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A Monthly Bulletin devoted to matters of interest to The Sydney Bushwalkers, | A Monthly Bulletin devoted to matters of interest to The Sydney Bushwalkers, | ||
- | ====No.126 June, 1945 Price 6d. | + | ====No.126 June, 1945 Price 6d.==== |
|**Editor**|Ray Kirkby| | |**Editor**|Ray Kirkby| | ||
Line 62: | Line 62: | ||
by The Old One. | by The Old One. | ||
- | When I originally offered (I mean, was requested) to write this article for that brilliant publication, | + | When I originally offered (I mean, was requested) to write this article for that brilliant publication, |
- | blank verse? No, I felt that would never do. What would the protectors | + | |
- | of our moral code say if I produced something like Act II, Scene II, lines | + | It was mid-afternoon |
- | 56 to 60 of "A Midsummer Night' | + | |
- | another " | + | |
- | It was mid-afternoon | + | |
No - in fact, quite ordinary. It seems we shall have to start again. | No - in fact, quite ordinary. It seems we shall have to start again. | ||
- | It was mid-afternoon as eight rather ordinary males reached the top of | ||
- | the grassy saddle. The sun had long since disappeared, | ||
- | There was a distant peal of thuhder and the clouds had already settled on the neighbouring mountain like the extra fat lady subsiding into the tram seat just vacated by the extra small school-boy, All of winch means that a storm was brewing and brewing fast, the clouds were heavy, th:2 thunder more insistent and there were some spots of rain. | ||
- | The eight men stopped Should they camp on the - 1-en sward below as | ||
- | recommended by the "Old Master Max" or should they go on for another hour | ||
- | . or so and make a hole in that eighteen miles to be covered the next day? Here, at least, was a chance for one of those ar;uments for which "The Wizard" | ||
- | Followed five minutes of the usual inconclusive discussion punctuated | ||
- | by more peals of thunder and more drops of rain, At lest a couple of extra loud claps of thuhder cut bort the argument much to the visible annoyance | ||
- | and secret disappointment of the two last mentiened. Down the hill all ch-irged, | ||
- | collecting tent poles on the way, Having made up their minds in a " | ||
- | Mr.ICIANZ and his room-mate, the representative of "The Dying Race" | ||
- | pitch their tent with reckless abandon over a brown stain on the green grass (more will he heard of this brown stain anon), "The Buxom Lad" erects his home nearby on a more or less level piece of ground, "The Old..." | ||
- | all-nighter in the train, they could "sleep on the proverbial clothes-line anyhow" | ||
- | has he been doing all this time? You have guessed aright; he and the | ||
- | " | ||
- | might come down on top of the tent", "it looks better on the other side | ||
- | of the creek", | ||
- | 3. | ||
- | further up across a little side creek L "no, this is worse" - and ao back | ||
- | to the other tents, "Ah, there is a nice little hollow with soft green grass and just right for the hip." Up goes the tent at last; the e,:re t decision has been made, | ||
- | All this time the "Rain God" has stayed his hand but he is getting impatient, | ||
- | What have the others been doing durine7 this deli-htful little interlude, | ||
- | "The Emaciated One", with true foresight born of Previous wet camps, has been working on the fire which is blazing merrily, "The Curly Headed Boy" has unpacked the evening meal ready for preparation, | ||
- | the water. What organisation; | ||
- | Who is the genius behind this marvellous effort? Security reasons prevent disclosure of his name; lot us hope, however, that history will not overlook him. | ||
- | An extra loud peal of thunder, some extra large raindrops and the sky opens - its coming down in torrents. The whole party is under canvas but not for long. Thera is a considerable run-off and water is pouring in under the | ||
- | tents. "The Emaciated One" and "The Old...." | ||
- | commendable foresight, has piled a few logs over the fire to protect it, as far as possible, from the downpour. | ||
- | The trenchers look up from their labours, and wondelli who is the lone | ||
- | figure sitting on the log. Can it be - yes, it is - "The Shadow", | ||
