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+ | ====== The Sydney Bushwalker. ====== | ||
+ | |||
+ | A monthly Bulletin of matters of interest to the Sydney Bush Walkers, C/- Ingersoll Hall, 256 Crown St., Sydney. Box No.4476, G.P.O. Sydney. ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | === No. 266. January, 1957. Price 9d. === | ||
+ | |||
+ | |**Acting Editor**|Frank Rigby, 70 Beach St., Darling Point (MU4411 (B)).| | ||
+ | |**Business Manager**|Jack Gentle.| | ||
+ | |**Sales and Subs**|Jess Martin.| | ||
+ | |**Typed by**|Dot Barr.| | ||
+ | |**Reproduction**|Jess Martin.| | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== In This Issue: ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | | | |Page| | ||
+ | |New Year Resolutions|The President| 1| | ||
+ | |At our December Meeting|Alex Colley| 2| | ||
+ | |It has been Reported...| | 6| | ||
+ | |We Left An Imprint On The Pages|" | ||
+ | |Walks Report for November 1956|Malcolm McGregor| 8| | ||
+ | |Axe-Play in Mahratta Avenue|Our Special Correspondent|10| | ||
+ | |The Blank Spaces|Jim Brown|11| | ||
+ | |Rain on My Sunglasses|Ross Laird|12| | ||
+ | |Christmas Hop of ' | ||
+ | |The Odd Australian|Bernard Peach - Coast & Mountain Walkers|16| | ||
+ | |Song of the Bushwalker|Patience Strong|17| | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Advertisements: | ||
+ | |||
+ | | |Page| | ||
+ | |Leica Photo Service| 3| | ||
+ | |Siedlecky' | ||
+ | |Hattswell' | ||
+ | |Sanitarium Health Food Shop| 9| | ||
+ | |One Nine Five Seven (Paddy' | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== New Year Resolutions. ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | - The President. | ||
+ | |||
+ | From observations, | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | To All a Happy New Year and good walking in '57. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | AT OUR DECEMBER MEETING | ||
+ | - A.G. Colley. | ||
+ | The President was in the chair and there were over 50 members present at our December meeting. One new member, Mary. Walton, was weacomed into the Club. | ||
+ | In business arising from minutes Frank Ashdown again raised the question of obituary notices.in the magazine. He said that two persons with names identical with two club members had recently died and premature condolences had been expressed. The Editor said that, if you wrote to the editor when you died, it would be published, (e.g. "Dear Editor, I'm dying. P.S. I'm dead" | ||
+ | The Conservation Secretary said that he had received a letter from Myles Dunphy asking us to protest to the Minister for Mines and | ||
+ | the Minister for Lands against the granting of mining leases in the | ||
+ | Colong Caves area - as we did in 1939 about other leases at Yerrander He said the leases had not yet been granted. Tom Moppett said that the mining was on behalf of the Metropolitan Cement Co.., and that the cement would go their works at Maldon near Picton. It was said that the Rural Bank and the B.H.P. were interested. The Tourist Bureau had succeeded in stopping a quarry at Wombeyan Caves. In the dicussion | ||
+ | that followed it was pointed out that this move was connected with the | ||
+ | intention of discontinuing quarrying at Bungonia. Limestone was required for industry, and it might be necessary to indicate other deposits not in scenic areas. In the absence of any motion no action was taken. | ||
+ | Ron Knightley told us that no trail had yet been cut over Clear Hill as the organiser was not available on the week-end arranged. | ||
+ | The Social Secretarkj said that the Christmas Party had been very successful. Eighty members were there and we had COMB out a little on the credit side. Once again, however, some who said they would buy tickets had not, thus adding to the difficulties of organising, and raising the question of whether they should be charged anyway. The Children' | ||
+ | In his Conservation Report Tom Moppett said that about 20 bushwalkers and about 20 from the Sutherland Brigade had turned out to fight a fire in National.Park one evening a couple of weeks earlier. | ||
+ | He said that the bushwalkers, | ||
