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- | "THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKE R" | + | ====== |
- | A Journal devoted to matters of interest to Members of | + | |
- | the Sydney Bush Walkers, Sydney, New South Wales. | + | A Journal devoted to matters of interest to Members of the Sydney Bush Walkers, Sydney, New South Wales. |
No. 24. APRIL 1935. | No. 24. APRIL 1935. | ||
- | Publishing | + | |
+ | __Publishing | ||
Miss Brenda White (Editor). | Miss Brenda White (Editor). | ||
- | Misses Dorothy Lawry &Marie Byles, Messrs. Myles Dunphy, Graham Harrison & Jack Debert. | + | |
- | EDITORIAL | + | Misses Dorothy Lawry & Marie Byles, |
- | There has probably never been an Annual meeting of the" | + | |
- | in which such keen interest was felt as that of March, 1935. There may not have been a record attendance, numerically, | + | Messrs. Myles Dunphy, Graham Harrison & Jack Debert. |
- | Committee. | + | |
- | Tom Herbert was again elected President, and Dorothy Lawry, with Richard | + | ===== Editorial ===== |
- | Croker as Assistant, has taken on the very onerous position of Secretary - which becomes a bigger job each year, since the Club is continually enlarging | + | |
+ | There has probably never been an Annual meeting of the" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Tom Herbert was again elected President, and Dorothy Lawry, with Richard Croker as Assistant, has taken on the very onerous position of Secretary - which becomes a bigger job each year, since the Club is continually enlarging | ||
its activities. | its activities. | ||
- | Little did we dream, seven and a half years ago, that this Club of ours | + | |
- | would one day be instrumental in saving Blue Gum Forests from the | + | Little did we dream, seven and a half years ago, that this Club of ours would one day be instrumental in saving Blue Gum Forests from the encroachments of man and flood waters, adding to the parks and playgrounds of the State, and in many other ways coming into prominence. |
- | encroachments of man and flood waters, adding to the parks and playgrounds of the State, and in many other ways coming into prominence. | + | |
- | Our first Secretary, Charlie Kilpatrick, as well as helping to organise | + | Our first Secretary, Charlie Kilpatrick, as well as helping to organise the Club, had his hands full, in those far off days, compiling walks Programmes and giving information to those interested in the newly formed recreational walking club. There were plenty of Athletic Walking Clubs and not a few private bushwalking societies in existence, but ours was the first of a more or less public nature, and as such attracted a good deal of notice, with a corresponding amount of work for the Secretary. When the position became too acute an Assistant Secretary was appointed. Now we have in addition a Walks Secretary all of which tends to show what an increase there has been in the interest displayed by our fellow citizens in walkers and the gentle art of walking. |
- | the Club, had his hands full, in those far off days, compiling walks Programmes and giving information to those interested in the newly formed | + | |
- | recreational walking club. There were plenty of Athletic Walking Clubs | + | |
- | and not a few private bushwalking societies in existence, but ours was the | + | |
- | first of a more or less public nature, and as such attracted a good deal of notice, with a corresponding amount of work for the Secretary. When the | + | |
- | position became too acute an Assistant Secretary- was appointed. Now we | + | |
- | have in addition a Walks Secretary all of which tends to show what an increase there has been in the interest displayed by our fellow citizens in walkers and the gentle art of walking. | + | |
We announced last issue that the Annual Edition of the " | We announced last issue that the Annual Edition of the " | ||
- | - | + | |
- | EXPLORING UNCLIMBED MOUNTAINS | + | ===== Exploring Unclimbed Mountains ===== |
- | On the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. | + | |
- | MARIE B, BILES. | + | __On the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.__ |
- | When my climbing companion, Marjorie Edgar Jones, and myself arrived at the Fox Glacier Hostel we found that our guide, Frank Alack, had .reoontly out his arm so badly as to require several stitches. It had brought his previous party' | + | |
- | The bad arm was fortunately nearly well by the time we arrived, | + | MARIE B. BILES. |
- | The doctor came and went, and in the meantime Frank had hit on the brilliant | + | |
