Leslie/Karamea
Unofficial sources claim a Wangapeka – Karamea River – Flora Carpark journey undertaken by four refugees from the canned official Easter Trip was a runaway success despite indifferent weather, recent windfalls, cold water, blisters, and the planner overlooking a four hour stretch in the Karamea. Reports of a pair of American fishers at Karamea Bend Hut complaining of being woken at 6am after a late night getting “a little lost out there“ have yet to be confirmed. Tourists at Flora Saddle Carpark report seeing a number of “tired looking“ trampers getting into a blue van just before dusk. The van, believed to be a Toyota Liteace, was last seen making off at speed towards Nelson. The whereabouts of Marianne Hermsen, Gretchen Williams, Bob Janssen, and Tony Haddon over the Easter break have not so far been determined.