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--- 198608 [2016/03/10 17:17] – [Conservation Corner] kennettj
+++ 198608 [2016/03/10 17:28] – [Lost in the Bush] kennettj
@@ Line 146: / Line 146: @@
 Born London, England. Sunday 28.7.68.
-Hallo Heather,
+Hallo Heather,\\
-Well everything is very still and quiet. Except for the dog and myself the camp is deserted, and apart from the aboriginals in their settlement about 15 miles away, there may be nobody within a couple of hundred miles. The sun is quite warm but the wind - not too strong - is
+Well everything is very still and quiet. Except for the dog and myself the camp is deserted, and apart from the aboriginals in their settlement about 15 miles away, there may be nobody within a couple of hundred miles. The sun is quite warm but the wind - not too strong - is fresh. The dog belongs to the foreman of the team of workers. There is something of the dingo in him, but he is a sturdy, friendly, bushwise animal.
-fresh. The dog belongs to the foreman of the team of workers. There is something of the dingo in him, but he is a sturdy, friendly, bushwise animal.
-For the first time for a week I have taken my warm clothing (I have only one set of warm stuff) off, and it's now in the tub soaking prior to being washed. I must get it done and dried before the sun goes down, and
+For the first time for a week I have taken my warm clothing (I have only one set of warm stuff) off, and it's now in the tub soaking prior to being washed. I must get it done and dried before the sun goes down, and put it on again. Also - the first time for a week, I shall have a bath. That is if the wind does not come up too cold.
-put it on again. Also - the first time for a week, I shall have a bath.
-That is if the wind does not come up too cold.
 I mentioned before, the washing and toilet facilities were somewhat
@@ Line 214: / Line 212: @@
 the,. task Df searching around in the pitch darkness for wood began. There
 wat n( moon, and it was not yet 9 o'clock pm.
-My idea of how long my pile of wood would last had been sadly wide of the mark. There were two ways of finding, walk around until I went backside-over-tip over a dead tree or branches; or pick out the dead trees that were still standing - in the light from the fire - and push and shove
-until I had them uprooted and drag them to the fire. This went on all night.
-Always intently listening for a vehicle passing along the road. Although
-with the wind rising and whistling through the trees this was rather a forlorn hope.
-It was 9 o'clock when I realised I had not seen the dog for some minutes. I called and whistled, but no, he had gone home. Good luck to him. He had
-stayed with me longer than I expected he would. It had been dark for just
-on 3 hours. Strangely, now the dog had gone, it was so much darker, blacker.
-Oltside the glow from the fire just black - blackness from which came a
-whining, freezing wind. I lay as flat on the ground as possible to avoid
-the smoke which was making my throat very parched and hurting my eyes, and
-also to keep all my body warm and not only the bottom half.
-Page 10 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER  August, 1986
-And so the hours passed. About 20 minutes groping around, tearing, my
-legs, pulling down trees and dragging them in. About 30 minutes lying
-flat on the ground close to my fire getting that 20 minute chill out of my
-body. And as the night went on I had to go further afield into the dark to
-get my trees - the more I groped, the more I stumbled and fell, the more
-numbed I became and the less I felt. And while lying sheltered by the warmth of the fire and getting parched by the smoke, and straining to hear a vehicle - utter blackness - whining wind - and nothingness - just black
-nothingness. I always thought there was no such thing, there is. It
-swallows you. Swallows you deep down.
-No, there is something else. The stars. The stars and one's
-thoughts. You have to keep a tight reign on them, the thoughts. You would
-like to stretch up and touch a star. You can't. You know because you try;
-and smile because you are being stupid, and laugh because it's all right to
-be stupid when no one knows about it. But no, you don't laugh - you.just begin to make the effort, and only make a harsh croak, because your throat is parched.
-And so groping, stumbling, heaving, shoving, pulling down trees and dragging them to my fire, and after a few minutes, a big blaze again. Lie
-down and think. Think steadily, think steadily and constructively. Listen
-for vehicles. You have heard nothing yet, and with the wind howling in the bushes not likely to hear anything. Anyway who would be travelling between Alice Springs and Western Australia on Saturday night and Sunday morning,
-with hundreds of miles of nothing between? That's right you know, they
-would plan their journey to get most of it in during daylight. Oh God -
-that's right you know. What's the time now? That the hell does it matter?
-Did you wind your watch up, it's just after 1 o'clock Sunday morning. Perhaps
-it has stopped. In any case, because the road runs from Alice Springs to
-the W.A. Border it does not mean it runs due east-west. It could just as
-likely run south-east to north-west and still hit the W.A. Border. In that
-case - what's the time - Christ, I'm dry and parched.
