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- | XXXXXXXXXXXX | + | =====The Sydney Bushwalker.===== |
- | THE SYDNEY BUSEWALKER | + | |
Established June 1931 | Established June 1931 | ||
- | A monthly bulletin of matters of interest to The Sydney Bush Walkers, Box 4476 G.P.O., Sydney, 2001. Club meetings are held every Wednesday evening from 7.30 pm at the 'Wireless Institute Building, 14 Atchison | + | |
- | Street, St. Leonards. Enquiries concerning the Club should be referred to Ann Ravn, Telephone 798,8607. | + | A monthly bulletin of matters of interest to The Sydney Bush Walkers, Box 4476 G.P.O., Sydney, 2001. Club meetings are held every Wednesday evening from 7.30 pm at the Wireless Institute Building, 14 Atchison Street, St. Leonards. Enquiries concerning the Club should be referred to Ann Ravn, Telephone 798,8607. |
- | * * * * * * * * * * * | + | |
- | EDITOR: Helen Gray, 209 Malton Road, Epping, 2121. Telphon.e | + | |Editor|Helen Gray, 209 Malton Road, Epping, 2121. Telephone |
- | BUSINESS MANAGER: Bill Burke, 3 Coral Tree Drive, Carlingford, | + | |Business Manager|Bill Burke, 3 Coral Tree Drive, Carlingford, |
- | TYPIST: Kath Brown. | + | |Typist|Kath Brown.| |
- | * * * * * * * * * * * | + | |Duplicator Operator|Phil Butt.| |
- | DECEMBRR 9 1981 | + | |
- | Editorial | + | ====December, |
- | There' | + | |
- | The Walk That Never Was | + | | | |Page| |
- | Three Months' | + | |Editorial| | 2| |
- | Advertisement - Eastwood Camping Centre Agony | + | |There' |
- | Letter to the Editor | + | |The Walk That Never Was|Bill Gamble| 5| |
- | The Coolana Hootenanny | + | |Three Months' |
- | Social Notes | + | |November General Meeting|Jim Brown|11| |
- | Bungingon a Gorgeous Walk | + | |Advertisement - Eastwood Camping Centre| |10| |
- | 2 | + | |Agony|Barrie Murdoch|13| |
- | by Spiro Hajinakitas 3 | + | |Letter to the Editor|Bill Gamble|14| |
- | Bill Gamble 5 | + | |The Coolana Hootenanny| |15| |
- | Evelyn Walker 7 | + | |Social Notes|Peter Miller|15| |
- | Jim Brown 11 | + | |Bunging-on a Gorgeous Walk|Colin Barnes|16| |
- | 10 | + | |
- | Barrie Murdoch 13 | + | =====Editorial.===== |
- | Bill Gamble 14 | + | |
- | 15 | + | At the September General Meeting, which co-incided with the school holidays (and hence with walking and skiing holidays for many) none of those who had worked on the building of the " |
- | Peter Miller 15 | + | |
- | Colin Barnes 16 | + | These mattresses had been in the hut since its building days. The workers found that they enjoyed a bit of comfort after a day of digging |
- | page 2 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER December 1981 | + | |
- | EDITORIAL | + | Since when has the club taken on the policy of destroying other' |
- | At the September General Meeting, which co-incided with the school holidays (and hence with walking and skiing holidays for many) none of those who had worked on the building of the " | + | |
- | These mattresses had been in the hut since its building days. The workers found that they enjoyed a bit of comfort after a day of digging | + | The damage is done, but let's hope more consideration is shown to others, and their property, in the future. |
- | carried up and down from the cars, thatcanying | + | |
- | our land and gave other valuable assistance (including a generous donation) was able to visit the hut because we could provide a bed for him. Likewise, another elderly member who gave financial assistance, Marie Byles, was able to stay there too. At reunions and barn-dances it was nice to have seating in the hut, and many a happy group has Slept around the fireplace on cold and misty winter nights. Now, withoilt | + | ---- |
- | Since when has the club taken on the policy of destroying other' | + | |
- | - | + | Jim Vatiliotis, our Walks' Secretary, will be out of town for a while from 20th January. |
- | property? I had large cushions made from wool bales (a type which is .now unavailable). If the club decided the hut had to be kept bare, then of course I would have removed them and returned them to our weekender at Woodhill where they originally came from. Now I'm told that, without consulting any of the owners, the cushions and mattreE4. sea ,,which everyone called " | + | |
- | The damage is done,but let's hope more consideration is shown to others, and their property, in the future. | + | Jim Vatiliotis - ' |
- | ***************** | + | |
- | Jim Vatiliotis, our Walks' Secretary, will be out of town for a while from 20th January. | + | Jim Percy - 'Phone 520 9861 |
- | Walks on the programme before January 20th. However, if you should have a last-minute walk to add, Jim Percy is the man to contact. | + | |
- | Jim Vatiliotis | + | ---- |
- | - ' | + | |
- | - Phone 520' S361 | + | =====There's A Cool Change Coming.===== |
- | ***************** | + | |
- | Page 3 ThE SYDNEY BUSHUALKER December, | + | by Spiro Hajinakitas. |
- | THERE'S A COOL CHANGE COKING. | + | |
- | by Spiro Hajinakitas; | + | __Trip Route__ |
- | TRIP ROUTE - Carlon' | + | |
- | " | + | " |
- | We arrived at Carlon' | + | |
- | chaps," | + | We arrived at Carlon' |
- | 9 o' | + | |
- | properly." | + | Next morning we left camp at 7.00 am and walked down the river for three-quarters of an hour or so until we reached Gasper' |
- | and relaxed. Brian salvaged some boiling water to make a' | + | |
- | tea is suspect - anyway, back to the story. We drank our tea and Alan passed around some biscuits and I think it was about 1.00 am when we went to bed; | + | We browsed through the log book and relaxed in the sun for a while before heading off down Nooroo Gable. It was the first time that I had gone down Nooroo Gable as on other trips up to Guauogang we had climbed up Nooroo Gable. Eventually Kanangra River was reached and the very cold water soon cooled us down. Hundreds of tall yellow daisies dotted the banks of the river as we made our way to the junction of Kanangra Creek. On the very large clear grassy flat we pitched our tent flys. I can remember when I first joined the Club, how we minimised on tent carrying by squeezing as many in a tent as possible, usually by " |
- | Next morning we left camp at 7.00 an and walked down the river for - three-quarters of an hour or so until we reached Gasper' | + | |