- | in his greundsheet he looks more a Fhedow than ever. And what of "The Wizard"? | ||
- | The trenchers straighten up with signs of relief, their work comIpleted, The downpour eases off and subsides into some ste,dy raining just like that parched customer at the local hostelry who, after sinking half a dozen ,eints, settles down to some steady drihking, The trenchers would have derived greater satisfaction if it had poured for, say, another half hour but they are, nevertheless, | ||
+ | It was mid-afternoon as eight rather ordinary males reached the top of the grassy saddle. The sun had long since disappeared, | ||
- | Out come the pieces of dry wood which were stored in the tent immediately it had been erected and the fire is soon beck to its original vitality. The v-rious | + | The eight men stopped. Should they camp on the green sward below as recommended by the "Old Master Max" or should they go on for another hour or so and make a hole in that eighteen miles to be covered the next day? Here, at least, was a chance for one of those arguments for which "The Wizard" |
- | stay - where are " | + | |
- | looking for another site. At last their search is rewerded | + | Followed five minutes of the usual inconclusive discussion punctuated by more peals of thunder and more drops of rain. At lest a couple of extra loud claps of thunder cut short the argument much to the visible annoyance and secret disappointment of the two last mentioned. Down the hill all charged, collecting tent poles on the way. Having made up their minds in a " |
- | All this time it is raining steadily, the others have finished their hot meal while the " | + | |
- | " | + | Mr.Icianz and his room-mate, the representative of "The Dying Race", pitch their tent with reckless abandon over a brown stain on the green grass (more will he heard of this brown stain anon), "The Buxom Lad" erects his home nearby on a more or less level piece of ground, "The Old..." |
- | ' | + | |
- | I am sorry, readers, that I cannot, on account of dictates of decency and modesty, reveal the actors in this drama which should have a warning object lesson for you, but turn to page leven and se:: if you h' | + | All this time the "Rain God" has stayed his hand but he is getting impatient. |
+ | |||
+ | What have the others been doing during this delightful little interlude, "The Emaciated One", with true foresight born of Previous wet camps, has been working on the fire which is blazing merrily, "The Curly Headed Boy" has unpacked the evening meal ready for preparation, | ||
+ | |||
+ | An extra loud peal of thunder, some extra large raindrops and the sky opens - its coming down in torrents. The whole party is under canvas but not for long. There is a considerable run-off and water is pouring in under the tents. "The Emaciated One" and "The Old...." | ||
+ | |||
+ | The trenchers look up from their labours, and wonder who is the lone figure sitting on the log. Can it be - yes, it is - "The Shadow" | ||
+ | |||
+ | The trenchers straighten up with signs of relief, their work completed. The downpour eases off and subsides into some steady raining just like that parched customer at the local hostelry who, after sinking half a dozen pints, settles down to some steady drinking. The trenchers would have derived greater satisfaction if it had poured for, say, another half hour but they are, nevertheless, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Out come the pieces of dry wood which were stored in the tent immediately it had been erected and the fire is soon back to its original vitality. The various | ||
+ | |||
+ | All this time it is raining steadily, the others have finished their hot meal while the " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Mr. Icianz | ||
+ | |||
+ | I am sorry, readers, that I cannot, on account of dictates of decency and modesty, reveal the actors in this drama which should have a warning object lesson for you, but turn to page Eleven | ||
correctly. | correctly. | ||
- | . WOUNDS WHICH NEVER HEAL | + | |
+ | =====Wounds That Never Heal===== | ||
by Dorothy Dix (Inc). | by Dorothy Dix (Inc). | ||
- | It is ofteh said that hearts do not break - they merely bend. In other words, nature and time will'heal any mental wound if not deliberately prevented from so doing. Similarly it is so with most | + | |
