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- | EDITORIAL, | + | ======Editorial.===== |
- | Planning | + | |
+ | ====Planning | ||
It is very pleasant to know, going to a strange place, that you are among friends. Walkers who visit interstate and overseas have only to call into a local club to be made welcome. Frequently, the well worn pack and air that only walkers can cultivate will lead to the wearer being stopped and invited to dinner. | It is very pleasant to know, going to a strange place, that you are among friends. Walkers who visit interstate and overseas have only to call into a local club to be made welcome. Frequently, the well worn pack and air that only walkers can cultivate will lead to the wearer being stopped and invited to dinner. | ||
- | One of the advantages of a walking holiday is the ease in making minor changes to the itinery. An invitation to dine and to perhaps stay the night does not mean cancelled hotel bookings because it was intended to stay " | + | |
- | 2 | + | One of the advantages of a walking holiday is the ease in making minor changes to the itinery. An invitation to dine and to perhaps stay the night does not mean cancelled hotel bookings because it was intended to stay " |
- | Despite the apparent casualness of a walking holiday there must | + | |
- | be some organisation. Perhaps the greatest worry in arranGing | + | Despite the apparent casualness of a walking holiday there must be some organisation. Perhaps the greatest worry in arranging |
- | interstate is transport to unusual places. Trains just donft ri.nvvhere | + | |
- | owners or hire car proprietors. The person who has Leen there before | + | Trying to do something through the Tourist Bureau is a waste of time. What is required is a list of the available transport to the areas in which the walker is interested. It is also useful to have a summary of the features of the area, any special equipment needed, local food supplies and so on. |
- | is called on for information. How can this position be improved? | + | |
- | Trying to do something through the Tourist Bureau is a waste of | + | It is proposed to run a series of articles in "The Sydney Bushwalker" |
- | . time. That is required is a list of the available transport to the areas in which the walker is interested. It is also useful to have a summary of the features of the area, any special equipment needed, local food supplies and so on. | + | |
- | It is proposed to run a series of articles in The Sydney Bushwalker'' | + | This information will not duplicate information that Paddy might have. It will collate and add to it. It will also be of use to other clubs and to interstate visitors. |
- | be in detail, giving the names of people who have in the past run trucks or cars for the convenience of walkers. | + | |
- | This information will not duplicate information that Paddy might | + | |
- | have. It will collate and add to it. It will also be of use to other clubs and to interstate visitors. | + | |
If this scheme meets with approval write and let the Editor know. Areas that most people are interested in will be written up first, so write in and your magazine will do the rest. | If this scheme meets with approval write and let the Editor know. Areas that most people are interested in will be written up first, so write in and your magazine will do the rest. | ||
- | Madman alamINMIPIIMM | + | |
- | AT THE 0,BRUARY GENERAL MEETING. | + | ---- |
+ | |||
+ | =====At The February General Meeting.===== | ||
Jim Brown. | Jim Brown. | ||
- | The February meeting commenced with ebb-tide figures of 35 members present, but surprisingly expanded to a maximum of about 55, with much coming and going throughout the evening. The first member of the new Club year was not pres ent for welcoming, so we began with minutes, and Social Secretary Edna Stretton questioned the wisdom of our January decision to hold both r'Quarter of the Centur? | + | |
- | While on the subject Brian Harvey suggested a special edition of the magazine'to mark the 25th anniversary, | + | The February meeting commenced with ebb-tide figures of 35 members present, but surprisingly expanded to a maximum of about 55, with much coming and going throughout the evening. The first member of the new Club year was not present |
- | Betty Hall read a report on a meeting of the sub-committee seeking Federal aid in bush fire control, indicating that letters were being drafted to the aathorities | + | |
