This is the one and only time during the 2.5 hour walk that Connor took a few minutes rest - bless him.. He is crouched down resting against the white box beside the last bridge.

The bus dropped walkers off at the quarry on the Woodville side of the gorge and we walked back through to Ashurst. As you can see, the walkers were well spread out along the gorge track - although it did conjested and bunched up at times near the bridges.

Pippa with Liam and Connor.

We decided to stop for a break at the fence and stile, and spent a pleasant 20 minutes resting and replenishing. We agreed to give it another 1/2 hour and then we'd have to turn back.

5 minutes over the stile and an: "I can't go on" cry escaped from my lips. "Oh come on Jo - just a few more steps" Megan replied - and she was right! The most magnificent view appeared before us - and to think I nearly missed it!

This black and white photo is the result of me knocking the camera settings as I ingloriously tumbled off the track onto the road at trip end. It shows Megan and Pippa at the very start - and end - of the Panatawaewae Ridge track right where it joins the metalled road. This is about 500m up from the carpark at the end of the road.

Left to right: Megan McMullan and Pippa Coard.

Its like a modelling session; every damn photo has Megan in it!

The view from the top of PanatawaewaeRidge, looking north, with Megan McMullan posing in front...

5 minutes over the stile and an: "I can't go on" cry escaped from my lips. "Oh come on Jo - just a few more steps" Megan replied - and she was right! The most magnificent view appeared before us - and to think I nearly missed it!

The Manakau hills are in the foregroun, Lake Papaitonga centreleft and Lake Horowhenua centre right.

Don't we look gorgeous! Left to right: Joann Ransom, Pippa Coard and Megan McMullan resting at the top of Panatawaewae Ridge.

The 2008 annual fundraising walk along the train tracks through the Manawatu Gorge is being held on April 13th 2008.