- | We browsed through the log book and relaxed in the sun for a while before heading off down Nooroo Gable. It was the first time that I had gone down Nooroo Gable as on other trips up to Guauogang we had climbed up Nooroo Gable. Eventually Kanangra River was reached and the very cold water soon cooled us down. Hundreds of tall yellow daisies dotted the banks of the river as we made our way to the junction of Kanangra Creek. On the very large clear grassy flat we pitched our tent flys. I can remember when I first joined the Club, how we minimised on tent carrying by squeezing as many in a tent as possible, usually by " | + | After dinner we were all a bit tired, so an early night was the order of the day and we awoke to another fine clear sunny day. Still no sign of the cool change. By eight o' |
- | Page 4 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER December, | + | |
- | ... | + | Near Gasper' |
- | lightweight tent flys are in everyone' | + | |
- | - - | + | Lunch dispensed with, we continued again along the river and enjoyed another little rest at the Breakfast Creek junction whilst Alan looked for his Vulcan torch. After a few false alarms, he finally located it, shoved it into his pack and led us on. Breakfast Creek was quite dry in parts and we thought back to Friday night when Bert Carlon told us that his father used to say that you get a drought |
- | After dinner we were all a bit tired, so an early night was the order of the day and we awoke to another fine clear sunny day. Still no sign | + | |
- | of the cool change. By eight o' | + | Back at Carlon' |
- | Creek to Carlon' | + | |
- | Near Gasper' | + | At last the time came to leave the picturesque Megalong Valley, and to the many fond memories of the trip, we were treated to the glorious sight of the setting |
- | all that much as by now it was very warm. Off again along thern river, leaving | + | |
- | them to cool off we bid them farewell and continued on our way. I know Brian prefers ridge climbing and walking to river walking which usually offers less | + | On the drive back to Katoomba the usual debate as to where we would eat took place. We decided on a Chinese meal for a change, as we, by this time, had given up hope for a cool change in the weather. |
- | change in scenery, but frequent stops and a long cool lunch break, helped to | + | |
- | sway him a little. Whilst we were having lunch the party of Three Peakers- | + | =====The Walk That Never Was.===== |
- | hurried past on the opposite bank, so intent with the task on hand that they | + | |
- | did not notice our group. | + | |
- | Lunch dispensed with, we continued again along the river and enjoyed another little rest at the Breakfast Creek junction whilst Alan looked for his Vulcan torch. After a few false alarms, he finally located it, shoved it into his pack and led us on. Breakfast Creek was quite dry= in parts and | + | |
- | we thought back to Friday night when Bert Carlon told us that his father used to say that you get a draught | + | |
- | ten years. | + | |
- | Back at Carlon' | + | |
- | At last the tithe came to leave, the picturesque Megalong Valley, and | + | |
- | to the many fond memories of the trip, we were treated to the glorious sight of the setting | + | |
- | a golden glow. | + | |
- | On the drive back to Katoomba the usual debate as to where we would | + | |
- | eat: took place. We decided on a Chinese meal for a change, as we, by this . time, had given up hope for a cool change in the weather. | + | |
- | XXgXXXXXX-XXXXX_XX | + | |
- | Page THE SYDNEY BUSHWLLKER December, | + | |
- | THE WALK TH1T NEVER WAS. | + | |
by Bill Gamble. | by Bill Gamble. | ||
- | Ian Debert' | + | |
- | Garlons | + | Ian Debert' |
+ | |||
+ | Carlons | ||
In the event, it went something like this. | In the event, it went something like this. | ||
- | Sometime after midnight on Friday, 9 October, the early starters arrived at Canons ' | ||
- | Docherty around 3.30 am. Others in the party arrived at less god-forsaken times between 8 - 9.30 am on the Saturday morning - firstly, Bob Gulson and Lorraine Bloomfield and then, in quick succession, Don and Jenny Cornell, | ||
- | Jim and Ann Percy, Deidre Brady and John Newman. There were 12A people in the party, 13 having been declared unlucky by a suspicious member of the party. | ||
- | The first deviation from the programme was Ian's decision to tale the party down Breakfast Creek rather than Galang Creek. A couple of reasons | ||
- | recalled are - Galong Creek is easier to ascend than descend; and Little | ||
- | River, the proposed campsite, is now fenced and the owner is unhappy about bushwalkers on his property. | ||
- | After paying our parking dues at the shop, we ambled up to Carlon Saddle in warm, humid conditiOns. The writer, for some inexplicable flight of - fancy, then led a rush down Carlon Creek from the Saddle. At Breakfast Creet he regained his senses and thereupon retired to a median position for the | ||
- | ' | ||
- | The fast pack - Don, Jenny, Stan, John and Keith - reached the Cox's River about 10 minutes ahead of the others and had water on the fire for a | ||
- | brew and their gear off for a pre-luncheon immersion in the Cox' s. They were joined by others, but not all accepted the river' | ||
- | preferred to count and/or swat as many of the flies as Dossiboe. Some mould be swallowed or spat out before the weekend was over. | ||
- | Basking in the warm sun, girt-full of lethargy, the party watched its plans to walk leisurely upstream to a campsite at the confluence of the Ilenolan River slip into the hands of about 25 youthful bushwalkers from Poulburn High School on a Duke of Edinburgh Award activity. The youth of poulburn (who, perhaps, made most of us feel our age a little as they passed) | ||
- | were unimpressed by John's protestations about ' | ||
- | to beware of the ' | ||
- | Ian's thoughts of a Sunday morning walk up Jenolan River to the lower canyon section receded as we walked through the busy Jenolan River campsite and on to what turned out to be (by consensus) one of the most comfortable' | ||
- | Page THE SYDNEY HUMMER December, | ||
