Nephew Mike and John have been working away to make a walking track that runs through the QEII Trust native bush reserves near the Cottage at Struan Farm and down to the river. It's that second part of the track that has been a challenge given the steep grade and uneven territory, but they've been making major progress when time permits.
The idea is to provide an option for visitors who might want to walk a loop track. So now they can walk one direction on the metal track to the river and the other on this track. Previously it's only been our more intrepid visitors and experienced walkers who would venture into the bush and down what was a rugged sheep track to the river.
John has been planting kauri and other native trees alongside the track after it comes out of the bush reserve, while Mike has done serious digging, steps, and made a rustic bench out of weathered totara boards as a "place to pause." It looks out upon a stand of very old native trees, rimu and miro amongst others. Often these majestic trees aren't seen by anyone, they just "are."
Work remains to be done to make the rest of the track even and tidy, but we're getting there. Yesterday grass seed was spread before forecasted rain. There are arrows to be put up and signs to be made so people can find their way. Beautiful corrugated limestone rocks need to be weeded and exposed (I suspect it will be Karen doing this whenever it gets done.)
John seems to think people can follow tracks that aren't quite as obvious as I think they need to be. He just knows where the track goes, thinking people should be able to follow their noses and find their way. So collaboration between us is key to make sure the track is easy enough for most visitors to feel comfortable using. He is also of the view that people will want to walk down the metal river track and back up through the paddock and the bush, while predictably I think the opposite!
But either way, the views of the Mangaotaki River and those hills from the top are rather special.
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