Up the Umukarikari

29 January - a large group of mid-week trampers from the Manawatu Tramping and Skiing Club, about 30 of us, travelled to do a day tramp in the Kaimanawa Range off the Desert Road.  The track took us up through beautiful bush, then we emerged on the open tops, enjoying superb views of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro as well as Lake Roroaira and Lake Taupo.

A group of us reached Sharp Cone

Looking ahead to the stark rounded peak of Umukarikari

On Umukariki summit 1591m

My friend Judy who joined me on the walk to the summit

Family outing to the Whitecliffs boulders

Saturday 25 January turned out to be the day with the best weather we have had so far in 2014 in our region.  Our group were Mother and Des; Verena and Dave; Gillian and her friend Dave; Lynda and Peter; Vaughan, Pam, Oliver and Jeremy; Lochlan, Tomoko, Leena, Kazuki, Natsume and Masaki and myself.  Mother and Des were taken down to the boulders in a ute by Bronwyn, the farmer's wife. It was hot, 25 degrees C, so we enjoyed the shade of the bush at the boulders, but it was a hot walk back up to our vehicles after our picnic lunch.  A most enjoyable day out!

Good views of the Rangitikei River as we walked down to the boulders

A delightful picnic spot.

Brielle goes to Picton with Nana

14-16 January - it was Brielle's turn to travel to Picton with Nana

Brielle did a "pirate" themed treasure hunt on the Straitsman - she took her answers to a crew member and got a stamp ...

and a chocolate coin

Playing happily with Aria

Decorating gingerbread men

In the pirate ship on the foreshore 

Nina almost 7 months

Dinner outdoors

Heading back on the Arahura - Brielle working in her activity book

but mostly watching TV

Isla and Brielle - back to Wellington

13 January - we all travelled back to Wellington.  On the way we stopped at a favourite park, Campbell Park at Paekakariki.

Morning of 14 January - Lyall Bay

Isla, Brielle and Cecily in Palmerston North

Cecily came to stay with us for a few days while Mark was overseas in the Bahamas on work.  Luckily we had some sunshine!

Checking out Nana's geocache 

A trip to Ashhurst Domain - a lot of time was spent on the flying fox - even Cecily

Down at the Manawatu River

Back to the flying fox 

A visit to Great Nana (holding Lochlan and Tomoko's cat)

First tramp in 2014 - Stanfield hut

9 January - The weather in early January was not very summery, but four of us mid-week trampers decided we really wanted to head back into the hills.  We chose to go in to Stanfield hut in behind Dannevirke.  We had lunch at the hut and then did some exploring to find an old track that is no longer maintained, "The Rimu Walk".  Here there were some very impressive mature rimu trees.  The beauty of tramping in January are the attractive flowers and berries in the bush.

Dave, Judy and Suzanne