Cape Kidnappers, Wednesday 24 July 2024
Banner Photo: There are some rocky sections on the walk
It looks safe enough, but the route to Cape Kidnappers is fraught with hazards, as we found out yet again. Club trampers had previous experience of the unstable cliffs when they walked the beach on 7 June 2023.
Gannet-free trip to the Cape turns into a hi-tech cliff-hanger
We met for a lovely coffee at Hygge at 9.30am, 17 in total, to prepare for the walk to the cape. It was a beautiful day, hardly a cloud in the sky and warm with no wind. I was pleased I’d put sunscreen on and brought my cap! Off we all went through Clifton Camp, which seemed deserted, and round onto the stony beach. Low tide was at 1.30pm, so we had plenty of time.
We hadn’t gone far when there was a big soil and dust cloud ahead, where part of the cliff had given way and avalanched down. The cliff kept crumbling in smaller bits, every few minutes. Some of us decided to cross it and others turned back.
The ten who crossed went singly and quickly. The soil was loose and, where it had gone into the sea, was very gluggy; it was like trying to walk in treacle.
John D, Alison, Geoff, myself, Di and newbies Selina and Theresa stuck together for the rest of the day. Sue M, Ted and Simon walked a long way along the beach before turning back and were kind enough to wait from 2.30pm until we returned an hour later.
A snack break on the rocky beach
Of those who turned back (the sensible ones), some did a walk at Te Mata, and Marie and Margaret went home. They told me later they’d had a good day anyway!
Having crossed the slip, we were very vigilant about other slips, of which there were two more, and they were obviously not recent – but we still didn’t hang about. We saw two young seals, one playing in the sea and the other resting on the sand – until we accidentally disturbed it and it scooted off into the water.
Lunch at the shelter
As we approached the gannet colony, we could hear the birds and see them wheeling around in the air, catching the breeze. Amazing how they aren’t fazed about humans passing by quite close. There weren’t a huge number but enough to make their presence known. As we approached the end, there were three places where we could not escape wet boots. Nothing too deep, mostly calf-height, and thankfully it washed the mud off from the slip. Then it was up to the shelter for lunch around noon: beautiful views, stunning day.
On the return, even though it was low tide, we still had to get wet feet, and there wasn’t nearly as much sand on the beach as when I have been in the past. So it was a crunch, crunch march all the way on the stones, over the slip (still little bits tumbling down) and back through the camp.
Theresa was pleased that Ted, Simon and Sue had waited, as that was her ride home, but we did say we wouldn’t have abandoned her. Selina and Theresa, being newbies, really enjoyed the trip, so a good introduction to our club. We set off for home at about 3.30.
Trampers: Teresa Cuthbert, Ted Angove, Alison Greer, Selina Chilton, John Dobbs, Mark Jenkins, Gaye Ebbett, Simon Hill, Sue Marshall, Geoff Donkin, Tony Pluymers, Fred Ramlose, Kate Fuller, Marie Deroles, Margaret Palmer, Bruce Hodgson and reporter Di Reid
Leave a Reply