- | idea of cutting out the thirty miles horseback rise to Mahitahi, and going by aeroplane instead. I had never been in an aeroplane before, and this, coupled with the fact that riding is not one of my strong points, made me jump at the | + | When my climbing companion, Marjorie Edgar Jones, and myself arrived at the Fox Glacier Hostel we found that our guide, Frank Alack, had recently cut his arm so badly as to require several stitches. It had brought his previous party' |
- | suggestion, and not till sometime afterwards remembered that Marjorie had not been consulted. But Marjorie could not be found, though I looked everywhere conveniently forgetting that she might be in her bedroom. So Frank and I decided that after all it did not matter much, for she was small and we could easily have carried her to the 'plane by force if need be. | + | |
- | Marjorie did not exactly object, for she is an exceptionally | + | The bad arm was fortunately nearly well by the time we arrived, |
- | As we hopped up in the orange dragon-fly aeroplane and crawled over the far- | + | |
- | below landscape, I began to realise why the air-service has come as such a god- | + | The doctor came and went, and in the meantime Frank had hit on the brilliant idea of cutting out the thirty miles horseback rise to Mahitahi, and going by aeroplane instead. I had never been in an aeroplane before, and this, coupled with the fact that riding is not one of my strong points, made me jump at the suggestion, and not till sometime afterwards remembered that Marjorie had not been consulted. But Marjorie could not be found, though I looked everywhere conveniently forgetting that she might be in her bedroom. So Frank and I decided that after all it did not matter much, for she was small and we could easily have carried her to the 'plane by force if need be. |
- | send to the West Coast. In a flash of the eye we had crossed over turbulent, grey, swirling torrents which looked bad enough from above, and what they are to horse and rider I was to find out later. | + | |
+ | Marjorie did not exactly object, for she is an exceptionally | ||
+ | |||
+ | As we hopped up in the orange dragon-fly aeroplane and crawled over the far below landscape, I began to realise why the air-service has come as such a god-send to the West Coast. In a flash of the eye we had crossed over turbulent, grey, swirling torrents which looked bad enough from above, and what they are to horse and rider I was to find out later. | ||
"For the first time I laughed at Cook's River", | "For the first time I laughed at Cook's River", | ||
- | In twenty minutes the orange dragon-fly landed us at the mouth of the | + | |
- | Mahitahi River. It is only a two-way landing | + | In twenty minutes the orange dragon-fly landed us at the mouth of the Mahitahi River. It is only a two-way landing |
- | wind that brings the notorious West Coast rain, is a westerly, there is seldom a day when the 'plane cannot call therei | + | |
- | We were met here by Mr. Condon, Senior, with his horse and dray, rather a come-dawn after having just patronized the most modern and up-to-date means of locomotion. However, as the dray carried our heavy packs as well as ourselves, we bore its bonebreaking bumps with a stoical grin. | + | We were met here by Mr. Condon, Senior, with his horse and dray, rather a come-down after having just patronized the most modern and up-to-date means of locomotion. However, as the dray carried our heavy packs as well as ourselves, we bore its bonebreaking bumps with a stoical grin. |
- | We spent that night at the Condonst | + | |
- | Horses were practicable for the first five miles or so up the r:..ror a' | + | We spent that night at the Condons' |
- | Condons' | + | |
- | we tied the horses and proceeded on foot for the last half mile or so where there was a cache of our stores.. | + | Horses were practicable for the first five miles or so up the river above the Condons' |
Thanks to Frank' | Thanks to Frank' | ||
- | It was an exquisitely beautiful bush, a dense subtropical jungle | + | |
- | A short way along Harry appeared suddenly from out of the trees and set our fears at rest. From thence he led us unerringly along the faint trail, but a trail without which it would have taken us three or four times longer to go through that almost impenetrable jungle. It was a long enough tramp as it was, and our packs did not grow lighter as the ground got steeper and rougher, Only the prospect of mountain peaks to come made the hard packing seem worth while, beautiful as was the bush through which we passed. | + | It was an exquisitely beautiful bush, a dense subtropical jungle |
- | "Do you realize that my friends of the Sydney Bush Walkers do this sort of thing for pleasure?" | + | |
