Nelson, New Zealand. 27 Feb to 3 March, 2002
My first experience of
Meths
won’t be my last — I will confess
the tramping bug has bitten hard,
as other bugs did — every yard
or so — it seems
avoiding mud
and jumping streams
while balancing on stepping stones
(even if one’s arrival’s late
at yonder hut)
produces a euphoric state
propelling muscles everywhere from head to
further down from butt,
to demonstrate
what they can do —
even transport you to the loo
(much further
down
at
F
e
n
e
l
l
a
h
u
t)!
And such delightful company!
Jenny, Cheeky, Mad Mike, Muesli,
Gasbag, Steel Nails, Mc the Knife
and Lord of the Big Ruo —
although all left from Trilobite,
Three Peaks saw just a duo,
distractions breaking up the Meet
(like too much rain and blistered feet,
other plans and seized-up limbs,
swimming holes and other things).
Peak One was up around Round Lake,
soaking wet all day till 4
A new peak — Mt Wimp was conquered
that no-one had seen before.
Mt Kakapo, Peak Number Two
took six hours there and back —
Q: 'So what made their departure time 5?'
A: 'A leisurely tea and repacking of packs', with a four-hour hike to exit the
track
We’re glad that they did survive .....
JUST as the sky turned black.
Laurie and Shirley cooked up a spread
in Lake Cobb Cottages — the change of bed
and this sumptuous meal
were to get us ready
to climb Mt Peal
on the final day
BUT
SOMETHING got in the way
of this ambition —
the Religious Adviser looked around
for members he could Christen.
The Suswa washes took so much time
Mt Peal would’ve taken too long to climb
So Sylvester Lakes our goal became,
where Laurie’s Knob was found and named
(though no-one brought his family shame.
— Cheeky’s Indian joke will enlighten this!)
Nessy swam in Sylvester Lake
N.B for next time: TOGS 2 TAKE!
Swimming in freezing water — bliss!
After afternoon tea and packing up cars
and farewells to Laurie and Shirley,
four of the party who’d joined a choir
and boasted that they could sing 'Messiah'
were worrying that on Tuesday night
one word would not be sung quite right —
surely that word’s not Shoorely?
Surely, though
the prize must go
to the Wakefield Homestay Braai
Malawian Midnight Memories Made Most Meths
Members sigh!
Thanks go to the regal Ruo pair
and hostess Jill (whose home they shared)
A great few days, stupendous Meet
escaping drab reality —
I’m catching up on all my sleep
At the surprise locality,
which actually turns out to be —
Pohara Beach Front — on the sea.
by Nessy (aka Sue Stiles)
©
WDYFO, 2002