+ | Most of the rest of the meeting was devoted to a discussion of a motion that the Club was in favour of the acquisition of a suitable ski hut in the Kosciusko area. Alex Colley said that a great deal of discussion and several unofficial meetings had already taken place. There was much enthusiasm, and those interested felt that the project was now definite enough to be placed before the meeting. He said that accommodation in the snow country was expensive and had to be shared with other organisations. He had found that ski holidays were much easier to organise and more enjoyable with an S.B.W. party who knew | ||
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+ | each other well, and could be depended on to do their share of the many chores in a hut. Many members enjoyed summer holidays too in | ||
+ | the snow country, and the hut would be suitable for one of two familiea It was a very worth while project, but it should be realised from the outset that the difficulties were formidable. We needed money, labour and organisation. Though the hut now under offer, and believed to be suitable, would cost 300, it had to be moved, foundations built, septic tank, water supply, plumbing, stove and internal fittings installed, and painting to be done. John Scott had estimated, on the scrappy information which could be supplied at this stage, that it would cost altogether 800, but, as building always costs more than estimated, it would be well to budget for at least 1,000. There There appeared to be a fair prospect of getting the bulk of this in | ||
+ | shares and loans. Finance, however, would probably be the easiest | ||
+ | part. Building a hut in a remote place meant constant difficulty in organising materials, transport etc. He thought that between thirty and fifty man-weeks of labour would be required to do the job. This meant thirty to fifty members would have to be prepared to give a week to the work, or, alternatively, | ||
+ | 4. | ||
+ | this meant a great deal of work and then the running of the hut, collecting of fees, maintenance - e.g. painting every 3 years - and getting in supplies, called for persons willing to give considerable time to it. But so long as members clearly realised what was involved, and were willing to put their backs into it, there was no difficulty we could not overcome. Other organisations had done it and so could we. In fact we had great advantages because we had a wide variety of practical talent in the club and we met frequently and regularly. The project would be a wonderful thing for the Club. It would bring the members together more and give' | ||
+ | Paddy Pallin quoted the 4xperience of the Orana Hut, which had started out as just a shack for 8 people, containing three stretchers at the beginning, and with the members doing all the work. But it had been necessary to spend 2,500 over the last 3 or 4 years. Nevertheless he thought the project would raise enthusiasm, attact members, and be a fillip to the Club generally. | ||
+ | Arthur Gilroy raised the question of foundations, | ||
+ | Mr. Cleary had advanced the money to buy the forest and over a period of years, dances, theatre parties and other functions had been arranged to raise funds. These social activities were enjoyed for themselves quite apart from their purpose. | ||
+ | Tom Moppett said that the poject had come up before but few people had been interested. He thought it would help the Club spirit* Distance was the greatest difficulty, and the work would have to be | ||
+ | done on holidays/ Easter and Christmas. The Trust had rejected the huts of the Snowy Mountains Authority because they warped when taken | ||
+ | apart and the warping would be worse if the hut was left lying around* | ||
+ | (Here it was suggested that the President could insure us against warping). The site was most important because a good summer site - | ||
+ | e.g. on Mount Stilwell, would be very unsuitable for winter. We should seek advice from others who had built huts. | ||
