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193605 [2015/11/30 12:17] – [Questions Answered] sbw193605 [2015/11/30 12:26] (current) – [See Tasmania For Two Shillings] sbw
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 (( Just a quick note.  I found it interesting to see 'ski' spelt as 'shi' in this article. The German language writes the word 'ski' but it is pronounced as 'shi'. eg 'Ski fahren' or 'Ski laufen'. See: de.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ski or duden.de/rechtschreibung/Ski )) (( Just a quick note.  I found it interesting to see 'ski' spelt as 'shi' in this article. The German language writes the word 'ski' but it is pronounced as 'shi'. eg 'Ski fahren' or 'Ski laufen'. See: de.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ski or duden.de/rechtschreibung/Ski ))
  
-Shi-ing is often a branch of the activities of a tramping, hiking, or mountaineering club, and it will quite likely become a branch of bush-walking joys; in fact, there are already several good shi-ers in the club. However, so that you shall be under no delusions let me tell you of what happened to me. Jean, who is somewhat of an expert, induced me to accompany her to Kosciusko, but I cannot allege youth and innocence as an excuse for falling to her inducements, for I had been well warned by numerous friends who have sprained their ankles or broken their arms while in indulging in this simple pastime. But there is nothing like trying anything once, and anyhow we were fully agreed on one matter, namely, that we were going to Kosciusko to shi; not to dance, play tennis or to do any of the other things you can do equally well in Sydney. That being so, we were going right on to The Chalet, 12 miles beyond the hotel, the afternoon of our arrival. The fact that I had never been on shies before and that the Manager was sure to object, were minor details.+Shi-ing is often a branch of the activities of a tramping, hiking, or mountaineering club, and it will quite likely become a branch of bush-walking joys; in fact, there are already several good shi-ers in the club. However, so that you shall be under no delusions let me tell you of what happened to me. Jean, who is somewhat of an expert, induced me to accompany her to Kosciusko, but I cannot allege youth and innocence as an excuse for falling to her inducements, for I had been well warned by numerous friends who have sprained their ankles or broken their arms while in indulging in this simple pastime. But there is nothing like trying anything once, and anyhow we were fully agreed on one matter, namely, that we were going to Kosciuszko to shi; not to dance, play tennis or to do any of the other things you can do equally well in Sydney. That being so, we were going right on to The Chalet, 12 miles beyond the hotel, the afternoon of our arrival. The fact that I had never been on shies before and that the Manager was sure to object, were minor details.
  
 Of course, the Manager did object; but we put our feet down with a firm hand, and after making sure, in the presence of numerous witnesses, that we were going on our own responsibility and that he was doing nothing to help us go to destruction on the downward - or to be precise - the upward, path, we were allowed to depart. Of course, the Manager did object; but we put our feet down with a firm hand, and after making sure, in the presence of numerous witnesses, that we were going on our own responsibility and that he was doing nothing to help us go to destruction on the downward - or to be precise - the upward, path, we were allowed to depart.
  
-There was no snow for the first five miles to Smiggins', so we trudged up the muddy road with heavy packs and heavy shies, and long before we reached the end of that five miles, I had decided that shies on the feet were infinitely preferable to shies in the hand, - a matter about which I had previously had serious doubts, in view of the accidents to my friends.+There was no snow for the first five miles to Smiggins, so we trudged up the muddy road with heavy packs and heavy shies, and long before we reached the end of that five miles, I had decided that shies on the feet were infinitely preferable to shies in the hand, - a matter about which I had previously had serious doubts, in view of the accidents to my friends.
  
