Trip Reports

Brynderwyn Walkway   —   29th September 2002

Written by Noel

The idea of a weekend away appealed to people, and in spite of a close-off date, the phone kept ringing.

Saturday saw people converge on Mangawhai from various directions, and most did not need a compass to find Noel’s cottages although they are hidden “out in the sticks.” There was some conjecture as to who would sleep where, or where was the softest bed.

We spent Saturday evening eating and socialising. No complaints were voiced about the food, apart from us vegetarians who are not into pork and puha (Thanks to Mike). There was plenty to eat. A glass or two of wine, or a beer, soon had some tags wagging.

Bruce soon discovered Noel's LP record collection. Some people had not seen an old LP record, nor had heard the songs on them. We soon proved they still have the best songs, and you can even hear the words.

So keen were the group that they wouldn't sleep in and were up at sunrise. Whilst a recce had been done by Noel, at a group meeting over dinner it was decided to tramp the whole walkway. The track is along forestry roads, and in the brochures it says shoe conditions in some areas. The team split into two, with nine starting at one end and ten the other. Sorry, folks who started at the Waiapu end, as somebody had changed the track and the first part was quite a grunt, but the spectacular views offered some relief. The walk has a variety of bush and forestry, and some little hilly bits, plus three small streams. With the recent rain there was even some mud, but the rain was not on Sunday, with the weather being ideal tramping weather.

The plan was to meet halfway and exchange car keys, and then each group completed the walk. My plan worked, and at lunch time the group met halfway, then continued. The tramp took seven and a half hours, with everyone meeting again at the cottages. The walkway is only open on Sundays, because of quarrying and forestry.

It was great to lead a trip again, and to enjoy the camaraderie of a fine bunch of people.