+ | Peter Stitt said that some of the dismantled huts Id been left lying about for a couple of months, and warping was understandable. In N.Z. Clubs smaller than ours had built huts 80 to 200 miles from the city, and one to four hours walk from the road. A whole hut and ski-tow had been carried up a "real mountainside - an ice-axe job." | ||
+ | Taro said that, far from being a drain on our finances, the hut should be a real money spinner when it was finished, since there would be no large recurring expenses and fees for accommodation in the ski country were high. | ||
+ | Frank Leyden said that he had been Secretary of the Lake Albina Hut for two years. This was in the most hazardous and difficult position of any hut in Australia. It was impossible to make any money and debts aggregated 13,000. Difficulties were almost insuperable beyond Charlottes Pass, particularly since the use of wheeled vehicles off main roads had been banned. He advocated the building of a hut at | ||
+ | 5. | ||
+ | Fridey Flat on the Thredbo. Here the Ski-Tourers intended to create a village including a hotel and service station. The road would be usable by this winter and there was no snow on it during last season' | ||
+ | would take skiers up to a point near the Ram's Head. He stressed the | ||
+ | difficulties of organising transport and working parties in Sydney. It had meant constant telephone calls and demands on his time. It would be advisable to form an executive separate from the Club. Frank Duncan described the troubles of huts in the Perisher area. | ||
+ | Supplies and access had been difficult in a heavy snow year with | ||
+ | snowmobiles constantly breaking down. He suggested a site on Farm | ||
+ | or Blue Cow Creek, which is accessible by a road up the Snowy and is | ||
+ | about 2 miles below Pounds Creek Hut. The road to the Guthega Dam nearby had been open all the winter. | ||
+ | John Scott said there should be nothing very difficult about | ||
+ | moving and re-erecting the hut. He thought we would save between 300 and 400 by getting the hut offered, and that three building | ||
+ | tradesmen could complete the job in three weeks. An architect had | ||
+ | told him that the foundations need not be high. Piers could be constructed with little cost. | ||
+ | IMPORTANT TRANSPORT NOTICE | ||
+ | ANY HOUR. RING, WRITE or CALL | ||
+ | SIEDLECKY' | ||
+ | 116 STATION STREET BLACKHEATH | ||
+ | 24 HOUR SERVICE | ||
+ | BUSHWALKERS arriving late at night without transport booking can ring for car from Railway station, or Gall at above address - - IT'S NEVER TOO LATE - | ||
+ | ' | ||
+ | FARES: KANANGRA WALLS 30/- | ||
+ | PERRY' | ||
+ | JENOLAN STATE FOREST 20/- ' " | ||
+ | 10k- ftU ft | ||
+ | LOOK FOR T.C. 3210 or PACKHARD T.V.270 | ||
+ | CARLON' | ||
+ | per head (minimum 5 passengers) | ||
+ | ft ff If If | ||
+ | Colin Putt said that huts on low foundations were most practical, since the main danger was that the hut would be pushed off the foundations, | ||
+ | The motion to acquire a suitable hut was then carried without dissent. Another motion - that members be circularised to ascertain the amount of financial support, labour, and administrative assistance they were prepared to give, was also carried. It was decided to give Frank Duncan, who is going to Kosicusko for o holiday, a letter from the Club to the Park Trust, saying tiat he was empowered to make inquiries on our behalf and to inform the manager of the Trust and the Snowy Mountains Authority of thasteps we had already takan. It was considered this would ensure that the hut under offer would be kept for us. | ||
+ | A Committee was appointed to comider the project further.and report back to the next meeting. It consisted of Peter Stitt, Frank Duncan, Bob Duncan, Colin Putt, John Scott, Arthur Gilroy, Dot Butler, Neil Monteith and Alex Colley. | ||
+ | The last business of the meeting, whbh closed at 10.50, was a motion by Frank Barlow that our Federation Delegates be instructed to vote against the admission of the Eureka Youth League Walking Club to the Federation. After some debate as to whether the motion was in Order the President decided-to accept it; and it was carried. | ||
+ | IT HAS BEEN REPORTED | ||
+ | Bolstered up by their success at the Pages' as reported elsewhere in this issue, the S.B.W. Light Opera Company,' | ||
