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--- 193504 [2014/09/29 13:52] – [THE UPPER COX.] emmanuelle_c
+++ 193504 [2014/09/29 22:22] (current) – [Exploring Unclimbed Mountains] emmanuelle_c
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 ===== Editorial =====
-There has probably never been an Annual meeting of the"Sydney Bushwalkers" in which such keen interest was felt as that of March, 1935. There may not have been a record attendance, numerically, but it was a very representative gathering that voted in the new general Committee and the "brand new" Social Committee.
+There has probably never been an Annual meeting of the "Sydney Bushwalkers" in which such keen interest was felt as that of March, 1935. There may not have been a record attendance, numerically, but it was a very representative gathering that voted in the new general Committee and the "brand new" Social Committee.
 Tom Herbert was again elected President, and Dorothy Lawry, with Richard Croker as Assistant, has taken on the very onerous position of Secretary - which becomes a bigger job each year, since the Club is continually enlarging
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 "Do you realize that my friends of the Sydney Bush Walkers do this sort of thing for pleasure?" I said to Frank.\\
 "Gosh!" He replied, "Send them over here and we'll give them as much packing as they want".\\
-"But we call it bushwalking, not packing", I demurred.
+"But we call it bushwalking, not packing", I demurred.\\
 "Gosh"! was his incredulous, but meaning reply. And even to the end I could not persuade him that I was almost the only member of the Sydney Bush Walkers who did not rejoice in transporting a heavy pack through rough country.
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 __PHONE. B3101.__
-===== THE UPPER COX. =====
+===== The Upper Cox(s) =====
 It is now some years since we've been able to call the clan together on Anniversary Day and make for green hills and winding rivers for three whole days. It so happened this year.
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 Sunday morning at seven-thirty we left the junction of the Lett and Cox and began a long day. The Cox was really lovely in its upper reaches. The willows broke the sombre green of the casuarinas with near-emerald. There were wild duck and rabbits galore. In several places granite gorges impeded our progress, and we had some fun scrambling through - particularly when Rene flopped into the water occasionally. I think she should be a fish in the next world - or perhaps, a mermaid. The nettles were in fine fettle and we were glad to lunch where the Lowther road crossed the Cox. Before the end of an hour we were away. The river began to widen and occasional cattle tracks made the going easier, though the river lost none of its beauty. I don't know what I really expected; myrtle and fewer flats, I think. It is very Cox-ish all the way through, changing a little as we neared Gibralter Creek, if anything. About five-thirty we came to a small saddle, a few hundred yards across, from the top of which we had a good view of the sweep of the river. It was a real "neck o' the woods". Some day the river will break across and we will have an island on the Cox. We made camp a mile or so downstream from the saddle on another lovely river-flat.
-We woke, on Monday morning, to find the river oaks wrapped in mist and everything adrip. One just wanted to lay abed and watch the morning's varying moods. But, with another long day ahead, we were up and away at eight o'clock. The river continued between green river-flats lined with a good growth of pepper weed. Above Gibralter Creek the country changed almost abruptly to sheer granite, golden sand and green and crystal water. It was considerably harder going, but not unpleasant, except that the green pools were very tempting to us in the mid-day heat and we still had miles to cover before lunch. At Pulpit creek we left the river and climbed immediately out. The hillside seemed almost perpendicular and we lost several pounds of moisture on the way up. At Megalong Church we stopped for a break and a late lunch, and dried Rene out once more. We followed the old familiar track to Nellie's Glen and found our way into Katoomba over the Bonnydoon track.
+We woke, on Monday morning, to find the river oaks wrapped in mist and everything adrip. One just wanted to lay abed and watch the morning's varying moods. But, with another long day ahead, we were up and away at eight o'clock. The river continued between green river-flats lined with a good growth of pepper weed. Above Gibraltar Creek the country changed almost abruptly to sheer granite, golden sand and green and crystal water. It was considerably harder going, but not unpleasant, except that the green pools were very tempting to us in the mid-day heat and we still had miles to cover before lunch. At Pulpit creek we left the river and climbed immediately out. The hillside seemed almost perpendicular and we lost several pounds of moisture on the way up. At Megalong Church we stopped for a break and a late lunch, and dried Rene out once more. We followed the old familiar track to Nellie's Glen and found our way into Katoomba over the Bonnydoon track.