- | 3. | + | While on the subject Brian Harvey suggested a special edition of the magazine to mark the 25th anniversary, |
- | to learn recent comment in Canberra could not have been inspired by our action. | + | |
- | After correspondence, | + | Betty Hall read a report on a meeting of the sub-committee seeking Federal aid in bush fire control, indicating that letters were being drafted to the authorities |
- | Secretary' | + | |
- | 0 he brewed his invigorating cup of tea? The ban, he said, was a sop to | + | After correspondence, |
- | the Chief Secretary' | + | |
- | u careless smokers, and to refer to spark arresters on locomotives. We decided NOT to write for a definition. | + | A letter from Marie Byles referred to our insanitary way of life. After discussion it appeared we should be unwise to pursue the matter too diligently: we might end up in Crown Street, said Eric Rowen, moving purchase of a couple of atomisers and provision of stewards to fumigate on nights we were in occupation. Atomisers it was. |
- | A letter from Marie Byles referred to our insanitary way of life. After discussion it appeared we should be unwise to pursue the matter too diligently: we might end up in Crown Street, said Eric Rowen, moving purchase of a couple of atomisers and provision of stewards to | + | |
- | fumigate on nights we were in occupation. Atomisers it was. | + | Phil Hall outlined the conditions governing a Photographic Competition being conducted by the Youth Carnival for Peace and Friendship in March, and we heard the monthly Social Report for the last time, it being moved that the Social Secretary be no longer required to give account of her stewardship. Treasurer' |
- | Phil Hall outlined the conditions governing a Photographic | + | |
- | Competition being conducted by the Youth Carnival for Peace and Friendship in March, and we heard the monthly Social Report for the last time, it | + | At first Brian Harvey was grieved at the thought of reducing the Quorum for Federation Councils, but Paul Barnes explained the difficulty |
- | being moved that the Social Secretary be no longer required to give account of her stewardship. Treasurer' | + | |
- | AL first Brian Harvey was grieved at the thought of reducing the | + | Federation' |
- | Quorum for Federation Councils, but Paul Barnes explained the eiffiaulty | + | |
- | Brian withdrew a motion to oppose the change. At this stage, too, the the Treasurer produced, as a conjurer whisks a rabbit from a top hat, the evidence that we really had paid our affiliation fee to Federation | + | The President announced the usual limitation on attendance at the Annual Re-union - members, past and present: non-member husbands and wives of members: members' |
- | this year. We can still look Federation in the face. It appeared, however, that the Bush Fire and Flood Rescue Section being organised | + | |
- | ur4der | + | The Re-Union Organiser, Gil Webb, had something to say on that matter. |
- | ' | + | |
- | -Federation' | + | All this talk of the ban on fire-lighting then prompted Jack Wren to propose that the Club support the ban to the full and expel any member disregarding it. This was felt to be rather strong medicine, and it was argued that it was a matter for individual consciences, |
- | property on Cox's River near Little River and Galong Creek, was taking action to prevent walkers crossing his land. iTo further news, but we would-be kept advised. | + | |
- | The President announced the usual limitation on attendance at the Annual Re-union - members, past and present: non-member husbands and wives of members: members' | + | Going then to the other extreme, perhaps, was a motion by Betty Holdsworth that bushwalkers be asked to refrain from fire-lighting when on official trips. This was attacked on the score that it appeared to condone fire lighting on private walks, and was redundant. |
- | was to the effect that the retiring Secretary and Treasurer would not | + | |
- | seek re-election. | + | After Bill Cosgrove told us how lucky we were to be getting out of Era with our funds intact (the N.R.M.A. had stated |
- | 4. | + | |
- | The Re-Union Organiser, Gil Webb, had something to say on that matter. | + | ---- |
- | All this talk of the ban on fire-lighting then prompted Jack Wren to propose that the Club support the ban to the full and expel any member disregarding it. This was felt to be rather strong medicine, | + | |