- | ...,_. ....... ........ | ||
- | The evening' | ||
- | tewman. Good-humoured Chiacking was a feature of the weekend and a prospective in the party, Diedre Brady, accepted a generous helping with good grace. The lack of beauty sleep the previous night and the aftermath of . the Ball thinned the ranks around the camplire quite early; although Don, | ||
- | Jenny and Stan talked late about car-camping trips to northern Australia before the restful murmur of the Cox's prevailed. | ||
- | Our perennial early morning streaker, Keith, jogged at dawn upstream | ||
- | io Ilaggi Clear and returned well in time to light a good cooking fire before anyone else was prepared to join him (flies exceptod). | ||
- | It was well after 9.00 am before we ambled upstream to Flaggi Clear, | ||
- | and then up and over the saddle behind Galms. Hill to descend an to the rock slabs of Little River for lunch. Fencing work in -prog:ess at the back of laggi Clear will soon add to the existing ff_fff.calties of crossing this | ||
- | barbed wire entanglement. The rain which 112.L h1(1 of (save for the lightest of misty drizzle the previous evening alrea mcn-Ilf.cnca) now looked more threatening, | ||
- | Humidity, flies and a warm aan suggested a hot slog UD Galong Creek to Canons. However, the thundercaps again building overhead had something else in mind; and Don .knew it as he urged us one Viet rocks in Galong Creek are not exactly easy graft. | ||
- | Well into Galong Creek, a short-lived thurdorshower and the return of the sun tricked 9 of the party to stop for a brew and to allow the rock to | ||
- | dry. Don, Jenny, Keith and John forged ahead, covering the full length of Galong Creek in spite of difficult conditions (and a few awkward moments, | ||
- | including an apparently undignified slide by John) and heavy rain which dogged them towards the end. With the fire well and traly extinished by the resumption of heavy r in and added hail, the large tail enl of the party headed upstream scrambling over the slick rocs with extrame care. The normal route to pass one of the falls was abandoned for a high traverse in sprub rather than continue on wet rock, and then canvertea, following a quick reassessment of the position, into a scramble up to the ridge by 6.00 pm, a walk to Carlon Saddle on farm roads and a doz:aent to the c=park by 6.45 pm. | ||
- | Thus, the walk ended rather differently from the plrIs of its promoter. And that is what lifted it from a leisurely 1,eekand in go0C company to include an example of how quickly a weather change c-,-n disrupt c:701.i an unexceptional walking route. Our exit from Canons was 11: | ||
- | After hot chocolate and a satisfying mera at L-2oneyl...; | ||
- | * * * * * * * * | ||
- | Page 7 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER December, | ||
- | TIMM MONTHS' | ||
- | by Evelyn Walker. | ||
- | With three months' | ||
- | Opend most of the time, and I decided to fulfil a desire felt on an earlier | ||
- | visit to Athens to see a Greek island, then wander a little through Europe and enjoy the luxury of having plenty of time. | ||
- | . The funny little bus pulled and groaned its way through depressed-looking hamlets on its way from Rhodes airport to the city at the northern tip of the island. Inquiry on arrival revealed confusion concerning the whereabouts of ty little hotel, but I eventually tracked it down in Plastira Street, which led up from Mandraki Port. | ||
- | This port was the old harbour for many centuries. At its nbrthern end the narrow exit is guarded by a stag on one side and a hind on the other, Where the huge feet of the Colossus of Rhodes were once planted. One of the | ||
- | Seven wonders of the ancient world, this huge obi:Ter statue of a man reached 34 metres, and the little sailing boats ducked between his legs into the safety of the harbour. Unfortunately it was destroyed by a great earthquake in 27 BC and the pieces remained under the sea for centuries until they were raised and sold by Arabs to a Saracen, and carried off on 900 camels. | ||
- | During the Roman and Hellenistic periods Rhodes had a flourishing system of commerce and sea trade, which brought many riches and much culture to the island.- Many Romans completed their education there, at a school of rhetoric founded by a famous Athenian orator and at the gymnasium where a student of Socrates taught. Ptolemy was buried here. | ||
- | Overlooking the commercial harbour in the next bay to Mandraki is a huge Mediaeval fortress. The walls, topped with battlements and strengthened with towers, surround the old city of Rhodes. In 1306 the Knights of St. John | ||
- | bought the island, renovated the walls.and built the castle which is still nearly intact and contains many rooms with beautiful mosiac floors raided frOm the island of Kos. The Knights remained until conquered in the sixteenth | ||
- | century by the Turks, who in their turn were thrown out in 1912. | ||
- | The old city is fascinating to explore. It's good to get off the main tourist streets, filled though they are with shops offering clothing, pottery, | ||
- | paintings, postcards, food and many other delights, and find one's way into | ||
- | the narrow back lanes, mostly cobbled and overarched, which wind between narrow old houses and lure you on round one corner after another. Here there are children playing; there a church dating from the fourteenth or fifteenth | ||
- | century. Further on the sound of Greek music is heard and draws one to a narrow shop hardly two metres wide but stacked high with recoi s and tapes. | ||
- | A: compulsory stop to chat to the very handsome young owner who says he spends | ||
- | many evenings playing traditional music with his friends - on the instruments, | ||
- | w6rks of Theodorakis and others. | ||
- | Further on, a small table and a couple of stools are set up on the pavement and nensdtle down for a good gPme of cards, encouraged by interested | ||
- | onlookers. More corners, more narrow, dark houses, arches, motor bikes, | ||
- | children, cycles leaning against unpainted walls, and the soft fragrance of | ||
- | Page 8 THE SYDNEY BUSUALICERS ' | ||
- | =11.11111=1M amadlImeI01=iellIIMIIIMINIIMI | ||