+ | . in the " | ||
+ | B. Harvey | ||
+ | Overheard at the Christmas Party:- Digby and Geof wagering dangerous bets - if our teetotaller Walks Secretary could be persauded to completely imbibe one (1) only glass of the hard stuff, then Digby promised to dance round the floor on his hands! Apparently the awful consequences of either escapade suddenly struck both parties simultaneously as they were seen to quickly COMB to a gentleman' | ||
+ | 7. | ||
+ | FOR ALL YOUR TRANSPORT PROBLEMS CONTACT | ||
+ | HATSWELL' | ||
+ | RING, WRITE, WIRE or CALL ANY HOUR, DAY or NIGHT. | ||
+ | ' | ||
+ | SPEEDY 5 OR 8 PASSENGER CARS AVAILABLE LARGE OR sman PARTIES CATERED FOR | ||
+ | FATES: KANANGRA WALLS 30/- per head (minimum 5 passengers) | ||
+ | -PERRY' | ||
+ | JENOLAN STATE FOREST 20/- ft ff it ft II | ||
+ | CARLON' | ||
+ | WE WILL BE PLEASED TO QUOTE OTHER TRIPS OR SPECIAL PARTIES ON APPLICATION. | ||
+ | WE LEFT AN IMPRINT ON THE PAGES | ||
+ | " | ||
+ | It was not just a coincidence that the Friday night walk and the Saturday afternoon walk of tie weekend of 2/3/4 November both met at Jamberoo on the Saturday night. For plans had been laid beforehand (and they didn't go astray) and not only did the perambulating participants in the walks arrive (plus a couple which had temporarily become mislaid), but about 60 additional bods who had motored or trained down from Sydney on the Friday night and during Saturday. The result was to be expected - bodies everywhere, but all cunningly spread over the landscape in little knots - in cabins, caravaas, Puttmobiles, | ||
+ | All this was to do honour to our old members - Peter and Rachael Page - we won't tell you how long they have been in the S.B.W. or you might start calculating their age, but let us suffice to say Page's Pinnacle on the Gangerang Range was named after Peter quite some time agoll The facts of be case are that the Pages, ever keen on good music, had heard the legend of our Chronic Operas but were loth to tear themselves away from their mountain fastness, just under Barren- grounds, and come to the sinful city to see and hear for themselves. | ||
+ | 8. | ||
+ | So the S.B.W. Light Opera Company came to the mountain. | ||
+ | The afternoon was spent in a social whirl. Those who weren' | ||
+ | As Peter says is usual in his part of the camtry, it became dark after tea and all gathered round a large camp-fire in the Duncans, paddock, on the edge of the trees where the wind was not so fierce. After a short bash at the old camp-fire opening tunes and rounds, the Light Opera Company took over and for an hour and three quarters had the assemblage spell-bound - whether they were amused or simply amazed at our nerve, we shall never know. Excerpt after excerpt fell from their parched throats, and in the end they were applauded, probably a signal of relief. Great credit goes to Maestro McGregorio for his fine presentations. Peter had invited a few " | ||
+ | It was quite chilly by this time up on the heights in spite of the summer season and before long the people who had been on the outer fringe of the crowd were warming the seats of their pants before the fire, Some of the die-hards sang the old songs for a while but the comfort of the cosy cots had too strong an appeal to keep many there for long. | ||
+ | Sunday dawned bright and sunny and the forenoon was spent in inter-visiting between tents and cabins, whilst a few energetic folk went up to the edge of the Barrengrounds for a stroll. The kiddies had an enjoyable time catching taddies in the tinking rills. The Pages' place was like Pitt Street. With their sherry gone, some were busily inspecting the goat-houses whilst inside Mouldy took charge of the curtain material cutting department beforea large admiring audience. Long discourses on cats, chooks, the view, goats - fond farewells till next time. | ||
+ | The weekend bona fide walkers swallowed their pride and gladly accepted lifts down to Kiama Station while their more fortunate colleagues were druv back to Sydney. It was a grand weekend and the biggest " | ||
+ | Another chapter in the life of the Pages-. | ||
