Auckland Baptist Tramping Club 2000 Twenty-four of us arrived at Lakeview Bible Camp on Friday night. About half a dozen of those people had never done an overnight tramp, or at least not for a very long time.  We got to sleep by midnight and were up again at 6am getting ready for an early start.  It was to be a 9-hour day for most of the group as it was 6 hours tramping from Lake Okataina to the campground at Lake Tarawera outlet and then a three hour return trip to the Tarawera Falls. We began the tramp at 8:45am. It was intended the group be divided into two after the first hour when we would be able to see the abilities of the various trampers. About 4-5 people formed the basis of the second group, and then we proceeded to Humphries Bay where we intended to stop for lunch and devotions. A number of day trampers passed us on the way. It was obviously very good weather for tramping - slightly overcast with moderate temperatures. As we progressed down the side of Lake Okataina the first group began to stretch out and the first members of our group arrived at Humphries mphires Bay about 11:30am. Some had lunch while bathing in the sun, one chose to cool off in the lake. After about half an hour it was apparent the second group was going to be very late arriving so Judy shared with us from God’s Word. Bring physically and spiritually refreshed it was decided the first group would proceed onwards rathe than wait for the second group to arrive. Fortunately the second group arrived just as the first group set off about 1pm. A small number of the first group chose to stay with the second group. As we continued along the side of Lake Tarawera the first group began to stretch out again.  Passing through the Canyon (which drew many comments)  we came out onto the lake edge again to find it much cooler, more overcast and a breeze blowing steadily off the lake. At about 3:15pm the first group arrived at the campground, chose a site and proceeded to put up the first of three tents. By the time the second tent was up very light rain began to fall.  The third tent was only half erected as the remaining fly was with the second group, the last of whom didn’t arrive till nearly two hours later.  By this time most of the member shad departed on the Tarawera Falls walk. The rain became more persistent but the wind dropped completely, and at about 6:30pm those who stayed behind prepared the evening meal.  About the same time some of us chose to experience the very clear cool waters of the Tarawera River to clean and refresh ourselves. The group who went to the falls wandered in about 7:15pm - minus the leader! Some small error in communications had resulted in the leader going off on his won to the base of the falls, thus returning very late, just in time to join us for our meal.  By now the rain had stopped and we all chatted and ate whilst standing outside, as a glorious sunset blazed across the sky reflected by the now placid lake. It was up early again next morning. The slower people left early while the main group broke camp.  By 7:50am  the last of us had left on the return journey - back the same way, East Okataina Walkway. Most of us stopped for lunch beside Lake Okataina while a few others pressed on. Around 3pm we all finally returned to the carpark at Okataina, many bearing the wounds most common to trampers. After Peter and Val shared devotions with us, we were soon on our way home via the cafes and State Highway 27.