Advertisement
Published: July 24th 2005
Edit Blog Post
Australearn Group
Some Australearn Kids-taking abreak from tramping!9seconds before the mad dash for the hut) Kia Ora everyone!
I hope you all are doing well and enjoying summer and the warm weather and sunshine! Winter is setting in, here in Wellington. Today is actually not too cold and not that windy. But, lately it has been raining heaps and we have been having some chilly southerly wind gusts!
Last weekend, I mentioned previously, that I went with the Vic Tramping club to the Tararua Forest Park, (http://www.doc.govt.nz/Explore/001~Other-Places/008~Wellington/Tararua-Forest-Park/index.asp) about 2.5 hrs from Wellington. It was an experience unlike any other that is for sure. I did not expect it. The scenery was beautiful, lush green bush everywhere. The forest park is basically a rain forest. The ascent was approx. 3 hours long, and very steep. At one point we were climbing with all our might up the trek in the mud, over huge tree roots. I thought it was a beginner tramp! But in the states this would be considered a bit more difficult. I think with all the mud weighing us down, we were pretty deep into it. There was a time for about an hour where I was alone, just tramping through the forest. It was the highlight of my tramp. I
could breathe easy and quietly listen to the sounds of the forest. NZ does not much in the means of native land mammals, bugs, and most birds are nocturnal. So the forest was practically silent except from the sound of streams and nearby rivers. So peaceful!
Towards the end of the tramp, I learned that our group of about 35 were planning on staying at a hut at the end of the trek. In NZ public tramping huts are a popular place to stay overnight. For a tiny fee (around 3 bucks) you can stay in a public hut for the night instead of having to tramp with tenting supplies. Sounds like a good idea, right?
Not in my case: Our group started to worry, that there would be a lack of sleeping accommodation, once we realized that the hut slept only 12 people!! So the last 1.5 of the tramp became a mad dash up the mtn to the hut. It was a race for a cot/piece of floor/corner of a porch…basically anything BUT a muddy wet ditch outside the hut. Upon my dash to the hut, I managed to stop and tie my shoe 4 times,
Stinky Socks for breakfast?
I left my favorite hiking socks on the wood stove to 'dry' -bad idea. thus losing my place in the front of the dash, falling on my butt in the mud, (which didn’t bother me because as you can see in the photos I was already a mud monster) and falling over in the river and hitting my head, elbow, and hand on a massive river rock. A friendly fellow tramper had to come to my aid and lift my sorry pathetic American tramper wannabe bottom up.
Bruises, blood, headache, and awfully broken right thumb nail, later, I made it to the hut. “Lucky for me”, Rachel had managed to stay in the front of the dash and secured a mattress for us to share. I say “lucky for me”, because, Along with our group of 35, there was another tramping club (of old kiwi mtn hippies) of about 10 ppl. These people smelled so awful I questioned whether they were ill with some chronic stinky disease. After some not so friendly rants by the old ppl towards our massive college tramping club crashing their tramping party, we settled in for the night. We ate veggies and pasta, and brie and crackers. I shared some cider beer with Lauren used to outhouse/bushes before
hardcore Trampers
Rachel and i on the descent. bed and decided to call it a night. That night was the craziest night sleep of my life. Apart from the fact that 45 ppl were sharing a space fit for 12, and I was sleeping next to strangers who smelled like dead skunks, I was ‘lulled’ to sleep by a symphony of 10+ group of snorers! I slept with my shirt over my nose to protect me from the stink of tramp. (Hah re read that sentence. That is funny). I was hit in my sleep by a random drunk stranger, and could hear crazy kiwis exchange rather odd sexual encounter stories outside my window. Oh what a night.
Needless to say I survived. I made it up and out of the hut, and descended the mtn. I highly enjoyed my experience and my hut encounter. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride as I walked out of the hut in my muddy wet clothes and my smelly pack. I had mastered the hut. Booya. Tramping experience #1-check.
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum- I Attended another movie at the film fest- Howl’s moving Castle- a Japanese animation (my first time seeing one)
Tararua Forest park
Misty mountain in the morning -view from the hut front door that was the centrepiece of the festival. It was very interesting and surprisingly funny!
Last night my flatmates, Chris, Christian, and friends Rachel and Lauren experienced a piece of heaven. We made reservation at the Duxton Hotel- for the (drum roll please) The Chocolate Buffet- All you can eat!!!!!! This was a dream come true. I have finally made it to the next level of Chocoholics. We wined and dined on all types of gourmet desserts (of course all made of chocolate). I have never been so satisfied. Enjoy the photos.
Later that evening we went to Dockside a waterfront bar, which is quite cool looking on the interior. We danced the night away (to cheesy American music that I was surprisingly not reluctant to dance to). My neighbours the Italians from Milan came as well and we laughed at their funny Italian dance moves. What a time.
The night ended well- I practised my French with Allessandro and Christian and I were ‘followed’ home by an adorable kitty we have yet to agree on a name. We can’t keep her/him, but we love it and took it in for the night. Black/white paws.
So
Hut
The infamous hut of darkness friends, NZ is treating me well, and I am once again happy to report that all is good on the other side of the world. I hope it is on your side too. Ciao for now, shelly
Advertisement
Tot: 0.198s; Tpl: 0.016s; cc: 15; qc: 70; dbt: 0.1022s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Capt LT
Larry Troy
Uncle Larry and Angela
Larry would die to have some of that chocolate! We could both do without the tramping or trampling as it looks and sounds. The pictures are awesome. Hope you studies are just as interesting as all your wanderings around NZ. We'll keep waiting for some more pictures and stories. Keep having lots of fun!! Love ya!