Family Southern

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Family Southern Duncan Thomas Brian asked us before Christmas if we Saturday morning was really fine and would like to go on the Family we could see for miles around. Dad Southern he was organising for March. was keen to get going so we started This gave us plenty of time to think out for Hector on our own and waited about going and also to get fit. for Murray and Anthony on the top. There were more great views and some Some of us were going to leave early of the people who had used the bus on on Friday to get a head start on the Friday night began to catch us up. main club party but it poured with We walked on and found some massive rain all morning and Dad wasn't too slimy worms. sure if he wanted to go. I came home from school at 12.00 and Dad got home Lunch was by a tarn on the tops and soon after. The weather was starting it was here that Brian and some to clear and the forecast sounded others caught us up. We tramped in like it might be a fine weekend. We high spirits to Alpha Hut and there were going with Murray and Anthony had another brew. We were the last Brown who were going to pick us up to leave the hut but managed to catch about 1.30. We were still waiting at Brian and the College Boys at Hells 2.30 and starting to get worried, Gate. As we climbed up Omega I then they arrived and we went out to missed the discs and nearly went the greet them. We had a quick cuppa and wrong way. Dad called me back. We then we hurriedly put our packs in found out later that some others had the back of their car and were off carried on for quite a way before after saying goodbye to Mum. they realised they had missed the turn-off. We turned off the Main Road just before Otaki and went up a winding Dad and I headed down the track but road until we came to the start of my toes were killing me and we had the Tararua Forest Park. We got out about fifty stops. Most of the trip and hurriedly put on the Dimp. Then seemed to pass us. We were pleased we got our packs and said goodbye to to get to the camp site in the Phil and the girls. At 3.30 we were Tauherenikau River where Murray was off. setting up our fly. For tea we had a big stew and then it It was a long hard climb to Fields Hut was off to sleep. Next day we laid but our Dads kept urging us on and we around for a while as there was no made good time although we were hurry to go. We had a breakfast of pooped. sausages, bacon and eggs, cooked from in our sleeping bags. When we did We felt our strength come back as we leave it was off down the river for a ate our tea. It was nice. After while but then we tried the track. having a brew I got into my storm Lunch was by a big pool in the river gear which turned out to be a good with an old log as a diving board. idea as it was getting cold and misty. Anthony said the water was freezing so I didn't go in. After a brew we It was a race against the dark as we tramped to Smiths Creek Shelter and travelled to Kime Hut but as we then went over to the site of the old reached Hut Mound we had to get our hut and spent about an hour swimming torches out as we had started to go in the river. down the wrong way. Murray and Dad had not been to the new hut before. When we did tramp out Dad said the There was a lot of people there but track was a lot different from the we managed to get a bunk. Some of old days. Mum and Phil were at the the people Dad and Murray knew and have to meet us so we didn't were on our trip. There was a nice carpark Forest to go down to where the bus was. dog there who belonged to some Service workers and we became friends. The ordeal was over. Whew! But I We had a brew and went to bed; people still liked it. seemed to be arriving all night. Over the grass and over, moves the wind; This moment will not come again, white dust Upon green leaves as innocent as snow, A wind that sings of nothing in the grasso (from Country Road - Ruth Dallas)