- | wounds of the body, Imagine the sorry sight of the legs of bush- | + | It is often said that hearts do not break - they merely bend. In other words, nature and time will heal any mental wound if not deliberately prevented from so doing. Similarly it is so with most wounds of the body. Imagine the sorry sight of the legs of bushwalkers |
- | walkers | + | |
- | But trees are different from human beings. Even a pin stuck through the bark of a tree will leave a wound which remains until death. Never is a tent Deg or tomahawk, nonchalantly stuck in a tree so that it won't be missed, forgotten by the tree. It leaves a wound which never heals. The tree may grow its bark over the injury, but the injury is there none the less - perhaps a blood vein or distortion which never hels. | + | But trees are different from human beings. Even a pin stuck through the bark of a tree will leave a wound which remains until death. Never is a tent peg or tomahawk, nonchalantly stuck in a tree so that it won't be missed, forgotten by the tree. It leaves a wound which never heals. The tree may grow its bark over the injury, but the injury is there none the less - perhaps a blood vein or distortion which never heals. |
- | 'So, if you are tempted to run your motor car into a tree, remember that, though your car may be repaired, the tree cannot. . It is for this reason that foresters,- who lova their tr::es, never run their trucks into them ! | + | |
- | I don' | + | So, if you are tempted to run your motor car into a tree, remember that, though your car may be repaired, the tree cannot. It is for this reason that foresters, who love their trees, never run their trucks into them! |
- | 5. | + | |
- | mL | + | I don' |
- | WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT IT ? | + | |
- | Should old AcouaintrInr; | + | =====Who'd Have Thought It?===== |
- | One very Pleasant | + | |
- | young walker whom we had not the pleasure of knowing | + | ====Should old Acquaintance......==== |
- | Wanted - a Composer, | + | |
- | Tbo engagement of Elsa Isaacs to Malcolm | + | One very pleasant |
- | which would surely have inspired Richard Wagner to compose a further Ring Opera, The news was to be on the Front Page any day when, unfortunately, | + | |
- | arrested for some illegal dealing and all his work confiscated. The strin on Malcolm was terrific, However, all came right in the en,l, The gener,o1 | + | ====Wanted - a Composer.==== |
- | reaction to news of the engagement seemed to be "not real eurprisd". | + | |
- | Unsunsjinotine_pg l | + | The engagement of Elsa Isaacs to Malcolm |
- | -Should be the deserved title of Yvonne Rolfe who for countless years has performed the arduous | + | |
- | it was purchased ten years ago. Yvonne fears that th, Jxample | + | ====Unsung Heroine No. 1==== |
- | One Fact, | + | |
- | Joyce Trimble and Arthur Brophy were marrid | + | Should be the deserved title of Yvonne Rolfe who for countless years has performed the arduous |
- | "What bird is that?" | + | |
- | A plague of astonishingly coloured garments has broken out in the club and so far no cure has been discovered except amputation. The garments range | + | ====One Fact.==== |
- | from THE OLD SCHOOL GUERNSEY | + | |
- | in the bush only the King Parrota | + | Joyce Trimble and Arthur Brophy were married |
- | Getting Very Fast. | + | |
- | Jean Moprett | + | ===="What bird is that?"==== |
- | a biking holiday during which they stayed with several old friends of the Club. It was fortunate that at each place there was a female for rubbing- down purposes. | + | |
- | A Wink is as Good as a Nod to a Blind Horse, | + | A plague of astonishingly coloured garments has broken out in the club and so far no cure has been discovered except amputation. The garments range from __The Old School Gurnsey__ |
- | As the Nobles were setting out on a tough walk of several miles last Sunday they were offered a lift by the Northern Suburbs Ambulance The professional eye of an ambulance man instantly recognises "the sore- distressed" | + | |
- | BOUDDI WORKING BEE | + | ====Getting Very Fast.==== |
+ | |||
