Oxfam Trailwalk 2011 April

Well, it's THAT time of year again. After the usual hardcore training for the last couple of months or so, the guys & crew tootled down to Taupo for the annual Oxfam Trailwalk. Their last. Yes, you read that as official. Declared in blood. Awesome weather, weekend, company, event & generally excellent time.

At the start around 5.30a.m. in a field in Kinloch area. Adrenaline is go! Let's get this party started...

On the trot & coming in from the first leg. 16kms jogging all the way. They all agreed that it was the most enjoyable leg. Very scenic area is Whaikapo Bay.

Gotta go...hills to climb...Off to checkpoint 2. (BTW each stopover was about 8mins av so the crew had to be slick...& we were!) Sun about to crest the hill. It was a tad chilly at first but then warmed up later to be HOT!

AJ & R on form...

Support crew. Wives & a friend. All ready @ checkpoint 2. Sun's out & cake/coffee is on! We were always one of the first at each checkpoint as the guys were always ahead of the rest bar a couple of Go-faster teams.

Lots of walking in amongst the jogging. How to look fresh when you're pretty stuffed actual! One team member lagging as he's REALLY stuffed & so out of the picture.

A painful smile from a soldier! R still pretty chipper & certainly mobile! Checkpoint 5. Midday plus heat...Before the 19km leg...

The wonderful wandering Waikato...The crew took a walk while waiting at checkpoint 6. We got to see this in the waning light. The guys would be venturing out into this at nightfall in a couple of hours.

Here they come in. Digging deep but only 2 short legs to go...

Is that you dear? Yards of soup please!

Had to insert this despite the fact that the #@$#@ camera flash played up. The finishing shute with Queen's 'We are the Champions' belting out (my request)

With Barry Coates, Mr Oxfam NZ. 15hrs 50mins 5th place overall & fastest veterans (we don't mention that they could have come in 3rd...sigh...1 member 'blew up' earlier cos he went out too fast... Arghhh!)

Pain is only temporary, victory is forever! "You are the guys," guys!! Now for the beers & massages....

Monday & leaving Taupo on the last Oxfam trailwalk. Note, R can still wear shoes (they cover up the not-so-pretty toes!)

Marching onward...

So this month it was all about checking weather reports & working schedules to finalise a time to do the great Tongariro Crossing... We still were pretty last minute though. Decided on the Thursday & were off down south on Saturday. Walked Sunday...

This is what we're gonna do, right?

Up & into it...about 8.30a.m. Beauty day....

Upgraded track means lots of boardwalks. (Not all with fit blokes like this one though...)

Getting my puff going. This went on for a bit. Thought my diaphragm was going to meet my throat a couple of times. Not much of a gradient but it goes on... Slow down that man!

One of my favourite bits. Southern Crater. A 'moonscape'...so quiet & yet full of Lord of the Rings promise!

Not tired...just didn't want to get in the way of the scenery. Getting higher...

While we're at it, why not not put in a little extra & do that spur? (Off to the side of Mt Tongariro, nearly at the summit)

And the view from the end of that spur was worth it. A quiet Mt Ngauruhoe.

Time for elevenses before heading back onto the main track.

Another view from the same vantage point.

The peak. To the right of this pikkie is...

Red Crater. Quite remarkable & not a lot of breathing space to walk about on...

(To the left is Red Crater) This is as far as I'm gonna go, right?!

Once up to the top, it's shimmy shimmy down the 'scree' to this....

And this.... (Yes, there are people on the other side having a wander about. Ridgey bit on the left...)

View from our lunch place. Dots on the scree are folk 'shimmying' down...

A blue lake in amongst the Emerald Lakes. Interestingly enough the water was quite chilly. I though they'd be warm..hm. Parts of the ground around the track were warm with wisps of steam about...

Around lunchtime (12-1pm) it came over all chilly-like. Cloud from nowhere just like they say it does. So the polyprop was back on & we were walking with intent...down to the warmth!

Winding down...& around...& down...After all, we had to lose some altitude as the summit is 1,900m.

Once we had completed the main part of the descent, (which included a lovely sunny 3/4hr break mixing with the tourists @ the Ketetahi Hut) we entered a delightful section of bush which meandered on...& on...& on...

Worthy calendar shot...

Are we there yet?!

Yes. Picnic bar time at the Ketetahi carpark pick up point before boarding the shuttle back to the camping ground @ Tokaanu (3kms from Turangi). Hot mineral pools & tiny but comfy cabins.

Stats: Pick up @ Tokaanu 7a.m. Drive & pickups on the way to the Mangitipopo starting point 8.20a.m. Summit (incl extra spur) @ 12pmish. 1/2hr lunch. Ketetahi hut stop around 3/4hr. At the carpark by 3.40p.m. To Tokaanu & on the rug spread out on the lawn outside our cabin with beer & chippies around 5pm in the SUN before a shower & hot mineral pool soak. Don't ask me why we neglected to take pikkies of all this... duh! Nemmine...beauty day & experience. Better than we imagined. Next event...Oxfam Trailwalker of course!! April here we come....

Summertime...& the livin' is easy...

Well, the time finally arrived & here she is, fresh off the loooong flight from Old Blighty via Dubai & Brisbane.

Catching some much needed sun & sea air @ Maraetai, our 'local' beach.

Good friend from school days, Bridgett, came down from Kerikeri with her 2 gorgeous babies (& mum) to visit....

And here they both are...Jemma lovin' it!

Off to Matarangi & a sight on the Bluff road after the cyclone...

Note the empty beach...school hols are over...

Fizz, sun & a book....perfect!

Cheers m'dears!

En route to the store for a 'big as' icecream!

Suggs. for a caption?! After a BBQ with friends...summer nights....

Friend's dog 'Toby'...great to walk with & saves us getting a dog!

Nice one. (Carrying plants purchased @ the Garden's weekly plant sale)

Taking tea @ Queen's Arcade, Queen St. (Very much re-vamped after a few years of looking 'tired')

And the summer continues...

Dinner with Maria (nee Gilbert & friend from school days) & Phil Foy.

After dins...with Noriko (Japanese Homestay) Aren't we twee in our frocks?!

Walking again...with good friend Anne...

What a great environment we have access to....Bike/walking tracks in the park paddocks.

From the Lookout next to the house. Home.....

Kiwi Saturday lunch before heading back to the wet & cold...

'But I'm still here!' Our resident bunny, 'Bobtail'. He'/she's been around for about a month & has grown quite a bit since first sighting. Very cute in all ways. Manages to elude 'Tabitha's' forays. 'Earl' still hasn't clocked his/her presence!

So the hols are well over & it's back to work for 'her' & painting etc for 'him' although there's plenty of downtime for recreational stuff. Summer's not over yet! Oxfam training is well under way. Visit to Sydney & the Trailwalk to look forward to in April. We're hoping to get the Tongariro Crossing in soon as well...weather pending & def non-cyclonic! 'Til next time, live life & much love..P&R