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Heels 1963

Blackwater -Spion Kop — December 1962

Blackwater -Spion Kop

December 1962

Party: [unclear: Flaser] Walls (Leader), Bill Stephenson, Roger Lookwood, Jan De Lisle, Micheal Heenan, Margaret Macpherson,

Friday night was fine out black and moonless as we splasned up the Ohau, origin to avoid stray Hut Valleys. In the same loclationist made we Sedded down on the dank forest floor, just past Ohau hut. Bill and Fraser erected a tent fly but falled to entice anyone to share it with them.

Next mroning we went up one Blackwater or Ohau-iti which eventually became a vertical, narrow chasm. However it failed to lead us on to the ridge and a spenta few hours falling torough, tripping over, crawling under, and oursing leatherwood. Steady rain added to the general joyous feeling. Lunch about 2.30 on Twin Peak as we admired Oriwa ridge restored our porspective, and as it seemed too late to go down to the Otaki be headed for Waiopehu. (Thus inaugurating an Ohau - Ohau trip.) On Wale pena pea the weather cleared and the party lazed in a sunny holle by the tarn; except for a few morose typas who preferred the lonely view, dark cloud looming over the southern Tararuas and Kapiti.

Waiopehu hut, down in the bush, provea vey comfortable, with a Fragment of the sea in sight. The party now divided into the lively determinea to make a late night vigil and rumpy recumbents - never the twain Shall meet.

Sunday we left the main track just past the hut and followed another steep rocky litle cataract which forced as into many weira methods [unclear: Gldescent] and caused one twisted unkle and arenched pack, droped into a pool from about 20 feet above. This stream Finally opened out into the Mukaretu river which we wand red happily, down after drying out and cating. To our amazement we found a track Remaing up a [unclear: suen pai doware] Spionkop. However it seen disappeared and we flouriceres [unclear: round in to a Lawyer and Supple Jack caking sights c and spurs.]

Towards evening we were crossing grassy hills to a road which tea, wearily, to Ohau station in time to catch Field's Express.

M.O.M.

page break

The Trampers' Ball.
Milling masses in the ball-room
Seething, weaving round the floor;
Writhing, jiving, rocking, twisting
'Till sweat flows free from every pore.

Duffers dance with clumsy footsteps,
Kicking, scuffing partners toes.
Through faulty steering, bumping, shoving,
Quite regardless, friends and foes.

Others glide past slow and stately,
Relaxed and easy, having fun;
Close together, held so lightly,
Cheek to cheek they move as one.

The floor is clear and lined with faces
As dusky maiden wriggles by.
And as she strips with graceful movements
Panting males stare glassy-eyed.

Pools of beer upon the tables
Slowly dripping to the floor;
Cigarette butts, empty bottles,
Half-filled jugs of grog galore.

Laughing couples gaily chatting
While flash-bulbs pop and shutters click.
Others, fearing for their neurons,
Pet with Smirnoff-loaded chicks.

So at last the Ball is over,
Grog is cut and feet are sore.
Wending homeward in the moonlight;
Stop it! Stop it! Say no more!

K.B.P.