Easter Walking

Thursday 1 April

A sextet of friends descended on Ian Hollebon's crib in Arrowtown for the long Easter weekend after driving up from Dunedin. We all arrived prior to 7pm and went to the New Orleans Hotel for a superb Bistro meal. The gang included Ian, John and Janice, Shirley, Denise and myself.

Friday 2 April

I decided to walk from Ian's crib to State Highway 6 leaving in the dark at 7.45am. The 10km return trip took just under two hours. I enjoyed walking towards the Remarkables mountain range. The weather was cool and overcast with the sun reluctant to come out. As it was an early start, Arrowtown and the road seemed dead. When I got back the girls were having a champagne breakfast. I certainly enjoyed the croissants.


Saturday 3 April

Millennium Track: I met Kieran, a friend from the Caversham Harrier's walking group at 7.45am. We did the 4-5km loop around the Millennium Track and then ascended Tobins Track. Once at the top I took a few photos, soke to some ex-parents from Anderson's Bay School we then walked to the bottom of the track. We did another loop of the Millennium Track. Kieran set a blistering pace which I struggled to keep up. We did the 11km in just under 2 hours. I came back to the crib drenched in sweat.

Lake Hayes Loop: This afternoon I was dropped of at Lake Hayes to walk the loop. The weather was ominous but I got around without getting wet. The sign said the loop would take 2-3 hours and I managed it in 1 hr 40 mins. If I did not do the fast paced morning walk or stop to take photos I could have achieved it in 90 minutes. It was a great flat walk. The loop looked longer than what it really was.

Sunday 4 April: As it rained heavily overnight, Kieran and I abandoned the idea of doing the same walk as yesterday. Instead we headed down Centennial Avenue towards SH 6. We turned right onto McDonnell Road and walked past "The Hills" golf course entrance. We reached the Lake Hayes Road intersection. We continued along the road that Millbrook is on and took the first right on a back road that comes into Arrowtown via the Arrow River. We wandered through Butel Park a new subdivision on the way. We also walked through the Chinese Village. The walk took 90 minutes and I estimated we walked 9 kms.