and we arrived at the top of the logging road where fire and Nine wet-type trampers were duly brew were combined to keep out the picked up at the Waihoanga Bridge and steady rain which had set in over the last bundles stowed aboard. Smirking faces half hour. Continuing on up, the indicated they had had a "good oh" time Renata track to the Maymorn Ridge it down the Waiotauru River, and at comwas quite humourous to watch Fits' pleting the scherduled trip. Neverthefour legs spread-eagled over tree roots less, it will still be there next year, and and straddle herself over fallen logs. who knows, the old "current bun" may Arriving at Renata in a somewhat make the next Renata-Waiotauru even dampened state, rain being the main better. cause, a brew and change brought -PETER ATKINSON. things into a better perspective. A count of the party indicated that Those on the trip: Dave Forbes, Peter Daniels, Murray Hall, Arthur, Margaret Slats, Kate and Arthur were still to Webb, Derek Finegan, Kate Brady, arrive. At four o'clock, heads were Ellen Slattery, Geoff. Aitken. Brian being scratched as to where they were. Devon, John McKay, Ursula Furkert, Wet socks and boots were donned and Karl Behmard, John Bell, Mac Riding, out into the rain went the searchers. Pam Tasker, Dave Wright, Al. Brian Campand Alex to Renata A, Bill, Dave, bell, Marilyn Sowry, Jim Hutton, Alan Fits and myself shot off down toward Donaghue, K. Summers, Colin McNatty, the Waiotauru River. We four had a rare Dick Simmons, John Patchett, Colin old two hours scrambling through the Patchett, Fits and Ug. saturated bush and sloshing through the creeks, returning to find the miscreants * * * safe and sung in the hut. AGAINST ALL-NIGHT GIGGLERS An Ursula-prepared herb type stew IN HUTS was just the answer to a good wetting A ball of soft wax mixed with finest and we four certainly did justice to it. cotton-wool and inserted in the ears. Twenty-five is quite a number for Against Torch Flashers.-Carry a Renata Hut but pits were laid and with large black handkerchief to use as an topping and tailing everybody managed eye-bandage. to get a pew. Though Jim did sleep Against Both.--A mild dose of out on the woodpile, which left twenty- luminal or aspirin.