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195806 [2016/04/07 21:09] – [Commemorative Service at Splendour Rock] kennettj | 195806 [2016/04/25 15:22] (current) – [The Smoke of Their Passing] kennettj | ||
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====== At Our May Meeting ====== | ====== At Our May Meeting ====== | ||
- | As the President was unable to be at the meeting, Vice-President Brian Harvey occupied the Chair. The members too sat in chairs - new green metal ones with arm rests - for which we expressed our thanks to the Rationalist Society. They are a strong job, but, though the crashes which punctuate our gatherings were no longer heard, they were not conductive to slumber, and a certain | + | As the President was unable to be at the meeting, Vice-President Brian Harvey occupied the Chair. The members too sat in chairs - new green metal ones with arm rests - for which we expressed our thanks to the Rationalist Society. They are a strong job, but, though the crashes which punctuate our gatherings were no longer heard, they were not conductive to slumber, and a certain |
- | The meeting opened with a welcome to new member Eileen Taylor. Irene Pridham, another new member, sent her apologies for being unable to attend. Margaret Ryan, our new Hon. Assist. Sec., couldn' | + | The meeting opened with a welcome to new member Eileen Taylor. Irene Pridham, another new member, sent her apologies for being unable to attend. Margaret Ryan, our new Hon. Assist. Sec., couldn' |
In correspondence a letter from Allen Strom requested a donation to the Stead Memorial Fund to be set up for the foundation of a conservation scholarship, | In correspondence a letter from Allen Strom requested a donation to the Stead Memorial Fund to be set up for the foundation of a conservation scholarship, | ||
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One of the delights of having an outer suburban cottage is in growing a garden which reminds you enough of the bush so that you don't have to go walking and can stay at home to grow a garden which reminds you of the bush, etc., but it's still good to get away from it all now and again, especially when you leave the day before six inches of rain overnight, and even if you run into foul weather at Kosciusko and rain in Melbourne and come home worn out to find that ... | One of the delights of having an outer suburban cottage is in growing a garden which reminds you enough of the bush so that you don't have to go walking and can stay at home to grow a garden which reminds you of the bush, etc., but it's still good to get away from it all now and again, especially when you leave the day before six inches of rain overnight, and even if you run into foul weather at Kosciusko and rain in Melbourne and come home worn out to find that ... | ||
- | The weeds across the garden grew in wildest profusion. \\ | + | The weeds across the garden grew \\ |
+ | in wildest profusion. \\ | ||
'Twas hard to pick just what was what\\ | 'Twas hard to pick just what was what\\ | ||
Which weeds were flowers and which were not\\ | Which weeds were flowers and which were not\\ | ||
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Such was the scene witnessed by a circling eagle the morning that Joan, Arthur, Henry and I set out from Lake Pedder to trek to Mt. Anne. Fortunately, | Such was the scene witnessed by a circling eagle the morning that Joan, Arthur, Henry and I set out from Lake Pedder to trek to Mt. Anne. Fortunately, | ||
- | A clump <If small trees, practically the only shelter on the plain, afforded us a shady lunch spot where we could let our restless spirits wander over the sharp peaks and dips of the Arthur Range. For the moment it was enough to admire from afar, but inwardly I knew the Arthurs would bring me back to Tassie some other day. Replenished, | ||
- | (or was it rum cocoa) and discussed plans for Anne, dark, clouds' | ||
- | had been transformed into a distinctly ominous one. But that's so typical of the South-West; changes in the weather for better | ||
- | or worse can occur with such frightening speed. ' However, the weather did not seem to matter then, not when bodies as tired as ours were being called to that haven of tents and sleeping bags we had come to appreciate so much | ||
- | But in the morning it was a different story - the low and threatening cloud ceiling took the edge off our enthusiasm. The mountains which had surrounded us in alltheir glory the previous day had suddenly ceased to exist. Eliza' | ||
- | appeared into a forbidding sea of grey less than half-way up its length - the conditions were ngt exactly promising for an exposed | ||
- | high camp but our hopes woulf be dashed, Our plan was to carry two days food up to a spot just underneath the top of | ||
- | Mt. Eliza, a recognised campsite from which the Mt. Anne plateau | ||