 It was a splendid trip, and the river only added to its attraction for us. If you haven't seen the Cox above Gibraltar, add it to your itinerary for a three day week-end. It is a trip you will neither forget nor regret.
 JEAN.
-===== A1FF'S TRIP IN THE FOREST 1,000 FEET UNDER THE GROUND. =====
+===== Wiff's Trip in the Forest 1,000 Feet Under the Ground. =====
 Now this is a fact. In the first place I was in a prehistoric forest - a coal seam, and in the second place a forest of timber that is used to stop the roof kissing the floor. I would not be exaggerating if I say millions of trees are in that mine, used as props every 2 feet for miles of streets I call them.
-Word was left with the wife while I Was at the beach to be at the Deputy's bathroom, Old Buali mine, at 6-30 in the morning, with old clothes and not rubber soledshoes as they slip on the grease. My guide was Mr. Billy Dutton, a well known wrestler, once champion of England and New South Wales in his class, I think Light Heavyweight. I wore a swimming costume and long trousers and sweatercoat, not forgetting my cap as I was sure to bump my head. I only bumped It 7 times, not too bad for a long one. Every-time I got a bit more sense knocked in. My skull must be very thick that accounts for my deafness. It takes a lot to knock a little in. Billy is short and would laugh every time he heard the bang and look around to see if I was alright.
-We went to the lamp room and I got an electric lamp about three candle power, while my guide had a kerosene safety lamp as he is a Deputy. His duty when working is to go into the mine first to his section and test for gas. It shows blue around the flame and cannot escape out of the gauze to cause an explosion; also to see the timbers and roof and everything is safe before ringing the outside for the men to come in. The whistle blows "allwell" and we proceed in the entrance to a train of skips with seats 6 inches off the floor, about 8 could squeeze in.I think there were 20 trucks. The signal is given and away we go for a two mile:tii6 - it takes 25 minutes.
-I was in a truck next to the pretty boys and they sang songs all the way in. I felt like jumping out and going back, but could not as the roof is only 4 feet from the grounci.	The further we went in the more I got accustomed to the dark-
+Word was left with the wife while I was at the beach to be at the Deputy's bathroom, Old Bulli mine, at 6-30 in the morning, with old clothes and not rubber soled shoes as they slip on the grease. My guide was Mr. Billy Dutton, a well known wrestler, once champion of England and New South Wales in his class, I think Light Heavyweight. I wore a swimming costume and long trousers and sweatercoat, not forgetting my cap as I was sure to bump my head. I only bumped It 7 times, not too bad for a long one. Every-time I got a bit more sense knocked in. My skull must be very thick that accounts for my deafness. It takes a lot to knock a little in. Billy is short and would laugh every time he heard the bang and look around to see if I was alright.
-ness until the terminus which is lit up, all out and we let them proceed to their work.
-The mine is a maize of streets and tramways called "hauling ways" and boards and ways for men to com.:: out, large wooden doors here and there, to divert the air to where it is wanted.	These doors must be closed after you go through them.
+We went to the lamp room and I got an electric lamp about three candle power, while my guide had a kerosene safety lamp as he is a Deputy. His duty when working is to go into the mine first to his section and test for gas. It shows blue around the flame and cannot escape out of the gauze to cause an explosion; also to see the timbers and roof and everything is safe before ringing the outside for the men to come in. The whistle blows "all well" and we proceed in the entrance to a train of skips with seats 6 inches off the floor, about 8 could squeeze in. I think there were 20 trucks. The signal is given and away we go for a two mile ride - it takes 25 minutes.
-First place of interest was the stable where 40 ponies are stabled, lit up but a
-it warm for me, so we moved off for a mile walk to the face. I saw a hole
+I was in a truck next to the pretty boys and they sang songs all the way in. I felt like jumping out and going back, but could not as the roof is only 4 feet from the ground. The further we went in the more I got accustomed to the darkness until the terminus which is lit up, all out and we let them proceed to their work.