+ | Jean Moppett | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====A Wink is as Good as a Nod to a Blind Horse.==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | As the Nobles were setting out on a tough walk of several miles last Sunday they were offered a lift by the Northern Suburbs Ambulance. The professional eye of an ambulance man instantly recognises "the sore-distressed" | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====Bouddi Working Bee===== | ||
by One of the Bees. | by One of the Bees. | ||
- | History tells us that the colonisation of Australia was due' | + | |
- | For no worse crime, in most instances, | + | History tells us that the colonisation of Australia was due to the loss of the American Colonies which caused the need for another penal settlement for England' |
- | The First Fleet arrived on Friday night and l' | + | |
- | With the arrival of the multitude of minor offenders on Saturday afternoon, the site of the settlement began to seethe with people. Tiny Beach, the chosen spot, is only a small, sandy indentation but on the cliffs above the beach is a comparatively large area of flat groundsuitable | + | For no worse crime, in most instances, |
- | Hight. A mellow moon gazed kindly into the amphitheatre of beach with black galleries facing a stage of white sand, The crowd ranged around the fire, set on the beach and burning redly. The atmosphere was of smugglers | + | |
- | relaxing in some inaccessible cove knowing that excisemen and worries could | + | The First Fleet arrived on Friday night and landed |
- | both be banished but over the tiers of faces arched one solitary tree/ | + | |
- | curving and flowing with Oriental grace woven in a tapestry. Yet this was no. place for solitary meditation: the recurring hiss of the surf as it flung itself on the sands induced an eir of expectancy, of excitement, of awareness. And, as the evening passed in song and reminiscence, | + | With the arrival of the multitude of minor offenders on Saturday afternoon, the site of the settlement began to seethe with people. Tiny Beach, the chosen spot, is only a small, sandy indentation but on the cliffs above the beach is a comparatively large area of flat ground suitable |
- | After pleasure cometh. pains Who could have been so pesAmistic | + | |
- | there were at hand in -, | + | Night. A mellow moon gazed kindly into the amphitheatre of beach with black galleries facing a stage of white sand. The crowd ranged around the fire, set on the beach and burning redly. The atmosphere was of smugglers relaxing in some inaccessible cove knowing that excisemen and worries could both be banished but over the tiers of faces arched one solitary tree, curving and flowing with Oriental grace woven in a tapestry. Yet this was no place for solitary meditation: the recurring hiss of the surf as it flung itself on the sands induced an air of expectancy, of excitement, of awareness. And, as the evening passed in song and reminiscence, |
- | Saturday night' | + | |
- | Governor so on Sunday, at an early hour, she once again very firmly seized | + | After pleasure cometh |
- | the reins of Government, But every detail of the numerous jobs which hod to be done and adequate chain-gangs to perform them had been arranged | + | |
- | meticulously. Clearing tracks, mending tanks, planting trees, making fire- | + | Saturday night' |
- | places, erecting signposts, repairing fences were a few of the tasks which were carried out with speed increased by the knowl-dge | + | |
- | was over the sooner one could relax. | + | Every previous colonising venture seems to have failed miserably on account of some unthought-of difficulty but not Bouddi. Let me remark on two aspects. |
- | Every previous colonising venture seems to have failed miserably on | + | |
- | account of some unthought-of difficulty but not Bouddi. Let me remark on two aspects. | + | In order to ensure an unfailing water supply |
- | In order to ensure an unfailing water su,: | + | |
- | dam was comj3letd | + | The Intelligence, |
- | by flinging cement at each others faces, Though a great improvJment | + | |
- | The Intelligence, | + | So successful was the colony |
- | So successful was the colony | + | |
- | 7. | + | =====Our Absent Friends===== |
- | : | + | |
- | O YOUR OPTOMETRIST | + | |
- | @ | + | |
- | F. GOOMAN M.I.O. | + | |
- | Optometrist Ind Optician . | + | |
