A20 Bike Ride Duntroon to Kurow and Back
20th November 2016
After driving to Duntroon five cyclists rode through the wetlands and along the A2O trail towards Kurow in perfect weather conditions.
The first obstacle to confront us was the Otekaieke River which was cloudy and running higher than normal after the recent heavy rain and snow melt. Four cyclists appeared on the other side and while we searched for a safe passage across they proceeded to come over to us crossing the several braids and confirmed that the other 2 river crossings were negotiable. After pushing and lifting our bikes through the, at times, knee-deep water we made it across safely and continued on towards Kurow. Some of us had changed into crocs especially for the river crossings but as they were quite comfortable and our feet dried quickly we carried on without changing back to our original footwear.
The Otiake River was running clear and easily forded. After a pleasant ride along the flats we then cycled through the vineyard and across the cloudy Kurow River without any problems. Three more cyclists met us at the Te Kohurau Cafe for lunch and we all left at 12.30pm to cycle to Duntroon with the sun and wind behind us. The trail was in good condition apart from the odd rut considering the amount of rain that had fallen in the last week. One of the ruts caused a “Fly over the handlebars” for one but the only other casualty was a broken gear cable which was fixed temporarily using a stick and some strapping tape.
Thanks to Jane, Bron, John, Heather, Karyl, Jac and Maurice for their company.
Phyllis
Club night November 2016
The Tramping Club’s main trip in the last month was to the Edwards and Hawdon Valleys in the Arthurs Pass area.
In ideal weather 4 members arranged a car at each end and then walked up the Edwards Valley to the Edwards hut. The next day was over Tarn Col to Hawdon Hut, with a short walk down Hawdon Valley to the car on the final day.
Herbert Forest now has stoat and possum traps spaced out along its 3 tracks with a few more to be placed on the 2 loop tracks. The Club will check the traps regularly. We look forward to more bird life in the future in this podocarp remnant forest.
The Wednesday Walkers had 2 day trips on the A2O bike trail because of wet weather making access to other areas difficult. They also walked the Andersons Lagoon to Shag River Mouth, Kurinui Creek Circuit and Domett Loop below Little Domett.
Coming Tramping Club Trips are an A2O return bike ride from Duntroon to Kurow on November 20.
Contact Phyllis by Friday if you want to come. Thousand Acre Plateau trip is planned for 2-6 December. The Christmas Party is on the 12 December. See the NOTMC website for details of these events.
There will be a Mt. Potts trip in late January.
The night’s speaker was our own adventure traveller Bronwyn McCone, who recently spent a month on the Spirt of Enderby cruising to Antarctic via the sub Antarctic Islands with 50 other passengers.
There was never a dull moment with bird watching, whale watching and guest passenger lectures while at sea, walks or coastal zodiac boating around the Sub Antarctic Islands, and a historical visit to the Ross Sea coastline.
Highlights were visits to Shackleton’s and Scott’s huts with all the stores and furnishings still there, McMurdo and Scott Bases with a population of up to 2000 in the summer and cruising the Ross Ice Shelf with spectacular photos of ice walls and caves, Adelie and Emperor penguins, seals and sea lions and distant views of smoking volcano Mt. Erebus.
A never to be forgotten trip.
Herbert Forest Botanical Walk
Sunday 9th October 2016
Seven of us left the car park and we picked up 3 more at Robbie’s. This was a botanical ramble with 2 very knowledge botanists, Zuni Steer and Hugh Wood. The object of the day was to try and educate us in identifying our native flora and then to remember their names! Quite a challenge for some .
We started at the bottom of the Podocarp Track and meandered our way to the big trees, then took the Glenbournie Loop back. On the way back we were often tested to see if we had retained our newly found knowledge!!
A very big thanks to Zuni and Hugh for coming out and helping us and being so patient.
On the way home we dropped the key off and Robbie gave us an open air didgeridoo concert overlooking the Waianakarua River. What a great way to finish the day.
Thank you to every one for a very entertaining day.
Herbert Forest Trap Setting Day
Sunday the 13th November 2016
Twelve Club members and a Venture Scout gathered at 8.30am with Khan Adam and three colleagues from High Country Contracting at the Swallows Carpark for a briefing before picking up the traps and setting out to place them. The plan was to place traps at 100 metre intervals along the Swallows, Podocarp and Hoods Creek tracks, alternating Doc 20 traps (in boxes, to catch stoats, rats and hedgehogs) with Sentinel possum traps (attached to trees).
One team of seven trampers set off with Khan and one colleague for the Podocarp Track. The remaining six trampers and two professionals headed up the Swallows Track, each team carrying sufficient traps for their route. The traps were placed a few metres off the track with their positions marked by ribbons.
The second team, having completed Swallows, took the first team’s vehicles up to the top of the Podocarp Track, restocked with traps, and headed down Hoods Creek. About two-thirds of the way down, they met the first group, who had worked their way up having completed the Podocarp Track. Both groups walked back to the road to collect vehicles and head home by around 2.30pm, having placed some 64 traps. It remains to place traps on the loop tracks, tag them all and start regular checking and resetting, tasks which we hope will control predators and help ensure that the Herbert Forest is noted for its thriving bird life as well as its magnificent trees.
Thanks to Khan and his colleagues, and to Jane, Graham, Neville, Sebastian, Roz, Maurice, Phyllis, Noel, Bron, Bill, Ross and Bess.
John.