- | can be comfortably explored. So, stringing up the excess food and gear from a tree, we set off Up the ridge and reached our objective after a steady two hour climb. Several members of the Launcestqn Walking Club were already encamped, straining at the leash for an attempt on Anne at the first break in the weather. As the first bout of icy rain stung our faces we carved two tent sites out of the small dead timber which covers the ridge at this point. might mention the necessity of placing a stout log across the bottom end of the tent to prevent sleeping bodies from sliding out of cover down the 30g slope. A biting, southerly provided a hint of what conditions could be like in prolonged bad weather. Later in the afternoon the swirling all-around-east gave some sign of breaking and a two-club party hurried to the tops, but it was all so much wishful thinking; once or twice the murk thinned out to give us tantalising glimpses of great boulder-Rtrewn glopes and | ||
- | plunging ridges; there was nothing for it but to return to camp with fingers crossed for the day to come. | + | A clump of small trees, practically |
- | After tossing aid turning through one of the coldest nights | + | |
- | I can ever remember, I awoke to Arthur' | + | |
- | As it was barely five o' | + | |
- | the tent's flap but it was worth it. From a pale but clear sky | + | |
- | above the freshly-risen sun slanted down to wake up the landscape spread beneath | + | |
- | waiting so calmly for us. There also close at hand were the | + | |
- | Tassie crew, already well advanced with breakfast. The challenge | + | |
- | or the shame, I'm not sure which, was overpowering - I shed my sleeping bag and jumped out of the tent with a whoopl (This article has not yet been corrected by my companions who may hold their own opinions). | + | |
- | Equipped with one only day pack a very excited party started off for what promised | + | |
- | up and even Frenchman' | + | |
- | of the plateau, four pairs of eyes were suddenly held spellbound by the magnificent sight of Federation Peak playing hide and seek | + | |
- | with a line of low horizon clouds. It was then that I became convinced that one day I would have to plan a trip to Federation - | + | |
- | once seen it could never be forgotten. Indeed, in the excitement | + | |
- | of recording this thrilling scene four times over with the tele lenses, we almost forgot that Mt. Anne, so close at hand, was still | + | |
- | to be climbed. Fortunately, | + | |
- | high regions of Tasmania, improved | + | |
- | along the tops towards our objective, there was so much to see on every side and so many tempting visions for our caneras that | + | |
- | I'd rather not say how long it took to cover those two miles. I | + | |
- | remember looking back at one stage and seeing a tiny figure on the skyline darting from one edge of the plateau | + | |
- | Poor Henry, his photographic impulses just would not let him come on. Eventually we were together again, climbing up among the | + | |
- | crumbling dolerite columns | + | |
- | terrific thrill to stand upon that summit on such a dayl Just about everything that was worth seeing | + | |
- | blue sky. Just to complete the picture, we were again visited by | + | |
- | our old friend Lloyd Jones of the P_ero Club. He flew the Cessna | + | |
- | over from Lake Pedder and buzzed us a friendly twice, skimming | + | |
- | over our heads so low that we could easily enjoy the astonished expressions on the faces of his tourist passengers. That !plane | + | |
- | covered the distance from Pedder to Anne in five minutes flat, a journey that would take we bushmalkers two full days - but at least we could stand there on our own two feet with a vital pride in the | + | |
- | achievement behind us. | + | |
- | Lunchtime saw avery entranced party satisfying their scenic | + | |
- | appetites with what surely must be one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world. From the rocky eastern edge of the plateau our gaze shot down plummeting precipices into the | + | |
- | lovely blue depths of Juddfs Charm two thousand feet below. Across | + | |
- | the lake the incredibly steep slopes of Mt. Sarah Jane, completely covered by the densest and greenest mantle | + | |
- | The rest of the day was spent in leisurely exploring the many interesting features of this remarkable mountain mass. Wild flowers there were a-plenty and of course Henry and Arthur were in their element while Joan and I contented ourselves with trying | + | |
- | to photograph | + | |
- | hours of exposure in that brilliant sunshine, it was no hardship | + | |
- | ocean fifty miles to the south-west. It had been OUR day from beginning to end, and as the fullmoon peeked over Mt. Anne, we | + | |
- | slid into our sleeping bags to sleep the sleep which only the great outclors can bring to bushwalkers. | + | |
- | The next morning it was time to be off the mountain. Only three days remained | + | |
- | to walk out to Maydena. Only the continuing spell of fine weather | + | |