- | C.) 20 Hunter Street SIdney, Tel: B3438 | + | |
- | C;..) | + | |
- | (0, (F) | + | |
- | @- Modern Methods of Eye Examination. and Eye Training @ | + | |
- | Careful Spectacle Fitting | + | |
- | ET? | + | |
- | @ | + | |
- | Fixing an appointment will facilitate the resarvetion | + | |
- | , | + | |
- | of time for giving you proper attention, but should | + | |
- | 0 | + | |
- | ' you be unable to ring us beforehand, your visit will | + | |
- | e be welcome at any time you may choose to call. | + | |
- | C (D | + | |
- | ElaCEC(Tr' | + | |
- | OUR ABSENT FRIENDS | + | |
During the month we have received letters from the following: | During the month we have received letters from the following: | ||
- | Ninian Melville Les Douglas Bob Savage | + | |
- | Bill Burke Frank Ricketts- -Deuce | + | Ninian Melville, Les Douglas, Bob Savage, Geof Higson, |
- | 22(z fLinville | + | |
- | as, apart from the " | + | ====Geoff Higson - Bougainville 10.4.45.==== |
- | could do with a few cheers in the way of letters as these days I don't even bother to expect them, except for duty letters of course. So when I do get one, rather a lars e ceremony with offerings to the aircraft that drops it from the blue is the order of the day and everyone else in the section cheers for me. Ap rt from that I am extr: | + | |
- | - | + | I appreciate those letters of yours as, apart from the " |
- | Give my congrats to Edna. Your description of the Raunion | + | |
- | fond memories of past Reunions in peace time at Leonav etc. TugFie's trip has the earmarks of a wild and wondrous time but the thought of Tumut isn't very nice for the man on the land, a most disheartening job under present circumstances. | + | could do with a few cheers in the way of letters as these days I don't even bother to expect them, except for duty letters of course. So when I do get one, rather a large ceremony with offerings to the aircraft that drops it from the blue is the order of the day and everyone else in the section cheers for me. Apart from that I am extremely |
+ | |||
+ | Give my congrats to Edna. Your description of the Reunion | ||
Well I'll go into my dance now and try and give you some of the " | Well I'll go into my dance now and try and give you some of the " | ||
- | this place, | + | this place. |
- | As for the Solomons I supnose | + | |
- | I have been here five months now and am extremely contented. We have | + | As for the Solomons I suppose |
- | 9. | + | |
- | wandered over a great area and done a lot of things. No doubt you heva rd about "thoae brave commandos" | + | I have been here five months now and am extremely contented. We have wandered over a great area and done a lot of things. No doubt you have read about "those brave commandos" |
- | We have always lived under fair conditions | + | |
- | jungle scenery and a reelly | + | We have always lived under fair conditions |
- | of course boots. So we work and 7lay ( very little of) making the most of life. I am in ch-rge | + | |
- | no end of coin as I am still only a trooper - but one of these days? | + | I am in charge |
- | I have m naged to grab myself a couple of Nips but at the momerib | + | |
- | a cloud (shades of former | + | I have managed |
- | if they find me and I get killed they may not be able to collect. It'll all | + | |
- | blow over soon I hope and I can get amongst the fight again and pip a few more of them. The trouble is we've got to go out and look for them and | + | The areas we have been in have had considerable native and Jap gardens of kau kau, corn, melons, pawpaws and what have you in the tropical line and many and delicious were the feeds we enjoyed. |
- | we're sometimes wondering for days around their bock areas looking for them, | + | |
- | So much for the little brown bathplugs. | + | The photography up here has been rather |
- | The areas we have been in have had considerable native and Jap gardens of | + | |
- | kau kau, corn, melons, pawpaws and what have you in the tropical line and | + | I notice |
- | many and delicious were the feeds we enjLoyed, | + | |
- | The photography up here has been rather | + | =====Guouogang===== |
- | the unexposed film but once exosed, unless developed immediately | + | |
- | sunlight enlarger and we have turRed | + | |
