| Leader | Mentor | Tail Ender | |
| Standards | Graham | Judy | Jaki |
| Alternates | Ali | Sally | Ailsa |
Statistics: distance 13.5km, elevation gain 594m, 5 time 5 hrs mins
With only 17 passengers on board, bus driver Alan left Bishopdale and weaved his way across the city to The Princess Margaret Hospital meeting point where another seven walkers were gathered. A quick re-arrangement of walkers off and on the bus had 12 Standards setting off at 0915 hrs on a longer warm up to the climb up the Canterbury Adventure Park track. Conversely at 0930 hrs 12 Alternates were confronted by the immediate launch up the semi decent hill climb. Both groups were following the same route in the direction of Governor’s Bay. Numbers were decidedly down for this early spring walk, and we pondered the various adventures or escapes that regular trampers might be enjoying.
At 1000 hrs the Alternates’ leader announced a trackside morning tea stop. Two hours later, having reached the Summit Road and located the start of the descending track to Governor’s Bay, it was lunchtime. The Standards must also have had similar stops as they seemed to still have a spring in their step at day’s end.
Despite this being a pretty routine walk with little of note beyond the wide vista of mountains, plains and harbour, there were some moments of excitement. At lunchtime we watched a stainless steel cup tumbling down the hillside and out of sight. Odds on that, having gone a fair way, it would be lost forever, but not so, elegantly retrieved by a willing searcher. One of the more daring members of Alternates tested out a long dangling rope swing and, after declining the offer of a push from her husband, built up a pretty good Tarzan-like momentum.
Having taken a different track, the Standards missed this swing. There are many side paths down to Governor’s Bay and the proposed route was not always obvious, however all roads lead to Rome, or in this case, tracks to Governor’s Bay. We walked through many new plantings, each with pink ribbon fluttering in the breeze, marking where Council and volunteers were re-generating the area.
As the Alternates meandered their way they were privy to an array of colour which brightened sections through the bush – camellia, Cranesbill geranium, flowering currant, forget me not, hellebore and the ubiquitous tree lucerne – all of these before entering the sheltered climate of Governor’s Bay itself, with its profusion of spring flowers and blossom trees.
There was mud, particularly in shaded areas, the temperature was somewhat erratic with clothing being removed and replaced as the easterly wind increased, but the sun shone. The fresh air and healthy living style were reputed to be the reason why one walker had enjoyed the day. The companionship and laughter that were evident during the walk didn’t require explanation.
Having made good pace on their 10 km walk, the Alternates arrived at Otoromiro Hotel at 1350hrs, 20 minutes ahead of the Standards who had done a longer 13.5km, around Coronation Hill to the Sign of the Kiwi. We settled ourselves in the sunshine and enjoyed refreshments, an assortment of coffees, hot chocolate, beer, wine – still, or mulled – as we waited for the bus to collect us for the drive back over the hills to the city
Text by Marie-Therese