- | "Goshl" He replied, "Send them over here and we'll give them as much packing as they want". | + | A short way along Harry appeared suddenly from out of the trees and set our fears at rest. From thence he led us unerringly along the faint trail, but a trail without which it would have taken us three or four times longer to go through that almost impenetrable jungle. It was a long enough tramp as it was, and our packs did not grow lighter as the ground got steeper and rougher. Only the prospect of mountain peaks to come made the hard packing seem worth while, beautiful as was the bush through which we passed. |
+ | |||
+ | "Do you realize that my friends of the Sydney Bush Walkers do this sort of thing for pleasure?" | ||
+ | "Gosh!" He replied, "Send them over here and we'll give them as much packing as they want".\\ | ||
"But we call it bushwalking, | "But we call it bushwalking, | ||
- | " | + | |
+ | " | ||
It was necessary to cross the river once over and back, and the guides insisted on carrying Marjorie and me, a proceeding which I felt was a little infra dig, since I am accustomed to managing things like that for myself. But by the time I reached the middle of those glacier-cold waters, and found they were half way up my legs carried piggy-back, I was just as well pleased not to feel them swirling round my waist, as they would have done had I been on foot. | It was necessary to cross the river once over and back, and the guides insisted on carrying Marjorie and me, a proceeding which I felt was a little infra dig, since I am accustomed to managing things like that for myself. But by the time I reached the middle of those glacier-cold waters, and found they were half way up my legs carried piggy-back, I was just as well pleased not to feel them swirling round my waist, as they would have done had I been on foot. | ||
- | About half way through the day the unprecedented West Coast drought came to an end and made not the slightest attempt to return during the whole of the rest of my holiday in New Zealand - so much for those who say that if you will only provide enough water-proof things, you are bound to keep the rain away. | + | |
- | I had water-proof garments from head to foot, and they had caused huge amusement when I tried them on at the Sydney Bush Walkers' | + | About half way through the day the unprecedented West Coast drought came to an end and made not the slightest attempt to return during the whole of the rest of my holiday in New Zealand - so much for those who say that if you will only provide enough water-proof things, you are bound to keep the rain away. I had water-proof garments from head to foot, and they had caused huge amusement when I tried them on at the Sydney Bush Walkers' |
- | eqv: | + | |
- | after leaving the horses, | + | This was situated in an open piece of land near a stream with the bush on either side. It was about a mile above the junction of the Edison Tributary and possibly 2500 feat high. Cotton-wood trees with pretty white flowers grew nearby, and, as the leaves of these were said to taste like cucumber, I dutifully ate a daily ration of them in the hope that they would supply the vitamin |
- | This was situated in a open piece of land near a stream with the bush on either side. 7t was about a mile above the junction of the Edison Tributary and possibly 2500 feat hihh. Cotton-wood trees with pretty white flowers grew nearby, and, as the leaves of these were said to taste like cucumber, I dutifully ate a daily ration of them in the hope that they would supply the vitam: | + | seem to mind which. When we succeeded in stewing them for twenty-four hours without burning them, they were said to taste like chicken. Being a vegetarian the keas were not of great interest to me from this point of view, except on an unlucky occasion when I chose to comment on the excellency of the soup, and it subsequently transpired that it was on this particular occasion that kea-broth had been added to it! |
- | weeks 1 supply, and it included such things as pemmican and hiking biscuits, both | + | |
- | of which were voted a great success. Of meat we had practically none, for we had brought a rifle and intended to shoot keas, very tame parrot-like birds which | + | In addition to their culinary attractions there were two other reasons for shooting keas; one is their reprehensible habit of settling on the backs of sheep and attacking their vital organs with their powerful beaks; the other is their equally reprehensible desire to run away with mountaineering |
- | would come within a yard of you either to be photographed or shot; they did not | + | |
