2 August

After leaving my car at the carpark by the Black Bridge transfer station we all met at the Evers-Swindell Reserve in Clive at 10 AM.  There were 5 of us which included John on his first outing with the Club.  

We made our way beside the Clive River along the shared pathway to the Muddy Creek wetland spying Spoonbills as we walked.  The wind was fresh, though the stopbank gave us some shelter as we followed the pathway along the coast to the Tukituki River. Walking up the path by the Tukituki River we had a cold head wind and we were pleased when we had crossed the bridge and were heading downstream with the wind at our backs.  There is a new shelter at the start of this section just downstream of the bridge – very tidy with a number of information boards.

We saw more Spoonbills as we approached Haumoana where we took a shortcut through to a coffee shop on Haumoana Road which became our lunch spot.  While consuming the very good food available at the shop a southerly squall came through so we sat around for a while waiting for it to pass.  However another customer kindly gave me a ride back to my car and I could then return back and transport all to Clive.  It had stopped raining by then but it had become much colder and I think all were happy to forgo a cold walk back to the transfer station.

Party: Glenda H, Susan L, Denise and Lindsay D and John S.