- | lemon blossom. How I'd have liked to be invit.ed in to one of the nicer houses to get a good look at the pretty little courtyards one could occasionally glimpse: | ||
- | Back in the tourist area near the castle I stopped at one of the many . 'shops offering creamy blouses and colourful dresses - all fun to try on and reasonably cheap, but hard to choose between. | ||
- | In the evening the old City was nearly deserted. In the new area I - was again drawn by some marvellous Greek music billowing from a taverna. 'T glanced in. A narrow room only about eight feet wide, of which half was taken up by the bar, was filled with several young men and a few women, and plucking up courage I went in and bought a drink, sinking into the background as far as possible in so narrow a place, and luxuriating in the very Greek' Mbience. The barman, of some 30 years, seemed to know most of his customers well and the canversation' | ||
- | in Athens four years earlier where, even with another woman, we were constantly approached by men while strolling round the Plaka area in the evening. The freedom and friendliness of Rhodes were refreshing. | ||
- | I.had hoped to make a quick trip to Turkey but, although the mainland is Only nine miles away and within full view, there is no harbour in reach of.a .ay trip. So I turned my attention to Symi (rhyming with Jimnie).. A small | ||
- | inter-island steamer carried surprisingly few passengers - nearly all locals - round a headland and into a bay of pale turquoise water where a very small. | ||
- | ciraular quay provided a mooring. The hills rose on three sides, at first. gently and then sharply to the tops. The lower slopes were dotted with numerous houses, mostly painted white, although ochre was also a popular colour, and several were unpainted and derelict. It seemed that no one felt it necessary to demolish old houses. Just let them tumble down and build.' | ||
- | elsewhere, and meanwhile the chickens can live in then. | ||
- | A domed pale ochre church high up seemed worth investigating and I | ||
- | started up somewide steps and along a path which became a goat track and finally disappeared, | ||
- | this wasn't the locals' | ||
- | invitation of the wide steps. The church was unfortunately closed but outside was an area paved with stones, the cement between being painted the popular | ||
- | white. The view over the bay and village needed a few minutes to take in savour. | ||
- | And there, of course, was the roads A concrete strip wide enough to | + | Sometime after midnight on Friday, 9 October, the early starters arrived at Carlons ' |
- | cars to pass wound up from the bay in a huge sweep out of sight and continued in a leisurely manner down the other side of the ridge. But how the villagers without cars made the climb was not clear - but not worth exploring. | + | |
- | I continued along the road, past drystone walls, some of which had their | + | The first deviation from the programme was Ian's decision to take the party down Breakfast Creek rather than Galang Creek. A couple of reasons recalled are - Galong Creek is easier to ascend than descend; and Little River, the proposed campsite, is now fenced and the owner is unhappy about bushwalkers on his property. |
- | Page THE SYDNEY BUSHZLKER December, | + | |
- | ..... .f. | + | After paying our parking dues at the shop, we ambled up to Carlon Saddle in warm, humid conditions. The writer, for some inexplicable flight of fancy, then led a rush down Carlon Creek from the Saddle. At Breakfast Creek he regained his senses and thereupon retired to a median position for the remainder of the walk. Beside a clear pool, a leisurely teabreak was had, indicative of an easy-paced day overall. |
- | final two layers cemented to keep them stable. | + | |
- | was greeted with calls of hallo from a few men and women and it was really | + | The fast pack - Don, Jenny, Stan, John and Keith - reached the Cox's River about 10 minutes ahead of the others and had water on the fire for a brew and their gear off for a pre-luncheon immersion in the Cox's. They were joined by others, but not all accepted the river' |
- | A Greek girl with an Australian accent chatted to me and advised me to have lunch at a relative' | + | |
- | The sun was warm enough for bare arms and I .even saw a tourist sunning himself in a bathing costume - and yet the tourists were so few. April seems an ideal time to visit Greece. | + | Basking in the warm sun, girt-full of lethargy, the party watched its plans to walk leisurely upstream to a campsite at the confluence of the Jenolan River slip into the hands of about 25 youthful bushwalkers from Goulburn High School on a Duke of Edinburgh Award activity. The youth of Goulburn (who, perhaps, made most of us feel our age a little as they passed) were unimpressed by John's protestations about ' |
- | With 'a feW. Minutes | + | |
- | One of the passenaers was a waiter. He told me that hotel staff are employellOng | + | Ian's thoughts of a Sunday morning walk up Jenolan River to the lower canyon section receded as we walked through the busy Jenolan River campsite and on to what turned out to be (by consensus) one of the most comfortable campsites encountered in this stretch of the Cox's - it was about 10 minutes downstream from Flaggi Clear on the true right, on a long level bench a couple of metres above the river. Soon after 4.00 pm, in misty conditions tents were up, an excellent cooking fire laid down for the evening meal and plenty of tea brewing. |
+ | |||
+ | The evening' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Our perennial early morning streaker, Keith, jogged at dawn upstream to Flaggi Clear and returned well in time to light a good cooking fire before anyone else was prepared to join him (flies excepted). | ||
+ | |||
