14 February
On this hot Wednesday a car load drove to Lake Tutira, parked at the camp ground and started up the Table Mountain track, the only track currently open. This is an old bulldozed track that starts part way up the HBRC camp ground on its northern edge. We took our time, enjoying the views, and at midday we reached the trig. As this was exactly one year after Cyclone Gabrielle the trig was an appropriate place for the minutes silence to remember the loss of life and devastation it caused.
We had lunch at the top and after lunch we returned back down the track. Just below the shelter there is a turn off to the valley track which we took. This track goes through an area that was planted in natives in the 1980s. The trees are now a reasonable size and provided good shade from the blazing sun.
Back at the car park we had a cup of tea and enjoyed the wildlife before driving back to town.
Party: Glenda H, Steve B, Susan L, Christine L