Levin & District Horse Trekking Club reported on their recent weekend trek:  here it is, slightly abridged...

WINDY WELLINGTON WEEKEND

Or:  How I learned to stop worrying and sleep through a hurricane

It all started when Pauline suggested a ride around Wellington's South Eastern coast.  Quite a few people thought it a good idea, so your truly (Roger) offered to supply and cook the necessary meals, thereby giving those equin-o-philes (if there is such a word) more time in the saddle.

The idea was to occupy the woolshed of a friend of Pauline's and use it as the HQ for the weekend's activities.  Bright and early we all set out from our respective abodes, caught and loaded horses and all the other necessary equipment and sallied forth to all meet at the gate on the other side of Eastbourne.

We were met at the appointed time by the owner's wife who let us through the gate and out to play.  Eight riders and four vehicles and floats and the chuck wagon then headed off on a very good road around a very picturesque piece of coast to end up 20 minutes later at our one star hotel.

After familiarising ourselves with the surroundings and a bite to eat it was time for the riders to saddle up and head off into the wild blue yonder, ably led by the owner of the property, his daughter and Pauline's son Colin.  I must point out at this juncture that the wind had not let up for one second and after the riders had headed out yours truly headed off down to the beach. I would have been better off standing behind a 747 at full noise on a gravel runway.  There would have been less debris flying around.

The route the riders took led them over the farm, through native bush, past a lake and eventually up to the old Pencarrow lighthouse.  Some of the more foolhardy among them rode up the steep track to view the old edifice whilst the others, not wishing their mounts to do a "Pegasus" and fly away, stayed down below.  The ride lasted some two and a half hours and there were some pretty weary and wind-blown riders that wandered back into the shed to a welcome cup of tea.

With the horses fed, watered and rugged up it was time to socialise and with a good meal under our belts a very pleasant evening was spent - at one point we even managed to drown out the wind noise.  The noise of the wind and the rattle of various loose bits of timber and iron around the shed made getting to sleep a bit of a mission, but most of us managed at least some.  There was however an up side to all this as Rick reckoned he couldn't hear your truly snoring at all, and that's got to be a plus.

Sunday dawned and guess what!!  It was still B***** well Blowing!  However, after a hearty breakfast and a bit of discussion it was decided another ride was on, so away they went again.  This time they rode up to the lodge that is on the property, and very luxurious it is too.  They cater for weddings, functions and the like.  After the lodge the ride took them round the coast and then back to the shed where we packed up, had a bite to eat, loaded horses and were ready to go

An amazing weekend, a lot of fun with nice people, and the next time find another cook ...  I'm going to be riding!