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Published: September 27th 2005
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Gem here,
Few days behind in updating about our trip over the weekend with Chevy who we met pruning. We had shopped on Friday to get all the supplies needed for the weekend and told to be ready for 6am, thanks for that one Chevy.
A sleepless night followed filled with BAD irish folk songs curteousy of the idiotic bloke duty manager of Napier YHA. His opinion was that everyone else in the building wanted to hear the awful sounds of a cat being strangled and churned out to try and sound like folk songs, when no one was actually sitting in the Kitchen where it was playing to listen to it, think they had all been scared off by it. But our room was right above so anyone for irish rover for the 3rd time in a row?? The guy when asked politely by Dave if it could be turned down or off was extremely rude and let the whole of the other YHA staff down with his obnoxious, unfriendly, childish manner. The rest of the staff there have been brilliant it's a shame he didn't life up to there standards.
Next morning a some what leisurely start
and what seemed like a long drive to the Kawaka ranges, the last bit being down a gravel track hug drops to one side and the car scraping the middle where the gravel had all collected. After crawling along we arrived at the car park with amazing views of the river below and the ranges. A quick walk down to the hot pool we would be visiting on our return and then back up to pack and make sure we had everything we needed.
The tramp was to take us over three and a half hills and take 3 hours. So ready, backpacks on and off we went. Not soon enough I realised this was going to be a challenge not just in fitness of tramping that long and up and down hills with backpacks on, but also on my fear of height, which everyone who has read the blog will know has actually got severly worse since our Glacier walking. I actually thought to start with that I was doing fine and for the first part was just concentrating on getting my balance right with our backpacks and not conking out on the first hill.
But soon
enough we came to a few obstacles which Dave talked me round and we continued. I must mention that Chevy was not aware of how severe my fear of height is at present, even though I was cursing him throughout the journey, apologies there. Now about just over 1/3 the way through the trail becomes even worse and involves steep rock parts with no vegetation on the side and sheer drops, I think three bits in total. One of them is quite bad and has to be done side stepping and for me clinging for dear life onto the rock face. Hint do not go on this trip if you have a fear of heights! Again Dave talking me through and getting his hand crushed by me. I must admit to having a bit of a breakdown on the severe rock shimmy, why oh why do I keep doing this? I'm going to end up needing counselling to go up and down stairs.
We had quite a few stops for drinks and snacks. There are some amazing views on this trip, as long as you can appreciate them. It's 7km in total and some of the inclines just seem
to last forever, but the hut at the end, only found by Chevy leaving a Tui beer can to lure us on as he had gone slightly ahead. We arrived at the hut we would be staying overnight and feeling shattered and my nerves completely shot at. After a bit of time resting it was then time to go to the hot pools, which are another 30-40 mintues walk away.
Okay this bit of the journey tested Dave's patience and me even further. The firsat bit is just outside the hut area where there is a swing bridge over the river, great, but managed it quite well with Dave egging me on at the other end. Chevy the nutter just jumps up and down in the middle just for a bit of a laugh. Then comes Devils spine, a very steep incline that has sheer drops either side and has a sort of step system from the tree roots going all the way up it. I initially refused and so Chevy went up to show me the top and then Dave dragged me up crawling and cursing Chevy again. Okay so the hot pools at the other end are
worth it. Although I'm not as mad as them two to jump in the River near them, the screams would have been heard in Auckland. Funny enough we met two scottish doctors and an OT who were also on the tramp and sleeping in the hut that night, so a whole MDT going on.
I don't need to go into the trip back to the hut as its just more swearing from me and Dave's hand being thoroughly crushed.
Back at the hut and fire wood collecting going on and then a well deserved tea cooked by Chevy very good grub, with JD and coke, yey!
So the hut is literally one room with two half partitioned off sections where the bunks are, not normal bunks but on each side two levels of sleeping area, one whole huge matteress that can sleep 10 side by side. Thankfully only 6 of us in the whole place and therefore only three on each side. It also has two cooking stoves, two sinks and two benches as a dining area and is lit only by candle light. Most surprsingly of all there was a toilet outside (longdrop) I was expecting
bush toilet all the way. Right outside the hut is a grassed area that goes down onto a sandy beach next to the river and it is just beautiful.
That evening we got the Fire going outside and did some star gazing, of which I have never seen so many or so clearly. The wood we had collected wasn't the greatest and so needed a lot of encouragement but eventually got going. A few failed campsongs and games and Chevy antics(of which we won't go into) went on, and the Doctors and OT soon went to sleep. Just to let you know Chevy is fine and didn't catch a light!!!
Next morning Chevy making us some bacon and eggs (well Dave the Bacon), I had to leave it as had no appetite thinking of the journey ahead.
The tramp felt quicker going back and once we got the rocky bits over with we had lunch on a awesome beach below them. Near the end I thought we had another hill to go got to the top of a slope and to my relief we were back in the car park. Cars have never looked so good.
We had a short wait for Chevy as he had a little longer at the beach before setting off after us, he came back with his right leg scrapped up as the path at one point had given way underneath him as he was concentrating on an apple and reading? Thankfully apparently there was a couple of rocks and a tree to stop him sliding all the way, although it looked painful it was probably worse the next day. We had a short dip in the hot tub at the end, muscles aching but very proud.
So back to my parents via dropping off Chevy. Must say a big thank you to Chevy for a great experience and pushing our boundaries. Even though I did curse him through the experience I'm glad we did it just to prove that even though you are pertrified of something you can get through it with support from amazingly patient people. THANKS CHEVY from both me and Dave.
So this is my last blog and sorry to once again go on but it was just THAT much of an experience.
I am writting this a day after Dave has left and he should now be heading towards Taupo. So good luck to Dave, take care and make sure you come back safetly. I hope the experience you have becomes everything you imagined and more. Keep snapping and blogging away. I am just a phone call/ email away if you ever need me. I miss you already and thank you for being here in New Zealand and sharing the experience. Love Always Gem.
And to everyone else I will see you soon.
BYE BYE
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Laura & Si
non-member comment
well done!
Gem you have been so brave once again, proving that if we face our fears anything is possible! Good luck Dave on your travels, keep blogging, informed us of where's good so we can plan our next trip. Lots of hugs x