+ | It was well after 9.00 am before we ambled upstream to Flaggi Clear, and then up and over the saddle behind Galong Hill to descend on to the rock slabs of Little River for lunch. Fencing work in progress at the back of Flaggi Clear will soon add to the existing difficulties of crossing this barbed wire entanglement. The rain which had held off (save for the lightest of misty drizzle the previous evening already mentioned) now looked more threatening, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Humidity, flies and a warm san suggested a hot slog up Galong Creek to Carlons. However, the thundercaps again building overhead had something else in mind; and Don knew it as he urged us on. Wet rocks in Galong Creek are not exactly easy graft. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Well into Galong Creek, a short-lived thurdershower and the return of the sun tricked 9 of the party to stop for a brew and to allow the rock to dry. Don, Jenny, Keith and John forged ahead, covering the full length of Galong Creek in spite of difficult conditions (and a few awkward moments, including an apparently undignified slide by John) and heavy rain which dogged them towards the end. With the fire well and truly extinished by the resumption of heavy rain and added hail, the large tail end of the party headed upstream scrambling over the slick rocks with extrame care. The normal route to pass one of the falls was abandoned for a high traverse in scrub rather than continue on wet rock, and then converted, following a quick reassessment of the position, into a scramble up to the ridge by 6.00 pm, a walk to Carlon Saddle on farm roads and a descent to the carpark by 6.45 pm. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Thus, the walk ended rather differently from the plans of its promoter. | ||
+ | |||
+ | After hot chocolate and a satisfying meal at Aroneys in Katoomba, we went our ways. | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====Three Months' | ||
+ | |||
+ | by Evelyn Walker. | ||
+ | |||
+ | With three months' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The funny little bus pulled and groaned its way through depressed-looking hamlets on its way from Rhodes airport to the city at the northern tip of the island. Inquiry on arrival revealed confusion concerning the whereabouts of the little hotel, but I eventually tracked it down in Plastira Street, which led up from Mandraki Port. | ||
+ | |||
+ | This port was the old harbour for many centuries. At its northern end the narrow exit is guarded by a stag on one side and a hind on the other, where the huge feet of the Colossus of Rhodes were once planted. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world, this huge copper statue of a man reached 34 metres, and the little sailing boats ducked between his legs into the safety of the harbour. Unfortunately it was destroyed by a great earthquake in 27 BC and the pieces remained under the sea for centuries until they were raised and sold by Arabs to a Saracen, and carried off on 900 camels. | ||
+ | |||
+ | During the Roman and Hellenistic periods Rhodes had a flourishing system of commerce and sea trade, which brought many riches and much culture to the island. Many Romans completed their education there, at a school of rhetoric founded by a famous Athenian orator and at the gymnasium where a student of Socrates taught. Ptolemy was buried here. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Overlooking the commercial harbour in the next bay to Mandraki is a huge Mediaeval fortress. The walls, topped with battlements and strengthened with towers, surround the old city of Rhodes. In 1306 the Knights of St. John bought the island, renovated the walls and built the castle which is still nearly intact and contains many rooms with beautiful mosiac floors raided from the island of Kos. The Knights remained until conquered in the sixteenth century by the Turks, who in their turn were thrown out in 1912. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The old city is fascinating to explore. It's good to get off the main tourist streets, filled though they are with shops offering clothing, pottery, paintings, postcards, food and many other delights, and find one's way into the narrow back lanes, mostly cobbled and overarched, which wind between narrow old houses and lure you on round one corner after another. Here there are children playing; there a church dating from the fourteenth or fifteenth century. Further on the sound of Greek music is heard and draws one to a narrow shop hardly two metres wide but stacked high with records and tapes. A compulsory stop to chat to the very handsome young owner who says he spends many evenings playing traditional music with his friends - on the instruments, of course, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Further on, a small table and a couple of stools are set up on the pavement and men settle down for a good game of cards, encouraged by interested onlookers. More corners, more narrow, dark houses, arches, motor bikes, children, cycles leaning against unpainted walls, and the soft fragrance of lemon blossom. How I'd have liked to be invited in to one of the nicer houses to get a good look at the pretty little courtyards one could occasionally glimpse! | ||
+ | |||
+ | Back in the tourist area near the castle I stopped at one of the many shops offering creamy blouses and colourful dresses - all fun to try on and reasonably cheap, but hard to choose between. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In the evening the old City was nearly deserted. In the new area I was again drawn by some marvellous Greek music billowing from a taverna. I glanced in. A narrow room only about eight feet wide, of which half was taken up by the bar, was filled with several young men and a few women, and plucking up courage I went in and bought a drink, sinking into the background as far as possible in so narrow a place, and luxuriating in the very Greek ambience. The barman, of some 30 years, seemed to know most of his customers well and the conversation flowed freely. He brought me a second drink and when I protested that I had no money to pay for it told me that one of the girls had bought it for me. I wished that I'd been able to return the courtesy. It was a very pleasant evening and contrasted strongly with one in Athens four years earlier where, even with another woman, we were constantly approached by men while strolling round the Plaka area in the evening. The freedom and friendliness of Rhodes were refreshing. | ||
+ | |||
