Portsmouth Drive – Taieri Recreational Tramping Club

Distance from carpark: Otago Yacht Club 19 km.
City to Surf – Information and Trips Library

25/05/2022 Stadium to the Sea. E. Leaders: Raewyn & Phil Keene

Shall we hike or not? That was the question asked at PJ Park on a cold & windy morning. 10 hardy hikers said “yes”, so off we went to meet 6 others at the carpark in Magnet Street as arranged.

DSC05638 John Res 1200 — *Group photo before setting out (photo and caption John)*

With extra clothing, beanies & gloves, we set off into stormy skies for morning tea at the Harbour Basin.

IMG20220525093530 Phil Res 1000 — *O’er the Leith bridge (photo and caption Phil)*

Low & behold, the sun broke through so we continued on our blustery walk to Portsmouth Drive & beyond.

IMG20220525103012 Phil Res 1000 — *Our leader outlining the Urban Nature network (photo and caption Phil)*

IMG20220525103203 Phil Res 1600 — *So this is why the teeth were put here? (photo and caption Phil)*

Along the way we were educated by the new Urban Nature signs put up by DoC around the city (www.doc.govt.nz/urbannature) and the histories behind Rongo Rock & Fox Hall.

DSC05639 John Res 1200 — *At the “Rongo” Monument (photo and caption John)*

24AA1E96-8683-4214-BB7C-52552D585F9D Raewynne Res 477 — *Fox Hall, Rongo rock and urbanNATURE (Collage by Raewynne)*

IMG20220525113049 Phil Res 800 — *We went over Tomahawk Rd to see the views, but the Mustang was preferred (photo and caption John)*

Onwards, upwards & over to the Andersons Bay Cemetery where the wind blew even harder, down to the Chisholm Golf links, then across to John Wilson Drive & the sea.

IMG20220525115150 (2) Phil Res 1000 — *Arnie’s army is alive and well at Chisolm Links (photo and caption Phil)*

Our planned lunch stop was taken over by the high seas, so shelter was sought on high ground.

IMG20220525120902 Phil Res 1200 — *We were discussing Bob Dylan’s ‘shelter from the storm’ over lunch (photo and caption Phil)*

AND THE WIND BLEW. Unable to walk along the beach, we braced ourselves and walked into the head wind down to Marlow park.

DSC05645 John Res 1200 — *Impromptu group photo (but guess who’s missing?) (photo and caption John)*

IMG_7178 Noi Res 466 — *The boys solving the problems of the world (photo and caption Noi)*

9.5km & two buses later, we were back at the Stadium for coffee at the Plaza Cafe, followed by a short walk to our cars.

IMG20220525141409 Phil Res 1200 — *Great coffee and service at the Plaza, we’ll be back (photo and caption Phil)*

Raewyn

17 km from car park.
City to Surf – Information and Trips Library

3. 20/9/2017. Hikers. Portsmouth Drive to Marina. E. Leaders: Judy and Dorothy.

Twelve harbour strollers, went to Andy Bay.
We parked beside the inlet – it was a windy day.
Along the Portsmouth Drive we went, trudging in a row.
We passed the harbour molars, and onward we did go.

A sunny sheltered spot was found, and morning tea was had,
Relaxing in the sunshine, it wasn’t half too bad.
Then on we went, around the wharves, and round the harbour basin –
We found that walking in the wind, was really somewhat bracin’.

We viewed the plaque in memory of “Neptune”, sunk in war.
She hit a minefield in the Med, and then she was no more.

We passed the Neptune memorial at the wharf and some members were able to point to the names of loved ones who were involved in this tragedy. (Clive pic and caption.)

On we went and onwards, across the Leith we strode,
Then Clive led us along the groyne, to where the water flowed.

We took a walk out on the groyne at the boat harbour and nearly got blown away in the 20 knot winds. (Clive pic and caption.)

Back around the boat harbour, some picnic tables found,
For lunch and chatter in the sun, then homeward we were bound.

Lunch outside the Yachting Club. (Raewyn pic and caption.)

A cracking pace was soon set up, the wind was at our backs.
Perhaps the increase in our pace, was due to lighter packs?
We viewed a lot of logging trucks, a queue a mile long –
Sending all those logs away, we feel it is quite wrong.

