Saturday, October 18 2014
Mangatewainui Stream, via the Apiti Track.
Map: BL36
This was my first Saturday day tramp.
Marc drove us all the way to the beginning of the track, which is just outside Norsewood, down Ngamoko Road.
There were five of us and it was raining when we set off. I wondered if I could keep up; however it wasn’t too difficult – maybe the path being very rooty slowed the others down.
People wore raincoats the same colour as they had voted. One blue, one green and then a few red ones.
The rain became heavier as we moved up the ridge. Our lunch break was very quick because we ate in the drizzle. We split up at the turn-off to Leon Kinvig and the Ruahine tops. Three of us came down the river. It was pretty following and crossing the river; we had oodles of time and there was lots of deer sign.
Marc and John tried in vain to find orchids, but a plethora of other wild flora kept them happy. Info. about orchids can be found on www.nativeorchids.co.nz
Greenhood Orchids, Pterostylis subsimilis
Sunshine Track – Ruahine Range
Flowers October – December
Found in the Ruahine, Tararua, and Aorangi Ranges.
They returned to the car, retracing their steps.
Graeme, Geoff and myself dropped down to Mangatewainui Sream, and arrived back at the car 10 minutes after it had been moved by Marc and John.
Coffee and cake in Norsewood and then home.
Trampers: John Dobbs, Marc Marchal, (to the turn off) and Graeme Taylor, Geoff Donkin, and reporter Hilary Heath-Caldwell.
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