- | was getting lighter at last and it was not hard to take. Lunch and a well-earned bath at Huon Crossing ald camp at Woody Island set the pattern | + | |
- | out ait Mt. Anne again for the last tiz,3 its peak ablaze in the low rays of the evening sun. Spread over a respectable period of about | + | |
- | three hours, it was a pleasure | + | |
- | were a masterpiece of bushwalking economy. The one trouble was that we burnt too many of them when the lot of us raced out on two | + | |
- | occasions | + | |
- | a. | + | |
- | pictures, | + | But in the morning it was a different story - the low and threatening cloud ceiling took the edge off our enthusiasm. The mountains which had surrounded us in all their glory the previous day had suddenly ceased to exist. Eliza's climbing ridge disappeared into a forbidding sea of grey less than half-way up its length - the conditions were not exactly promising for an exposed high camp but our hopes would be dashed, Our plan was to carry two days food up to a spot just underneath |
- | trip", breathed Joan with a sigh as we bedded down onto a soft | + | |
- | mattress | + | |
- | How well I remember our first encounter with the enemy. | + | |
- | Previously we had enjoyed our arguments with the local walkers on | + | |
- | long trousers versus shorts for Tassie bushwalking. "Wait till | + | |
- | you strike our bauera," | + | |
- | but after braving it for a few hundred yards in shorts, we were forced to admit defeat. It was then that Arthur could not find | + | |
- | his trousers; every nook mad cranny | + | |
- | examined but although | + | |
- | and a rather painful one at that. Only when he went to bed thrt | + | |
- | night did he unearth his precious pants - right down in the bctL,,pm | + | |
- | of his sleeping bag cover. I have steadfastly refrained | + | |
- | setting down in print the muffled language which filtered out from | + | |
- | the inside | + | |
- | Those last two days were really enjoyable for their variety - good solid track (?) walking through country that was always delightfully changing its character. There were the cool damp myrtle forests with their vines and mosses and their atmosphere | + | |
- | and laughs were two bob a dozen with a party of such character as | + | |
- | ours and we revelled | + | |
- | by the signs of civilisation, | + | |
- | It was here that the famous Tasmanian h:, | + | |
- | unexpectedly | + | |
- | i nd so our trip had ended, as end they all must; that is except | + | |
- | was concerned, it had only just begun. THE END | + | |
- | L.NYONE WP.,NT A BAG? | + | |
- | The sleeping variety. Standard length Paddymade sleeping | + | |
- | bag in good order - 4. See Eric Pegram or ring XB04401. | + | |
+ | After tossing and turning through one of the coldest nights I can ever remember, I awoke to Arthur' | ||
+ | above the freshly-risen sun slanted down to wake up the landscape spread beneath our camp like a huge relief map. We looked down here and there onto the tops of fleecy clouds, clouds that were to gradually dissolve as a promise of warmth grappled with the chill morning air, and there up above was the peak of Anne, waiting so calmly for us. There also close at hand were the Tassie crew, already well advanced with breakfast. The challenge or the shame, I'm not sure which, was overpowering - I shed my sleeping bag and jumped out of the tent with a whoop (This article has not yet been corrected by my companions who may hold their own opinions). | ||
+ | |||
+ | Equipped with one only day pack a very excited party started off for what promised to be a day of days. As we climbed higher, wide panoramic views to the south and west began to open up and even Frenchman' | ||
+ | of the plateau, four pairs of eyes were suddenly held spellbound by the magnificent sight of Federation Peak playing hide and seek with a line of low horizon clouds. It was then that I became convinced that one day I would have to plan a trip to Federation - once seen it could never be forgotten. Indeed, in the excitement of recording this thrilling scene four times over with the tele lenses, we almost forgot that Mt. Anne, so close at hand, was still to be climbed. Fortunately, | ||
+ | high regions of Tasmania, improved with age and by nine o' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lunchtime saw a very entranced party satisfying their scenic appetites with what surely must be one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world. From the rocky eastern edge of the plateau our gaze shot down plummeting precipices into the lovely blue depths of Judd's Charm two thousand feet below. Across | ||