- | Debate was prolonged, and Fred Kennedy moved the gag, which was supported. | + | Don't be left in the lurch! Make sure you have your copy of the new song book for the re-union! A limited number available, and those are only for members. |
- | The motion itself was lost. | + | |
- | Going then to the other extreme, perhaps, was a motion by Betty Holdsworth that bushwalkers be asked to refrain from fire-lighting when on official trips. This was attacked on the score that it appeared to condone fire lighting on private walks, and was redundant. | + | ---- |
- | After Bill Cosgrove told us haw lucky we were to be getting out of Era with our funds intact (the N.R.M.A. had stated | + | |
- | mmarniOwItaelmwmadwaa...E.Mommommem | + | =====A Bushwalker Visits the Sierra Nevada.===== |
- | DON IT BE LEFT IN THE LURCH! MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR COPY OF THE NEW SONG BOOK FOR THE RE-UNION! A LIMITED NUMBER AVAILABLE, AND THOSE ARE ONLY FOR MEMBERS. | + | |
- | 5. A BUSHWALKER VISITS THE SIERRA NEVADA. | + | |
By Suzanne Reichard. | By Suzanne Reichard. | ||
- | Like music and science, a love of the outdoors knows no national | + | |
- | barriers. In every American city that I have visited since leaving Australia 16 years ago, I have sought out the local hiking clubs and have never failed to find kindred spirits and to make good friends. One of the finest and certainly the most unique of these organisations is the Sierra Club of California. | + | Like music and science, a love of the outdoors knows no national barriers. In every American city that I have visited since leaving Australia 16 years ago, I have sought out the local hiking clubs and have never failed to find kindred spirits and to make good friends. One of the finest and certainly the most unique of these organisations is the Sierra Club of California. |
- | California is blessed by a magnificent chain of mountains, the | + | |
- | Sierra Nevada, running north and south about 120 miles inland from the | + | California is blessed by a magnificent chain of mountains, the Sierra Nevada, running north and south about 120 miles inland from the coast. They rose as the result of subterranean volcanic activity, which tilted the plateau so that its western slope rises gently, while its eastern slope falls away in sheer cliffs. The highest peak is Mt. Whitney, 14,600 feet, but there are many other peaks almost as high. The lower slopes of the range are covered with pine forests, timberline being at 11,000 feet, at which altitude one finds stunted hemlocks and fascinatingly gnarled |
- | coast. They rose as the result of subterranean volcanic activity, which tilted the plateau so that its western slope rises gently, while its eastern slope falls away in sheer cliffs. The highest peak is | + | |
- | Mt. Whitney, 14,600 feet, but there are many other peaks almost as high. The lower slopes of the range are covered with pine forests, timberline | + | The Yosemite Valley, the best-known valley in the Sierras, was discovered in the middle of the last century by John Muir, who decided that it should be taken over by the federal government to be preserved for the people in perpetuity. To this end he and Joseph Le Conte founded the Sierra Club, and, through their efforts, Yosemite |
- | being at 11,000 feet, at which altitude one finds stunted hemlocks and | + | |
- | fascinatingly gnarled | + | Every summer, about 150 people go on these trips: 125 paying guests and 25 commissary crew and packers. The crew consists, in addition to a director and assistant director, of young high school and college students who get a free vacation in beautiful mountain country in return for their work. A pack train of abut 70 mules carries all the dunnage(weight limit per person: 30 lbs.) plus all the cooking equipment and food. Excellent meals are served by the kitchen crew. The super-effieient chef on my last outing was a second year medical student. With such a large crowd of people in the mountains, arrangements cannot be left to chance, and here one sees the American genius for organisation at work. Women' |
- | grows at altitudes of 12,000 feet or higher, where its clusters of | + | |
