December 2021 – Taieri Recreational Tramping Club

3. 15/12/2021. Hindon. Blacksmiths Gully. Leaders Jill Reid, Sarah McCormack, Linda Partridge, Jan Butcher.

A reasonable day dawned for our combined Christmas visit to Hindon, and about 40 people headed up George King Memorial Drive to the hall. We deposited our “plates”, wrapped up warmly, and drove to Don Graham’s gravesite on Ardachy Station.

15 Dec 1200 Ross Hindon-getting ready — *Getting sorted (caption and photo Ross)*

Don loved this challenging country & he overlooks the hills and Taieri River.

15 Dec John tribute stone resize — *Lovely spot for a tribute stone (caption and photo John)*

The hikers walked a gentle track & enjoyed the spectacular scenery.

15 Dec Phil hikers group resize — *Nice view of the hill (caption and photo Helen)*

15 Dec Phil nice view from the hill resize — *The group of 19 hikers (caption and photo Helen)*

The trampers headed down the hill to Blacksmiths Gully, then looped back up to the cars – about 6 km.

15 Dec John going down the ridge line resize — *First impression of the vastness of the countryside (caption and photo John)*

15 Dec John landscape view resize — *Panaroma – open country dwarfs everyone (caption and photo John*)

15 Dec John Phil and Peter in their happy place resize — *Phil and Peter in their happy place (caption and photo John)*

15 Dec John are we going the right way Jill resize — *Are we going the right way Jill? (caption and photo John)*

15 Dec Pam trampers in the foxgloves resize — *Trampers among the Foxgloves (caption and photo Pam)*

Kevin Burke said Ian Fleming’s grace and we then enjoyed the generous pot luck lunch.

Chris Wither told us some Hindon Hall history & her various associations with it during her 38 years living at Hindon. She mentioned how mice often visited during yoga classes……and yes, one brave mouse came under the door soon after!

15 Dec 1200 Ross Hindon-eating lunch — *Lunch in the Hindon Hall (caption and photo Ross)*

We greatly enjoyed Grant Shackell playing his guitar and singing along with his “blind date” Claire Currie.

15 Dec 1200 Ross Hindon - Claire and Grant — *The entertainers – Grant and Claire*

15 Dec Pam sing along Hindon Hall resize — *Entertainment from Grant and Claire. Interesting woolsacks on the wall from past and present farms in the district (caption and photo Pam)*

Thank you both for the wonderful entertainment, and to Jill Dodds and her helpers for organising the food etc. A very pleasant way to wrap up our tramping year!

Jill Reid

15 Dec screen shot of tramp route — *Tramper’s route*

2/4/2014 Both. Hindon. Machine Creek. Recently Bathgate, now Cowley Farm. Easy+ Leaders: Ian, Ken

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