Leader: Robyn Walsh
The morning was overcast and quite cold, as the four of us took off in Jim’s car for Okiwi Bay. After an hour we were on the saddle overlooking the bay. The track was ignored for a while as we headed into the village and checked out their conveniences (very nice,) and partook of our morning tea on the beachfront.
Next we drove back up to the saddle to start the Goat Hill track. A steady, gentle climb through open regrowth bush soon gave us a good view of the homes dotted around the hills.
An hour later, we arrived at the north-facing lookout. The sky had cleared beautifully to give us a warming sun as we ate lunch with a seaward view. But, a gusty wind freshened the air.
After lunch, we followed the track again as it meandered down the shady side to meet the road at the saddle. From here, Ted walked back to the car via the road while the remainder re-walked back along the track. As Ted predicted, the slippery clay track required some choreography to avoid slipping over.
On the return drive home we diverted to the Brick Oven Cafe in Rai Valley to enjoy Afghans, tea and icecream. A busy little place. Walkers were: Robyn Walsh (scribe), Jim Maxwell, Ted Brooks and Vivienne Lilley.