A photo stop was taken, beside the harbour molars –
And so we coined the title, “The Mosgiel Harbour Strollers.”

The Molar strollers. (Clive pic and caption.)

The cars in view, we stepped it out and headed fast for home.
A coffee stop at Blackstone – and then I wrote this “pome”….
(Well, try to find a better rhyme!) – Judy.

Stats for the day: 11.7 kms; 3 hours and 4 minutes walking time; 480 calories. – Clive.

2. 14/1/2015. Hikers. Portsmouth Drive to Marina. E. Leaders: Peter and Wendy.

We parked in the carpark by the Bayfield High School. And 21 of us set out.

Some of us waited while others investigate the doings of a suspect prowler. — The bulk of us waiting for others investigate the doings of a suspect prowler back a the carpark and to call the police to investigate. Helen found a passing cyclist friend to chat to.

We walked along Portsmouth Drive past the molars, turned down Kitchener St, huggiing the harbour edge and stopped off for morning tea.

Sheltering from a cold wind for morning tea.

Carrying on, we turned round into Birch St, across the top of the harbour basin then down along Fryatt St almost to its end. Then it was up Wickliffe St, across the railway overbridge, briefly on Anzac Avenue, down Parry …

Skirting the Statium. — Skirting the Stadium.

…and Minerva Streets to cross the Leith on SH88 bridge, and on the north side to turn under the bridge and out along Magnet St to get to our lunch stop at the Marina.

On our return, we walked the length of Anzac avenue. Then onto the railway station platform, where Dorothy performed a most believable but all too brief strut down the catwalk. Out at the other side, on past Toitu Settlers Museum and along the grassy verge ahead where we stopped, briefly thwarted by the railway bridge overpass pathless on-ramp ahead. So it was across all four laned SH1 Cumberland St, with the assistance of the lights further back. This safely accomplished, it was Les and Peter led us up Water St, along Vogel St, back down Jetty St and onto the pedestrial spiral ramp to get us onto the bridge. Then via Birch St, Buller St and French St we rejoined Kitchener St which took us back out onto Portsmouth Dr and back to the cars. From talking to one or two others, I must say coming to the end of eleven kilometres on hard pavement had taken its toll of leg muscles, on this the first tramp after the holidays. A good walk, not too hot or windy. Thanks to Peter and Wendy for a good start to the year. – Ian.

1. 20/11/2013. Hikers. Midland St, Portsmouth Drive to Marina. Leaders: Bev and Chris.

The walk was most inventive and interesting, leading us along back streets few of us had ventured on before. We parked at the bottom of Midland Street where we could cross onto Portsmouth Drive with the safety assistance of traffic lights. The laying of cable along the walkway forced us onto a less inviting traffic-coned path along the road till we returned to the walkway at the molars.

Molars. The 20 of us are almost all in the pic.

A little further on we turned down to the length of Kitchener St turning left up at its end into Birch St to join Wharf St esplanade and have morning tea on the seats, to admire the inner harbour view as well as a gentleman, lent back on a camp seat, fishing, hat over face, asleep.

A happy surprise was Lex sharing round chocolate marshmellows in anticipation of his 85th birthday the following day.

Then it was up and on again, down virtually the entire length of Fryatt St to turn left up Wickliffe Street and over the elderly railway overhead bridge, down the other side to the right, and to stop and admire (?) the special road-coned entrance/egress of Hall’s work-yard and the still-hooded traffic lights. We gingerly made it across Anzac Ave, across Frederick St, back again across Anzac Ave to join Parry St, make way across the SH88 Leith Bridge very wide pedestrian walkway, down, back, under the bridge and along Magnet St. (4 km)

and the Harbour Walkway (5 and 6 kms) to lunch at the northern end of the map in what shelter we could find from the nor-easterly wind.

We retraced our steps to the SH88 Bridge underpass, this time following the Leith bank up to Anzac Ave (7 and 8 kms)

which we followed right to the St Andrew St lights where we turned down along it to the roundabout, followed Mason St, then into Tewsley St and into Fryatt St to retrace our route alongside Wharf St (9 km), Birch St, Kitchener St and Portsmouth Drive back to the cars. 11 km in all. The harbour wind-blast along Portsmouth Drive almost blew us off our feet. Many thanks to Bev and Chris for a varied and interesting streets exploration around a corner of the harbour. – Ian.