-Arrived at Smiggins we donned shies and continued. It had rained and sleeted all the way from the hotel and the weather got worse as we went up. Just before Betts' Camp. we passed the tractor stuck fast in the snow. This is a car rather like the tanks used in the war, imported at enormous expense to convey people from the Hotel to the Chalet, quicker than they could shi; but to date it has always taken longer. This time it bore the Director of the Tourist Bureau and some movie photographers. It had had about five hours' more than we, and if it had not taken a sudden and unusual fit of energy soon after we met it, we should easily have beaten it to Betts, but as it was, it arrived there just five minutes ahead. Meanwhile, I had been managing fairly well, considering that it,was my first attempt; I don't think I fell more than three times in the four miles, and it (( Handwritten correction )) was unfortunate that two of these mishaps should have occurred within sight of Betts, so that the rumour went round that there was a girl who had never been on shies before, falling all over the place!+Arrived at Smiggins we donned shies and continued. It had rained and sleeted all the way from the hotel and the weather got worse as we went up. Just before Betts Camp. we passed the tractor stuck fast in the snow. This is a car rather like the tanks used in the war, imported at enormous expense to convey people from the Hotel to the Chalet, quicker than they could shi; but to date it has always taken longer. This time it bore the Director of the Tourist Bureau and some movie photographers. It had had about five hours' more than we, and if it had not taken a sudden and unusual fit of energy soon after we met it, we should easily have beaten it to Betts, but as it was, it arrived there just five minutes ahead. Meanwhile, I had been managing fairly well, considering that it,was my first attempt; I don't think I fell more than three times in the four miles, and it (( Handwritten correction )) was unfortunate that two of these mishaps should have occurred within sight of Betts, so that the rumour went round that there was a girl who had never been on shies before, falling all over the place!
  
 As it was dark by the time we reached Betts, Jean thought I should be wise to accept a seat on the tractor for the rest of the way. I rashly did so; froze, and vainly wished every time we stuck and many times when we didn't, that I had walked. I eventually jumped off about a quarter of a mile before the Chalet, and found myself ploughing through knee-deep snow. I was making - better time than the tractor, anyhow, and it was a bit too bad that it should have again had an energetic spasm, so that it beat me in by about thirty seconds! As it was dark by the time we reached Betts, Jean thought I should be wise to accept a seat on the tractor for the rest of the way. I rashly did so; froze, and vainly wished every time we stuck and many times when we didn't, that I had walked. I eventually jumped off about a quarter of a mile before the Chalet, and found myself ploughing through knee-deep snow. I was making - better time than the tractor, anyhow, and it was a bit too bad that it should have again had an energetic spasm, so that it beat me in by about thirty seconds!
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 We arrived at the Chalet in snow, and it snowed all the time we were there; but each day we dutifully went out and slid down the slopes. Jean was most successful and quickly mastered the cryptic things known as snowploughs, stem-turns, Christiana-turns and goodness knows what else; but to the end I remained one of the mugs - or as George Lamble tactfully put it, "one of the less advanced". We arrived at the Chalet in snow, and it snowed all the time we were there; but each day we dutifully went out and slid down the slopes. Jean was most successful and quickly mastered the cryptic things known as snowploughs, stem-turns, Christiana-turns and goodness knows what else; but to the end I remained one of the mugs - or as George Lamble tactfully put it, "one of the less advanced".
  
-We were lucky in having Ernst from Austria, an expert imported to put Australia on the shi-ing map, so to speak, to instruct us. When he asked the Director of the Tourist Bureau if he would be re-imported next season, the answer was that this depended on Mr. Steyens. "And who is Mr. Steyens?" asked Ernst innocently! Ernst is one of those folk whom the fairies blessed at birth with all the good gifts that it was customary for them to give to princes and princesses, but not to ordinary mortals. He has brains in plenty, a ready sparkling wit, that indefinable "char-rm" which makes a person popular, and a perfect physique. I could never make up my mind which was more pleasing - to watch him sweeping down the hill at a breakneck pace and land gracefully on his feet, or to see him making up it swiftly, seemingly without effort and much ahead of the other experts.+We were lucky in having Ernst from Austria, an expert imported to put Australia on the shi-ing map, so to speak, to instruct us. When he asked the Director of the Tourist Bureau if he would be re-imported next season, the answer was that this depended on Mr. Stevens. "And who is Mr. Stevens?" asked Ernst innocently! Ernst is one of those folk whom the fairies blessed at birth with all the good gifts that it was customary for them to give to princes and princesses, but not to ordinary mortals. He has brains in plenty, a ready sparkling wit, that indefinable "char-rm" which makes a person popular, and a perfect physique. I could never make up my mind which was more pleasing - to watch him sweeping down the hill at a breakneck pace and land gracefully on his feet, or to see him making up it swiftly, seemingly without effort and much ahead of the other experts.
  
