Lyttelton Field Trip November 2009

Sunday 15th November 2009

For once we did not depart exactly on time from our meeting place at Cave Rock and for late arrivals there were no comments or smart remarks made. (Ulysses must be mellowing! Editor). I must say that the much heralded warm nor’wester was, in fact, quite a chilly nor’easter, but, heigh-ho, what’s in a wind?

From Cave Rock we moved on to the clock tower at Scarborough where some sampled the delights of coffee-to-go and others did what they were supposed to : take photographs. I suppose it’s all a matter of priorities, perhaps wearing shorts with a nor’easterly blowing equals coffee and no photographs, and long trousers and a nor’easterly equals photographs!

From the clock tower we meandered through the back streets of Sumner and up to the lookout at the top of Evans Pass. From here we could see wild flowers growing on the cliffs and various water craft passing by on the outer reaches of Lyttelton Harbour. Then, it was on down the Pass to Windy Point lookout where we were able to look down on the coal loading berth with a loaded coal ship waiting to sail on the high tide. There was also a small container ship working at the next berth.

After absorbing the sights of a working port, we drove down to Lyttelton and stopped close to the historic cottage of Mr Grubb. Not a huge amount to photograph as the fencing was quite high and all the windows were boarded up. On to Norwich Quay where we parked and walked to the point where the tug Lyttleton is berthed and also where the ferries from Diamond Harbour come in. After that little leg-stretching exercise we went round to the yacht marina where many members found quite a lot to photograph. Then we drove to Governors Bay and Church Lane where we walked to our lunch spot. The sun shone, the wind wafted around us and passers-by looked at us with amusement, disdain or incredulity. We held our quiz here.

After all that excitement we drove round to Allandale where a number of white faced herons were stalked with varying degrees of success, and some members left us from here. We then drove back to the church above Church Lane. We explored the cemetery attached to the church. The trip ended here. My thanks to all attendees who made this trip a real pleasure.

Ulysses