Kath Went Head over Heels Tramping on a Tagged Track

Yesterday I went tramping with 6 members of a TeKauwhata Tramping group.  Two weeks ago, I had been on a tramp with their very fit and fearless leader, Joy.  She had taken me to Mt. William where we had a delightful time on a track marked with orange metal triangles attached to trees.  We stopped often as Joy described the plants and trees.

Yesterday's tramp was the most difficult hike I've ever done.  We met at 8:00 in the morning and drove to a large dairy farm about 1/2 hour from TK.  Joy talked with the  farmer who said that we would need to return by 3:30 as the 350 cows would be coming down the road for milking.  It was a beautiful sight with cows grazing on the hillside.

Capturing the scenery was short-lived as I realized that we too would be climbing up those hills to the wooded DOC land.  I huffed and puffed as we climbed and climbed.  (I was over-dressed as usual.)  Finally we stopped and I gulped down water and took off my extra shirt, tying it to my waist.  Then we got into the bush where we followed a tagged track.  Previously Joy and Marion had put orange tape around the tree limbs to mark the track as shown in the above picture.  My shiny face is sweat!  Now we were literally "plowing through the under brush" as one of the gals described it.  Most of the time the track was hidden.  Ferns and bushes were hitting us in the face.

All of the girls had hiking sticks.  I did not.  This put me at a disadvantage.  "Time for a break." were welcomed words.  We sat surveying the beauty, eating our fruit.  On we went as our trip was a loop.  "Time for lunch."   As the track flattened I was feeling better.  We started to descend.  My foot got tangled in the low-lying vines and before I knew it I started to fall.  I landed on my rear, and then my legs went over my head as I did a backwards summersault (sp.?)  I could feel the impact on my neck and upper back.  Those who witnessed my fall asked in worried voices,  "Are you ok?"  I assured everyone, myself included, that I was fine.  Joy announced that my gymnastic move was a 7.5!  At that point she suggested that I use her walking stick and I was surprised what a difference it made.

The rest of the tramp went well and I felt lucky to be where few humans have trod.  The girls pointed out the various trees, orchid, etc.   We saw those NZ fan-tailed birds that are often featured on pottery, clothing, whatever.  We returned at 2:00, before the cows.

When I got home, I went to take off my contacts and the left one was missing.  I bet it fell out when we pushed our way through the eye-level ferns!

Today I'm sore, but happy to have had this experience.  The ladies were warm and friendly, but I was out-classed!   I don't think I will be invited on their next venture, but that's ok!