In 1953 we travelled over Arthurs Pass to the Glaciers, where it rain most days. Next was camp was at Punakiki for three nights and then onto Tahuna to dry out out tent and ourselves, and it was at Tahanua Beach Camping ground that we caught up with the news about the terrible accident at Tangiwai rail bridge. We travelled in an old Austin car loaded down with tents and chairs all tied onto the outside of the car, there were four of us plus a lot of camping gear. The other memory that stands out about that holiday is that I walked about in bare feet at the beach and got the tops of both feet very sun burnt, took days to heal, very painful.