 In addition to his other gifts, Ernst is a born teacher, and his lucid explanations would ring down the slope after our faltering headlong plunges, generally with the final addendum: "You did not fall, you sat down" - which was perfectly true; because when you sit down, you do so - not gracefully - but anyhow, comfortably. When you fall, anything may happen. Whenever I sat down in preference to falling, it was because of that vivid picture in "Punch" of a crowd of people on a London station, some on crutches, some with arms in slings or heads bandaged; all maimed or halted in some way; with the sympathetic stranger turning to his porter, remarking, "Dear, dear, have those poor people been in a railway accident?" to which the porter replies: "Oh, no, Sir they are merely returning from enjoying the winter sports in Switzerland!" In addition to his other gifts, Ernst is a born teacher, and his lucid explanations would ring down the slope after our faltering headlong plunges, generally with the final addendum: "You did not fall, you sat down" - which was perfectly true; because when you sit down, you do so - not gracefully - but anyhow, comfortably. When you fall, anything may happen. Whenever I sat down in preference to falling, it was because of that vivid picture in "Punch" of a crowd of people on a London station, some on crutches, some with arms in slings or heads bandaged; all maimed or halted in some way; with the sympathetic stranger turning to his porter, remarking, "Dear, dear, have those poor people been in a railway accident?" to which the porter replies: "Oh, no, Sir they are merely returning from enjoying the winter sports in Switzerland!"
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 On the fifth day I gained courage and refused to sit down. The result was a twisted ankle. Not serious; but enough to "put the wind up" me completely - especially as about a third of our number had their heads stitched up, or ankles sprained and were either hobbling around or laid up completely. Then the doctor added the last straw by saying he had used yards and yards of strapping since he came up, and would be pleased to add another yard or so to my ankle if I liked. I did not like, and anyhow the ankle was better the next day; but after that I gave up trying the fancy steps, without which you can never learn to shi, and contented myself with wandering round the hillsides and "sitting dawn" before there should be an opportunity for falling. Even this took courage on the steeper slopes, trained as I am to mountaineering on hard summer snow, where to sit dawn is the equivalent of suicide. On the fifth day I gained courage and refused to sit down. The result was a twisted ankle. Not serious; but enough to "put the wind up" me completely - especially as about a third of our number had their heads stitched up, or ankles sprained and were either hobbling around or laid up completely. Then the doctor added the last straw by saying he had used yards and yards of strapping since he came up, and would be pleased to add another yard or so to my ankle if I liked. I did not like, and anyhow the ankle was better the next day; but after that I gave up trying the fancy steps, without which you can never learn to shi, and contented myself with wandering round the hillsides and "sitting dawn" before there should be an opportunity for falling. Even this took courage on the steeper slopes, trained as I am to mountaineering on hard summer snow, where to sit dawn is the equivalent of suicide.
  
-Meantime it continued to snow and the movie photographers began to hatch diobolical plans in the absence of anything better to do. The following scenario was among them:-+Meantime it continued to snow and the movie photographers began to hatch diabolical plans in the absence of anything better to do. The following scenario was among them:-
  
 Scene 1: The experts, as they do their famous high jump, knocking an apple off the photographer's head. (That is Ernst and the two Georges). Scene 1: The experts, as they do their famous high jump, knocking an apple off the photographer's head. (That is Ernst and the two Georges).
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 Scene 111: Baby Margaret, aged three gracefully gliding down the slopes, coming to a stand on her feet and putting the rest of us to shame. Scene 111: Baby Margaret, aged three gracefully gliding down the slopes, coming to a stand on her feet and putting the rest of us to shame.
  
-One morning it did get a little brighter. The movie cameras were produced, and we were treated to a fine show of slalams (( [sic] "slaloms" )), our hearts in our mouths as the experts came down the hill at 80 miles an hour, curving in and out of the flags and ending up with a final sweep at the bottom, always on their feet. The snow came again before the photographers got to the second, not to mention the third, scene.+One morning it did get a little brighter. The movie cameras were produced, and we were treated to a fine show of slaloms, our hearts in our mouths as the experts came down the hill at 80 miles an hour, curving in and out of the flags and ending up with a final sweep at the bottom, always on their feet. The snow came again before the photographers got to the second, not to mention the third, scene.
  
