Tranmere Coastal Walk 2016

Today we're walking from Tranmere to Droughty Point and back. Carol was due to lead us, but  had to back out so Bob is taking over. There will be more unexpected changes as we go, all due to the bad weather forecast for later in the day.

We park at the end of Wentworth Street, walking along the path then down to the Howrah Beach. It's mainly dog walkers at this time of day and Bob's in his element.

At least this week we can see the end of the beach

Mt. Wellington topped with cloud

We turnoff inland to find our way into a small park where we will have Morning Tea. TWENTY minutes early. Standards are dropping.

Now, I'm only the reporter so don't blame me. I was reliably informed by other members of our group that only people with a blue beanie could sit on this bench. Seems to be true as Jenny is being forced to stand.

Blue Beanie Bench

 After a bit of exercise on the equipment, we continue on.

Looking for Bob

We come back to the coastal path and continue on, passing some nice homes. Meanwhile, looking to the west, the weather doesn't seem too good.

The weather over Mt. Wellington is changing

Looking back along the coastal path

We're heading for the distant point. Droughty Point

The sunny Alum Cliffs at Kingston

There are many houses here with more being built. The old house below looks like it might be the original. This area would have been used for farming and stock in the distant past.

Looks like the original house in the area

There are many houses here with more being built. This old house looks like it might be the original. This area would have been used for farming and stock in the distant past.

 I haven't been able to find out the history of the place. The hill used to be tree covered and most of them were cut down to fuel the whaling station around the corner at Trywork Point.

On we go, stepping over a barrier. Why there's a barrier here isn't apparent as there is a children's playground just beyond which we will see later.

More houses going up

The weather doesn't look too bad

Mt. Wellington is gone...

...but we're walking in sunshine

Just don't look behind us

It's not too long before we turn, walking to the playground for lunch. As we go, the wind and rain hit and it's sunshine no more! We find a picnic table under an open roof that adds little protection against horizontal rain. That being so, we have the quickest lunch ever.

A quick lunch

Now, about the photo above. This is the first one I took then I asked everyone to look happy and thought that would be the one I would put here.

Unfortunately, everyone in the second photo looks like they should quietly be returned to their padded rooms by a couple of attendants. 

Gale force wind and horizontal, stinging rain

 As we start back it's getting worse with the wind blowing so hard the raindrops sting your face. A bus shelter gives us a chance to get out of the worse and wait until it passes. Unfortunately it doesn't, so Peter makes up plan B.

Temporary shelter

 Peters wife is visiting in Geilston Bay so Peter calls and asks if she could  collect us, then take Peter and myself back to our cars. The plan is we would then drive back and pick up the others. Dear lady that she is, she agreed and this is what happened.

While waiting for our ride, we walked a little further to another shelter next to a bus pull off area near the public toilets.

Walking back the 5 or 6 km back to the cars would not be pleasant

Waiting for a ride

 That was our day over and the first time we had abandoned a walk. We probably had another 5-6km to get back to the cars and it would have been very uncomfortable along the beach. It was suggested I could have just set off my EPERB, but I thought that would be a bit much.

We had 10 walkers and covered 9.25 kms in 2:50hrs in both good and appalling weather without losing our sense of humour.

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