+ | WALKS REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 1956, | ||
+ | - Malcolm McGregor. | ||
+ | Apart from the Pages' weekend on 20 3, 42 November this monthIL walking has been most disheartening from the point of view of number The programme trips brought out only 21 members, 12 prospectives, | ||
+ | 1 visitor. An extra, led by Jim Brown increased the member tally by 3. The Pages' weekend was attended by approximately 90 people, with say, 60 members in that total, but only 11 of these did any walking, so the | ||
+ | 9. | ||
+ | THE SANITARIUM HEALTH FOOD SHOP OFFERS | ||
+ | QUALITY DRIED FRUITS, NUTS and BISCUITS | ||
+ | DELICIOUS FRUIT SWEETS | ||
+ | WHOLSOME, LIGHT RY-KING CRISP BREAD | ||
+ | AMAZING, LOW ECONOMY PRICES | ||
+ | COME TO OUR STORE, 13 HUNTER STREET, SYDNEY, AND SEE OUR WONDERFUL RANGE OF HEALTH-FOODS - FOR WALKING TRIPS AND HOME USE - | ||
+ | grand totals were - 35 members, 12 prospectives and 1 visitor. | ||
+ | The trip up Brogher' | ||
+ | Oooerl I almost forgot, those scores will need some adjustment. | ||
+ | A special trip went to Kanangra on this weekend to show Dr. Pratt,whose talk we enjoyed recently, some of our scenery first hand. Seventeen people were there all transported in the Puttmobile. Dr. Pratt was heard to say " | ||
+ | Finally the instructional led by Fralk Young scored 9 members, and 4 prospectives. OfHares Creek lived up to reputation and the sun shone overhead, need I say anymore. | ||
+ | 10. | ||
+ | AXE-PLNY IN MAHRATTA AVENUE. | ||
+ | | ||
+ | - Our Special Correspondent. | ||
+ | Those who heard such expressions as " | ||
+ | On the Sunday the F.D. and the V.P. sought peace and relaxation in the bush. They went to the Christmas treat at Bare Creek. But the Boy Scouts had got there first with their axes. When they had nothing better to do, which was most of the time, they hacked into a three foot log. By the end of the day, after many thousands of blows had been struck, they had severed the log with a vertical cut two feet wide all the way down. This sort of thing should be stopped. | ||
+ | "It may be a good issue of'the " | ||
+ | 11. | ||
+ | THE BUNK SPACES | ||
+ | - Jim Brown | ||
+ | During September the " | ||
+ | It was one of those lovely little maps with nothing to scale, but adorned with sketches and comments - something like those mediaeval charts which depict whales spouting or queer fish whenever the cartographer was at a loss. Except that, in this case, the little figures used to fill in the blank spaces were mostly hikers. -So I looked again, with an alert and critical eye, and I found five sets of walkers, in each case a man and a girl, and one tent with a campfire. | ||
+ | Reading west to east, the first pair of walkers, both in long pants, are heading towards Katoomba from -Cox's River, boradly in the right position to be on the Six-Foot Track (or maybe Black Jerry' | ||
+ | if they continue the way they' | ||
+ | The next pair is well to the north, and although both are wearing shorts, the chap is again dangling a billy from his pack. There' | ||
+ | Just across the gorge, and almost certainly heading into Leura from Lochley' | ||
+ | SOMB way scuth of them, another slacks-wearing duo is descending off Mount Solitat.y into Kedumba. No billy. Direction fair enough. No comment. | ||
+ | But Heavens: What's this? Plunging into the Labyrinth somewhere east of Woodford is the last party. The billy is swinging low and the packs are bigger than the others. In fact, the girl is definitely leaning forward and bending at the knees. Good thing they' | ||
+ | But this tent and fire - it really worries me. It's depicted south-east from Mt. Hay on a range almost overlooking Wentworth Crk. Now I've been there, in fact I camped almost at the very spot shown, | ||
+ | 12. | ||
+ | . about three miles away from Horrible Hay on the wrong side. And I'm really worried about those people. What's more, there' | ||
+ | If I go on like this I'll really get all worked up - let MB have a look instead' | ||
+ | | ||
+ | RAIN ON MY SUNGLASSES | ||
+ | - Robs Laird, | ||
+ | "How about a game of circlos," | ||
+ | " | ||