- | seem to mind which. When we succeeded in stewing them for twenty-four hours without burning them, they were said to taste like chicken. Being a vegetarian the keas were not of great interest to me from this point of view, except on an | + | But that was at a later date; for the present there was no sign of the sun. The rain teemed down from a sky of unbroken grey, and we were devoutly |
- | unlucky occasion when I chose to comment on. the excellency of the soup, and it | + | |
- | subsequently transpired that it was on this particular occasion that kea-broth had been added to it: | + | Harry had stocked the cave with grass beautifully soft to sleep upon. The only trouble was that Marjorie |
- | In addition to their culinary attractions there were two other reasons for shooting keas; one is their reprehensible habit of settling on the backs of sheep and attacking their vital organs with their powerful beaks; the other is their equally reprehensible desire to run away with momntaineering | + | |
- | But that was at a later date; for the present there was no sign of the sun. The rain teemed down from a sky of unbroken grey, and we were devoutly | + | I looked a little longingly at the soft grass, for after all I __had__ |
- | Harry had stocked the cave with grass beautifully soft to sleep upon. The only trouble was that Marjoris | + | |
- | stoves. Marjorie was very conscience-stricken in the morning -which of course dawned with the same teeming rain - and decided that next night she would sleep by herself under a rock near the stream, the bathroom I called it, but as the stream might easily have risen another six inches and turned it from a bathroom into a bath the proposal did not meet with much favour. Indeed in order to | + | For three days it rained without ceasing. Harry had brought up a few magazines and a mouth organ to while away the time, and Marjorie and Frank tapped a perennial source of interest when they started an argument as to the meaning of a traverse, a complete traverse and a grand traverse. These are mountaineering |
- | wean her from the horrid idea Harry pointed out a much better rock about twenty yards away. | + | |
- | I looked a little longingly at the soft grass, for after all I had enjoyed its benefits for a little part of the night if no longer, and then I followed Marjorie | + | By one means and another we whiled away the three days, and on the fourth, New Year's Day, the weather made a good resolution for the coming year and eased off sufficiently to allow us to make our way to the head of the Mahitahi Valley. No trail had been blazed beyond the base camp. |
- | across to the new cave. I soon found out that it was good to be in my awn camp | + | |
- | again where I could mess about with the fire and endeavour to master the art of camp-fire making out of sodden and reluctant West Coast wood. It was a distinct blow to my pride to find Frank brushing aside my fire-making efforts as those of | + | |
- | a mental defective - when all is said and done I have made camp fires in Australia for the last twenty years or so: But the West Coast wood is a law unto itself. The principle of making it burn is to build the fire on the top of a grate, as it were. .Once the wood falls to the ground it gently but surely goes out. | + | |
- | For three days it rained without ceasing. Harry had brought up a few magazines and a mouth organ to while away the time, and Marjorie and Frank | + | |
- | tapped a perennial source of interest when they started an argument as to the meaning of a traverse, a complete traverse and a grand traverse. These are | + | |
- | mount, | + | |
- | as to which is which I leave to Frank and Marjorie. I had a feeling that Frank | + | |
- | got the better of the argument, | + | |
- | spite of her tiny size, ne7er gave in over this or other matters. I once saw | + | |
- | her engaged in a rather unequal struggle with Frank as to whether a certain | + | |
- | By one means and another we whiled away the three days, and an the fourth, | + | |
- | New Year's Day, the weather made a good resolution for the coming year and eased | + | |
- | off sufficiently to allow us to make our way to the head of the Mahitahi Valley. No trail had been blazed beyond the base camp. | + | |
"After that", said Mr. Condon lightly, "you can follow a deer trail" | "After that", said Mr. Condon lightly, "you can follow a deer trail" | ||
- | The deer are one of New Zealand' | + | |
- | to the trail, the result is the same; you find yourself plunging through | + | The deer are one of New Zealand' |
- | growth | + | |
