Jack and Katrina's Place

Autumn in Wellington can be a little dreary as the days shorten up and the temperature drops back to single figures. But on this Autumn, Brother Rob came down for a training course at the police college, and suggested we take the weekend to do a short tramp into the Tararuas. Time Guy learnt about tramoing said Rob.It was agreed that going into Otaki Forks and up to Field Hut for a tramping dinner and overnight in the Hut would be a good introduction to tramping for Guy. The plan was for Jack, Guy and Rob, a boys adventure. Unfortunaltey the week Rob arrived so did Winter, with strong southerlies and cold rain. On Friday night Guy woke with a nasty barking croup cough, so we decided overall that heading three hours walk into the mountains for Saturday night was a bit optimistic. Nonetheless the rain eased enough on Sunday that we were able to mount a short mission to Otaki Forks. From the carpark we crossed the swing bridge and came (after 15mins!) to the Otaki Lodge. For all that it was only 500m from the carpark, Guy thought it was magic, a real hut with bunk beds and a stove. Rob made a fire and we cooked sausages and made cups of soup, just like a real tramp only shorter!

We completed the Otaki Forks loop walk which took and hour. Guy's stamina for walking uphill proved to be even less than we'd thought, However he cheered up immensly when confronted with long sections of deep mud. On the downhill acorrs the river flats he ran on ahead, catepiller bobbing merrily. Note the small muddy dip in the distance? Guy didn't , and lost his footing to skid along on his hands in the mud, to his barely concealed delight.

When we got back to the river despite the chill, Rob decided to bathe. Guy was keen to follow his uncles example, and he was so muddy we let him wade in fully clothed. Lots of fun was had, despite the cancelled trip, the freezing weather and the mud.