Alison Marsh
It’s true that you fare better on some tramps than others. I thought back to another day at Karekare in February, on a stinking hot day with the black sands sparkling like lurex on a glam night out. I remember being thankful that President John took my pack as I struggled through the last sections of sand feeling headachy and nauseous (yes, Mum, I’d had lunch and was drinking plenty).
In the cool of the bush I recovered quickly, much to my relief. However, it did leave me with a feeling of revenge; the black sands to challenge.
And now I was back, but this time in June. It’s cooler now, I told myself as I climbed of the bus into the sunny day. I’ll be fine. It was friggin’ freezing! Jerseys and jackets fairly flew onto the two groups that were eager to start the downhill walk towards Karekare.
Helen, Trish, Monika, and a few fast blokes headed off for a longer loop. Paul, with wise words from Imogen about taking Comans Track down and leaving the kinder Ahu Ahu Track for the return tramp, led the rest of the camera crew past Mercer Bay and the simply stunning view after view of rugged cliffs and isolated bays. There was a storm on the curve of the horizon, luckily on its way past, leaving just a faint rainbow.
Comans Track, with the slick of recent precipitation, took careful navigation in spots.
Numerous photographs later, we were down at sea level and cutting through the coastal forest to the Karekare carpark before heading up Zion Hill.
Back in February 2014, this had been a downhill track, which I remembered as being very steep. It was all good! I even loved it as we looked back the way we had come, taking in the views across the wetlands.
Buck Taylor Track is rutted and, like Comans, needs care. Our group met up with Trish and Monika, who seemed to have ditched a couple of their blokes (and Helen?) and were in good heart, having had lunch way before us. Clearly we had to pick up the pace, so lunch—when we found that perfect spot out of the wind—was a quick affair.
Through the wetlands boardwalk and into the black sands: challenge accepted! I have to admit I was more comfortable on the boardwalk. I don’t do sand that well; I tried to be positive, but it was a bloody long slog across soft dunes and soggy sand paths into the reserve with the old boiler and tunnel.
Coming out onto the vast openness of Karekare beach, we were treated to some very special light glancing off the shimmering sands and shallow ponds running along the cliffs. Late afternoon sun does that effect very nicely.
We knew we were a bit behind timewise as we launched ourselves resolutely up Ahu Ahu Track (yes, good choice, Imogen); it was a good uphill slog on a very nice, wide track.
Thanks, Helen and Paul, for an excellent workout through some stunning scenery, and personally I would say, challenge met!