Urban Hills - Organiser: Grahame Harris.
This was the day for 17 urbanites to check out some trails and areas which many of us had not previously been to, despite being embarrassingly close to home. The first hill to be conquered was up Mount Street, heading up a footpath behind the Rutherford Street Shell service station. We collected Jim on the way and enjoyed good views across the valley to the Port Hills (and tried to pick out Carl Horn’s house). Jim then showed the way down a back lane behind the Waimea Road motel strip, then across and up to Fairfield Park to collect Beverley. We took the Tawa Track up the Grampians to the lookout point, shedding layers of clothes in the exceptionally mild conditions. Heading south east we slithered down an enjoyably muddy bushtrack to end up in the Brook and near the start of Old Codgers track, this track leading us past the new water treatment plant, and then one more climb up to the Tantagree Saddle for lunch. At the Saddle we saw a familiar-looking car and, knowing that Mark Stevens was the organiser of a mountain bike ride in the area, some of us left some “greetings” on/around his car. (And he knew it was us!) During lunch the forecast rain decided to make a hint of an appearance resulting in several umbrellas being unfurled – providing sunshade as much as rain shelter. After lunch, Grahame unintentionally demonstrated how easy it is to pull a hamstring. Grahame hobbled bravely but no, the day was over for him, so Tony trotted out to bring his car to the roadend and to Grahame’s rescue. Walking back towards town along the Maitai, the group split, some people calling it a day and heading for home via various routes, whilst five people continued on to conquer the last planned hill: the Centre of NZ. Lovely views of course from here and we were also able to see where we had walked during the day. And we just had to head across to Walters Bluff, down the new(ish) track through the eucalypts for our reward – yes, coffees and cakes at Founders Brewery Café. The walk from here back to our cars near the Cathedral was the hardest part of the day! Many thanks to Grahame for suggesting and organising this very interesting walk, and thanks to all those who participated: Gretchen Williams, Jim Maxwell, David Blunt, Beverley Muirhead, Tony Haddon, Ian Pavitt, Shirley Gabrielsen, Ross Price, Gillian & Hec Arbuthnott, Brenda & Shelley Sinclair, Grahame Harris, Lindsay Twiname (scribe) and visitors Colin Duncan, Maggie Bingham and friend Lorraine.