Usually you only see it on a hillside but we got a close-up view of a young tree in full-bloom, right on the track. The afternoon clouded over and a hint of drizzle showed as we reached a half-full Goat Pass Hut after an eight-hour hike. The veranda at its western end is enclosed against the wind that blows up the valley—ideal when taking off wet boots. Dinner was an easy one-pot macaroni with fish then an easier-still butterscotch inst pud on crumbled gingernuts.

Sunday dawned clear and breezy and we made a leisurely 9:30 start with Vesna leading the way and still managing to stay in front while taking photos of sunshine through the mists. Low manuka on river flats gave us shelter from the wind at lunch-time. Kerry made a direct line for the road while the others skirted road works and headed to Greyneys Shelter. Hitching wasn’t successful until a campervan driven by an English tourist stopped. He said, “nobody hitches in the UK, its too dangerous”. Soon all four trampers were back in the trusty Mazda headed for home. Our walk out took about five hours so we arrived home late afternoon. We were: Vesna Mojsilovic, Jane Smith, Graeme Hunter and Kerry Moore. P KM