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198507 [2014/05/22 19:31] – [THE DAY IT SNOWED IN BLUE GUM.] simon198507 [2014/05/22 21:03] – [AND IT RAINED FOR FORTY DAYS & FORTY NIGHTS..... 24,25,26,27,28th April, 1985.] simon
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 As conditions were not favourable on awakening, we all headed for the Kanangra car park with the intention of having breakfast in the cave with Barry, Ray and Adrienne. However, on starting off, we were soon confronted by three "not so amused" persons heading in our direction. It appears that on arriving late at Kanangra the previous night, there was some difficulty in locating the exact route down to the Dance Floor cave. This was not due to the incompetence of the three in question, but due to "restoration?" work being carried out by the N.P.& W.S. By the time the new pathway had been located, they had already spent some considerable time in heavy rain and muddy conditions. As conditions were not favourable on awakening, we all headed for the Kanangra car park with the intention of having breakfast in the cave with Barry, Ray and Adrienne. However, on starting off, we were soon confronted by three "not so amused" persons heading in our direction. It appears that on arriving late at Kanangra the previous night, there was some difficulty in locating the exact route down to the Dance Floor cave. This was not due to the incompetence of the three in question, but due to "restoration?" work being carried out by the N.P.& W.S. By the time the new pathway had been located, they had already spent some considerable time in heavy rain and muddy conditions.
  
-A quick breakfast at the cars soon saw the party of ten moving off for the Coal Seam Gave, where we were to meet three other walkers huddled around a warm glowing fire. Our party soon settled in for a long stay with the conversation centring around predicting the weather. To me it was obvious - we should take it "one cave at a time".+A quick breakfast at the cars soon saw the party of ten moving off for the Coal Seam Cave, where we were to meet three other walkers huddled around a warm glowing fire. Our party soon settled in for a long stay with the conversation centring around predicting the weather. To me it was obvious - we should take it "one cave at a time".
  
 It was to be an extended stop and we moved off soon after having had lunch at the cave. The mist just began to lift in the valleys in front of us as we headed down Gingra Ridge for the turn-off point to Cambage Spire. We would camp that evening on the Kowmung River just upstream from its junction with Christie's Creek. The weather conditions would determine what the party would be doing on the next day. It was to be an extended stop and we moved off soon after having had lunch at the cave. The mist just began to lift in the valleys in front of us as we headed down Gingra Ridge for the turn-off point to Cambage Spire. We would camp that evening on the Kowmung River just upstream from its junction with Christie's Creek. The weather conditions would determine what the party would be doing on the next day.
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 It was just before lunch that we met the first of two parties of walkers, both consisting of two male members in each party. The first It was just before lunch that we met the first of two parties of walkers, both consisting of two male members in each party. The first
-party, both members approximately 25-30 years of age, were completely saturated to the skin, in what can only be described as unsuitable bush walking clothes and equipment, i.e. denim jeans, long ex-army trousers, waist length nylon parkas and cotton 'T' shirts. All of this was saturated with water, with only a flimsy plastic undersized cape to protect them from the heavy downpours that they had been experiencing since leaving BoTd River crossing on Thursday morning.+party, both members approximately 25-30 years of age, were completely saturated to the skin, in what can only be described as unsuitable bush walking clothes and equipment, i.e. denim jeans, long ex-army trousers, waist length nylon parkas and cotton 'T' shirts. All of this was saturated with water, with only a flimsy plastic undersized cape to protect them from the heavy downpours that they had been experiencing since leaving Boyd River crossing on Thursday morning.
  
 When questioned about their route plan, their reply was "Katoomba via Kowmung River, Cox's River, Narrowneck, by SUNDAY LUNCH TIME". Any experienced walker would realise that this would be a demanding trip under normal walking conditions, and yet these two persons had no idea of how long it would take to walk the Kowmung, where their present location was on the Kowmung, and the fact that they were facing a compulsory swim further downstream from our campsite if they were to keep following the river. When questioned about their route plan, their reply was "Katoomba via Kowmung River, Cox's River, Narrowneck, by SUNDAY LUNCH TIME". Any experienced walker would realise that this would be a demanding trip under normal walking conditions, and yet these two persons had no idea of how long it would take to walk the Kowmung, where their present location was on the Kowmung, and the fact that they were facing a compulsory swim further downstream from our campsite if they were to keep following the river.
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 __Saturday, 27.4.85.__ \\ __Saturday, 27.4.85.__ \\
-"And it rainded for 40 days and 40 nights"  as the story goes. Last night and particularly this morning was to be no exception.+"And it rained for 40 days and 40 nights"  as the story goes. Last night and particularly this morning was to be no exception.
  
 "Forget the fire - let's have a cold breakfast and be off by 8.00 am" was the order. Three and half hours later saw us at the Coal Seam Cave, consuming bacon and eggs, toast and honey and other such items that we had missed out on at breakfast time. "Forget the fire - let's have a cold breakfast and be off by 8.00 am" was the order. Three and half hours later saw us at the Coal Seam Cave, consuming bacon and eggs, toast and honey and other such items that we had missed out on at breakfast time.
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 Once again we met some other walkers who were ready to tackle the elements and the mountains. We were pleased it was them and not us. A quick dash to the cars with a change of clothing saw us heading off to Katoomba for that cup of hot chocolate at Aroney's. Once again we met some other walkers who were ready to tackle the elements and the mountains. We were pleased it was them and not us. A quick dash to the cars with a change of clothing saw us heading off to Katoomba for that cup of hot chocolate at Aroney's.
  
-Despite unpleasant walking conditions the members of the party had . had many humorous moments shared around the campfires. There was little walking done over the three days but once again the party proved that it is not so much where you walk, but who you walk with that makes the trip.+Despite unpleasant walking conditions the members of the party had had many humorous moments shared around the campfires. There was little walking done over the three days but once again the party proved that it is not so much where you walk, but who you walk with that makes the trip.
  
 ===== ON THE HIGH TOPS AT KOSCIUSKO. ===== ===== ON THE HIGH TOPS AT KOSCIUSKO. =====
198507.txt · Last modified: 2014/05/23 21:50 by simon
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