- | fixes the hardening. The printing isn't worth it up here so I have my first | + | |
- | batch ready to send down to be printed. If anything is worth sending I'll a.0 a | + | |
- | little reciprocal trading by sending you a photo of somethin7 | + | |
- | not may ugly dial. | + | |
- | I notice | + | |
- | time I expect - but they cm stend it for the pe r boys "eoyein-f-un" up | + | |
- | north. If anyone tells you that Dunk, tell th:i for me that calling it that | + | |
- | doesn' | + | |
- | neglected, One m-ro thing b,fore 1 go. Here is the latest news - stop press in the late final extra - Right off the rell2rs | + | |
- | GUOUOGANG | + | |
by Laurie Rayner. | by Laurie Rayner. | ||
- | It all st,-t-d bck in 1941 when J-ay and I -oer:J into the iloi)e4etrab1e mist on top of Guouogon,,; in an elide your to find th riaht ridge leading to the Zanangra PLiver. After a sort delib, | ||
- | compass) we agreed on the course and -olungd into the rist. Following first a short and stee-) ridge to a ully nnd then fie-hting our way through dense undergrowth for hours, we arrived at 1,st on the banks of - believe it or not - the Cox aver. | ||
- | Now, as you may remember, this incident caused quite a controversy in the club because, accordinc, to the map, we should have climbed at least one intervening ridge to rrive at this noint. Some "nasty folk" even sug- | ||
- | gested that we did climb this ridge in a delirious state due to the effect of the stinging trees. To settle this dispute was our object l'ist King' | ||
- | Birthday weekend and to achieve this result we had to find a ride leading | ||
- | in an unbroken line from Konangaroo Clearing right to the top of Guouogang, | ||
- | As Leon and I set out from Katooelba Station for Correl Swao p we seemed to be on the wrong track. That nie.;ht, this usually quiet path was like a thoroughfare, | ||
- | This we achieved, ar-ived at ClJar Hill quit: early and 1-joyd the view which seems to lose none of ite ch-rm by le c-):ein7 faeliliar,' | ||
- | break in it just where it should join the main mase of the mountain? Anyhow, we shall see for ourselves tomorrow; let us get on now with today' | ||
- | should take rucksacks was the main argument. After many pros and cons | ||
- | it was decided to shoulder them. | ||
- | In the morning, we started our leng climb with an easy slope which became pretty steep as we arproached the crest of the ridge. This ridge commences about a mile upstream on the Cox above Konangaroo and lee ds through three saddles, one of them a veritable bridge or knife edge. The rocks at this point fall sheer down to thl Kanangra River. The vie7es | ||
- | along are beautiful; on one hand, Mt.Morilla and Paralyser, on th: -)th r, Mts. Jenolan and queahgong. One lovely grass-tree covered rock plltfnrn | ||
- | provided an excellent view, both of our route of the previous day end | ||
- | right back to Medlow Bath. | ||
- | As we rushed on to the mountain we moved into thick mist which seems | ||
- | to bo,my fate on Guouogang, Lunch-time was cold and cleelly but we were | ||
- | warmed inwIrdly by the exl)eri nce and satisfaction gained on our feur hour climb. Our luck was not entirely out, however, as we were fortunate to observe the unique dancing of a lyre bird; it imitated all the well-known bird calls and this drew our attenti in to its cinding ground. | ||
- | 11, | ||
- | The mist still blotted out any view so we decided to follow some wallaby tracks down a very steep shale ridge droioping from the second peak of Queahgong to Mumbedah Creek. This we reached by sunset and camped at its | ||
- | unction with the Jenolan Aver. The conversation that night was exclusively of " | ||
- | A late st,rt next morning c used us to put on speed to make Medlow Bath via the Jenolan River Gorge, though it seem d e-Isy folio ing upon our success of 1-.he day before. We followed the footprints of Ty,rty along the Cox River and up the Six Foot Track and lost thqm only as we cut across to the charming little church at Mealong. This day was misty too but it did not diminish the loveliness of th valley. Everything seined to cheer us - the moist, glittering gum leaves, the low clouds, even the | ||
- | pools on the road. As we plodded up th72 well graded track to the to of the cliffs at the Hydro, the view of Megalong shrouded in darkness w-,E; the finale to one of my best walks in the Blue 11: | ||