+ | the lake the incredibly steep slopes of Mt. Sarah Jane, completely covered by the densest and greenest mantle of vegetation (something for the tigers) I have ever seen, rose up nearly to our own level. Far beyond the southern tip of the Charm and some intriguing hanging lakes cradled in their own circle of mountains, the sheer slab of Federation Peak dominated the razor-sharp horizon of the Arthur Range. These features stood out in their attraction and competition for the eye, but even without them it would be a sight that no true bushwalker would be likely to forget. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The rest of the day was spent in leisurely exploring the many interesting features of this remarkable mountain mass. Wild flowers there were a-plenty and of course Henry and Arthur were in their element while Joan and I contented ourselves with trying to photograph the landscape at large. Finally, after almost twelve hours of exposure in that brilliant sunshine, it was no hardship to return to our high camp and think about the inner man, for we had had our fill in overflowing measure. At twenty minutes to nine we sipped coffee and watched with wonderment as the sun, distorted into the shape of a fiery ten gallon hat, sank into the ocean fifty miles to the south-west. It had been OUR day from beginning to end, and as the full moon peeked over Mt. Anne, we slid into our sleeping bags to sleep the sleep which only the great outdoors can bring to bushwalkers. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The next morning it was time to be off the mountain. Only three days remained of our trip, the three days it would take us to walk out to Maydena. Only the continuing spell of fine weather tempered our regret at leaving Mt. Anne behind. And so, quietly, each engrossed in his own thoughts, we descended the ridge and looked back, and looked back again. At Condeminion Ck. the gear was recovered and the loads reorganised - ah, that loathsome lump was getting lighter at last and it was not hard to take. Lunch and a well-earned bath at Huon Crossing and camp at Woody Island set the pattern for the day, a good day made even better by a memorable campsite and a still more memorable menu. From our tents pitched in a clearing amid beautiful gum trees, we looked out at Mt. Anne again for the last time, its peak ablaze in the low rays of the evening sun. Spread over a respectable period of about three hours, it was a pleasure to engage in a marathon eating effort of six " | ||
+ | apictures, the colours improved no end after the first impetuous shots and we graciously gave Kodak a second dividend.) " | ||
+ | |||
+ | How well I remember our first encounter with the enemy. Previously we had enjoyed our arguments with the local walkers on long trousers versus shorts for Tassie bushwalking. "Wait till you strike our bauera," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Those last two days were really enjoyable for their variety - good solid track (?) walking through country that was always delightfully changing its character. There were the cool damp myrtle forests with their vines and mosses and their atmosphere of great age and decay; (how can we forget the stumbling over the interminable trees fallen across the track); there were the open button grass plains with their quartzite outcrops, the stretches of green forest where giant ferns formed a canopy above the track and the pleasant interlude of gum trees with good burning wood, and of course, not forgetting the patches of unspeakable Tasmanian mud to make life interesting. Personal incidents and laughs were two bob a dozen with a party of such character as ours and we revelled in the life - it was bushwalking and comradeship at its very best. | ||
+ | All too soon we found ourselves surrounded by the signs of civilisation, | ||
+ | |||
+ | And so our trip had ended, as end they all must; that is except for the hundreds of colour slides and the bragging and the endless story-telling and the reminiscenses, | ||
====== Your Walking Guide ====== | ====== Your Walking Guide ====== | ||
- | Walk No. | + | Walk No.\\ |
- | 5. interest of this walk is the Davies Canyon Section with rock scrambling and some rope work might be necessary. The walk back to Katoomba is river and track walking. Cost - 52/2. | + | 57. interest of this walk is the Davies Canyon Section with rock scrambling and some rope work might be necessary. The walk back to Katoomba is river and track walking. Cost - 52/2.\\ |
- | 58 An easy walk through the scenic | + | 58 An easy walk through the scenic |
- | added attraction of the famous "glow worm tunnel" | + | 59 A good test walk through country that deserves more attention, All types of walking with kodachromatic |
- | 29/5. | + | views makes a camera an essential. Cost - 22/2.\\ |
- | 59 It good test walk through country that deserves more | + | 60 "The Mount Solitary Test Walk". An excellent walk for prospectives who have done little or no mountain trips. A medium climb of 2,000 feet, then a good track to Katoomba. Excellent views of Cox and Kedumba Valley. Cost - 22/2.\\ |
- | 59 attention, All types of walking with kodachromatic | + | 61 A pretty walk along creek and river.\\ |