+ | Half an hour later on the games deck of the S.S. ORONSAY - | ||
+ | "A mighty game", sez I, "This next game should show the winner of the set. "I hope we can finish it before the rain COMBS, but gosh we'll have to hurry' sez she. | ||
+ | "Come on then and let's get moving", | ||
+ | " | ||
+ | We (i.e. 7 of us) left Netherhall Gardens, Hampstead, where Don anon are living, on Friday 6th October on a cycling trip through the south west of England, hoping to be away till the end of the month. | ||
+ | We took a train from Paddington Steam Station London to Oxford, 60 odd miles in a slightly north of west direction from the ' | ||
+ | ,towers and qudht old shops, needless to say, burning Kodachromo at a fabulous rate. At 5 o' | ||
+ | The hostel, as were all the others we were to stay in on this trip, was a-big old home converted into a hostel, sleeping about 70 people. At this time of year the average English person, a more serious type, has settled dawn for the long winter and it was with some slight joy that we learnt we could expect Practically empty hostels right through, because believe me, put the seven " | ||
+ | 13. | ||
+ | was flat and down hill) singing bushwalking songs at the tops of their voices. Put them on a main A class highway and it was enough to make the most hardened long distance truck drivers blanch with terror. | ||
+ | So we pedalled and pushed, pushed and swore our way to Hanwell, a small village 3 miles north of Banbury (of" | ||
+ | It was about 6p.m. and we seven along with two other chaps also staying at the hostel, were all sitting in the common room, writing letters and bringing diaries up to date when the door opened. The most natural thibg to do in such circumstances is to look up and see who the newcomer happens to be. In walked Ken Meadows. Much was the talking, the laughing, the introductions and the general swopping of stores that went on through dinner and the washing up. Ken had been to Hanwell before and knew the whereabouts of the local and as we hadn't up to this stage been into a genuine English ' | ||
+ | That an experience to walk down a dark winding laneway till you come across an old, old building, whitewashed and vine covered with a swinging sign over the doorway which states in bold lettering, along wi.th a symbolic painting of a large pair of antlers "The White Deer" " | ||
+ | Back to the hostel before 10 o' | ||
+ | The next day, Sunday Ken headed back towards Bath where he was then working and we in the opposite direction to Stow-on-the-Wold in | ||
+ | the Cotswold Hills. This by the way was my birthday. What a difference between last year's party and this year's push and pedal episode. Thirty two wear $ uphill miles later we arrived at Stow-on-the-Wold. A qUdht little village built mainly of the famous and beautiful golden Cotswold sandstone, it stands at the north of the Cotswolds. | ||
+ | The weather had by late afternoon turned dull and next morning it was drizzling slightly so there were no photographs taken at Stow. From there we pushed on to Duntisbourne Abbots through places like Lower Slaughter and Bourtan-on-the-Water. At the latter place we went to a Witchcraft exhibition. There before us mahy weird and terrifying rituals were unravelled - how to curse your wife's lover or turn ourself into a toadstool etc. The most amazing thing about the exhibition was the fact that approximately 90% of the gee on show had been borrowed from groups of odd bods who are actually still practicing these rites. Somewhere after Bourton we took a wrong turning and instead of doing the expected 20 miles that day we finished up doing 33. That would have been alright in itself if the 33 miles hadn't included Birdlip Hill. Whatl you've never heard of Birdlip Hill? Just come over here to England and talk to hostellers and see if you hear about it. | ||
+ | 14. | ||
+ | The mists rolled in and the rains driEzled down, a chilly wind blew up from nowhere. We pushed our machines along and so we became further and further apart - and then we came to Birdlip Hill. Tip and up we went, round a bend and up and up - forever upwards into the eternal mist,. A gang of roadworkers stared in amazement as one by one, at long intervals, cyclists pushed past them with glazed and stoney expressicns, | ||