- | mauve flowers cling to the rock crannies. Small glaciers are still found | + | The high trip lasts for six weeks, and one may go out for any one of the three two-week periods, or for the whole six weeks. Camp moves every day or so, but as much as three days may be spent in an especially beautiful spot, such as Bench Lake with its mirrored view, of Arrow Peak. Daily moves average about 12 miles, usually with several thousand feet of climbing, but range from 10 to 20 miles. On long moves, a crack-of-dawn start (occasionally as early as 2 a.m.) is made so that even the oldsters will have plenty of time to get into camp before dark. The day's activities always conclude with an enjoyable gathering around the evening campfire where members present a programme of plays and skits, limerick competitions, |
- | on some of the northern slopes. The high Sierra country, as Californians know it and love it, consists of towering granite cliffs, at whose feet lie sapphire-blue lakes fed by sparkling mountain streams or the run off from gleaming snowbanks. | + | |
- | The Yosemite Valley, the best-known valley in the Sierras, was discovered in the middle of the last century by John Muir, who decided | + | Who goes on these trips? People from wall walks of life: accountants, artists, doctors, farmers, plumbers, university professors, secretaries, |
- | that it should be taken over by the federal government to be preserved | + | |
- | for the people in perpetuity'. To this end he and Joseph Le Conte founded the Sierra Club, and, through their efforts, Yosemite | + | Who may join the Sierra Club? As we have seen from the brief bit of history given earlier, the Sierra Club started out primarily as a conservation organisation, |
- | dedicated as a national park in 1890. It soon occurred to the founders | + | |
- | of the Club that, in order to get people enthused about working for the | + | |
- | conservation of car mountain wildernesses, | + | |
- | them. So, about 1900, they organised and carried out the first high | + | |
- | trip. This was a rugged affair in which the participants, | + | |
- | Every summer, about 150 people go on these trips: 125 paying guests and 25 commissary crew and packers. The crew consists, in addition to a | + | |
- | director and assistant director, of young high school and college students | + | |
- | who get a free vacation in beautiful mountain country in return for their work. A pack train of abut 70 mtles carries all the dunnage(weight limit per person: 30 lbs.) plus all the cooking equipment and food. Excellent meals are served by the kitchen crew. The super-effieient chef on my last outing was a second year medical student. With such a large crowd of people in the mountains, arrangements cannot be left to chance, and here one sees the American genius for organisation at work. Womenrs | + | |
- | 6. | + | |
- | two apart! Even the toilet arrangements are carefully planned. Diggers go ahead of the main party, dig holes in appropriate places and surround them with burlap, then place over the holes little wooden thrones that have been proudly carried up on muleback. Such a convenience is commonly referred to as "the burlap" | + | |
- | Sierra in summer, people do not bothertopitch | + | |
- | thunderstorm brewing, and many do not even carry them, relying on a simple nylon tarpaulin for any needed protection. On the other hand, most people have air mattresses - do I hear cries of " | + | |
- | The high trip lasts for six weeks, and one may go out for any one of | + | |
- | the three two-week periods, or for the whole six weeks. Camp moves | + | |
- | every day or so, but as much as three days may be spent in an especially- beautiful spot, such as Bench Lake withits | + | |
- | activities always conclude with an enjoyable gathering around the evening | + | |
- | campfire where members present a programme of plays and skits, limerick competitions, | + | |
- | Mexico. Bushwalkers are probably horrified at the thought of=--p-gople | + | |
- | crowd except at mealtimes and around the campfire. During the day, some walk fast and others walk slow; some strike across country and others' | + | |
- | with just one or two friends, or alone if one wishes. Below 8,000 feet the trails are hot and dusty; Sierra Club members are happiest when they are camping above 10,000 feet amidst the awesome beauty of the high peaks, | + | |
- | Who goes on these trips? People from wall walks of life: account-- | + | |
- | ants, artists, doctors, farmers, plumbers, university professors, secretaries, | + | |
- | along the trail and asked him where his :mother was, to which he responded "Over there", | + | |