Above the bush was about a mile and a half of open grassy slopes cut by steep gullies, and we soon arrived on the top of the Mueller Pass (4509 feet high) and looked down onto the Zora Glacier a thousand feet below, a great white serpent with a black medial moraine running down the middle of its back, formed by the junction of two neve fields. It was like Cortez standing on the peak of Darien and gazing down onto the unknown Pacific Ocean. A few deer stalkers had probably penetrated as far as the Mueller Pass, but none had ever descended to that glacier below and none had ever trodden the mist-enshrouded peaks that lay around it. The country had held its secrets unviolated since the days when the earth groaned and travailed in Cretacious times and left those rocks tilted and twisted as they now are. | Above the bush was about a mile and a half of open grassy slopes cut by steep gullies, and we soon arrived on the top of the Mueller Pass (4509 feet high) and looked down onto the Zora Glacier a thousand feet below, a great white serpent with a black medial moraine running down the middle of its back, formed by the junction of two neve fields. It was like Cortez standing on the peak of Darien and gazing down onto the unknown Pacific Ocean. A few deer stalkers had probably penetrated as far as the Mueller Pass, but none had ever descended to that glacier below and none had ever trodden the mist-enshrouded peaks that lay around it. The country had held its secrets unviolated since the days when the earth groaned and travailed in Cretacious times and left those rocks tilted and twisted as they now are. | ||
- | It was not a very helpful tramp as far as mapping out our mountains was concerned, for the mist lay heavy over everything | + | |
- | Having located our cave we made our way dawn again in mist and drizzle and spent another three days at base camp watching the rain, for the weather had | + | It was not a very helpful tramp as far as mapping out our mountains was concerned, for the mist lay heavy over everything |
- | already forgotten its New Year Resolution, would it ever stop raining? Remembering that we were on the West Coast did not help at all. Frank recalled one time when it rained for forty days and forty nights at Waiho without lifting once. Then there was the story of the West Coast lover who was overhe., | + | |
- | eternal devotion to the lady of his heart:- | + | Having located our cave we made our way down again in mist and drizzle and spent another three days at base camp watching the rain, for the weather had already forgotten its New Year Resolution, would it ever stop raining? Remembering that we were on the West Coast did not help at all. Frank recalled one time when it rained for forty days and forty nights at Waiho without lifting once. Then there was the story of the West Coast lover who was overheard |
" | " | ||
- | Then, on the seventh day after leaving | + | |
- | But we had to spend that lovely day in packing up to the high camp. It could not be helped, for to have arrived there in the rain with no means of drying - for it was high above thetree | + | Then, on the seventh day after leaving |
+ | |||
+ | But we had to spend that lovely day in packing up to the high camp. It could not be helped, for to have arrived there in the rain with no means of drying - for it was high above the tree line - would have been unforgivable folly. It took the whole day to transport our food and gear, and make the cave secure from bad weather by building a substantial wall on the South West of its entrance. | ||
But the morrow dawned half clear, and after satisfying ourselves that things were getting no worse, we made a very late start at 7-30 a.m. going up by the Matariki Glacier. | But the morrow dawned half clear, and after satisfying ourselves that things were getting no worse, we made a very late start at 7-30 a.m. going up by the Matariki Glacier. | ||
- | After six years in an almost mountainless land I was- once again among the snowy heights and with a new realization of their meaning. Still, silent and serene they stood above the morning mists, but they revealed the stresses and strains of a living world that has lived through millions of years and is still living. In their glass, the seasons of the earth' | + | |