+ | of the crowd" | ||
+ | half ahead of you". "Blast them," sez the girls, sinking down onto | ||
+ | the edge of the roadway, "if they' | ||
+ | a rest." "Well have a cuppa tea," sez they, And so they did. "Tell us," sez they, "why do you all wear sunglasses?" | ||
+ | "To keep out the glare and the wind whenever we do happen to go down hill," sez the girls. "But how can you see," sez they, "when you've got Rain on your Sunglasses." | ||
+ | It was well after six and pitch da-k When we arrived at Duntisbourne Abbots that night, cold, tired, dirty and oh so hungry. There we were welcomed like Royalty. We were shown our respective dormitories and then fed in the warden' | ||
+ | From there we went via Cirencester, | ||
+ | Next stop was Marlborough. Here we ran into the last night of the National Wardens' | ||
+ | Bath - a beautiful old city built in a natural amphitheatre of hills. It is here that the Romans had a flourishing city, much of which has been excavated and is now on show to whdever is interested. We spent a very full weekend roaming round Bath, exploring its little winding back streets and by attending a full choral service in the Old Bath Abbey. From here we visited the famous Well's Cathedral. | ||
+ | Onto our machines again and off round the Mendip Hills to Cheddar, famous for its cheeses and its gorge. We visited the caves which aren't to be compared with our Jenolan and explored the gorge, ate Cheddar cheeses and went to the pictures on a special late pass to see | ||
+ | 15. | ||
+ | " | ||
+ | The next day we pushed on to Minehead on the west coast of Somerset - from here we couldbok over onto the coast of Wales. It was our longest day, nearly 42 miles, but it was worth it as it gave us a spare day to explore the lanes and hamlets of this fascinating area. Once again the weather had turned dirty on us, and so we decided to get back home to London as soon as possible as some of us had shocking | ||
+ | So it was' that as we headed for the railway station at Minehead that Saturday morning in October just 320 miles and 15 days after leaving Oxford and one week ahead of our expected arrival back in London, that we overheard this snippet of conversation between two elderly ladies. | ||
+ | first. "But my dear," sez the second, "how can they see when they' | ||
+ | Also from Rosso..... " | ||
+ | Editor' | ||
+ | CHRISTMAS HOP OF 156. | ||
+ | - Jim Brawn. | ||
+ | If you wanted a sound factual report of the American Civil War you may not approach a. Confederate General - but you certainly wouldn' | ||
+ | Well there were 78 present - not 730 or 88 or 89 as variously stated during the evening, and that makes it numerically a small ', | ||
+ | 16. | ||
+ | fifth or sixth " | ||
+ | The floor, they tell me, was very sluggish, and that was probably true enough, but not heavy enough to discourage most of | ||
+ | the light fantastic feet. Presently (about 9.30) some white goo was broadcast over the deck, and this coupled with the dew falling from heated faeheads produced a surfact slippery enough to cause Binnsiefs downfall (and one other - was it Stan Madden?) | ||
+ | It was a goodly and representative sort of gatheAng, with rather less of the Old Brigade than in other years, but a nice sprinkling of the newer crew, and enough of the middling group, so that there were no lonely and lost souls. | ||
+ | We remember, particularly, | ||
+ | I heard it said that we managed to beef out so much uproar, in spite of our meagre numbers - that the R.S.L. had a couple of stern-looking characters waiting | ||
+ | TIM ODD AUSTRALIAN. | ||
+ | - Bernard Peach | ||
+ | Coast & Mountain Walkers. | ||
+ | In many an odd ocrner of France I had put up my small tent without comment, and late on one dark night, stretched out in my sleeping bag in a market garden mistaking it for open land. | ||
+ | Morning found me comfortably curled up in an onion bed, but the young French workers were mae interested in the quality of my sleeping bag than in the dent I'd made in their onions. | ||
