Wednesday 14th.

Five of the party left Christchurch after a smooth trip on the Maori from Wellington. This was by far the longest and most strenuous day of the trip. Picture, if you will, five burly trampers and 10 days' gear, crammed into one of Henry Ford's smaller products, travelling from Christchurch via Timaru and Oamaru, the Waitaki valley and the Lindis Pass to Wanaka at which point another of the same with gear is squeezed in for the 37 miles to Makarora where, exhausted, they all spend the night. The journey took 13 hours, an interesting contrast to the days that followed. On arrival the party was greeted by Dave Osmers, his wife and sister-in-law, the latter an old school friend of the trip leader.