-If the dog was here I would not be able to talk to him. He would be
-displeased and think that I was angry with him. I hope he found something
-to eat. I know water was there for him. If the wind was less strong the
-smoke would have time to rise a little before it hit me. I can't get any
-closer to the ground - or can I? What's the time? Why worry, you have
-until eternity. Until eternity. Remember that writing you used to see on
-the pavement in Sydney. A fine copperplate style, "Eternity", eternity,
-eter - steady on friend. Probably you will have another day and another
-night, and maybe the best part of another day after that. A nice quiet
-time to think nice quiet thoughts, your problems solved - happy thought.
-Something to smile about - what. Even the racing problem. Shake yourself
-up man. Cut it out. Get out and get more timber. Keep bringing in more
-timber. Do something. Stop thinking. What's the time. Stop thinking.
-Do something. Bring in timber. Go to buggery. Bring it in yourself.
-I must conserve my energy, my lips and throat are parched, I feel half
-starved. I had only a cup of coffee for lunch, that's your own fault you
-stupid bastard. Bring in more wood, do something.
-Right, I'll go to sleep. No you bloody well won't, listen for vehicles.
-What's the time? It's just after one thirty. My God, it must have stopped,
-perhaps the smoke affected it.
-If you don't hear a car what do you do? Be positive about this,
-definite, it's no good wandering around in circles. Well, I could be wrong
-about the road running between the hill I saw and where I am now. BUt as I
-have absolutely no other clue to go on, I must head for that hill. If I
-don't hit the road I shall get to the top of that hill and light my fire there
-on Sunday night. It's going to be colder on top of that hill than down here.
-I don't care, I have five matches. My God - that'll help. You have no
-handkerchief to start a fire with one match. I may not need it, from the
-hill I may be able to see the camp. You have to get to the top of the hill
-first.
+My idea of how long my pile of wood would last had been sadly wide of the mark. There were two ways of finding, walk around until I went backside-over-tip over a dead tree or branches; or pick out the dead trees that were still standing - in the light from the fire - and push and shove until I had them uprooted and drag them to the fire. This went on all night.
-Distances are very deceiving. Those hills may be many miles away, but
+Always intently listening for a vehicle passing along the road. Although with the wind rising and whistling through the trees this was rather a forlorn hope. It was 9 o'clock when I realised I had not seen the dog for some minutes. I called and whistled, but no, he had gone home. Good luck to him. He had
-from the top of that hill my fire could be seen. At preSent nobody knows
+stayed with me longer than I expected he would. It had been dark for just on 3 hours. Strangely, now the dog had gone, it was so much darker, blacker.
-I am lost, by Monday morning they will know. ' They may not be able to see
-a fire in daylight. I shall make smoke, suppose - quiet, I hear - dear God
+Outside the glow from the fire just black - blackness from which came a whining, freezing wind. I lay as flat on the ground as possible to avoid the smoke which was making my throat very parched and hurting my eyes, and also to keep all my body warm and not only the bottom half.
-please - quieten the wind for a few seconds - please. Yes I hear a truck.
-Very definitely a heavy truck in that direction. What direction? There
+And so the hours passed. About 20 minutes groping around, tearing, my legs, pulling down trees and dragging them in. About 30 minutes lying  flat on the ground close to my fire getting that 20 minute chill out of my body. And as the night went on I had to go further afield into the dark to get my trees - the more I groped, the more I stumbled and fell, the more numbed I became and the less I felt. And while lying sheltered by the warmth of the fire and getting parched by the smoke, and straining to hear a vehicle - utter blackness - whining wind - and nothingness - just black nothingness. I always thought there was no such thing, there is. It swallows you. Swallows you deep down.
-is no direction in utter blackness. You fool. Find a marker, quick.
-That will do, a dead tree, quite close to my fire, with one big arm pointing to the road. Good, now you can breathe more easily. No more wandering
+No, there is something else. The stars. The stars and one's thoughts. You have to keep a tight reign on them, the thoughts. You would like to stretch up and touch a star. You can't. You know because you try;
-thoughts, just settle down for the remainder of the night, and you'll be
+and smile because you are being stupid, and laugh because it's all right to be stupid when no one knows about it. But no, you don't laugh - you.just begin to make the effort, and only make a harsh croak, because your throat is parched.
-back in camp sometime tomorrow morning. Sometime this morning. Yes -
-that's right, what's the time? Just two o'clock. God, how it drags.