+ | I believe you could sleep on the cobbles of any French village square without arousing any curiosity beyond, "Oh, La, La," from the passers-by, who would give a friendly grin and leave you to doze off in peace. | ||
+ | It is different with the English. A traditional conservatism is still alive. The shelter of a barn would readily be given to a wanderer caught between town at nightfall and more kindness than that - for the asking, but one who spends a night by the wayside in a sleeping | ||
+ | 17-6, | ||
+ | bag is regarded as an odd character. I had experience of this on my. way to the English mountdLns. | ||
+ | Feeling tired, and knowing that the Stratford | ||
+ | Then my first visitor strolled along and said, "I say, Are you all right?" | ||
+ | . | ||
+ | With a shocked expression he came close (as if to study g)me.: peculiarity). "But you're not going to sleep in that bag th.ing,. are you? It might rain." He went off sCratching his head and, having found out that I was Australian, no doubt wondered at the odd type being produced in the Commonwealth. | ||
+ | The second visitor refused to be convinced that it was right or normal behaviour on my party and firmly and courteously he carried Me off to be installed in the barn of a nearby farm. | ||
+ | This was an introduction to the English way of doing things, | ||
+ | SONG OF THE BUSHWALKER (We hopes | ||
+ | As free as air-bound anywhere ... along the lanes I stray; | ||
+ | So keep your cars and handlebars - on foot I take my way; Beneath the trees - just as I please, I saunter in the sun, My humble pack upon by back that's my idea of fun. | ||
+ | No tax I pay for this highway - no licence I must buy - | ||
+ | For I'm complete with two good feet(?)-why pedal, drive or fly? The pace is sLow, but so I go, I see so many things - | ||
+ | Sheep, rabbits, cows - and mills and ploughs-queer folk, and flowers | ||
+ | and wings. The woods are grand if you can stand and listen all alone; | ||
+ | There' | ||
+ | It's good to stroll-with no set goals just where your fancies lead, Away from all the rush and noise, the clamour and the speed. | ||
+ | The fields and brooks are open books-the mountains and the skies- And as I roam-from Nature' | ||
+ | For on I plod-just thanking God for life and strength and health. | ||
+ | - mostly Patience Strong. | ||
+ | WHAT EVERY TROGO SHOULD KNOWS: | ||
+ | Holes that go six inches into the ground vertically are not necessarily limestone caves, neither are holes that go horizontally into a hillside and end in a wombat. | ||
+ | f #. | ||
+ | or 1957. May we see the bush kept green.W Paddy wishes Bushwalkers all good things | ||
+ | 1 . | ||
+ | and lovely - free, from fires, draughts f 1 4,: | ||
+ | and despoilers. ,p t ; 0 | ||
+ | t , 4;i: 'r ' | ||
+ | y 4A 1 A . | ||
+ | and good luck to the proposed ski huts | ||
+ | May many more youngsters this year join the Club to learn in full the joy of their heritage in the Bush. | ||
+ | Make a habit of calling in on Paddy when in the city. There' | ||
+ | Quart tins of Shellite - 3/9 | ||
+ | For the mechanised transport | ||
+ | Wallans Lightweight Car Tents Price List Free. | ||
+ | Phone: | ||
+ | For the breakfast-in-bed-brigade .... | ||
+ | N, | ||
+ | U. | ||
+ | .A0 | ||
+ | 1-0( | ||
+ | V W4?'N 1111r.A | ||
+ | PADDY PALLIN 15TY.LTD. | ||
+ | | ||
+ | PADDY FAL.L.1N | ||
+ | Lightweight Camp Ceqr | ||
+ | 201 CASTLEREACH St SYDNEY | ||
+ | ONE NINE FIVE SEVEN- | ||
+ | |||
+ | YOU ARE INVITED | ||
+ | TO SUBSCRIBE TO | ||
+ | "THE SYDNEY BUSHUALKER" | ||
+ | MONTHLY MAGAZINE | ||
+ | ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES: | ||
+ | POSTED TO ADDRESS | ||
+ | RESERVED IN CLUBROOM | ||
+ | -1D0 o- | ||
+ | The Business Manager, "The Sydney BushWalker" | ||
+ | I enclose Magazine for the twelve inclusive. | ||
+ | Name | ||
+ | Magazine, | ||
+ | ,/-d. being Annual Subscription to your months February, 1957 to January, 1958 | ||
+ | Address (if magazine to be posted) | ||
+ | |||
+ | Please make CHEQUES payable: "The Sydney Bushwalker" | ||
+ | Please make POSTAL NOTES payable: "The Sydney Bushwalkers" | ||
195701.txt · Last modified: 2018/10/23 13:33 by tyreless