Burwood Rd. to Howden & Return.

This week's walk took place on what became a very warm day - 32C when I got back to my car.

Bob was our leader, and took us on a merry chase around and about the Peter Merrill Reserve, to kill time before Morning Tea. This was taken at the Pony Club and nearly turned into a disaster!

Usually, when we stop there on their covered deck, there's a large leather couch for the elite to sit on. Today, that appeared to be missing, and I've never see someone so shaken. It was as if their world had turned upside down. However, it turned out it just had been moved AND had been joined by another couch. All was right with the world again.

After tea we walked over jumps, climbed under fences and walked down roads surrounded by all kinds of dangerous animals. Two guard Labradors at one property threatened to lick us to death, followed by a group of attack Lamas or Alpacas - not sure which.

We walked around the foreshore as the tide was out, and this was more pleasant then walking along the road. The group then took a track along a gully and around the back of some of Howden to return to the foreshore again, only to cross some mudflats at the beautifully named Stinkpot Bay. Then back to the Pony Club couches for lunch, followed by a direct route back to the cars.

Off into the bush

Gordon about to disappear in the vegetation

I tried to get a better action photo of 'Bwana' Bob clearing the trail with a large stick

Pony Club couches.

Morning tea

On the pavement

Attack Lamas/Alpacas

Howden foreshore

View across to Margate

Cave on other side of gully

Peter at back, David in red, Peggy & Bob

More foreshore on way back

Peggy decided to limbo under fallen tree

Mudflats at Stinkpot Bay

Track report

A quick word about distance, I carry a GPS tracker as do 2 other people. Mine registered 14.3km, David was, I think, 13.76km and Peggy had 13.26km or there abouts. Either GPS isn't that accurate or someone has been slacking. Take whatever figure you feel comfortable with.

We had 11 walkers for most of the way, 3 had to leave for other duties/classes, and we took just over 4 hours.

Click here to download GPX file