AN INTERESTING TRIP

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 71, 15 June 1927, Page 14

AN INTERESTING TRIP

This week I am going to tell you about another of my motor trips. You will think that all my “hiking” has been done in motor-cars and I am afraid that that is so, though I hope to be able to “take the trail” some day.

We left New Plymouth in a friend’s car at six o’clock one. morning, with the hope that we would reach Te Kuiti that day. For the first 20 miles the roads were in splendid order, until we reached the Uruti Valley, where, for several miles, it was very rough travelling. At the foot of Mount Messenger we ran on to a beautiful tar-sealed road, and began the long climb to the top. The road was very narrow, with many sharp turns, and we could see the treetops in the gullies hundreds of feet below us. while on the other side high cliffs towered above us.

We reached the top just in time to see the sun rise, and I shall never forget the beautiful view. Glorious native bush was all around us and hundreds of birds were singing their morning song and I thought the tui’s notes were glorious. The run down the other side of the mountain did not take long and a few miles further on we came to the unformed portion of the road, where we expected to strike trouble. However, our luck was in, and in a very short time we had ploughed our way through the mud and reached the Mokau River, where a new experience awaited us in the shape of a trip across the river on a punt. We were again lucky, as the punt was waiting on our side and we were soon safely across.

From then on, all went well and after passing through the beautiful Awakino Valley, with its many fine pieces of scenery, we made steady progress to Te Kuiti, where we arrived at one o’clock, having come through without the slightest trouble. I was soon snugly in bed, and thus ended the biggest day’s “hike” I have ever had. —RED STAR (Jean Mclndoe.)