Stats: distance 12km approx, vertical ascent 400m, time 5 hrs approx

Many of us wondered if it was worthwhile getting our gear ready when the weather forecast was so bad for our Lake Rubicon tramp.  However there was just a little fog along the way, and nothing like the heavy rain or snow we had tossed and turned over.

After negotiating a little mud while we put on our packs near the Homestead at Brooksdale Station, all 41 of us set off happily up the first of … quite a few undulating hills. Through long grass, dodging cowpats and gigantic, flat thistles. Blue sky. Cold wind. The best thing was that the track was wide, and the topics of conversation were even wider. The usual: concerts, movies, and the merits (or not) of tramping naked, for example.

Morning tea was eaten standing up by some of the Standards because of the wet grass, and probably too by some of the 21 Alternates who arrived just as we were thinking about moving on. Up more hills, with the sun shining and the views rewarding us greatly for our efforts.

However, the bad news: the going (down) got really steep and difficult. Good news: our ‘route variations’ meant we had missed out on some nasty matagouri. Bad news: it had taken us longer than usual to get to this point. Best news ever: we could therefore lunch at the loveliest spot possible. This was just above a stunning river flat, with the luxury of sitting in the sun on the porch of the little hut we usually just passed by. There was even a clothes line for Peter M to hang his flash red merino-mink jersey on to make it toasty warm.

Then: past the wasp nest, er, back past the wasp nest, then heading back the right way, over the Rubicon stream (3 times). Best quip of the day heard, regarding our leader who tends to set off at an enthusiastically rapid pace, “Alan, I would follow you without fail into battle. Because by the time we actually caught up with you the whole war would be over!”

Wouldn’t it be boring if we set out on any given tramp, followed exactly the same route and arrived back at the bus at exactly the same time? Not going to happen, not on a farm foray like Lake Rubicon! There were the usual discussions about which side of the fence one should be on and which cattle track through the overgrown manuka looked slightly less impossible. Always fun. We emerged from the undergrowth to face one last steep hill, then to be greeted with the sights of (a) our Alternate buddies and (b) the celebrated Lake Rubicon below us. So, you might ask- where is the outflow for this quirky little lake? Underground, presumably (and don’t forget about the effects of evaporation). And then, you might also ask, what is the origin of the name Rubicon? A river in what is now northern Italy which Julius Caesar once famously led his troops across apparently. You may be surprised to learn that the great man never actually made it to this neck of the woods so it doesn’t really account for why we have a Rubicon in Canterbury.

So our joint army of 41 valiant foot soldiers marched along the narrow elevated path beside the lake, over the hillside of long wet tussocky grass, made our way across the wide dry riverbed, across verdant paddocks, and along the longest farm track ever, all the time chattering and nattering happily. We were even happier to reach the bus and get on board, and relax ready for the trip home. Almost everyone (but not all) had noticed slightly before this point that this was not actually the same bus we had boarded this morning. It was white, not purply-blue. There were no seatbelts and the seats were covered in an appalling patterned fabric. And our possessions were not necessarily in the same place as they had been on the first bus, which caused a few problems. Our trusty driver Alan, encountering technical difficulties with the front door of the bus just after we had started out on our tramp, had driven all the way back to town and returned with a very different bus.

Thanks Weather Team for not cancelling the tramp. It was great to get out, and our new club members Dave F and Cath L, and visitors Neil, Maureen L-C and Peter D seemed to have enjoyed themselves too. Just like Julius Caesar, we had ventured into slightly unknown territory, and conquered the mighty Rubicon.

Text by Shirley B

Troops rally near Brooksdale Station Homestead

Onward & upward through the tussock

Enjoying expansive views before the descent to lunch

Descent towards Lake Rubicon

Awesome views of Lake Rubicon

Lunch in the hut porch enjoying river flat views

Negotiating the dry river bed route after lunch

Return journey along the farm track leaving the Rubicon Stream