All roads and trails lead to Waikaka next weekend as the Southland settlement prepares to host hundreds of riders, wagons, horses and support crews involved in the 17th annual Otago Cavalcade. Clutha reporter Glenn Conway spoke to the woman in charge of pulling the mammoth event together.
You would think Roberta Laraman would be tired of talking about horses, rides, trails and saddles, but the chief organiser of the Otago Cavalcade is still full of enthusiasm about this year's event.
As she says, it is her annual opportunity to abandon the rat race and join up to 450 others who want to see parts of the province they would never normally get to. Harking back to the days of the Wild West, wagons, riders and walkers crisscross the South, all making their way to the same endpoint.
This year, the township of Waikaka, 20km east of Gore, is in their sights.
Nine separate trails will make their way there over the coming week. The first trails leave this weekend, with the rest hitching their wagons and taking to the road, bush and trail on Monday.
An estimated 450 people, including 70 walkers, will farewell the trappings of the 21st century, and it is this very thing, Mrs Laraman believes, that is the secret behind the strong, steady interest in the annual pilgrimage.
"People doing the cavalcade have a real passion for it. It's just wonderful to get away from the rat race. One lawyer who goes on it tells me it's his leveller for the rest of the year. There's just something to it," she said.
Saddling up, ditching many of life's luxuries and getting back to nature was the most exhilarating feeling, she said. There seems to be a shared camaraderie among "cavalcaders", who start out from different parts of the province but end up in the same place.
They seemed to have a mutual understanding of what they had done and an appreciation for the simple things in life and the chance to walk in the footprints of the pioneers, Mrs Laraman said.
Even at the traditional hoedown - which marks the end of the journey - those "outsiders" who came all dressed up and smelling nice almost seemed out of place.
"Those who get all dolled up and come along and see the riders and walkers in their old clothes say they almost don't feel a part of it," she said, laughing.
But members of the public get their chance to be part of the "Roll In To Waikaka Cavalcade" when they officially welcome the trails into town at noon next Saturday.
Before that, though, the 450 cavalcaders must get there.
Their journey starts at various points around the South.
One of the more spectacular trails is expected to be the McNeill Drilling Peaks to Lakes Trail, which travels from Routeburn through to Waikaka.
Leaving tomorrow, the trail departs Routeburn Station and eases its way down the edge of Lake Wakatipu to Mt Nicholas Station, a journey that will involve some river crossings, with views of snow-capped mountains all around.
A visual highlight will be on Tuesday, when the entire ride, including horses, is placed on a barge and taken across the lake to Staircase Creek before reloading all gear and carrying on to Lorne Peak Station.
Mrs Laraman said 25 horses will be loaded on to the barge at a time, meaning up to four separate trips will be needed to get everyone across.
"That will be a spectacular sight," she said.
Even though the trails are different every year, the province was only so big and riders often find themselves travelling over familiar territory, although every effort is made not to duplicate trails from past years.
"If anything, some riders may be going over areas in reverse. Places they have been before but in a different way."
Whatever the trail, whatever the route, she said the cavalcade often turned into a life-changing experience for those involved.
"It's that whole getting back to the grassroots kind of thing, I think."
The 2010 Cavalcade will finish in Wanaka.
Time to hit the trail
• Walking:-
Whitecoomb Walkers: Walkers meet at Waikaka next Tuesday and catch a bus to Piano Flat. They walk for a few hours to the Whitecoomb bridge, where they will pitch their tents and spend the following three nights. Walks around the area are planned for the rest of the week before the walkers bus to Waikaka for the noon parade.
Wet The Whistle At Watties: For the seriously fit only, this trail involves walks of up to 25km daily over untracked high country. Participants must carry their own packs. Stops include Norman's Hut at McEwens Bush, the airstrip at Archie's Spur and Leithen Bush.
Crown Rockers Walking Trail: Starting at Moa Flat Downs, this group will follow the Pomahaka River along to Crown Rock before passing through Hukarere Station towards the Greenvale Valley. It will enjoy views of the Dusky Forest and Pomahaka River before walking over rolling country to Waikaka.
• Wagons:-
Heavy wagon trail: This journey involves travelling through big sheep stations such as Glenary, Argyle and Awatere.
Tussock Creek light wagon trail: Leaving Garston tomorrow, the cavalcaders will ride beside the historic Kingston Flyer initially. Other stops include Nokomai Homestead, Cattle Flat and across tussock country, creeks and rivers.
• Horses:-
Boundary Riders Trail : Starting at The Wilden in the upper reaches of the Pomahaka River, this trail follows the river but also includes trips to Greenvale Station, the King Solomon mine and through the Greenvale area.
McNeill Drilling Peaks to Lakes Trail: Leaving Routeburn Station tomorrow, the riders will travel down the edge of Lake Wakatipu to Mt Nicholas Station. The next day, they arrive at Halfway Bay Station and on Tuesday the entire trail will be barged across the lake to Staircase Creek.
West Dome Trail: Beginning with a ride up the Windley Valley, the trail climbs up tussock to West Dome then down to forest tracks. Other pit stops include Nokomai Station, the Blue Lakes area, the length of Argyle Station through Leithen Valley.
Matuanui Mavericks Trail: Starting from the historic Matuanui Homestead in the Glenomaru Valley, this trail will enjoy stopovers at Kuriwao, Arthurton, Maitland and Greenvale areas.