- | views makes a camera an essential. Cost - 22/2. | + | 62 A good Grose River trip with the ever popular Blue Gum Forest. Rock scrambling along river. Walk would be accepted as a test walk. Cost - 26/-.\\ |
- | 60 "The Mount Solitary Test Walk". An excellent walk for prospectives who have done little or no mountain trips. A medium climb of 2,000 feet, then a good track to Katoomba. Excellent views of Cox and Kedumba Valley. Cost - 22/2. | + | 63 rock climbing trip to the famous Three Sisters. A combined climbing weekend with the Sydney Section of the New Zealand Alpine Club and the Sydney Rock Climbers. Cost - 22/2.\\ |
- | 61 A pretty walk along creek and river. | + | 64 A typical Admiral Trip in the Glenbrook area. The walk would be interesting. Cost - 12/3.\\ |
- | 62 A good Grose River trip with the ever popular Blue Gum | + | |
- | Forest. Rock scrambling along river. Walk would be | + | |
- | accepted as a test walk. Cost - 26/-. | + | |
- | 63 | + | |
- | I. rock climbing trip to the famous Three Sisters. A combined climbing weekend with the Sydney Section of the New Zealand Alpine Club and the Sydney Rock Climbers. Cost - 22/2. | + | |
- | 64 L typical Admiral Trip in the Glenbrook area. The | + | |
- | walk would be interesting. Cost - 12/3. | + | |
65 A good test walk in the Shoalhaven area and Bungonia Gorge. Walk includes two 2,000 feet climbs with | 65 A good test walk in the Shoalhaven area and Bungonia Gorge. Walk includes two 2,000 feet climbs with | ||
- | panoramic views. Cost - 37/5. | + | panoramic views. Cost - 37/5.\\ |
- | 66 L medium test walk through the lower Grose River with | + | 66 A medium test walk through the lower Grose River with some ridge walking. Cost 16/3.\\ |
- | ,. some ridge walking. Cost 16/3. | + | 67 A scenic walk in the Hawksbury |
- | 67 A scenic walk in the Haw6sbury | + | |
- | WALK NO. 65 JULY 4-5-6 SHOLLMVEN R-BUNGONIL | + | WALK NO. 65 JULY 4-5-6 SHOALHAVEN BUNGONIA\\ |
- | LEADER - Ron Knightley. This walk will NOT go as per programme, as transport will, be by car, from Sydney to Long Point and back. Numbers will be limited - first come, first booked. The Saturday is rough and tough, with about 4,000 feet of uphill and 2,000 feet down. Sunday is easier, with a mere 2,000 feet down and up. Moderate walkers need not be scared, 'though, as some white anting | + | LEADER - Ron Knightley. This walk will NOT go as per programme, as transport will be by car from Sydney to Long Point and back. Numbers will be limited - first come, first booked. The Saturday is rough and tough, with about 4,000 feet of uphill and 2,000 feet down. Sunday is easier, with a mere 2,000 feet down and up. Moderate walkers need not be scared though, as some white anting likely on the Saturday. |
- | LIKE TO THROW OTHER PEOPTRIS | + | |
- | Then COMB to the Judo Display on the 25th June and see how it's done. A collection will be taken to assist a fund for purchasing Judo Mats. | + | **LIKE TO THROW OTHER PEOPLE' |
- | pTPIISE | + | Then come to the Judo Display on the 25th June and see how it's done. A collection will be taken to assist a fund for purchasing Judo Mats. |
- | 11. | + | |
+ | PLEASE | ||
====== The Smoke of Their Passing ====== | ====== The Smoke of Their Passing ====== | ||
Line 261: | Line 198: | ||
Rain gone; no-one missing yet all was well. We waved a cheer to our driver friends and sauntered off into the night. The road-bash down the hill was merely an appetiser. In Green Gully we found Ron Baker fossicking around with a torch. He was apologising profusely to a cow.: "You don't really look like Brian. Wrong shape, side on. But it's hard to tell from behind." | Rain gone; no-one missing yet all was well. We waved a cheer to our driver friends and sauntered off into the night. The road-bash down the hill was merely an appetiser. In Green Gully we found Ron Baker fossicking around with a torch. He was apologising profusely to a cow.: "You don't really look like Brian. Wrong shape, side on. But it's hard to tell from behind." | ||
- | Early on Anzac Day, our energetic leader was stirring us up and chattering away about moving off at eight o' | + | Early on Anzac Day, our energetic leader was stirring us up and chattering away about moving off at eight o' |
- | Two lengths away were Pam Baker and Audrey Kenway; a short head to John Luxton and Peter Cummings, Bob O'Hara and John Proud- foot; with half a furlong to Col Ferguson; three lengths to a bunched up field of Jack Gentle, Margaret Ryan, Isobel Wilkie, | + | Two lengths away were Pam Baker and Audrey Kenway; a short head to John Luxton and Peter Cummings, Bob O'Hara and John Proudfoot |
- | Eileen Taylor, Canada Dry and Beryl Collins; closely followed by Ron Baker, Ernie French and Jean HarVey, with the Leader tailed off last. | + | |
