2025-02-05 < Weekly activities > 2025-02-19
Activity summary: Wednesday 2025 February 12 to Tuesday 2025 February 18
Silverstream/Birchville Dam, Cannon’s Point Trig/Te Marua, Ridgeline Tr, Norbert Creek Loop, return/ Pinnacle, return via Wattie's Alternative/Palmerston North bike trip/Mana Island
Wednesday
E Trip, ‘Silverstream Station to Silverstream Station’, led by David Campbell, Wed 12 Feb 6M
We had six members on our trip from Silverstream station to Silverstream station. It covered new ground that no one in the group had visited before, along the western side of Manor Park Golf Course. One member left the group early, but the remainder completed the planned trip and were able to catch a train home from Silverstream at 2:07 pm
EM Trip, ‘Birchville Dam, Cannon's Point trig’, led by Linda Beckett, Wed 12 Feb 10M
Our trip up to the Cannon's Point Trig started in Awakairangi Park and included:
- swing bridge
- bush & stream to Birchville Dam
- steep ascent via gravel track
- grassy undulating track
- morning tea with panoramic views from the trig
- tramping down and around the hill to connect with the zigzag track up to an alternative return track reconnecting with the gravel track back to the dam and thereafter to Harcourt Park for lunch.
The day was beautiful, the company was great and all completed the route in 4.5 hours before having a leisurely lunch and sauntering the 20 minutes back to the cars.
M Trip, ‘Te Marua, Ridgeline Tr, Norbert Creek Loop, return’, led by Mary Perkins, Wed 12 Feb 10M
Our trip started at the car park at Te Marua. We walked the Ridge Track which passes through beautiful beech forest, enjoyed morning tea en route, and then headed up the Norbert Creek circuit, before returning along the Ridge Track back to the cars. 20 Kms, 9 hours.
SF Trip, ‘Pinnacle, return via Wattie's Alternative’, led by Joan Basher, Wed 12 Feb 8M
8 trampers enjoyed a day of perfect weather on a trip starting at Holdsworth Lodge and trudging up to Pinnacle 877m. The views from Pinnacle across to the main range were stunning as we lolled about on an early lunch. We did the trip home following "Watties Alternative" a new route for most of us. The trip took only 6h30, and would probably be offered on a future occasion as Medium rather than SF.
MF Trip, ‘Cone’, to be led by Franz Hubmann cancelled.
Multi-Day:
EM Cycle Trip, ‘Palmerston North & surrounding area’, led by Robyn & Frank Usmar, 10 – 12 Feb 5M/3NM
8 cyclists spent 3 days in Palmerston North cycling and exploring the surrounding area, including the Ashhurst end of the new Manawatu Tararua Highway, the Historic Caccia Birch House, a Herb Farm including a bush walk, and the Victoria Esplanade Gardens.
Total 39 members and 3 non members
Weekend:
Club Trip, ‘Mana Island’, co-ordinated by Lainey Cowan, Sun 16 Feb
Two boatloads, (max 33 each boat) at 9am and 10am, of TTC members, friends, family and 'randoms' made their way out of Mana Marina to the Island. We were blessed with an overcast day to moderate the heat, though some still fitted in a swim. We were treated to a talk about the history of the island, and handed a map of the island before we were set loose. Most of us walked the recommended Tirohanga circuit track, taking us past the gannets to the site of the lighthouse on the NW point of the island and then south along the ridge, descending to the wetland and a number of low land tracks we could explore. There was plenty of time to relax, to look at the displays in the woolshed or swim.
Due to my inadequacies with the niceties of advertising in the monthly 'Tramper', I am especially grateful to Liz Martin and Joan Basher for advertising this and the earlier December trip to their email lists. Despite difficulties locating the boat at the marina, everybody made it and enjoyed the day.