- | CAMPING IN THE RAIN | ||
- | Dramatis Personae | ||
- | "The Old " (still c-ena:,red) - John Johns n, ' | ||
- | "The Curly Headed Boy - Colin Lloyd, whom we h-lve sen rw u - boy and man - these two yvIrs. | ||
- | More discerning peoT)le describe Ray Kirkby as like a young larch - rather than emaciated. | ||
- | As for Frank Lyden Wizard, cure thyself ! | ||
- | Poor, old Bill Cosgrove - when he's too old to walk he'll at 1st an opportunity to talk. | ||
- | Mr.Edward McKinnon, budding ARCHIT7CT, who, we opine, will be ni7?ped in the bud. | ||
- | We idly wonder vhethar Ray Dargan will be as buxo.?,1 when he h ls our years and cares. | ||
- | Mr.John Hunter is employed by Imperial Chemicals etc etc. who hvwe discovered the Philosopher' | ||
- | BACKYoIRD BalrALKING | ||
- | + | ||
- | Apart from birds there are few wild animals which survive the overpowering destructive forces which accompany close sottlerilent, | ||
- | creeper [2;rowing on th ig11 of the houseInd th. 1vfc fun the nest is tr, | ||
- | eaves. There a ,orooloi oft,n be un El:,-ing throuh the vinter | ||
- | day, but at n-Lht he joins his cobbors to a noi hbours dustbin | ||
- | whoso lid is ins cure (we to th, dustbin). Thrl they top off the 1,00l uth wottlo ceods, gum 111)ts (whatuvLr th,y do oat) und then hunger s J:icofied, hey retire to th- flat roof of our vurandoh for fun and ;faros. Judging by the noise they make the have a number of favourite games, Swinging from the ovarhanc; | ||
- | P sort of glissade down th ;teep tiled slopes ending with a hondsloring over the c.).uLtoring and a double roll on tho flat roof. Special gn.1-1 nights are held when the moon is full and o good time is had by all except for those un-orodiotable humans who o re trying to slee,) below. But then of course if folks will insist on sleeping all night and working all day when all good possums are in bed, what can they expect? | ||
- | PADDY PALLIY, | ||
- | (Still makes) = | ||
- | Camp Gear for Walkers, | ||
- | 327 George Street, | ||
- | SYDNEY. 'Phone B3101. | ||
+ | It all started back in 1941 when Ray and I peered into the impenetrable mist on top of Guouogong in an endeavour to find the right ridge leading to the Kanangra River. After a short deliberation (without map and/or compass) we agreed on the course and plunged into the mist. Following first a short and steep ridge to a gully and then fighting our way through dense undergrowth for hours, we arrived at last on the banks of - believe it or not - the Cox River. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Now, as you may remember, this incident caused quite a controversy in the club because, according to the map, we should have climbed at least one intervening ridge to arrive at this point. Some "nasty folk" even suggested that we did climb this ridge in a delirious state due to the effect of the stinging trees. To settle this dispute was our object last King's Birthday weekend and to achieve this result we had to find a ridge leading in an unbroken line from Konangaroo Clearing right to the top of Guouogang. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As Leon and I set out from Katoomba Station for Corral Swamp we seemed to be on the wrong track. That night, this usually quiet path was like a thoroughfare, | ||
+ | |||
+ | This we achieved, arrived at Clear Hill quite early and enjoyed the view which seems to lose none of its charm by becoming familiar. After descending the ladders, our path led us up and over the intervening mountains eventually to Splendour Rock which was our first opportunity to study our chances. The ridge was there all right, but was there not a break in it just where it should join the main mass of the mountain? Anyhow, we shall see for ourselves tomorrow; let us get on now with today' | ||
+ | |||