- | Who may join the Sierra Club? As we have seen from the brief bit of history given earlier, the Sierra. Club started out primarily as a conservation organisation, | + | |
- | Anyone who truly loves the mountains and is willing to work for their | + | |
- | preservation is welcome to join. Prospective members are invited to participate in club activities so that the members may get to know them, | + | |
- | 7. | + | |
- | but no test of endurance is required. The ilub now has over 7,000 members, and it caters to all tastes. There are backpacking, | + | |
- | Even from an invalid chair, he can continue to work for conservation. Thus the Sierra Club member never loses his sense of belongingness, | + | |
- | force in the community. | + | |
Words cannot convey the beauty of the high Sierra country, and I hope that some of you will come over and see it for yourselves. If you do, I can assure you of a very warm welcome from the Sierra Club. | Words cannot convey the beauty of the high Sierra country, and I hope that some of you will come over and see it for yourselves. If you do, I can assure you of a very warm welcome from the Sierra Club. | ||
- | Extract from letter from Frank Leyden, 10/2/52 | ||
- | I am planning another trip to the eastern Austrian Tyrol for 3 weeks ski mountaineering up in the glaciers in April with Leon Blumer and four other Sydney chaps ex Sydney Technical College Bush Walkers. We had a very enjoyable Christmas up in the English Lake District Mountains amongst the Yorks and Lanes types, the real " | ||
- | enclosed. | ||
- | wirlamoraimm..14114 mama lalimmosiMM | ||
- | ANNUAL RE-UNION - MARCH 15TEL16TH. | ||
- | The Annual Re-Union will be held at-Woods Creek, near the junction of the Grose River with the Nepean River, about 4-12:: miles from Richmond. | ||
- | Trains ex-Central to Richmond _Saturday. | ||
- | 8.30 a.m. (Electric. - change Granville) 9.15 a.m. (Through steam service) | + | ---- |
- | 11.26 a.m.(Electric - change Granville) | + | |
- | 12.52 p.m. (Through steam service) | + | Extract from letter from Frank Leyden, 10/2/52:- |
- | 1.38 p.m. (Through Steam service 2.44 p.m. (Electric - change | + | |
- | .earramatta | + | "I am planning another trip to the eastern Austrian Tyrol for 3 weeks ski mountaineering up in the glaciers in April with Leon Blumer and four other Sydney chaps ex Sydney Technical College Bush Walkers. We had a very enjoyable Christmas up in the English Lake District Mountains amongst the Yorks and Lancs types, the real " |
- | Granville) | + | |
- | 6.5 p.m. (Through steam servic | + | ---- |
- | Arrangements are being made to provide | + | |
- | train and 'convey passengers to a point i mile from the campsite. It is expected to arrange | + | =====Annual Re-Union - March 15th/ |
- | 8. | + | |
- | NIGHT ON POL BLUE CREEK | + | The Annual Re-Union will be held at Woods Creek, near the junction of the Grose River with the Nepean River, about 4 1/2 miles from Richmond. |
+ | |||
+ | __Trains ex-Central to Richmond - Saturday.__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | * 8.30 a.m. (Electric. - change Granville) | ||
+ | * 9.15 a.m. (Through steam service) | ||
+ | | ||
+ | | ||
+ | | ||
+ | * 2.44 p.m. (Electric - change | ||
+ | * 4.29 p.m. (Electric - change Granville) | ||
+ | | ||
+ | |||
+ | Arrangements are being made to provide | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====Night On The Pol Blue Creek.===== | ||
By Jim Brown. | By Jim Brown. | ||
- | I suppose almost all walkers have shared this experience - to cone suddenly on a vista so satisfying that one pauses in a mood of exhilaration, | + | |
- | from the vision splendid, but you can't banish the recollection from | + | I suppose almost all walkers have shared this experience - to come suddenly on a vista so satisfying that one pauses in a mood of exhilaration, |
- | your mind, and you promise to return and drink in all the richness again.. When you come back, a tree has been cut down, or it is overcast, or the blackberries have grown up: perhaps you simply canft seem to find the | + | |
- | exact spot, and you begin to wonder whether it was all as superb as youfvcz | + | On a couple of my earliest walking trips I found something that seemed sublime. One was a distant view of the coastal plain and the sea one bright wintry morning near Robertson. The other was an approach to Kanangra Walls at dawn when the valley was brimming with hummocky clouds of steely blue-grey and the sun rose to trace a path of rosy light across the bleak, fantastic cloud mountains. On both occasions I was quite entranced and went on feeling that this sort of thing quite compensated for any hardships of bushwalking (there |
