This Saturday we will meet at 1pm or 12 midday corner Walton & Thompson streets to car pool out to Chatto Creek , where we will probably wander around the water races and follow some maps that Joe will load on. M-Zs duty pack this week.
See below for message from Joe
Last Saturday saw more traditional harrier weather , blue skies overhead , yet still frosty and crisp underfoot ,especially in those shaded areas. Even still a bit of ice on the ponds
It seemed to encourage everyone out to wander through the sarsen stones. Joes maps must have worked, as I got photos from all 3 groups this week.
The W3s had around 7 walkers, the W2s getting somewhere near 20 , with the W1s a couple less than the W2s.
Looks like everyone had a great day out .I spent some time manually moving harrier contacts into new Outlook program, as I am unable to export them out of my old program. It shuts down if I try.
With a couple of hundred names on my email list I got to the letter M so far. Curse Microsoft ,who claim Outlook programs prior to 2021 are not secure enough now. They are starting to make life difficult by repeatedly asking for my sign in details each time I log in. So hopefully in a couple of weeks , I will have everyone moved over into new version, so if you find you’re not getting my emails then , then send me an email back ,as I may have missed your name off my new harrier list.
This week we will be car pooling out to Chatto Creek. It is important to follow pack leaders instructions and follow the map, as the club does not want issues of members being on private property , without permission.
As may have been mentioned ,Monteiths has been sold and will be closing for a couple of weeks. So we will need to find a new watering hole post walk this week.
And now a message from our club captain
Here are the map files for the out and back.
And the link to sketch. You need to have the OCAD sketch installed first to make it work.
As usual anyone is welcome to give me a ring to help with the technicalities (if I can!!)
Joe
Harriers go underground.
Thanks to Susan Heal, we have a unique opportunity for a few folk to walk through the Chatto Creek to Ophir Gorge water race tunnel.
Numbers limited to 12.
It will involve walking in water that is up to ankle deep in many places, for 1.8km.
The tunnel is about 1.8m high and 1.2m wide so is not for those that might get claustrophobic.
Underfoot it is mainly smooth and solid, but there are a few rough slippery bits.
Essential items of equipment will include gum boots and a good head torch.
It is accessed by a short ladder, but the exit is up a concrete wall close to head height, so will need a bit of teamwork to give folk a leg up.
The tunnel is followed by a short steep climb up a 4 x 4 track before descending gently to the start.
To complete the loop the total distance is about 11km with no short cuts possible, so the tunnel party will need to car pool and leave early, probably 12.00.
Those that are keen should contact Joe 0275 343 513 or email ASAP as it will be on a first come first served basis. jojoes@xtra.co.nz
The remainder will meet in the usual place at 1pm to car-pool,
The groups will do an out and back walk along the water race and up the access track to meet the tunnellers.
So for the lucky dozen who read the whole email ,get in quick if you want to go tunnelling. Sounds like the old days when we used to go through the tunnel at the Bendigo Hotel.
Weather should be fine ,temp back into double digits. So hope to see you at Chatto creek
Gary