28/3/2018. Hikers. Balclutha River Walk. E. Leaders: Bev and Lesley.
Route map, courtesy Ian.
Luckily the day was bright and sunny as we were going a bit further afield for our hike today, to Balclutha. There were 17 met at Naish Park in Balcluthaand as it was 10am we sat in the sun and enjoyed a leisurely morning tea before setting out on the walk.
Morning tea at the park. (Clive pic and caption.)
Naish Park is a lovely area with beautiful trees, garden, aviary and childrens play ground.
Naish Park. (clive pic and caption.)
It was originally a market garden and orchard, donated to the people of Balclutha by the Naish Family.
The walk is called the Blair Atholl walkway and goes along the stop banks besidethe Clutha river.
Along the flood bank beside the Clutha River. (Clve pic and caption.)
We went to the end of it…
The terminus tree that the leaders made us all circumnavigate before returning. (Kevin pic.)
… and up a side track by a rhododendron dell that must be a great site in the right season. We had a our lunch here. Once again taking out time and enjoying the sun. Then back the way we had come till the track divided and we went along a loop that was closer to the river. Unfortunately where you had to cross an inlet the water was higher than expected. However, some elected to wade across…
Back to the park (some through the ‘ford’). (Clive pic and caption.)
…while the rest of us retraced our steps and followed the path we had started on. We then adjourned to the Heart & Soul café for the after walk social get together. – Bev.
Group PhotoRay and Diana (formerly Blair) WigginsLes & Margaret Smith, Bev McIntosh, Bill Hunt, and Ted Chirnside.Elizabeth (formerly Gamperle) & George HaggieAudrey & Bob HeenanJudy Knox & Doug MoirNancy Strang, Joyce Shaw and Ted ChirnsideClive Crossman, Jay Devlin, Marjorie & Bruce Spittle, Ian Fleming, Mary Lawlor, Jan Butcher, Who?Pat Randall, Bev Harvey, Lesley Gowans, Shirley Fleming.Elaine Day and Peter Davie.Alex & Liz GriffinJim & Betty FinnieLance & Lois WoodfieldDenise Pearce, Chris Hughes and Dot BennettKeith & Shona Munro.Ann and Kevin BurkeDawn Pool & Pam CloughMargreet & Neil Simpson with President Jill Dodd at rearJudy Dennison & Helen Morris
The day dawned sunny but cool, so for a leg-stretch, 18 walkers left from the bowling club for a street walk. We walked a couple of ks to, and through, the new Heathfield subdivision off Gladstone Road into the Woodlands settlement at the bottom of the Mosgiel sign. From here we climbed a steep pinch up to near the Mosgiel sign
(Clive pic.)
which was erected in June 1987 by the local Rotary club under the guidance of one of our tramping club members, Neil Buckley. It is a landmark at the entrance to Mosgiel – our little Hollywood replica!!
After a leisurely coffee stop at the reservoir and the panoramic vista over Mosgiel, – the Silver Peaks to the north – across to the Maungatuas in the West
(Ian pic.)
– and down the Taieri Plains. – A casual walk back into Mosgiel where some had another coffee stop before heading over to the the bowling club for the celebratory lunch.
30 Anniversary of our Club’s Inauguration.
We had 82 members, partners and past members in attendance for a delicious buffet lunch interspersed with a speech from George Haggie representing the early members and one from Dave Mellish, one of our newer members.
Also the Skylarks quartet presented an entertaining song composed by Bruce Spittle to the tune from Gilbert and Sullivans HMS Pinafore, titled “Some Years ago in 1988”. Thanks Bruce Ian Judy D and Margreet.
A real highlight for the whole event was the presentation to Margaret and Les Smith of Life Membership.
(Shirley pic.)
A real honour and well deserved. Right from the start of the club’s inauguration till present day, of years of service: committee, trip organizing and hosting club activities.
Another memorable event was the launching of Judy Knox’s book:
Taieri Recreational Tramping Club – 30 th Anniversary Publication.
An amazing record of our history. Thanks to Judy for her research and Ian Fleming’s meticulous care in maintaining the website for access to members, where Judy collected a lot of her information.
Cake cutting was by Molly Vaughan (90+) and George Haggie (almost 90), …
(Official pic.)
… original members and untill very recently, still tramping. An inspiration to us all.
The cake fairies Pam and Dawn distributed the cake. This cake was beautifully decorated using a similar topping as on the 20th year cake, along with little boots, pack and sticks.
(Official pic.)
“Well Done” to the decorator.
Several member also spoke towards the end of the lunch describing various aspects of a very happy fun-loving group of outdoor folks who enjoy a coffee fix at the end of the day regarding encountering the day’s outing.
“Well done” everyone!
30 years is a fine achievement, and onwards and upwards for another 30 years.
I would just like to thank the committee and fellow-trampers for making this club so special.
2. 7 Mar 2918. Both. Clarksbrae, Clarks Junction. Leaders: Jay and Jan.
Route Map, courtesy Ian. Station House to Deep Stream.
On Wednesday 7th March 40 trampers and hikers completed a walk on “Clarksbrae” farm, Clarks Junction. After a 30 minute car ride we arrived on a lovely summer’s day at “Clarksbrae” Farm and parked close to the woolshed. I must say the tidiest and cleanest woolshed I have ever seen.
From there we had to take 6 cars to the end of the walk to shuttle people on completion of the walk.
It was 10.30 when we started
Some cars were hidden in a valley about 10k from Clarksbrae and we set out to find them. We set out across well tended farmland … (Clive pic and caption.)
and the walk was on a designated stock laneway. It was a steady but gentle climb through beautiful farmland
… and live stock. (Clive pic and caption.)
and wonderful views of the Maungatua, The Lammermoor Range, the Rock and Pillar Range through to Middlemarch. At the end of the laneway we turned left and walked up to the trig station where we had our lunch at 12.30.
With a late start we missed morning tea but made the most of lunch at the trig point. (Clive pic and caption.)
After lunch we followed a track that in places was marked out with painted arrows and warratahs with plastic bags on put in place by the farmer so as we knew which direction to take to get back to the cars. This part of the walk was generally down hill.
Downhill to search for the cars. (Clive pic and caption.)Hurray, we found them. (Clive pic and caption.)
Many of our walkers filled plastic bags with beautiful fresh mushrooms.
The distance travelled was 11.5ks. Coffee was at the ” Wobbly Goat” in Outram. – Jay and Jan B
30 August, 2017. Hikers. Clarksbrae, Clarks Junction. Leaders: Jay and Jan.
Tramp Report from the hikers group. Our walk today comprising of 21 enthusiastic folk started at “Clarksbrae” Farm, Clarks Junction. Farm owner, Richard Nichol gave permission to us to walk along the stock lane way which was very comfortable under foot. The walk was a gentle climb with three steep short gullies to get the heart rate up a bit. Very doable for all concerned. The scenery encompassed The Maungatua, the Lammermoors, the Rock and Pillar Range and the Kakanui Range. We had lunch at the trig station which gave us 360 degrees views. The walk back was all down hill. All up we walked 10.3ks. – Jay and Jan.