+ | In the morning, we started our long climb with an easy slope which became pretty steep as we approached the crest of the ridge. This ridge commences about a mile upstream on the Cox above Konangaroo and leads through three saddles, one of them a veritable bridge or knife edge. The rocks at this point fall sheer down to the Kanangra River. The views all along are beautiful; on one hand, Mt. Morilla and Paralyser, on the other, Mts. Jenolan and Queahgong. One lovely grass-tree covered rock platform provided an excellent view, both of our route of the previous day and right back to Medlow Bath. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As we rushed on to the mountain we moved into thick mist which seems to be my fate on Guouogang. Lunch-time was cold and clammy but we were warmed inwardly by the experience and satisfaction gained on our four hour climb. Our luck was not entirely out, however, as we were fortunate to observe the unique dancing of a lyre bird; it imitated all the well-known bird calls and this drew our attention to its dancing ground. | ||
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+ | The mist still blotted out any view so we decided to follow some wallaby tracks down a very steep shale ridge dropping from the second peak of Queahgong to Mumbedah Creek. This we reached by sunset and camped at its junction with the Jenolan River. The conversation that night was exclusively of " | ||
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+ | A late start next morning caused us to put on speed to make Medlow Bath via the Jenolan River Gorge, though it seemed easy following upon our success of the day before. We followed the footprints of Tim's party along the Cox River and up the Six Foot Track and lost them only as we cut across to the charming little church at Megalong. This day was misty too but it did not diminish the loveliness of the valley. Everything seemed to cheer us - the moist, glittering gum leaves, the low clouds, even the pools on the road. As we plodded up the well graded track to the top of the cliffs at the Hydro, the view of Megalong shrouded in darkness was the finale to one of my best walks in the Blue Mountains. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====Camping In The Rain===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====Dramatis Personae==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The Old ......." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The Curly Headed Boy" - Colin Lloyd, whom we have seen grow up - boy and man - these two years. | ||
+ | |||
+ | More discerning people describe Ray Kirkby as like a young larch - rather than emaciated. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As for Frank Lyden - Wizard, cure thyself! | ||
+ | |||
+ | Poor, old Bill Cosgrove - when he's too old to walk he'll at last have an opportunity to talk. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Mr. Edward McKinnon, budding Architect, who, we opine, will be nipped in the bud. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We idly wonder whethar Ray Dargan will be as buxom when he has our years and cares. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Mr. John Hunter is employed by Imperial Chemicals etc. etc. who have discovered the Philosopher' | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====Backyard Bushwalking===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Apart from birds there are few wild animals which survive the overpowering destructive forces which accompany close settlement, but on any common of the outer suburbs of London rabbits are squirrels may be seen. Strangely enough (or is it?) their opposite numbers of the marsupial family, bandicoots and possums frequent suburban gardens. The bandicoot is a somewhat secretive fellow for though his piglike grunts often betray him his erstwhile presence is generally only known by his burrowing for the insects and grubs he lives on. The possum on the other hand is a merry chap, or as merry as the presence of cats and dogs and the unpredictable human will allow. Each year a possum makes a nest of twigs in the virginia creeper growing on the wall of the house and when the leaves fall the nest is transferred to the end of the guttering which is under the eaves. There a possum may often be seen sleeping through the Winter day, but at night he joins his cobbers to raid a neighbour' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Paddy Pallin | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | (Still makes) Camp Gear for Walkers, | ||
+ | |||
+ | 327 George Street, Sydney. 'Phone B3101. |
194506.txt · Last modified: 2016/01/14 08:32 by tyreless