- | Lt the gate I counted them through and slipped into my accustomed position, whipping in the straggling leader. | + | The day was cool and the pace a killer. You could not hear the footsteps for the swishing of the bushes, and it wasn't long before I was finding my way, not by the sight of the party in front, but by the smoke of their passing. They were doing at least a mile and a half to the hour - or an hour and a half to the mile, I forget which. |
- | The day was cool and the pace a killer. You couldna | + | |
- | the footsteps for the swishing of the bushes, and it wasn't long | + | Unerringly the leader guided the flock along the Black Dog track and rested at the cross roads under Debert' |
- | before I was finding my way, not by the sight of the party in front, | + | really, Ron Baker being the only one to drink his tea straight from the billy. He claimed that he'd forgotten his mug but we suspected lightweight tactics. Some Federation officials, |
- | but by the smoke of their passing. They were doing at least a | + | |
- | mile and a half to the hour - or an hour and a half to the mile, I forget which. | + | Onwards and upwards went the leader, followed by the six hundred, tailed up by John Clubfoot and me. He' |
- | Unerringly the leader guided the flock along the Black Dog | + | |
- | track and rested at the cross roads under Debert' | + | Black Horse Gap was our next breather. It's a steep little scramble to a short-tail like me, and by the time I caught up I was wondering if the wreath I was carrying for the morrow' |
- | Lunch at the top of the Faithful Hound was quite civilised, | + | of the presence of wombats, and second because the boulders are so big that you feel as if your legs are as short as a wombat' |
- | really, Ron Baker being the only one to drink his tea straight from the billy. He claimed that he'd forgotten his mug but we | + | |
- | suspected lightweight tactics. | + | At the drop into Warrigal Gap the cliffs are broken up into a stairway; only it was built in Gargantua and us Liliputians had no ropes. Is Margaret' |
- | Some Federation officials, | + | |
- | types, arrived as we- were leaving and blithely took over our campfires. They, too, were headed for Splendour Rock and we idly | + | The girls regained their dignity down in the saddle and swung up on to the flat top of Merrigal with true bushwalker rhythm. As we intended camping in Merri-merrigal Saddle, water was gathered from the top of the mount - out of the shallow holes in the sandstone at the rate of a quarter of a mug per dip. We began by carefully skimming the water so as not to scoop up mud and twigs, but finished the last 2,000 dozen scoops by bailing sand, leaves, humus and all. The only objecting voice pointed out that in her native Ireland such peat bogs were frequented only by sheep and cattle. Well? ..? |
- | wondered if they'd try the same cunning trick at nightfall. | + | |
- | Onwards and upwards went the leader, followed by the six hundred, tailed up by John Clubfoot and me. He' | + | A few short steps brought us to the col, and yours truly remembered too late a long-forgotten lesson; always be in front at the end of the day. Having slipped once again into the rearguard position, there was no place left for my tent, in which I had graciously offered to shelter Pam Baker and Audrey Kenway. |
- | so much cleaner when other bods have wiped all the dew from the bushes and the carbon black from the stumps. | + | I was just contemplating the problem of pitching camp over a clump of Xanthorreae when the two girls started hollering that they'd already reserved a site in the executive suite - in among Brian and Jean, Canada, Ron Baker and Col Ferguson. I suggested that it might be better to put up with the Xanthorreas but, chivalrous to the end, acceded to the girls' request. |
- | Black Horse Gap was7ur | + | |
- | scramble to a short-tail like MB, and by the time I caught up I | + | |
- | was wondering if the wreath I was carrying for the morrow' | + | |
- | service might be used for MB instead. Ernie French took it from | + | |
- | me for the Wombat Parade stretch - apparently he felt more in need of it than I. | + | |
- | Jean Harvey led the girls along the Parade, and after a | + | |
- | discreet interval we males followed. Wombat Parade is so called for two very good reasons - first, because there' | + | |
- | of the presence of wombats, and second because the boulders are | + | |
- | so big that you feel as if your legs are as short as a wombat' | ||
- | Lt the drop into Warrigal Gap the cliffs are broken up into a steirway; only it was built in Gargantua and us Liliputians had no ropes. Is Margaret' | ||
- | The girls regained their dignity down in the saddle and swung up on to the flat top of Merrigal with true bushwalker rhythm. As we intended carping in Merri-merrigal Saddle, water was gathered from the top of the mount - out of the shallow holes in the sandstone at the rate of a quarter of amug per dip. We began by carefully skimming the water so as not to scoop up mud and twigs, but finished the last 2,000 dozen scoops by bailing sand, leaves, humus and all. The only objecting voice pointed out that in her native Oirland such peat bogs were frequented only | ||