+ | I had hoped to make a quick trip to Turkey but, although the mainland is only nine miles away and within full view, there is no harbour in reach of a day trip. So I turned my attention to Symi (rhyming with Jimmie). A small inter-island steamer carried surprisingly few passengers - nearly all locals - round a headland and into a bay of pale turquoise water where a very small circular quay provided a mooring. The hills rose on three sides, at first gently and then sharply to the tops. The lower slopes were dotted with numerous houses, mostly painted white, although ochre was also a popular colour, and several were unpainted and derelict. It seemed that no one felt it necessary to demolish old houses. Just let them tumble down and build elsewhere, and meanwhile the chickens can live in then. | ||
+ | |||
+ | A domed pale ochre church high up seemed worth investigating and I started up somewide steps and along a path which became a goat track and finally disappeared, | ||
+ | |||
+ | And there, of course, was the road! A concrete strip wide enough to allow cars to pass wound up from the bay in a huge sweep out of sight and continued in a leisurely manner down the other side of the ridge. But how the villagers without cars made the climb was not clear - but not worth exploring. | ||
+ | |||
+ | I continued along the road, past drystone walls, some of which had their final two layers cemented to keep them stable. | ||
+ | |||
+ | A Greek girl with an Australian accent chatted to me and advised me to have lunch at a relative' | ||
+ | |||
+ | The sun was warm enough for bare arms and I even saw a tourist sunning himself in a bathing costume - and yet the tourists were so few. April seems an ideal time to visit Greece. | ||
+ | |||
+ | With a few minutes | ||
+ | |||
+ | One of the passenaers was a waiter. He told me that hotel staff are employed long hours during | ||
+ | |||
+ | To be continued... | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====Christmas - New Year Walking Trip - Snowy Mountains.==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | __December 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, January 1 and 2.__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Main Range - Mt. Kosciusko - Jagungal -- | ||
+ | |||
+ | Charlottess Pass - Mt. Stilwell - North Rams Head - Mt. Kosciusko - Lake Alblna - Mt. Twynam - Mt. Tate - Rolling Grounds - Dicky Cooper Bogong - Grey Mare Hut - Strumbo Range - Mt. Jagangal - Bull's Peaks - Cup and Saucer Hill - Mawson' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Map: Kosciusko 1:100,00O. Medium / Hard - Seven days total - 112 km. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Leaders: Jim Percy 520,9861(H) 699,0044 (B). Barrie Murdoch 498,7834 (H), 232,2644 (B) | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====November General Meeting.===== | ||
- | TO BE CONTLUED. | ||
- | December | ||
- | * 4 * 4 4 * * * * | ||
- | 'XMAS NEW YEAR WALKING TRIP : .." -SNOWY MOUNTAINS | ||
- | 30, 319 January 1 and 2. | ||
- | :Main RanA' | ||
- | Chrlottels Pass Mt. Stilwell NorthadMS-Hedat. Kosciusko - Lake Alblna Mt. Twynam -Mt. Tate-- Rolling Grounds -.Dicky Cooper Boo:mg - Grey Mare Hut Strumbo Range -Mt. Jagangal - Bufrs Peaks - Cup and Saucer Iill wsad' | ||
- | Blue e - Charlotte' | ||
- | Kosciusko 1100,00O.: | ||
- | MEOTW/HARD - Seven days total - 112l. | ||
- | IiADERZ fltPERt' | ||
- | BARRIE MURDOCH 498,7834 (H), 232,2644 (B) | ||
- | ICAMPING EQUIPMENT Large Tents Stoves | ||
- | DISTRIBUTORS OF: | ||
- | Paddymade | ||
- | BUSHWALKERS | ||
- | Lightweight Tents Sleeping Bags Rucksacks | ||
- | Proprietors: | ||
- | EAST WOOD CANVAS GOODS 8i CAMPING SUPPLIES 3 Thdawney St Eastwood NSW 2122. Phone 858 2775 | ||
- | Page THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER December, | ||
- | NOVEMBER GENERAL MEETING. | ||
by Jim Brown. | by Jim Brown. | ||
- | , | + | |
- | for an hour - slightly longer than usual - it was unevehtfill | + | It was November 11, a day that has achieved some prominence in world affairs and particularly in Australian matters since the hanging of Ned Kelly about 100 years ago, but except for the fact that the meeting went on for an hour - slightly longer than usual - it was uneventfull |
- | Commencing at the rather advanced time of 8.30, we welcomed two new enlistments, | + | |
- | from October - still not to hand - and we got down to Minutes, with nowt - | + | |
- | , | + | |
- | arising. | + | |
Correspondence, | Correspondence, | ||
- | The Treasurer' | + | |
- | S & R people seeking a woman missing in the West Head area. The two teams were stated to have done an excellent job in scrub thick enough to stop a wombat - apparently it was thick enough to deter some other searchers. The Convener has voiced the opinion that trained S & R personnel should be willing to undertake searches if requested, even if the missing people are not on a Walking | + | The Treasurer' |
- | Also deriving from the Federation Report, we heard that the Annual Ball produced a healthy profit of $1,400, and that Federation' | + | |
- | The recital of walks activities began with the Finch/ | + | Also deriving from the Federation Report, we heard that the Annual Ball produced a healthy profit of $1,400, and that Federation' |
- | had quite different weather conditions, although it was agreed that they mat and exchanged car keys in a owe near Mount Fletcher on the Saturday night. | + | |
- | 4. total of 18 (nine in the wet group and nine in the drs) took part. Meanwhile | + | The recital of walks activities began with the Finch/ |
- | It was November 11, a day that has achieved some prominence in world affairs and particularly in Australian matters since the hanging of Ned | + | |
- | kelly about 100 years ago, but except for the fact that the meeting 'went an | + | Over the following weekend, a bicycle trip in the Newnes country was cancelled, but it was known Barry Wallace's Bonnum Pic walk proceeded with five folk. Jim Percy' |
- | . Page 112 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER DeceMber 1981. | + | |