+And so groping, stumbling, heaving, shoving, pulling down trees and dragging them to my fire, and after a few minutes, a big blaze again. Lie down and think. Think steadily, think steadily and constructively. Listen for vehicles. You have heard nothing yet, and with the wind howling in the bushes not likely to hear anything. Anyway who would be travelling between Alice Springs and Western Australia on Saturday night and Sunday morning, with hundreds of miles of nothing between? That's right you know, they
-Four and a half hours till sunrise, before I can get going. Never mind,
+would plan their journey to get most of it in during daylight. Oh God - that's right you know. What's the time now? That the hell does it matter?
-you are O.K. Now just settle down,keep warm. You are O.K. now.
-By half past six it was light enough for me to pick out the hill I had been making for. It was in exactly the opposite direction to that I should
+Did you wind your watch up, it's just after 1 o'clock Sunday morning. Perhaps it has stopped. In any case, because the road runs from Alice Springs to the W.A. Border it does not mean it runs due east-west. It could just as likely run south-east to north-west and still hit the W.A. Border. In that case - what's the time - Christ, I'm dry and parched.
-have been going in. I used that hill as a Landmark, and knew if I kept it
-directly behind me as I walked I must come to the road within a few miles.
+If the dog was here I would not be able to talk to him. He would be displeased and think that I was angry with him. I hope he found something to eat. I know water was there for him. If the wind was less strong the smoke would have time to rise a little before it hit me. I can't get any closer to the ground - or can I? What's the time? Why worry, you have until eternity. Until eternity. Remember that writing you used to see on the pavement in Sydney. A fine copperplate style, "Eternity", eternity,
-But this idea soon proved pretty useless. After a few hundred yards the
-hill was obscured by trees, all I could go by then was the sun. It was
+Peter - steady on friend. Probably you will have another day and another night, and maybe the best part of another day after that. A nice quiet time to think nice quiet thoughts, your problems solved - happy thought. Something to smile about - what. Even the racing problem. Shake yourself up man. Cut it out. Get out and get more timber. Keep bringing in more timber. Do something. Stop thinking. What's the time. Stop thinking.Do something. Bring in timber. Go to buggery. Bring it in yourself.
-coming up on my left. I reckoned to hit the road inside a couple of hours
+I must conserve my energy, my lips and throat are parched, I feel half starved. I had only a cup of coffee for lunch, that's your own fault you stupid bastard. Bring in more wood, do something. Right, I'll go to sleep. No you bloody well won't, listen for vehicles. What's the time? It's just after one thirty. My God, it must have stopped, perhaps the smoke affected it.
+If you don't hear a car what do you do? Be positive about this, definite, it's no good wandering around in circles. Well, I could be wrong about the road running between the hill I saw and where I am now. BUt as I
+have absolutely no other clue to go on, I must head for that hill. If I don't hit the road I shall get to the top of that hill and light my fire there on Sunday night. It's going to be colder on top of that hill than down here. I don't care, I have five matches. My God - that'll help. You have no handkerchief to start a fire with one match. I may not need it, from the hill I may be able to see the camp. You have to get to the top of the hill first.
+Distances are very deceiving. Those hills may be many miles away, but from the top of that hill my fire could be seen. At present nobody knows I am lost, by Monday morning they will know. They may not be able to see a fire in daylight. I shall make smoke, suppose - quiet, I hear - dear God please - quieten the wind for a few seconds - please. Yes I hear a truck. Very definitely a heavy truck in that direction. What direction? There is no direction in utter blackness. You fool. Find a marker, quick.
+That will do, a dead tree, quite close to my fire, with one big arm pointing to the road. Good, now you can breathe more easily. No more wandering thoughts, just settle down for the remainder of the night, and you'll be back in camp sometime tomorrow morning. Sometime this morning. Yes - that's right, what's the time? Just two o'clock. God, how it drags.
+Four and a half hours till sunrise, before I can get going. Never mind, you are O.K. Now just settle down,keep warm. You are O.K. now.
+By half past six it was light enough for me to pick out the hill I had been making for. It was in exactly the opposite direction to that I should have been going in. I used that hill as a Landmark, and knew if I kept it directly behind me as I walked I must come to the road within a few miles. But this idea soon proved pretty useless. After a few hundred yards the hill was obscured by trees, all I could go by then was the sun. It was coming up on my left. I reckoned to hit the road inside a couple of hours
 or so, and the sun changing position as it came up should not alter my direction much in that time.
-Yes, I very suddenly saw the road in front of me just on 8 o'clock.