- | lost in the vaster seasons of geological time, where the winters are the glacial epochs that have coated the world in ice, and the summers are the warm, dry eras that have succeeded the great ice ages. "As for man, his days are as grass; the wind passeth over it and it is gone". And that is the secret of the serenity of the mountains. For what are all the petty cares of mortal life or mortal life itself when reflected in their mirror? In the next geological age man and his troubles will be as it they had never been. Small wonder, than, the peace that broods over the ancient hills, and the easing of the heart that is found in high places. | + | After six years in an almost mountainless land I was - once again among the snowy heights and with a new realization of their meaning. Still, silent and serene they stood above the morning mists, but they revealed the stresses and strains of a living world that has lived through millions of years and is still living. In their glass, the seasons of the earth' |
- | It was a steep pull up the Matariki Glacier, and the ice was frequently sliced by huge4pmer-gshrunds. One in particular stretched from side to side of the glacier and we had to cut right down the lower lip and right up the one above it, which was certainly vertical if not overhanging. | + | |
+ | It was a steep pull up the Matariki Glacier, and the ice was frequently sliced by huge shrunds. One in particular stretched from side to side of the glacier and we had to cut right down the lower lip and right up the one above it, which was certainly vertical if not overhanging. | ||
We reached the Matariki Col and found ourselves looking across the head of the Zora Glacier. The mists were rapidly covering the mountains and we had only glimpses of the surrounding peaks as we made our way towards the one at the head of the Zora. Fettes Peak we caught sight of to our right. | We reached the Matariki Col and found ourselves looking across the head of the Zora Glacier. The mists were rapidly covering the mountains and we had only glimpses of the surrounding peaks as we made our way towards the one at the head of the Zora. Fettes Peak we caught sight of to our right. | ||
- | "That peak has not been climbed, has it?" I said to Frank. | + | |
+ | "That peak has not been climbed, has it?" I said to Frank.\\ | ||
"No, but he is going to be", said Frank meaningly. | "No, but he is going to be", said Frank meaningly. | ||
+ | |||
It was a prediction that won my heart, but it was unwise, as the morrow was to show. | It was a prediction that won my heart, but it was unwise, as the morrow was to show. | ||
- | By the time we reached our chosen peak the mists had swallowed up everything. Still, there was a wonderful thrill in climbing up that last bit of rock and shaking hands on the top of our first virgin peak. Belau us we caught tantalizing glimpses of the head of the Makawhio Valley, the next valley north of the Mahitahi, rocky ramparts hemming in a wild gorge, but what lay in the depths we could not see. So we gave up unravelling the geography of the mists, built a cairn and put the peak in our rucksacks, so to speak. | + | |
+ | By the time we reached our chosen peak the mists had swallowed up everything. Still, there was a wonderful thrill in climbing up that last bit of rock and shaking hands on the top of our first virgin peak. Below us we caught tantalizing glimpses of the head of the Makawhio Valley, the next valley north of the Mahitahi, rocky ramparts hemming in a wild gorge, but what lay in the depths we could not see. So we gave up unravelling the geography of the mists, built a cairn and put the peak in our rucksacks, so to speak. | ||
(To be continued in our next.) | (To be continued in our next.) | ||
- | EASTER | + | |
- | Suitable fast ortho or fine grain | + | EASTER |
- | panchromatic exposures for average subjects on | + | |
- | films (without filters) are:- | + | Suitable |
- | TIME SUNNY HAZY DV1.41, V. DULL | + | |
- | - .4 fll s 8 s | + | |TIME|SUNNY|HAZY|DULL|V. DULL| |
- | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. f22 s fl6 s | + | |10 a.m. to 2 p.m.|f22 s|f16 s|f11 s|f8 s| |
- | + | |9 a.m. or 3 p.m.|f16 s| f11 s|f8 s|f32 B| | |
- | 9 a.m. or 3 p.m. f16 s fll s 8 s 232 B | + | |8 a.m. or 4 p.m.|f11 s|f8 s| f32 B|f22 B| |
- | 8 a.m. or 4 p.m. file f8 32 B 222 B | + | |7 a.m. or 5 p.m.|f8 s| f32 B|f22 B|f16 B| |
- | 7 a.m. or 5 p.m. 28 s f32 B 22 B fle B | + | |
s indicates 1/25 second B indicates 1 second | s indicates 1/25 second B indicates 1 second | ||
- | For other subjerits | + | |
- | Information re filters, exposures and other photpgraphic | + | For other subjects |
+ | |||
+ | Information re filters, exposures and other photographic | ||
+ | __RING. B 3101.__ | ||
Films may be left at Paddy' | Films may be left at Paddy' | ||
- | Paddy still has a few sleeping bags available. Get one for the Easter Camp and keep wmrm. | + | |
- | Believing in " | + | Paddy still has a few sleeping bags available. Get one for the Easter Camp and keep warm. |
- | us fine weather, but "just in case" you should have a 'Paddymadet | + | |
