Pinus Contorta Trip

This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.

With plenty of vigour the 24 troops boarded the bus at the station and we set off at 6pm. There was great hilarity especially at the back of the bus, till our bus driver provided a few terse words. Someone asked Rex to sort then out but he promptly fobbed this off to Anita! The. meal stop at Bulls duly arrived with the troops slowly dismounting then breaking into a mad rush for the twu hot-food shops. The poor locals! And who were those sneaky ones that ordered food and then shot off for a quick one at the pub? We arrived at the Giri Guides Hut (Mangawhero Hut) at 11pm. There were sleeping bags everywhere inside with a few hardy ones settling down outside on the porch. Rex had a go at getting his gas lamp going for a trial run. It would light up cutside, but not inside! On SAturday everyone was up and raring to go when the bus arrived at 8am. Off we went to Karioi Forest under the guidence of Rob (Conservation Department). we

: On Saturday everyone was up and raring to go when the bus arrived at 8am. Off we went to Karioi Forest under the guidence pf Rob (Conservation Department)," : : Lu Je : We dropped air our gear off and walked to the site.where we ali grabbed slashers and axes off Rob's vehicle. With another 30 odd volunteers from Wanganui and around the Ohakune area, we split into two.groups withan area fpreach to cover. F : F One group went about its work methodically and quitely, the other with great screamings and yellings. Guess which group was ours?

Three of us sneaked away. at 2.30pm tp prepare tea. And what a tea it proved to be. Full marks to Anita, Claire and others for designing a wonderful meal; chipp. DS and various dips, mince with kidney beans, macaroni, apple salads, grated carrot, grated cheese, we had it, all! The dessert was Al; marehmallows, whipped cream, orange segments and shredded coconut! All this and liquid refreshments for all. I don't think Rob and Richard from the' Conservation Department could believe all they saw, but they certainly enjoyed it. A. really great evening. : : * Sunday 4 A hard frost, some sore heads and we were back into the Contorta again, but there was not the same energy as the previous day. We perservered, however, under bright sunshine and no wind. It was really a great day all round. The last tree in our area was ceremoniously cut down by alliof us at 2pm to great cheers and whoops. With gear packed up, we departed on the bus at 3.15pm. We stopped at Bulls 'at 5.15pm for the left-overs frcm last nights tea, then carried on, arriving at Wellington at 7.45pm. son. Concluding.questions and comments: L i: Who all got bellowed at by the bearded man from Wanganui for not pulling out trees correctly? :!: :. Who was running around firing water pistols all weekend? Who were the.rock climbers at lunch time on S. turday? - Finally,-one person asked me not to mention anything about him in the newsletter regarding antics on Saturday night. I shan't mention: him, but his name was Liam!! Cheers all, : : 0 Reporter: Julian Harris with 23 others. :". *: KEPLER TRACK a 11, - '