“How was the Walking Weekend This Year?”

“How was the Walking Weekend this year?” seems to be a question I have been asked a number of times. “Absolutely fabulous” I reply so what follows is a summary of the wonders of the weekend.

Just to keep us on our toes we had a few last minute challenges before the weekend began. The Health Inspector for the Food and Wine was more demanding than in former years and several guides had last minute legitimate regrets that they could not be there. But all was well. The stall holders at the Food and Wine were cooperative and we had enough willing volunteers that the walks were quickly covered.

Beginning on Thursday 11th March most of the 56 people who tramped the Brynderwyns felt, after the event, that they could tick that one off as they found it not an attractive enough walk to be enticed into tramping it again. Just think of the guides Richard and Des., who had to do it three times to make sure all was well. Those hills are iconic for Mangawhai creating a barrier between the township and the north so it is disappointing they have not been protected. The dastardly pine tree planting and the continual milling have caused havoc across the middle top so it will not have a chance to regenerate in our life time.DoC has only an easement across most of it so has no control over what happens. Some of the last section at the Mangawhai end is still in private hands. At the Mangawhai end the regeneration is occurring at a great rate but the track was never suitably designed so for many, a rope is needed for support on the 40 minute steep incline. If there are still people interested and want a challenge the track is open on Sundays when the machinery is not working. After a gap of a number of years we thought it worth putting the Brynderwyns back on the programme and it was worthy for the 59 people who chose to do the walk but 2010 will be the last time the full track will be available. We may do Cove to Cullen next year.

On Friday the 12th March the Seabird Walk was hugely successful as a great variety of birds were seen. Our Weekend was early enough in the year for the birds to still be around before they flew off to Alaska or the Kaipara. Three fairy terns were seen so the battle with the wind was forgotten while time was taken for a close look at these rare and endangered species. Having Gwenda Pullam was a real coup for us so the group gleaned as much information as they could from her.

It has been said that the Troubadour Walk has become the highlight of the Weekend. For the 200 people who came on the trail it certainly was. Our performers proved appropriate but the one who caught everyone by surprise was Mike Easterbrook, the magician. Tucked down on the beach by a little bach he led us on then dropped us in it time and time again. As a true professional Mike had us thinking we knew what he was doing then oops we were caught. The newspaper trick must be the oldest in the book but everyone wanted to know how it was done. Were both newspapers really the same?

Also on the programme we were privileged to see
Fiddlelore -- a popular group of three violinists and guitar playing Scottish County Music --loved by all
Kapa Haka group from Otamatea College – very well trained, groomed and great singing
' Too Far Gone’ a four piece group playing country style music – quite delightful for an afternoon of listening
The Bogwood Fairy Sheri O’Neill – the fabulous storyteller
Urban Beat Dance group from Manurewa – great hip hop dancers.

See what you all missed. This was an afternoon of professional entertainment and all for $10. The chance to see this sort of entertainment comes rarely to Mangawhai. Through it all everyone walked the delightful estuary cliff and beach walk from the boat ramp and back. We thank Gloria Callinan, Yvonne Horsfall and Ann Marshall for putting the final event together.

676 people registered for all the walks so the same number as last year. There was a difference in the number of walks people did over the two days. Not as many people walked both days but large numbers chose Saturday and perhaps Thursday or Friday rather than Sunday. This means the numbers on some of the Sunday walks were down while the Thursday and Friday walks were up.

We give a big thank you to all those who filled in the evaluation forms on the day. Filling them out is vital for the progress and development of the Walking Weekend. Unfortunately not everyone responded to this call so the record is incomplete. Always there is always something to learn even if some of the comments are rather personal and cannot be implemented. All participants have to remember we are dealing with groups not individual needs.

With so many walks on the programme it is impossible to comment on all in any detail. People responded exceedingly well to the Kindergarten Walk so we are pleased the cheque to them was $1185. Another winner was Senior Net who offered to make lunches. These earned them $807.50 less their expenses. At $8.50 they must have been priced right. Well done to both groups.

Over the past year there has been concern that the guides were becoming older so with this in mind we suddenly had a host of new younger people offering to take walks. This is very exciting and augers well for the future. One of these is Chris Wild who took people to her favourite place in the world. Over the summer Chris spent time at Te Arai beach keeping it safe for the dotterels and explaining to people the need for care of the beach. Her Natural Treasures walk proved highly popular as she took the group along the Te Arai stream then eventually up to the new ARC headland park. Do you know it is all wired up for power so would make a great camp ground? Ann Parnell’s Lookout to Lookout walk took people along part of the new track being formed by the Summer Wine chaps. It was a bit of a challenge for some but Ann has taken this walk for years and with her leadership experience she soon had them all happy to be with her. While Ann was at the Heads Marion Pilmer devised an excellent trail at the southern end round Moir Point. Called Coastal Estuary Surprise she led people to parts of Mangawhai never seen before.