+ | Believing in " | ||
All other usual gear available. | All other usual gear available. | ||
- | F. A. PALLIN, | + | |
- | 312 George Street, | + | F. A. PALLIN,\\ |
- | PamE. B3101. | + | 312 George Street,\\ |
- | THE UPPER COX. | + | __SYDNEY.__\\ |
+ | __PHONE. B3101.__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== THE UPPER COX. ===== | ||
It is now some years since we've been able to call the clan together on Anniversary Day and make for green hills and winding rivers for three whole days. It so happened this year. | It is now some years since we've been able to call the clan together on Anniversary Day and make for green hills and winding rivers for three whole days. It so happened this year. | ||
- | Some of our party were unable to leave on Friday night, so Mouldy and Richard and I put ourselves into a box carriage on the 7.25 p.m. on Friday evening and arrived at Mount Vic. about 10.30. We made our presence felt at the R.R.R. and at eleven we were on the road to Mount York. Whether it was the moon which was really glorious, or not, I don't know, but both Mouldy and Richard came-all-over-i Opera-ish and we had selections (vocal) all the way out to Mount York. With so much melody (ahemt)about it was difficult to refrain from joining in, and frequently I added to the din. | + | |
- | The view from the end of Mount York was very lovely by moonlight. It was almost as clear as day. We camped under the stars, and were out of bed about six-ish to have a look at the valley under the long early morning shadows. It was lovelier, by far, than by the nightTs | + | Some of our party were unable to leave on Friday night, so Mouldy and Richard and I put ourselves into a box carriage on the 7.25 p.m. on Friday evening and arrived at Mount Vic. about 10.30. We made our presence felt at the R.R.R. and at eleven we were on the road to Mount York. Whether it was the moon which was really glorious, or not, I don't know, but both Mouldy and Richard came-all-over-Opera-ish and we had selections (vocal) all the way out to Mount York. With so much melody (ahem!) about it was difficult to refrain from joining in, and frequently I added to the din. |
- | book and were shown all the points of interest by the proprietress of the Mt. York Farm, as it is now known. By road we made for the Lett River where we made friends with Mr. McGarry, who has a strange pet, an eagle which runs loose round the farm. He told us of the "best natural swimming pool in the country" | + | |
- | Sunday morning at seven-thirty we left the junction of the Lett and Cox and began a long day, The Cox was really lovely in its upper reaches. The willows broke the sombre green of the casuarinas with near-emerald. There were wild duck and rabbits galore. In several places granite gorges impeded our progress, and we had some fun scrambling through - particularly when Rene flopped into the water occasionally. I think she should be a fish in the next world - or perhaps, a marmaid. The nettles were in fine fettle and we were glad to lunch where the Lowther road crossed the Cox. Before the end of an hour we were away. The river began to widen and occasional cattle tracks made the going easier, though the river lost none of its beauty. I don't know what I really expected; myrtle and fewer flats, I think. It is very Cox-ish all the way through, changing a little as we neared Gibralter Creek, if anything. | + | The view from the end of Mount York was very lovely by moonlight. It was almost as clear as day. We camped under the stars, and were out of bed about six-ish to have a look at the valley under the long early morning shadows. It was lovelier, by far, than by the night' |
- | About five-thirty we came to a small saddle, a few hundred yards across, from the top of which we had a good v3.ew of the sweep of the river. It was a real " | + | |
- | We woke, on Monday morning, to find the river oaks wrapped in mist and everything adrip. One just wanted to lay abed and watch the morning' | + | Sunday morning at seven-thirty we left the junction of the Lett and Cox and began a long day. The Cox was really lovely in its upper reaches. The willows broke the sombre green of the casuarinas with near-emerald. There were wild duck and rabbits galore. In several places granite gorges impeded our progress, and we had some fun scrambling through - particularly when Rene flopped into the water occasionally. I think she should be a fish in the next world - or perhaps, a mermaid. The nettles were in fine fettle and we were glad to lunch where the Lowther road crossed the Cox. Before the end of an hour we were away. The river began to widen and occasional cattle tracks made the going easier, though the river lost none of its beauty. I don't know what I really expected; myrtle and fewer flats, I think. It is very Cox-ish all the way through, changing a little as we neared Gibralter Creek, if anything. About five-thirty we came to a small saddle, a few hundred yards across, from the top of which we had a good view of the sweep of the river. It was a real " |