- | On a couple of my earliest walking trips I found something that | + | |
- | seemed sublime. One was a distant view of the coastal plain and the | + | More recently I ceased to feel these intense enthusiasms, |
- | sea one bright wintry morning near Robertson. The other was an approach to Kanangra Walls at dawn when the valley was brimming with hummocky clouds of steely blue-grey and the sun rose to trace a path of rosy light across the bleak, fantastic cloud mountains. On both occasions I was quite entranced and went an feeling that this sort of thing quite compensated for any hardships of bushwalking (there | + | |
- | times on those inexperienced early trips). In later years I revisited | + | Confirmation of the capacity to "feel" |
- | the lookout near Robertson and found it was quite a lovely view, but no finer than a dozen others up and down the Illawarra ranges. | + | |
- | More recently I ceased to feel these intense enthusiasms, | + | We planned to go out by the road running north to Tomalla, about 15 miles from our camp, we estimated. It meant, however, that we would be walking right off the map. Apart from the South East Tourist Sheet (about 10 miles to the inch) and the quarter scale " |
- | to wonder if I were growing blase, and had lost the capacity to sense | + | |
- | atmosphere and feel wonderment. You knowl'you don't want to feel that the whole world is slowing becoming a grey, featureless place - rather like growing old in mind, perhaps. So it was very re-assuring a few | + | The old road wandered away to the north east through alternating patches of snow gum and across highland meadows. In places tree falls had obscured the way, but always there were faint treads flanking the wreckage. Once, at the outlet of a swamp we came to the broken down ruins of an old log bridge and glimpsed far blue distances |
- | summers back to fall head over heels in love with our camp site in Cotter Gap - a quiet, cool-green clearing with a tiny Silent | + | |
- | the whole hemmed in by great tumbled boulders of granite, a very garden within a Stonehenge. | + | During mid afternoon we came to the edge of a plain perhaps a mile across, and we knew were on the limit of our map. Perhaps half way across our faint pad debouched on to a clear road, which showed evidence of bull-dozing at an earlier date, and marched steadily to the north. There, too, in solitary state in the centre of the big plain was a metal standard, from which a wind sock fluttered in the light airs. Plainly |
- | Confirmation of the capacity to "feelu for a place oame with our | + | |
- | annual holidays at the end of last summer. We (that is, Kath and I) | + | There was some backing and filling to avoid isolating a large Hereford bull from his covey of cows before we completed the crossing of the plain and forded the swift, cold trout stream at its north edge. Then our way was again through open forest with lush grasses, sprinkled with blue and yellow flowers, and occasionally through swampy upland meadows, russet in the afternoon light. |
- | approached Barrington Tops by the orthodox route up Stewart' | + | |
- | and over Meehanfs | + | An hour and a half later we began to descend gently and came to another plain with a fast clear creek flowing north west to join the Hunter. Hard by the ford was the frame of an old shanty, some old stockyards, and beyond the stream was a slope with deep grass and tall, straight timbers |
- | We planned to go but by the road running north to Tomalla, about 15 miles from our camp, we estimated. It meant, however, that we would be walking right off the map. Apart from the TouthrEast | + | |
- | 9. | + | It felt strange and contradictory, |
- | that motors had once made it through to,Crosbiefs, and unless timber. cutters had obscured the way with a:network of side trails, considered we should be able to find the path. At about,' | + | |