-loaded with explosire, -walked 50 yards back around a corner, and then the dull boom, and a rush of air passed us, we turned and saw the result and another hole loaded.	Great care is taken. A special man called the shotfirer, tests for gas,
-and then sprays the coal with water, then loads the hole and connects wires. He is the last to leave and does the firing and is first back to see if all is safe. At the next place visited was a miner boring the holes with a big auger. I went
+The mine is a maize of streets and tramways called "hauling ways" and boards and ways for men to come out, large wooden doors here and there, to divert the air to where it is wanted. These doors must be closed after you go through them. First place of interest was the stable where 40 ponies are stabled, lit up but a
-to see the air shaft. The bad air is drawn up by a fan at the top 1,100 feet. I was standing right under the Sherbrook school in the Catchment Area, near
+it warm for me, so we moved off for a mile walk to the face. I saw a hole loaded with explosive, walked 50 yards back around a corner, and then the dull boom, and a rush of air passed us, we turned and saw the result and another hole loaded. Great care is taken. A special man called the shotfirer, tests for gas, and then sprays the coal with water, then loads the hole and connects wires. He is the last to leave and does the firing and is first back to see if all is safe. At the next place visited was a miner boring the holes with a big auger. I went to see the air shaft. The bad air is drawn up by a fan at the top 1,100 feet. I was standing right under the Sherbrook school in the Catchment Area, near Cataract Dam. We went through a maze of streets, I wondered how my guide knew the way, all darkness and only our little lamps to see with. I was dreaming of
-Cataract Dam. We went through a maze of streets, I wondered how my guide knew
+prehistoric days with Dinosaurus and Diplodocus and what I would do if one popped around the corner. Billy opened a door and I heard him speak to something. I knew it was not a man as there was no light. I wondered what it was - a Dinosaurus? I was not afraid because I knew Billy would put a headlock on it and pin it to the floor, or ceiling whichever was the nearest. It only turned out to be a spare horse locked in between two doors in total darkness waiting until he was wanted. We just shut the door and left him there. Then we went exploring and came across two miners filling coal into skips. I told one he was the only sensible man in the pit, working in trunks with his body wet with perspiration and as black as coal. I was introduced to a Mr. Jack Johnson, but he had just started work so was not as black as his namesake. The wheeler had arrived with the horse to take the skips to the hauling rope: He does it all by talking to the horse, no reins and the only light comes from an electric lamp on his cap!
-the way, all darkness and only our little lamps to see with. I was dreaming of
-prehistoric days with Dinosaurus and Diplodocus and what I would do if one popped
-around the corner. Billy opened a door and I heard him speak to something. I
-knew it was not a man as there was no light. I wondered what it was - a
-Dinosaurus? I was not afraid because I knew Billy would put a headlock on it and pin it to the floor, or ceiling whichever was the nearest. It only turned
-out to be a sparo horse locked in between two doors in total darkness waiting until he was wanted. We just shut the door and left him there. Then we went exploring and came across two miners filling coal into skips. I told one he was the only sensible man in the pit, working in trunks with his 'body wet with perspiration and as black as coal. I was introduced to a Mr. Jack Johnson, but he had just started work so was not as black as his namesake. The wheeler had arrived with the horse to take the skips to the hauling rope: He does it all by talking to the horse, no reins and the only light comes from an electric lamp on his cap!
 Each section has a station where a telephone and ambulance are kept in case of emergency. I was told all about the section that blew up in 1887 and sent 60 miners into the next world. They worked with naked lights in those days. Now every care is taken to draw all bad air up the shaft. Having seen a good variety of the mine we had a two mile walk out against the wind, which was very cold after the warm places we had been in.
-We passed through a mile of natural coke made by the earth cracking in the early days and the fire coming up and burning the coal into coke. The Company had to put a bore dawn to see if the coal was at the back of the coke before they went through it. Arrived out in sunlight at 1 o'clock - 6 hours we were in the mine and walked about 10 miles underground. Wo put our lamps in and adjourned to the showers ,hot and cold, to leave the coal behind.
+We passed through a mile of natural coke made by the earth cracking in the early days and the fire coming up and burning the coal into coke. The Company had to put a bore down to see if the coal was at the back of the coke before they went through it. Arrived out in sunlight at 1 o'clock - 6 hours we were in the mine and walked about 10 miles underground. We put our lamps in and adjourned to the showers, hot and cold, to leave the coal behind.
 The mining game would not suit a Sun Worshipper, so I made straight for the beach. But my guide I pitied - a man could not be happier than he was amongst his mates under there, it was everything to him, yet he has to wait until the mine gets busier before he gets his job back. The waiting gets on good men's nerves and they don't know what to do.