- | eight o' | + | |
+ | We woke, on Monday morning, to find the river oaks wrapped in mist and everything adrip. One just wanted to lay abed and watch the morning' | ||
It was a splendid trip, and the river only added to its attraction for us. If you haven' | It was a splendid trip, and the river only added to its attraction for us. If you haven' | ||
+ | |||
JEAN. | JEAN. | ||
- | A1FF'S TRIP IN THE FOREST 1,000 FEET UNDER THE GROUND. | + | |
+ | ===== A1FF'S TRIP IN THE FOREST 1,000 FEET UNDER THE GROUND. | ||
Now this is a fact. In the first place I was in a prehistoric forest - a coal seam, and in the second place a forest of timber that is used to stop the roof kissing the floor. I would not be exaggerating if I say millions of trees are in that mine, used as props every 2 feet for miles of streets I call them. | Now this is a fact. In the first place I was in a prehistoric forest - a coal seam, and in the second place a forest of timber that is used to stop the roof kissing the floor. I would not be exaggerating if I say millions of trees are in that mine, used as props every 2 feet for miles of streets I call them. | ||
Word was left with the wife while I Was at the beach to be at the Deputy' | Word was left with the wife while I Was at the beach to be at the Deputy' | ||
We went to the lamp room and I got an electric lamp about three candle power, while my guide had a kerosene safety lamp as he is a Deputy. His duty when working is to go into the mine first to his section and test for gas. It shows blue around the flame and cannot escape out of the gauze to cause an explosion; also to see the timbers and roof and everything is safe before ringing the outside for the men to come in. The whistle blows " | We went to the lamp room and I got an electric lamp about three candle power, while my guide had a kerosene safety lamp as he is a Deputy. His duty when working is to go into the mine first to his section and test for gas. It shows blue around the flame and cannot escape out of the gauze to cause an explosion; also to see the timbers and roof and everything is safe before ringing the outside for the men to come in. The whistle blows " | ||
- | -10 - | + | |
I was in a truck next to the pretty boys and they sang songs all the way in. I felt like jumping out and going back, but could not as the roof is only 4 feet from the grounci. The further we went in the more I got accustomed to the dark- | I was in a truck next to the pretty boys and they sang songs all the way in. I felt like jumping out and going back, but could not as the roof is only 4 feet from the grounci. The further we went in the more I got accustomed to the dark- | ||
ness until the terminus which is lit up, all out and we let them proceed to their work. | ness until the terminus which is lit up, all out and we let them proceed to their work. | ||
Line 162: | Line 186: | ||
We passed through a mile of natural coke made by the earth cracking in the early days and the fire coming up and burning the coal into coke. The Company had to put a bore dawn to see if the coal was at the back of the coke before they went through it. Arrived out in sunlight at 1 o' | We passed through a mile of natural coke made by the earth cracking in the early days and the fire coming up and burning the coal into coke. The Company had to put a bore dawn to see if the coal was at the back of the coke before they went through it. Arrived out in sunlight at 1 o' | ||
The mining game would not suit a Sun Worshipper, so I made straight for the beach. But my guide I pitied - a man could not be happier than he was amongst his mates under there, it was everything to him, yet he has to wait until the mine gets busier before he gets his job back. The waiting gets on good men's nerves and they don't know what to do. | The mining game would not suit a Sun Worshipper, so I made straight for the beach. But my guide I pitied - a man could not be happier than he was amongst his mates under there, it was everything to him, yet he has to wait until the mine gets busier before he gets his job back. The waiting gets on good men's nerves and they don't know what to do. | ||
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193504.txt · Last modified: 2014/09/29 22:22 by emmanuelle_c