John Phillis with Nancy and Willie Bowmar and Susie Renall on her first time, took the demanding Missing Link Walk. This will become our classic walk but will not be available to the public until Mangawhai has its own access to the Brynderwyns from the south side. (The track makers are working towards this but it may take some time) These experienced guides move through the group at different times giving encouragement. Consequently everyone feels they have achieved beyond themselves. For many they did just that because as usual there were those who had not prepared adequately for this longer tramp.

Max Kidd, who, on his first outing with us, began as number 3 on the guide list, ended up in charge of Cattlemount. He did a grand job finding his way and coping with everyone on the bus. Fortunately Bryce Cullen was on hand to give the fascinating story of the kauri dams and the water catchment that makes Cattlemount one of the important hills on the Brynderwyns. He also led the way. Well done Max.

Jane Vaughan and her team continue in popularity with our other classic walk Estuary to Ocean from Raymond Bull Road. Disappointment came with the lack of a great response to the Harbour Restoration trip. Jim Wintle and his men have a great story to tell and put much preparation into the outing. It is a story for all who are new to Mangawhai. We thank the Historical Society for their contribution with two walks. Their enthusiasm has resulted in the Tara Road School being returned somewhat to its original form. A visit there could soon be on the list of ‘things to do’ in Mangawhai. It would not be a Walking Weekend without the Doggy walk. About 30 dogs went rambling over Mark Gash’s farm and he is so keen he is already planning the walk for them for next year. Bill Worsfold at Thornleigh never ceases to amaze people with the wonders of his sustainable farm management. Cove and Tara Road people continue to open their places for the Ramblers Food experience walk. Bruce and Helen Matheson have people booked for next year to go on their Waipu walk; everyone has to experience Penrose farm; Tracey with her kayaks continue to be popular and in Vicky and Holly Cox we have great new guides for Logues Bush. Maureen Young, from Warkworth has guided this walk for years so she will be pleased to hear we now have local people. We also have a new guide, Gary Carr, for the Geology walk; Peter Davies is the stalwart guide for the Photography; Gordon Hosking led the Bike Ride and we are always delighted when the Marunui community offer their bush for a walk. The community, that has chosen Mangawhai for their conservation land, sees the Weekend as a chance to show the public what they are creating . Parkiri was a new walk and due to the efforts of Murray Glen and Richard Henry, Mr. Ah Chee opened his property for the walkers to enjoy. This is the Pakiri accommodation mansion on the top of the hill.

The Cliff Top had one group on Saturday and two groups on Sunday doing the best walk in Mangawhai while the other four Sunday walks of Parsons’ Honeylea farm, Te Arai, the popular Truffle Walk with Adrienne Glover and Helen Kidd and Sanctuary Farm were all very well received. I have named a number of the guides but all of the 95 who took part on the day and the 20 others who helped with the Troubadour as well as all the extra contributors who were vital to the quality of each walk all helped toward the success of the weekend. We thank you all.

That leaves the two wonders of the Weekend being the Food and Wine afternoon and the Breakfast. Both were organised by the magnificent Kristine Robertson.  The fantastic Breakfast for 300 was up to the usual spectacular standard. We thank Kay Hurley for organising the helpers this year. What a happy and successful event the Food and Wine was. Over 800 people attended enjoying listening and dancing to Ray Woolf and his Trio. All appreciated the hay bales and the best variety of stalls we have had yet. All the stall holders were very happy, the hosts of the venue, Julia Sutherland and Colin Bennett were happy and all the people seemed happy. Kristine has the quiet ability to create and coordinate a cooperative and successful event involving numerous people. We thank Barry Markwick for taking on the role of ticketek selling the bulk of the tickets, (people must be encouraged to use cash when buying their tickets), the parents of the Cadets for the security and the Historical Society for controlling the gate. The Society will be the beneficiaries of the event this year. $4000 has been given to them.

 This brings us to Dorothy Freeman who as one of four committee members is a great strength to the Weekend with her ideas, practical contributions, huge support and her ability to act as a sounding board.

And we offer a final thank you to all those who took the gamble and attended this fun filled community event. Keep and eye on the web page for next year. 2 & 3 April 2011 www.mangawhaiwalkingweekend.co.nz. Please support the advertisers in the brochure especially Mike Staines of Lionheart Graphics who designed it and Maryanne Carman who valiantly keeps up with the needs of the web page.
Jean Goldschmidt (Event Manager)