- | Over the following weekend, a bicycle trip in the Newnes country was cancelled, but it was known Barry Vallace's Bonnum Pic walk proceeded with five folk. Jim Percy' | + | Petrol shortages caused the cancellation of two of the trips set down for the weekend 23/25 October, including the overnight Kanangra walk and the day walk to Mount Solitary. Hans Stichter pushed ahead with his Upper Cox' |
- | day, some of the party, which included two or three prospective members, being unenthusiastic about the descent of the pass on chains. | + | |
- | Petrol shortages caused the cancellation of two of the trips set dawn, for the weekend 23/25 October, including the overnight Kanangra walk and the day walk to Mount Solitary. Hans Stichter pushed ahead with his Upper CoDs River project, and had 12 people. It was good, he said, to see Megalong | + | For the final weekend under review, the two overnight trips were cancelled or deferred to allow for the Barn Dance at Coolana, where some 58 people assembled. The urban type day walk apparently did not go, but Roy Braithwate started his day walk from Bundeena with 15, of whom two defected at Marley, but four others who had joined a later ferry overtook the party at lunch at Deer Pool. |
- | Valley so fresh and green again, and most of the streams flowing well. During Saturday night' | + | |
- | For the final weekend under review, the two overnight trips were cancelled or deferred to allow for the Barn Dance at Coolana, where some 58 people | + | Coming to General Business, Conservation Secretary Alex Colley said he had received a declaration from the Tasmanian Wilderness Society, opposing any further intrusion of industry or development into the South-west Wilderness area. We voted that Alex express our endorsement, |
- | assembled-. The urban type day walk apparently did not go, but Roy Braithwate started his day walk from Bundeena with 15, of whom two defected at Marley; but faur others who had joined a later ferry overtook the party at lunch at Deer Pool. | + | |
- | Coming to General Business, Conservation Secretary Alex Colley said he had received a declaration from the Tasmanian Wilderness Society, opposing | + | The question was raised whether it had been practicable to proceed with any action over the discharge of firearms by a property owner near a walking |
- | any further intrusion of industry or development into the South-west Wilderness area. We voted that Alex express our endorsement, | + | |
- | The question was raised whether it had been practicable to proceed | + | Harking back to the earlier debate on South-west Tasmania, Spiro proposed that the Club donate $200 towards the funds of the Wilderness Society, and this was carried. Then the time was 9.35, and as the evening drew to a close, there were the normal trip announcements, |
- | National Parks and Wild Life Service, seeking their guidance as to the status | + | |
- | at. | + | =====Agony.===== |
- | Harking back to the earlier debate on South-west Tasmania, Spiro proposed | + | |
- | that the Club donate $200 towards the funds of the Wilderness Society, and this was carried. Then the time was 9.35, and as the evening drew to a | + | by Barrie Murdoch. |
- | close, there were the normal trip announcements, | + | |
- | xxx*xxxxxxx | + | The car stopped across the street from the Restaurant. "Come on Jack" |
- | Page THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER December, | + | |
- | A G 0 N Y. | + | After some seconds contemplating the position of his right foot Jack repeated the lifting process with his left leg until at last his left foot lay beside his right. Then he leant against the door frame and gradually raised himself to an upright position. " |
- | by Barrie Murdoch.'- | + | |
- | The car stopped across the street from the Restaurant. "Come on jack I said "not far to go now. I'll open tha.car,door for you". I got out and as I opened the rear door nearest the footpath I heard a low moan. | + | Climbing the kerbstone was difficult but when Jack saw that there were two steps up to the Restaurant he recoiled. After examining the steps for a minute Jack formed a plan of ascent and grabbing the door handle he hauled himself up and into the Restaurant. From the door it was a comparatively |
- | Jack was very carefully sliding his buttocks along the rear'seat towards the door. He then turned so that he faced the open door and with great delib-.- eration | + | |
- | After some seconds contemplating the position of his right foot Jack repeated the lifting process with his left leg until at last his left foot .lay beside his right,. Then he leant against the door frame and gradually. raised himself to an upright position. " | + | Alter a beer Jack seemed to take heart. He received calmly witticisms about motorized roller skates, restaurant |
- | Climbing the kerbstone was difficult but when Jack saw that there were two steps up to the Restaurant he recoiled. After examining the steps for a minute Jack formed a plan Of' | + | |
- | Alter a beer Jack seemed to take heart. He received calmly witticisms about motorized roller, skates, restaurant | + | After an enjoyable meal we decided to reduce Jack's pain somewhat by bringing the car round to the kerb nearer the Restaurant. Jack had things worked out better for getting out of the Restaurant and into the car. His time for the hobble from dinner table to car seat was 7 minutes 35 seconds. |
- | described in the St.John' | + | |
- | in the, event of fire. | + | Jack was not drunk; he had not been involved in a fight or a car accident; he was not suffering from any debilitating disease. He was merely experiencing the after effects of his first overnight test walk with Sydney Bushwalkers. Yes - the facts are correct. The name Jack is not. |
- | After an enjoyable meal we decided to reduce Jack's pain somewhat by | + | |
- | bringing the car round to the kerb nearer the Restaurant. Jack had things worked out better for getting out of the Restaurant and into the car. His -time for the hobble from dinner table to car seat was 7 minutes 35 seconds. | + | =====Letter To The Editor.===== |
- | Jack was not drunk; he had not been involved in a fight or a car accident; he was not suffering from any debilitating disease. He was merely experiencing the after effects of his first overnight test walk with | + | |
