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Heels 1981

A Tramp You're Having When You're Not Having A Tramp

A Tramp You're Having When You're Not Having A Tramp

Or...the chooks tramp. Definitely not to be attempted by those without previous climbing,abseiling,8 hour day,snowcraft and near exposure experience,as full appreciation would not be gained. As Kirsty M,Cath,Kirsty R,Mary,Frances and Peter (blackmailed,and subsequently adopted as honourary rooster) hit the Orongorongos we had the unique chance to put all our acquired VUWTC skills to practice. We knew it was going to be rough so when we met with a closed road at the entry to the park we weren't surprised - and within 5 minutes we had hitched a ride to the track. Experience always pays off! Pete's pack was an inspiration,even to the more experienced of us. Being all of 31b we weren't alanned when he stopped for a rest halfway.

Altho' the track was hazardous and dangerous Pete managed to keep up and we weathered,intrepid,rugged and hardened trampers had learnt to grin and bare under difficulties to the extent that we clucked happily along the track. Two long,treach-erous hours later we arrived at Gates' Hotel - I mean hut. It wasn't at all what we'd been used to but we forced ourselves to adapt and make the most of it. The curtains and carpet had to be seriously acclimatised to.

The fire place was completely utilised as the rain pelted down ,and the gramaphone was just asking to be wound up to set the atmosphere. We soon gave up and Pete resorted to the radio in a vain attempt to get the rugby score;he too giving in to the clucking. Of course with the surroundings being such a shock our hardened tramping stomachs were soon in for a bigger one. We forced down an entree of pizza and garlic bread,then a main course of Orongorongo fried chicken,baked potatoes,boysenberry shortcake as well as rhubarb and banana shortcake,a brew and after dinner fudge. The pain was almost too much,but we knew the experience would be valuable for the upcoming Gourmet trip. Ronnie and David arrived soon after dinner. Luckily for them there was still shortcake of both flavours left that had been too much to cope with.

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Morning broke with flying shoes and certain sleeping bags being disconnected from certain people at a mere 7.30. Hardly chook tramping style,we thought. But with the President and Vice looking pretty out of it we couldn't look too eager -so we didn't and reluctantly went back to stacking zzz's.

Ronnie and Dave managed to tear themselves away in search of a Gourmet site before breakfast was cooked. We dined again on rice pudding,crumpets and brew (with a heavy sediment in the bottom). What was left of the morning was spent attacking the visitor's book and cleaning up. The river was strong and we crossed it around lunchtime in a hail storm. "A bit on the nose" as was exclaimed,however being chased by hailstones brought us out in a shorter version of in. A very sore, but definitely happy ending to a very tough and hazardous weekend.