| Leader | Mentor | Understudy | Tail Ender | |
| Standards | Nicky | Chris | Alan | Ailsa |
| Alternates | Nick | Ray | Norma | Terry |
Stats: distance 15km, vertical ascent 676m, time 5hrs 20mins
A day with no wind, no sweltering heat or numbing cold, and best of all, little likelihood of mud. What could be nicer for our cheerful bunch of Bishopdale Trampers on such a pleasant day than a mid-week toddle on the Port Hills? Our driver Alan had got us safely (via the scenic Bealey Avenue route) to our starting points: McCormacks Bay for the 21 Standards, and a head-start up Mt Pleasant for the 22 Alternates.
We Standards briskly set out from Basil Place, up (and up) Drayton Track, past some scorched undergrowth and a lot of varied vegetation until we emerged onto Mt Pleasant Road.
Morning tea was at the start of the John Britten Reserve, at our customary picturesque spot with the stupendous views of … oh, since our last stop there, someone had dared to build new houses obstructing our view of the Alps and the city.
After more up, over and around the hills, the Standard Troupe marched resolutely up to the old gun emplacements, only to find this high ground was already occupied by the Alternate Brigade. No matter, the latter took off at the very sight of us, so we promptly decided to have an early lunch there even though it was by then only 11.30.
Single file, we walked along what were often little more than sheep tracks, over the typical Port Hills terrain of tufty tussocks and lichen-decorated rocks, with the occasional mountain biker flying past. It wasn’t long before we encountered the Alternates again, and we powered past them as they were enjoying their lunch beside the track- only to stop for a catch-up break as soon as we were out of sight.
Our meanderings had taken us past Jollies Bush, down a ridge to Evans Pass Road, and our route was so cunningly circuitous it eventually led us all the way back to just below where we had lunched amongst the gun emplacements. What had been achieved by all those kilometres in between? The ever-changing vistas of course, each twist around the hillsides was like turning a kaleidoscope to completely change the picture … a view of Redcliffs quickly gave way to a flash of Lyttelton Harbour, a few more turns and we were enjoying impressive views of the city and those stunning snow-clad Alps.
The dry hillside terrain changed completely as we headed towards the built-up area of Clifton Terrace via the East Enders/Frog Pond track. One of the more remarkable sights we passed was a large wooden ark, a remnant of the once-renowned Gethsemane Gardens, now being transformed into a subdivision.
On the way down Clifton Hill, we enjoyed a sort of ‘House and Gardens’ tour as we gazed at some impressive (and sometimes munted) homes. Mulgans Track led us rapidly down to our bus waiting for us by the Yacht Club at Moncks Bay.
It wasn’t too long a wait for the Alternates, then we were all off to sample either the delights of the Heathcote Tavern or the best/worst ever café in Christchurch, at the rustic Heathcote Pony Club.
Txt by Shirley
