"Trips on the
Peninsula were the least popular" (Annual Report presented to the
AGM, 28 August, 1997)
On August 31 eleven
people turned up for the daytrip entitled "All Day On The Peninsula
- M/F)". Boots on and walking by 9.15, we headed around Portobello
Road to Company Bay and up McTaggart Street to reach the McTaggart
Track, (track marked by OTMC), a day before it closed for lambing.
Down Camp Road,
back onto Portobello Road and up Bacon Street brought us to our second
track and first grunt. Highcliff Road meant a quick game on 'Spot
Robyn's house' and an excuse for a breather before a wander up to
the start of the Hoopers Inlet Route - 'suitable for fit and agile
people'. We wondered whether we qualified, but gave it a crack anyway.
Up the stairs, past
Harbour Cone, along the ridge to a view of Hoopers Inlet and mutterings
about a morning tea break. Down a steep route (wire rope provided)
and across a bog bought us to the Nyhon Track, (also marked by the
OTMC), and another grunt. A lunch break was called at the top.
Down onto Sandymount
Road where Gerald and Ann opted for a semi-pike by following Ridge
Road to Sandfly Bay. The rest of us ascended to the summit of Sanymount
and then headed down through the dunes to Sandfly Bay.
The old 'three steps
up, two down trick' eventually got us up to Seal Point Road, which
we followed to Braidwood Road. Arriving at Macrocarpa Cottage (remember
the Wildtrack TV series?) at Boulder Beach at 3.40pm meant decision
time. Plan A was up to Highcliff, Karetai Road, Highcliff Road, District
(Sunnybrae) Track and back to Macandrew Bay - likely to take three
hours. Paradise Track - Greenacres Street was estimated at one and
a half hours while Buskin Track - Greenacres Street would probably
take two plus hours.
Eventually Doug,
Robyn the Prez, Rowan and Tracey went up Buskin and the rest went
up Paradise. Arriving at Macandrew Bay at 5.00, I drove back up Greenacres
Street to meet Doug and co. probably 15 minutes behind us.
An excellent, fairly
full day (with 1180m of uphill) was had by: Doug Forrester, Rowan
Meddings, Robyn Bridges, Robyn Bell, Tracey Whare. Mel Wilson, Rhonda
Wilson, Gerald Paterson, Ann Paterson, Peter Davison and David Barnes.
(Ed's note - many
thanks to David for this report - received less than 48 hours after
the trip, a record surely!!. Well done.)
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