Trip Photos

Potluck up close and personal	Bush Potluck from afar	Sawcut Gorgeous
	Each to their own...

Trip Report

With temperatures of 25-28*C and not a cloud in the sky, this trip had nothing short of fantastic written all over it. A cruisy 4hr drive north (thanks drivers!) through Canterbury and along the majestic blue coast of Kaikoura (with a little seal-spotting along the way), we arrived at the start not long after lunch.

Twelve of us headed out on a lovely meander up the bed of the Ure River through Sawcut Gorge, taking time to stop, splash around and admire the stunning stark white limestone rocks and river walls. Never have I come across a river so invitingly warm.

Approximately 3 hours later (in surroundings like this, who’s keeping time? ), we arrived at the small 6 bunk Isolation Hut. Once tents were up, most of us were quite content to put our feet up and relax a little more. But not Antony and Thomas, they set out with buckets and spades from the hut to build a dam. And what a fine dam it was!

So what else is one to do after an afternoon of walking, swimming, playing and relaxing? ... Eat!

Brian and Dave did a great job of gourmet appertisers, followed by the rest of us chipping in with a selection of yummy morsels for a potluck dinner and dessert.

It wasn’t long before the sun set and the galaxy turned on all its glory. Phil gave us a lesson in astronomy and how to navigate our way by the stars, and the milky way soon made its own path above us. I cant remember the last time I took time out to stop and take it all in.

Slowly we all turned in for the night, with only the sound of giggles left bursting happily from tents.

The next day Antony and Andrew put in the hard yards with a quick blat up the valley and then we all strolled our way back down the gorge. Lunch was spent lazying around in more water holes and the only thing even remotely enticing about having to leave was the talk of icecream on the way home.

For those curious about the unnamed vineyards we saw in the Ure Valley, a little Google investigation uncovers that they are grapes grown for the Saint Clair Pioneer Block 4 range of wines - Sav Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. So now I’m off to find a bottle and relive the weekend all over again.

A huge thanks to Antony for organizing such a great weekend.

Connoisseurs: Malcolm Carr, David Hughes, Bryan Fowler, Philip Tree, Jane Castle, Tomyu Hu, Katie Frame, Andrew Tromans, Thomas Matern, Antony White (Leader), Lisa Harrison (Scribe), Dharshie Jeyaseelan.

-- Uploaded by Richard Lobb on 26 February, 2010