Walls-Reeves-Tauwharenikau

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WALLS-REEVES-TAUWHARENIKAU The beginning of our trip to Reeves- At this point, the party split up into Tauwharenikau was far from being an several groups. Mervyn, Maureen and auspicious one. In fact, in less than 10 self managed to get "lost" on an old minutes from leaving the Railway Sta- blazed trail but came out quite safe and tion matters started to get out of hand. sound down a tributary which lead into Already six members down-through the main Tauwharenikau River, + mile leaving only 10 minutes late instead of up from the Omega Track. the usual 20 minutes, we caught both the Our appointed meeting place was Allotrip leader and chief guide off-guard way Dickson, and we all arrived fairly and zoomed past the appointed pick- early in the afternoon. It proved forup place where no one was to be seen. tunate that we did make this decision, We continued on at an even greater as later on that evening, it poured with pace to the Kaitoke turn-off where we rain and by morning the river was a finally persuaded the bus driver to wait raging torrent. This left us wondering a while just in case there were some whether we were even going to get out rather harrassed, irate, upset, discon- to Smiths, but the trip was made without certed members endeavouring to catch any mishap, the side creeks being not up by any means at their disposal- too bad, and the main party were out but no such luck. at Kaitoke with over an hour to spare. Our troubles were still not over, how- Has anyone else been down the Puffer ever. Due to further misunderstanding, recently? SOMEONE has been at the the bus driver attempted to ditch us at track with a BULLDOZER. You can Kaitoke-you can image our consterna- imagine, after the previous night's rain tion-finally, after horrified yells, curses, what a mess it was in, a combination etc., a conference was held and we of porridge and chewing gum. It remanaged to get the bus pointed in the quired all one's efforts to remain upright right direction. However, because we -some did not manage it though! had the big ski bus, we had to forego unfortunate In retrospect and notwithstanding our the usual drop-off place and found ourbeginning, a dry lunch on selves deposited on the macadamized Reeves, getting temporarily off the trail, road miles from Walls Whare itself. Dave cutting his leg with the axe (not For all that though, it was a most severely), the trip. was most enjoyable, enjoyable walk in. A warm-scented and NOTE: even challenging. If can breeze greeted us from the Gorge and NEVER you without possibly the avoid it, glow worms lighted our path. Most of (He or she go carries the first leader! us slept out that night, each equiptiRa their favourite spots. Dave had his selecting bread ment.) Apart from that, it is sheer bad chewed up by an opposum-serves him manners and a nerve-racking experience. right for leaving it out! You never know when you are going to meet up on the trail-in front or from The trip to Reeves itself is quite a the rear? Even if you are going to meet steep climb. We took the new track up at all and more important, you which some of us had helped to create don't know quite what of on a reception previous working bee. This is a you will get-maybe YyRe end of a typical ridge track, no water on the beautiful friendship? Fortunately for way whatsoever. Lunch-time found us Dave, who had assumed on the top surveying a vast panorama, leadership, both Coby and Kevin temporary took but because of cloudy conditions and their misfortuntae in the right spirit and high wind, we soon scurried for cover ate their stew-at home-for Sunday in the bush and satisfied ourselves with dinner. a rather dry lunch. Sabina Owen.