| Leader | Mentor | Understudy | Tail Ender | |
| Standards | Chris S | Lynne R | Brent | Ailsa |
| Alternates | Ali | Ray | Kay | Tessa |
Distance 14.75km; elevation gain 583m; time 4hr 30min
After two weeks of no tramping due to a weather cancellation and the birthday lunch 41 eager trampers joined bus driver Alan. There was one guest Mei (with Min) and four new visitors which was pleasing to see, Jonathan B, Stuart C, Frank W & Barb H.
When I volunteered for the diary this week the tramp was originally “The Doctors” and I surmised that if the Weather Team got it wrong (a rare occurrence) we could spend the day at the Pyramid Valley Vineyard. I had done some research in preparation to see what I might sample with names like Field of Fire and Lion’s Tooth chardonnay and Earth Smoke and Angel Flower pinot noir. Each wine in this Botanicals Selection depicts an artwork with the print of a pressed flower endemic to the vineyard and garden.
Sadly, this was no longer an option as instead we are at Halswell Quarry. Tony had generously provided a bag of chocolate goodies to hand around on the bus to celebrate a birthday ending in 5 with a larger number involved. I felt as if I had already travelled far with Marie-Therese giving me the magnificent book she had created of her recent Portuguese Camino trip filled with stunning photos and text to capture her journey.
The forecast for today had been for norwest winds so many had pictured a warm blowout in the Port Hills but that changed to strong southerlies and showers by mid-morning.
At 9.30am like the British Army we are promptly off and away heading up hill for the long steady climb to the Summit Road on Kennedys Bush Track. A musical chorus of bellbirds keeps our spirits high as we hike through the gum forest. We expected mud and were not disappointed. By 10.30am some rain had arrived and the full force of the southerly had kicked in which meant some of the lightweights could have been lost but all were accounted for at the end of the day.
The Standards decided to combine morning tea with an early lunch at 11.15am at the Sign of the Bellbird so we could shelter within the walls of the roadhouse. I hear the Alternates did partake of morning tea but it was a very brief affair mainly standing up. Ray, being the thoughtful man that he is, offered to go back when the wind was at its strongest with anyone who chose but there were no takers. The Alternates blew in to the Bellbird just 15 minutes later having chosen after reaching Summit Road to follow the road to avoid some of that glorious mud.
Across the road from the Bellbird is the recently opened John Jameson Lookout. The platform provides magnificent views over Lyttelton Harbour (not so much today) and features a new carpark, a low wall of Port Hills stone and panoramic panels pointing at significant places. John is the grandson of Harry Ell and a Life Member of the Summit Road Society.
There is a striking Pou Whenua carved by Ngāti Wheke carver Caine Tauwhare to mark this spot as a place of significance for Māori.
We coincided with a large team of motorcyclists having a blast on the Summit Road so as we joined Ellas Track to take us to the Sign of the Kiwi we had the throaty roar of them all departing. We were old hands at the mud by now but were more cautious on the slippery rock sections.
The Standards continued on Harry Ell Track to the Sign of the Takahe arriving at 13.55pm and were pleased to see the opening hours were 9 – 3pm and a hot coffee might be possible before the “Leopard” arrived. No response at that door so as we could see people inside around we went to the garden to try the other door. A staff member informed us they were taking no more orders as a staff meeting was scheduled for 2.30pm. Secretly, I think he had seen the mud on our boots and thought on his feet. To hide our extreme disappointment we spent some time photographing the gorgeous winter roses that were putting on a show. In five minutes the “Leopard” had arrived and thoughts turned to home and cleaning our boots.
Once on the bus the rain began again. We had been so fortunate to only encounter it for a short time. Good call Weather Team.
Text by Kate