- | Sydney Bushwalkers. Yes - the facts are correct. The name Jack is not. | + | |
- | * * * * * * * * * * * * * * | + | |
- | LETTER TO THE EDITOR. | + | |
The unsigned article on the Naming of Our Planet in the October issue of S.B.W. magazine has one unforgiveable error. The next millennia begins on the 1st Januany 2001 NOT on 1st January 2000. | The unsigned article on the Naming of Our Planet in the October issue of S.B.W. magazine has one unforgiveable error. The next millennia begins on the 1st Januany 2001 NOT on 1st January 2000. | ||
- | Thanking you. OVEN MARKS - World Calendar Reform Society. | + | |
- | 'Page 1?2, THE SYDNEY BUSHULKER December, | + | Thanking you. |
- | .LETTER TO THE EDITOR | + | |
- | Dear'Helen, | + | Owen Marks - World Calendar Reform Society. |
- | , | + | |
- | ap tUi4 141.at | + | =====Letter To The Editor.===== |
- | Peter Radcliffe, the N.Z. climber/ | + | |
- | which characterise nearly every valley head in the area. The West Tilatuki7- tuki curves in a giant hook around the Rob Roy cluster of peaks, tapering up towards the Bonar Glacier which skirts Aspiring itself' | + | Dear Helen, |
- | Frank will not be the only S.B.W. in New Zealand' | + | |
- | In the meantime, this expatriate N.Z.r lays in his sleeping bag dreaming of deadly snakes faster than a man can run; spiders (equally deadly) that jump 2 metres in the twinkling of an eye; leeches that bleed a man flies, the size of eggs, that bite with impunity; rivers that run like 'creeks with water straight out of a rusty tank; and so-called mountains where the tops are covered in bush rather than snow, difficult to find and views non-existent. Need I go on before deportation: | + | I am sure that Ftahk Rigby did not idly pick the Matukituki |
- | Perhaps a compromise. If Frank doesn' | + | |
- | Regards, BILL GEIBLE. | + | Frank will not be the only S.B.W. in New Zealand' |
- | * * * * * * * * * * | + | |
- | Thanks to non-member | + | In the meantime, this expatriate N.Z.r lays in his sleeping bag dreaming of deadly snakes faster than a man can run; spiders (equally deadly) that jump 2 metres in the twinkling of an eye; leeches that bleed a man dry; flies, the size of eggs, that bite with impunity; rivers that run like creeks with water straight out of a rusty tank; and so-called mountains where the tops are covered in bush rather than snow, difficult to find and views non-existent. Need I go on before deportation! |
- | * ":" | + | |
- | Page_ ... THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER December 1981. THE COOLANA-ANNUAIrCELEBRATION OF THE HUT'S COMPLETION-ANNIVERSARY-HOOMANNY. | + | Perhaps a compromise. If Frank doesn' |
- | The rain came as predicted on the Saturday morning (it was the 5th Wet bne in a row) but that didn't stop 60-plus enthusiasts from taking the chance | + | |
- | itnd heading for Kangaroo Valley. We were rewarded for our efforts, for the I; | + | Regards, |
- | The many children, under Dot's supervision, | + | |
- | Most elegantly dressed, and it was already dark when our mouth-organ-playing President arrived, wind-burnt and still salty from a day's yacht-racing on he harbour. | + | Bill Gamble. |
- | The music started and out of the dark came the would-be dancers from all | + | |
- | directions-the river-people, | + | ---- |
- | Sunday was gloriously sunny and, reunionlike swimming or sunbaking or yarning were the order of the day, | + | |
+ | Thanks to non-member | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====The Coolana-Annual-Celebration Of The Hut's Completion-Anniversary-Hootenanny.===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | The rain came as predicted on the Saturday morning (it was the 5th Wet one in a row) but that didn't stop 60-plus enthusiasts from taking the chance | ||
+ | |||
+ | The many children, under Dot's supervision, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The music started and out of the dark came the would-be dancers from all directions - the river-people, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sunday was gloriously sunny and, reunionlike swimming or sunbaking or yarning were the order of the day. | ||
Another mini-reunion over, and a bigger reunion to look forward to in March at our own " | Another mini-reunion over, and a bigger reunion to look forward to in March at our own " | ||
- | ********************* | + | |
- | SOCIAL NOTES FOR JANUARY - Peter Miller. Wednesday, January 6 - Club closed. | + | =====Social Notes For January.===== |
- | Wednesday, January | + | |
- | This film on an area of the Himalayas visited by few members is being made available by Australian Himalayan Expeditions. The ouality | + | Peter Miller. |
- | very good and it should be one of the highlights of the year. | + | |
- | Dinner before the meeting will be held at Chehades Lebanese Restaurant, 270 - Pacific Highway, Crows Nest at 6.30 p.m. | + | ====Wednesday, January 6 - Club closed.==== |
- | Wednesday, January 27 - Kashmir - John Noble: | + | |
- | John will show some of the slides he took on a recent trip to Kashmir. John is known as one of the best photographers in the club and always exhibits to | + | ====Wednesday, January 20 - Film: Bhutan.==== |
- | a full house. | + | |
+ | This film on an area of the Himalayas visited by few members is being made available by Australian Himalayan Expeditions. The quality | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dinner before the meeting will be held at Chehades Lebanese Restaurant, 270 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest at 6.30 p.m. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====Wednesday, January 27 - Kashmir - John Noble.==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | John will show some of the slides he took on a recent trip to Kashmir. John is known as one of the best photographers in the club and always exhibits to a full house. | ||
+ | |||
********************* | ********************* | ||
JP_Me 16 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER. December, | JP_Me 16 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER. December, |
198112.txt · Last modified: 2016/04/13 13:53 by richard_pattison