"I Feel an Enthusiasm Stirring in These Old Bones"

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"I FEEL AN ENTHUSIASM STIRRING IN THESE OLD BONES" Thus spoke Nick Jennings as our trans- A camp site was found across the port sped towards Otaki Forks. river. Every one set about with a will, It had been a rush to get to the rail- and soon the flies were up, the fire going way, station by 5.30 p.m., but it was and fern laid for bedding. Down came a pleasure to be up at Fields Hut by the rain but fortunately not too heavy. 101 p.m., and to enjoy a brew and a Pits were the order of the day except long night's sleep. We woke next morn- for the cooks. A very loud call of "plates ing to find eight members of the Mana- up" was needed to waken some from watu Tramping Club scattered about. their slumbers. Off we set at 7 a.m. for Vosseller, After the usual trampers fare, we where we met Kevin and Graham still settled down for the night. The old in their pits. A brew was consumed, gentleman now found his pit space and then off again. We followed the long declared it to be the worst in the valley. spur that runs north from the saddle be- Mutterings about stones and holes, and tween Fields and Hector. A hail shower unfairness to the aged were interspersed stung our legs and faces, but fortunately with comments on a song book between we were on the edge of the storm. The our leader and a certain bearded fellow. top of Neil became white with hail Finally we got to sleep. stones, but not our spur. Suddenly we 11.40 p.m. reached the end of the spur and dropped Brian: "Any one for a drink." over. Nick advised that the only route Voices in the dark: "Yes, yes please." down was into the right-hand tributary Old gentleman: "Have a drink but just above the forks. Somehow we navi- why do you have to wake up everyone gated correctly though we had to nego- in these hills." (abridged and censored). tiate several siddles to avoid bluffs. Next morning was beautifully fine About 11.30 a.m. we stopped for lunch, and at 9 a.m. we set off down river. where we received a lesson from the One part we had to swim and the brave "old gentleman" on the evils of litter. who had planned to tackle the Waiohine After eating lunch and burying the rub- Gorge were daunted. While we traversed bish, we tackled the river. The first pool the Hector Track, tales of numerous was chest deep on some (but not even "working bees" were related by the old waist deep on others), cold, but bracing. one. There isn't much show for their Mike preferred to siddle a long serics work. of pools and so successful was he that We ate lunch in a hurry without a he tried it again, but met his "Water- brew and then took off for Bannister. On loo" and had to retreat. Unperturbed the way home in the bus the bearded he threw his pack into the river and one gave a lesson on how to win friends jumped after it. But the pack sailed and influence people (opposite sex of gracefully away and got stuck on a course). waterfall. Well, he managed to retrieve Those on the trip: Brian Hunt, Nick it. The Hector River proved quite an Jennings, Lindsay Cuthbertson, John experience and it took all of four hours Shorland, Taire Jackson, Fraser Walls, to reach the haven of Neil Forks Hut. Stephanie Carrad, Bill Shadwell, Ivan But it proved to be no haven for us, as Booth, Noel Thomas, Neville Kaye an C.T.C's were already in occupancy. Mike Hollis.