Saturday A group of seven set off from Bracken Ave farewelled by David Walker who was to have lead the trip but was unwell and the leadership was handed over to Shane Kennedy. Leaving on time at 7.15am heading for Te Aroha to meet up with Steve McDowell the eighth member of our party who was coming from Tauranga. Rain was forecast but fortunately we managed to miss it but the wet muddy track was challenging at times! The start of the Tuahu Track was just a short distance from Te Aroha and quickly we were climbing up through the Waihou forest. The Tuahu Track is an old bridle track across the range. Wonderful views to the East and West. At the top of the saddle we took the North South track arriving at the Te Rereatukahia Hut in time to secure a bunk each. Which was a bonus as although it was winter the hut filled with one young man on the floor and another three trampers deciding to walk out just on dusk rather than sleep on the floor! Sunday Shane gave an excellent reflection using the New Testament which we left at the Hut as a gift from our club. We had one tense moment which caused a chuckle when one of our group was unable to find his boots as we were about to leave. The mystery was solved when they were spotted on another members feet - the reason being that they were unrecognisable being so covered in mud! An easy mistake!  There was a wonderful spirit of comrade-ship which was demonstrated when one of our group found that the sole of her boot had separated from the upper boot. The problem was successfully solved  by a group effort! We returned on the same route and regrouped at the Ironique Cafe in Te Aroha where David generously shouted us all to a flat white etc.