-It was like seeing Piccadilly Circus and Broadway at the same time. I knew
-I had to turn right on the road, and strutted along as nimbly and upright
-as I was able. Had it been possible I would have been singing. I sat on
-the side of the road for a while to remove thorns and prickles from inside
-my boots and socks. They were absolutely saturated and my feet frozen from
-the dampness and frost on the undergrowth I guess. A little after 8.30 I
-saw the caravans, Buckingham Palace could not have looked grander or more welcome, and a few minutes later the dog came bounding out to greet me. I
-believe he was as happy to see me as I was to be back. I quickly had about
-a pint of steaming milk coffee with an ample dose of rum in it, and sat with
-my feet in a bowl of hot water. Then as I rinsed the dirt and mud off my
-legs I could see the extent of the scratches and Lacerations on my legs. It's not much of an exaggeration to say there was as much raw flesh to be
-seen as there was skin. Up to then I was not aware of it, even at that time
-my legs were too numb to feel anything. They are healing up quite well,
-a:though they look pretty horrible with scabs and scratch scores from above
-my knees to below my ankles. The lower ones caused no doubt by deeply
-embedded thorns and prickles scratching away for many hours. After that
-into some warm clothing and into bed to sleep for four hours.
-I soon knew I had a very severe cold coming, and it blossomed magnificently during Tuesday and Wednesday. But has passed off just as quickly.
-Today I feel it has completely gone, and I am back to normal. So ends the
-saga of a - - - - Bushman" except for one thought that keeps going through
-my mind - the dead tree with a dead arm and two fingers? It was quite close
-to my fire. And another tree, the first one I pulled in I arranged it close
-to my fire and lay against it during the night. And although during the
-latter part of the night I had to go many yards into the bush to find my dead trees and drag them back, I cannot recall the thought ever going through my
-head that I had two trees quite close at hand. Why? Is it possible I had,
-without even thinking of it, accepted these things as companions.
-I have just read what I have written. I had intended just to write a
-letter, explaining what it's like to be lost in the bush for a night. A
-rather unpleasant experience I would prefer not to have again. Maybe you
-can read this and feel something of how a person feels under those circum-
-stances. Perhaps you will get no sense or feeling from it at all. I send
-it on to you anyway. I hope it won't bore you stiff.
-BOB.
+Yes, I very suddenly saw the road in front of me just on 8 o'clock. It was like seeing Piccadilly Circus and Broadway at the same time. I knew I had to turn right on the road, and strutted along as nimbly and upright as I was able. Had it been possible I would have been singing. I sat on the side of the road for a while to remove thorns and prickles from inside my boots and socks. They were absolutely saturated and my feet frozen from the dampness and frost on the undergrowth I guess. A little after 8.30 I saw the caravans, Buckingham Palace could not have looked grander or more welcome, and a few minutes later the dog came bounding out to greet me. I believe he was as happy to see me as I was to be back. I quickly had about a pint of steaming milk coffee with an ample dose of rum in it, and sat with my feet in a bowl of hot water. Then as I rinsed the dirt and mud off my legs I could see the extent of the scratches and lacerations on my legs. It's not much of an exaggeration to say there was as much raw flesh to be
+seen as there was skin. Up to then I was not aware of it, even at that time my legs were too numb to feel anything. They are healing up quite well,
+Although they look pretty horrible with scabs and scratch scores from above my knees to below my ankles. The lower ones caused no doubt by deeply embedded thorns and prickles scratching away for many hours. After that into some warm clothing and into bed to sleep for four hours.
+I soon knew I had a very severe cold coming, and it blossomed magnificently during Tuesday and Wednesday. But has passed off just as quickly. Today I feel it has completely gone, and I am back to normal.
+So ends the saga of a - - - - Bushman" except for one thought that keeps going through my mind - the dead tree with a dead arm and two fingers? It was quite close to my fire. And another tree, the first one I pulled in I arranged it close to my fire and lay against it during the night. And although during the
+latter part of the night I had to go many yards into the bush to find my dead trees and drag them back, I cannot recall the thought ever going through my head that I had two trees quite close at hand. Why? Is it possible I had, without even thinking of it, accepted these things as companions.
+I have just read what I have written. I had intended just to write a letter, explaining what it's like to be lost in the bush for a night. A rather unpleasant experience I would prefer not to have again. Maybe you can read this and feel something of how a person feels under those circumstances. Perhaps you will get no sense or feeling from it at all. I send it on to you anyway. I hope it won't bore you stiff.
+BOB
 ====== Letter to the Editor ======