- | by sheep and cattle. Well? ..? | ||
- | A few short steps brought us to the col, and yours truly remembered too late a long-forgotten lesson; always be in front at the end of the day. Having slipped once again into the | ||
- | 13-4, | ||
- | rearguard position, there was no place left for my tent, in which | ||
- | I had graciously offered to shelter Pam Baker and Audrey Kenway. | ||
- | I was just contemplating the problem of pitching camp over a clump of Xanthorreae when the two girls started hollering that theytd | ||
- | already reserved a site in the executive suite - in among Brian and Jean, Canada, Ron Baker and Col Ferguson. I suggested that | ||
- | it might be better to put up with the Xanthorreas but, chivalrous to the end, acceded to the girls' request. | ||
I had to admit that the site was roomy and comfortable; | I had to admit that the site was roomy and comfortable; | ||
As it was only mid-afternoon, | As it was only mid-afternoon, | ||
- | Having caught on, I was first back in carp and soon had the fire coked up. Perhaps at this juncture I could slip in a serious word of commendation for my carping | + | |
- | she had discovered. Before long, even Irish pronounced the dammed water fit for human consumption - only she didn't define " | + | Having caught on, I was first back in camp and soon had the fire coked up. Perhaps at this juncture I could slip in a serious word of commendation for my camping |
- | A starlit evening was spent in quiet yarning by the campfire - culture, lotteries, theology and Dormie' | + | |
- | into the down. Thc bench order was; Audrey, Pam, me. All slept well except Audrey - the tent was abdulled and Pam spent the night,. | + | A starlit evening was spent in quiet yarning by the campfire - culture, lotteries, theology and Dormie' |
- | rolling in Audrey' | + | |
- | with Audrey pushed out to shiver under the stars. The next night we reversed the order and put Pam on the outside - so she rolled the other way and pushed us both out. How's that for gratitude? | + | The leader' |
- | The leader' | + | |
Dawn found us flannel flowers pounding the same path and just as the sun rose into a cloudless sky we witnessed the simple but impressive commemoration service. It would be sacrilege for one so flippant as I to attempt the description of this moving ceremony, so I'll leave it for someone more coherent. | Dawn found us flannel flowers pounding the same path and just as the sun rose into a cloudless sky we witnessed the simple but impressive commemoration service. It would be sacrilege for one so flippant as I to attempt the description of this moving ceremony, so I'll leave it for someone more coherent. | ||
Line 322: | Line 240: | ||
" | " | ||
- | In front J Horrors1 That if we took a wrong turn and got lost? S R would search the rearguard positions and I wouldn' | + | In front : Horrors! What if we took a wrong turn and got lost? S R would search the rearguard positions and I wouldn' |
- | before my eyes. Or was it an enigmatic smile? | + | "Oh, come off it," said I. "We couldn' |
- | "Oh, come off it," said I. "We couldn' | + | "We better make sure," said John. " |
- | crossed just down the gully' | + | |
- | "We better make sure," said John. " | + | |
As the echoes of our cries died away, faint calls came back. " | As the echoes of our cries died away, faint calls came back. " | ||
"Ditto ditto," | "Ditto ditto," | ||
- | We cooeed again. | ||
- | " | ||
- | "No, up there," | ||
- | that two other parties were also converging on Blue Dog? | ||
- | We yelled yet again. | ||
- | "Over there j," we cried together, both pointing east - we knew, because the response had sounded like a public address system, butchers' | ||
- | Soon we were with them once again, metaphoric tails between our legs - and whether it was by accident or design know not, but when we got mobile again someone else was guarding the rear. | + | We cooeed |
- | Up and down, along, around, about - a half hour of this kind of progress and we were looking down on the Breakfast Creek CoxRiver junction. Like terriers after a,snake the party began the long drop down the Blue Pup. Something went wrong, though, because by the time Irish and I had done a hundred feet the rest were out of sight in a flurry of dust and flying pebbles - and yet, as we..-two scrambled out on to the banks of the Cos, there was only Brian to greet us with fire going end billy on. | + | "No, up there," said John Webfoot pointing east and west. Trouble |
- | Ls the first lady down, Irish was rechristened the Greyhound | + | |
- | "What happened to you?" she asked with studied innocence. | + | |
- | "Well," began Jack Gentle. (This paragraph censored. | + | |
- | Sufficient | + | |
