Club Night April 2013
The April meeting was well attended with 2 prospective members present.
Unfortunately the data projector has died so the Club is looking for a replacement as this media is an important way of communicating our activities and enhancing our guest speaker’s talks.
Ann and Steve Leideker are returning to London so the Club thanked them for their contribution during the 3 years they have been here.
Because of poor weather the Club s trip to Mt. Alexandra in the Arthurs Pass area was transferred to a stay in the Avoca Hut near the Torlesse Range, and exploring that fascinating area with views of the West Coast railway viaducts and tunnels, old coal mining relics and cableways. The return journey included a walk through the Cave Stream underground system near Castle Hill for about a kilometre, a cold but exciting trip.
Wednesday Walkers trips have been to Doctors Point near Purakanui with great views of the Otago Heads, Mts. Alexandra and Nobbler from Danseys Pass, and Herbert Forest where a rotted tree decided to fall down on the track very close to four passing walkers. Island Cliff farm was also visited by some where walkers were fascinated with the large ostrich eggs, while the rest climbed Mt. Te Huruhuru in the Hunter Hills.
Coming Club trips are to Mueller Hut at Mt. Cook, a Herbert Forest working bee, the Herbert Forest Guided Walk Day on the 28th April, Mt. Kyburn, and Tekapo. More information is available on the NOTMC website under “What’s on?”
The Guest Speaker was Mark Hay who gave us an insight into travelling in a group by motorbike through Vietnam. Some of the things they saw in their 8 day journey on their Russian bikes were floating fishing villages, a chopstick factory, a 31k long natural cave system with stalactites, and a similar length one dug during the war.
They experienced the wholesome fresh food of chicken, pork, rice and local vegetables, as well as reluctantly sampling weasel coffee and a meal made from a snake.
Vietnam has a young population having grown recently from 28m to 80m. Traffic was coped with under the “he who hesitates is lost” presumption that the locals use!
They marvelled at the huge number ornate shrines some which are still being built, the beautiful scenery, and were fascinated by the motorbikes being used as freight trucks and having to slam on the brakes for a large flock of geese crossing the road.
The final part of the trip included an overnight train trip to Hanoi. They thought Vietnam was an exciting friendly and safe place to visit.