TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK
10-12th August 2007

Well.. I did say I'd do a write up.  Here it is.  Better late than never!

Before my memory fades, we went into Waihohonu Hut.  It's a long time since I've been there.  In the olden days the signs said two hours, and I always wondered "what for".  But now I know.  It is official.  I am old!  I meet DOC criteria.  I suit the track times.  Please don't tell anyone, that is how long it took me. But what a lovely trip in.  Overcast, a little breeze but not uncomfortable.  And some of the time was taken up, taking my backpack off to stretch and have a little pick-me-up snack.  Yum Yum

There were a heap of us, Nigel, Claire, Steve, Colin, Carl and Noel, Laurine and I (Tracey).  Lucky, because when I arrived they already had the billy boiling and the heater working, struggling to raise the hut temperature half a degree above outside's.  Gosh, life has changed since last time I went bush.  I had these little straws of cappuccino, that I made a drink that tasted just as good as the closest cafe after a little walk.  Also, gone are the bright coloured tramping gear things.  It's all muted colours so as not to contrast with the environment.  Even I have had to upgrade my wardrobe so that people will let me tramp with them again.  Dinner time... Yum Yum

After dinner I was re-acquainted with rules of 500.  It took the whole evening and I still had forgotten strategy, which was very obvious to my partner from Whangarei Tramping Club.  Afterwards, he very graciously reminded me, that it's a good idea to lead out all your trumps if you've called.  No wonder we lost.  Before bed we tucked into a little supper.  Yum Yum

Next morning it was awful.  Not snowing, just bitter stinging wet wind.  Nigel tried to rouse the rabble, but to no avail.  "Ten minutes and we'll be on our way!?"  We were into Euchre, another game I was re-acquainting myself with.  OK let's stop our game and boldy go where no man should - YEAH RIGHT!  Nigel gave up and did a solitary reconnoitre on his own.  While we helped Colin lighten his pack by troughing out on his scroggin and made more straw cappuccinos.  Yum Yum

Finally we donned our full storm gear (though we were able to leave the ice-axes behind) and left the hut to head over to the old Waihohonu Hut.  There we had a leisurely and pleasurely lunch before heading back. Yum Yum

Then back for reading, ipod listening, discussions to solve the world's problems, in the midst erstwhile Nigel arrived back from his explorations.  So he needed refueling after his long trip and needed company with this refueling exercise.  Yum Yum
Sunday dawned, similar to Saturday.  Breakfast was had and time to go.  The rain stopped and the sun tried to shine and it was a beautiful trip out.  And it took me two hours again.  I found that I'd missed a little chocolate bar in my side pack, during the weekend.  So I sat and gazed at the grey clouds hiding the mountain but enhancing the beautiful russets of the flora and russet of my chocolate bar.  Yum Yum

Thanks everyone for a lovely weekend.  It's great to be back on track again, and enjoying the companionship on another arduous Toi Toi Trekkers' Tramping Trip.

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