- | Ls we munched lunch a whirlwind passed along the bank, over Breakfast Ck., end disaPpeared round the bend towards Harry' | + | |
- | " | + | |
- | It was Michael Elfick with some S.T.C. confreres, setting | + | |
- | a Hilltop-to-Katoomba record - over the hundred miles in two days. I made a mental note never to be following an Elfick sortie. | + | |
- | At the Harry' | + | We yelled yet again. "Over there" we cried together, both pointing east - we knew, because the response had sounded like a public address system, butchers' |
- | to travel, eat and sleep in my wet dads, even when pushed out into the cold by Pam. | + | |
- | I mast have had aquatic amnesia, for my mind is a blank until 4.45 p m., when John Sorefoot and I were to be soen loungingg' | + | Soon we were with them once again, metaphoric tails between our legs - and whether it was by accident or design know not, but when we got mobile again someone else was guarding the rear. Up and down, along, around, about - a half hour of this kind of progress and we were looking down on the Breakfast Creek Cox River junction. Like terriers after a snake the party began the long drop down the Blue Pup. Something went wrong, though, because by the time Irish and I had done a hundred feet the rest were out of sight in a flurry of dust and flying pebbles - and yet, as we two scrambled out on to the banks of the Cox, there was only Brian to greet us with fire going end billy on. |
- | "Of course," | + | |
- | first in camp tonight, and my tent goes right there on that lush patch of lawn." | + | As the first lady down, Irish was rechristened the Greyhound and there was an impish gleam in her eyes when the misguided ones began trickling in a few minutes later.\\ |
- | Having picked the site I departed up the creek to gather firewood. | + | "What happened to you?" she asked with studied innocence.\\ |
- | were to rest. Foiled again. | + | " |
+ | |||
+ | As we munched lunch a whirlwind passed along the bank, over Breakfast Ck., and disappeared round the bend towards Harry' | ||
+ | " | ||
+ | It was Michael Elfick with some S.T.C. confreres, setting a Hilltop-to-Katoomba record - over the hundred miles in two days. I made a mental note never to be following an Elfick sortie. | ||
+ | |||
+ | At the Harry' | ||
+ | |||
+ | I must have had aquatic amnesia, for my mind is a blank until 4.45 p m., when John Sorefoot and I were to be seen lounging | ||
+ | |||
+ | Having picked the site I departed up the creek to gather firewood. | ||
Breakfast next morning was interrupted by the rugby league whistle and the public address system. | Breakfast next morning was interrupted by the rugby league whistle and the public address system. | ||
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Well, no - not quite. As I cleared the trees at the top of the track I became conscious of someone breathing down my neck. It was Beryl Collins, flimsiest-looking of the prospectives, | Well, no - not quite. As I cleared the trees at the top of the track I became conscious of someone breathing down my neck. It was Beryl Collins, flimsiest-looking of the prospectives, | ||
- | At the causeway we found Ron and Colin, fire going and tea ready. I had to admit that Brian' | + | At the causeway we found Ron and Colin, fire going and tea ready. I had to admit that Brian' |
- | Canada - well, now, let's be frank about this. Let's admit that Isobel Wilkie and P.udrey | + | |
- | By the time us males and the two girls reached Explorers' | + | By the time us males and the two girls reached Explorers' |
- | a pub, it not - it's a cafe; but it was just as good as, because Brian' | + | |
the presence of The Law at an adjacent table we were soon washing down our fillets mignon with beer and hock. | the presence of The Law at an adjacent table we were soon washing down our fillets mignon with beer and hock. | ||
- | The walk was over; but if you think this is the end of the story you're wrong. It goes on for a long time yet - | + | |
- | hilarity every time we meet in the club; chuckles over kodachromes at odd times; and I still haven' | + | The walk was over but if you think this is the end of the story you're wrong. It goes on for a long time yet - hilarity every time we meet in the club; chuckles over kodachromes at odd times; and I still haven' |
- | seeds out of my sox. In fact, the story is probably just | + | |
- | beginning, because I give notice of a motion at the next Annual General to appoint Messrs. Baker and Fergumn | + | |
And I'm sure that all my companions on that trip will carry with acclamation (magno clamor) my vote of thanks to an excellent leader. | And I'm sure that all my companions on that trip will carry with acclamation (magno clamor) my vote of thanks to an excellent leader. | ||
- | 18. | ||
====== Commemorative Service at Splendour Rock ====== | ====== Commemorative Service at Splendour Rock ====== |
195806.txt · Last modified: 2016/04/25 15:22 by kennettj