Leader: Chris Louth

A CLIMB IN RHYME - by Bruce Alley

At 7am sharp, our group of nine met

For a two hour drive to Wainui Inlet

Stopping at Takaka to collect number ten

That made five good keen ladies and five macho men

Out of the cars and off down the road

The packs on our backs seemed a very light load

Brian suggested straddling an electric  fence

But with a gate so close by, that didn’t make sense

On up a hill with hardly a bend

Some found it steep and unsure of its end

Then into some bush and the song of the tui

We headed on down to Totaranui

A pause on the beachfront for an elevenses snack

Then northwards along the Anapai Bay Track

From a nice patch of bush we dropped  down to the bay

A great place to dwell, but no time to stay

So we strolled along the golden sands of the beach

To find the track ahead was in easy reach

Next point of interest was the scenic Mutton Cove

A real beaut spot with the campsite in a grove

As we drew nearer to Separation Point

Six of us chose to check out the joint

Four obeyed the signpost instruction for “separation”

And headed down to Whariwharangi Hut for relaxation

Jacqui was experiencing a light-headed sensation

But soon revived after some serious rehydration

At ’The Point’ we looked for the gannet colony

But the pseudo mob were in the monopoly

Could it be that some live birds were asleep?

From the decoys though, there was not a peep!

Way in the distance was the spectre of Mt Egmont

Rising from the sea almost dead straight in front

On rejoining the others at Whariwharangi Bay

There were two options for the last part of the day

Four chose to continue safely along the Coast Track

The rest favoured the beach, a boulder-hopping attack

This route was adventurous, approached with much zeal

Until progress was slowed when meeting seal after seal

Eventually we were blocked by a rocky impasse

So we scaled up a steep cliff with scant tussock grass

On reaching the top with some nerves rather frayed

We looked down on the coast; our fears were allayed

With plenty of scrub and trees to grab hold

We proceeded with caution, grew more and more bold

At last back on the beach on familiar terrain

It’s true the old cliche re no pain, then no gain

As the boulders reduced and we saw the last seal

Sue walked uncomfortably close to a log that was real

It sleepily popped up its head from the beach

But by then Sue made sure she was well out of reach

On reaching the carpark the clock was on five

The others had just beaten us and were ready to drive

Back in Richmond by seven, our journey complete

The moment had come to go home and replete

‘twas a cracking good day of adventure and  stimulation

’twas time to disband, reaching the ‘point of separation.’

Participants, poets and ‘wouldn’t you know its’ were:

Kate Krawczyk, Sue Henley, Penny Parker, David Cook, Chris Louth (leader), Bruce Alley (poet), Brian Renwick (GBTC), and visitors Alison Wilson, Arif Matthee and Jacqui Bozoky.