- | The old road wandered away to the north east through alternating patches of snow gum and across highland meadows. In places tree falls had obscured the way, huh always there were _Lfaint | + | We turned in early, and as we made ready for our sleeping bags, two aircraft passed swiftly above. We could see the spurting flame from the exhaust of the nearer. If anything, the silence that followed was all the more ponderous. I can't recall feeling before such an impression of immense space coupled with crowding darkness as that night by Pol Blue Creek. One was really "off the map" - yet at hand was a fair road! |
- | D ruins of an old log bridge and glimpsed far blue distqaces | + | |
- | During mid afternoon we care to the edge of a plain perhaps a mile across, and we knew were on the limit of our map Perhaps half way across our faint pad debouched on to a clear road, which showed evidence of bull-dozing at an earlier date, and marched steadily to the north. There, too, in solitary state in the centre of the big plain was a metal standard, from which a wind sock fluttered in the lig1-t | + | Morning was almost anti-climax. Some six or seven miles more along the road brought us to the first farm at Hunter Springs (Tubrabucca). Our expected big "drop down" from the plateau didn't occur, and we lost only a few hundred feet in elevation, walking our easy road through gracious flowery sub-alpine forest and field. The Meehan family at Hunter Springs greeted us in the open-handed fashion of country folk, and transported us the following |
- | we were on an emergency air strip, and we learned later tha: the tliack | + | |
- | There was some backing and filling to avoid isolating a large Hereford bull from his covey of cows before we completed the crossing of the plain and forded the swift, cold trout stream at its north edge. Then our way was again through open forest with lush grasses, sprinkled | + | |
- | with blue and yellow flowers, and occasionally through swampy upland meadows, russet in the afternoon light. | + | |
- | An hour and a half later we began to descend gently and came to another plain with a fast clear creek flowing north west to join the Hunter. Hard by the ford was the frame of an old shanty, some old stockyards, and beyond the stream was a slope with deep grass and tall, | + | |
- | straight timbers | + | |
- | The threat of the clouds had not been realised, but there had been a light shower, enough to put a glitter on the leaves. From our camp, | + | |
- | looking back through the fine straight trees to the meadow and the wooded hill beyond, it was a fairy tale place of gold and grey and green, with distant smoky lights in the valley and a livid sky of storm scud and sunset.- | + | |
- | It felt strange and contradictory, | + | |
- | * not long before, these calm, fertile valleys, with their placid cattle, seemed to argue habitation, yet we had not seen a human in three days, and there was an odd lost loneliness about the plateau. It was even more striking later in damp, chilly darkness, with our so tiny tent almost vanishing in tall grasses, the so tiny fire like a lone candle in a silent gloomy cathedral. The night was windless. I have camped alone in our Blue Mountains often enough, but never felt the night so oppressive - not | + | |
- | in a fearsome way, but in a vaste, lonely | + | |
- | a limitless darkness. | + | |
- | 10. | + | |
- | We turned in early, and as we made ready for our sleeping bags, two aircraft passed swiftly above. We could see the spurting flame from the exhaust of the nearer. If anything, the silence that followed was all the more ponderous. I can't recall feeling before such an impression of immense space coupled with crowding darkness as that night by Pol | + | |
- | Blue Creek. One was really "off the map" - yet at hand was a fair roads | + | |
- | Morning was almost anti-climax. Some six or seven miles more along the road brought us to the first farm at Hunter Springs (Tubrabucca). Our expected big "drop down" from the plateau didn't occur, and we lost only a few hundred feet in elevation, walking our easy road through gracious flowery sub-alpine forest and field. The Meehan family at Hunter Springs greeted us in the open-handed fashion of country folk, and transported us the following | + | |
There was a dream-like quality about that spot, and I hope to find it when I go back. | There was a dream-like quality about that spot, and I hope to find it when I go back. | ||
- | [=raml.m.lememninliiiM=MINNEP | + | |
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
ERA _FOR THE BUSHINALKERS. | ERA _FOR THE BUSHINALKERS. | ||
By T.W. Moppett. | By T.W. Moppett. |
195203.txt · Last modified: 2016/06/02 13:34 by tyreless