-Then Friday dawned a perfect morning, the first day that photography was really a pleasure. Jean and I rose early, retired to secluded spot and endeavoured to take a series of photos more beautiful than the Norweigan poster of a shier standing naked before the dawn. The poster does not show the wind that was blowing, **and** neither do the photos! I am glad I was the photographer, not the photographed!+Then Friday dawned a perfect morning, the first day that photography was really a pleasure. Jean and I rose early, retired to secluded spot and endeavoured to take a series of photos more beautiful than the Norwegian poster of a shier standing naked before the dawn. The poster does not show the wind that was blowing, **and** neither do the photos! I am glad I was the photographer, not the photographed!
  
 That day the doctor permitted an invalid lad and his mother, who had waited a week for fine weather, to depart on the tractor for the hotel. I also decided to return. with a friend who had been Stenographer at the Hotel, and we were to make it a leisurely trip, taking photographs. That day the doctor permitted an invalid lad and his mother, who had waited a week for fine weather, to depart on the tractor for the hotel. I also decided to return. with a friend who had been Stenographer at the Hotel, and we were to make it a leisurely trip, taking photographs.
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 ===== See Tasmania For Two Shillings ===== ===== See Tasmania For Two Shillings =====
  
-Dot English. +Dot English [Dot Butler] 
-" + 
-In a weak moment I happened to mention to our newly-appointed Editress, Miss Hyles (( [sic] "Byles")), that I had just completed a 400-mile bicycle tour of Tasmania of a fortnight's duration, and had only spent two shillings for food on the trip. Immediately she pounced on me and demanded an account of my jaunt for the next "Bushwalker", under the heading of "See Tasmania for Two Shillings," (( [sic] )) Well, what could I do but obey? Accordingly, I submit for your delight my potted tale; but it is not true to lable, for I have not included two shillings spent for accommodation at a guest house on the one wet night of the trip, nor have I counted the cost of the food I took with me from home, namely, 1 lb. butter, 1 lb. dates and sultanas and half a loaf of bread. It pains my sense of rectitude to have to mention, also, that I came by a box of fruit on the boat, all of which would have added somewhat to my expenses had I paid for them myself. However, our Marie, being a lawyer, is also sufficient of a psychologist to know that once you get your public interested, by means of a provocative heading, they will generally finish reading the article, so now that I know I've an audience I will continue my tale.+In a weak moment I happened to mention to our newly-appointed Editress, Miss Byles, that I had just completed a 400-mile bicycle tour of Tasmania of a fortnight's duration, and had only spent two shillings for food on the trip. Immediately she pounced on me and demanded an account of my jaunt for the next "Bushwalker", under the heading of "See Tasmania for Two Shillings."  Well, what could I do but obey? Accordingly, I submit for your delight my potted tale; but it is not true to label, for I have not included two shillings spent for accommodation at a guest house on the one wet night of the trip, nor have I counted the cost of the food I took with me from home, namely, 1 lb. butter, 1 lb. dates and sultanas and half a loaf of bread. It pains my sense of rectitude to have to mention, also, that I came by a box of fruit on the boat, all of which would have added somewhat to my expenses had I paid for them myself. However, our Marie, being a lawyer, is also sufficient of a psychologist to know that once you get your public interested, by means of a provocative heading, they will generally finish reading the article, so now that I know I've an audience I will continue my tale.
  
 I am not going to burden you with a detailed day-to-day itinerary. I would have to spend hours pouring over a map to do this, and so would you, and I know you are just as lazy as I am. I shall, instead, tell you the interesting bits which stand out in my memory, and what I have forgotten is obviously not worthy of remembrance. I am not going to burden you with a detailed day-to-day itinerary. I would have to spend hours pouring over a map to do this, and so would you, and I know you are just as lazy as I am. I shall, instead, tell you the interesting bits which stand out in my memory, and what I have forgotten is obviously not worthy of remembrance.
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 "It would be if I didn't know about it," he replied, "But now that I know about it I wouldn't let you do it". "It would be if I didn't know about it," he replied, "But now that I know about it I wouldn't let you do it".
  
-So here was a deadlock. We both just looked at each other. Suddenly a whistle Kew. "Closing-down time," muttered the official one. "Look," addressing me, "Shove that thing in that shed and we'll see about it in the morning," - which I promptly wasted no time in doing.+So here was a deadlock. We both just looked at each other. Suddenly a whistle blew. "Closing-down time," muttered the official one. "Look," addressing me, "Shove that thing in that shed and we'll see about it in the morning," - which I promptly wasted no time in doing.
  
 The boat sailed the next evening at 6 o'clock, and as I didn't arrive until ten minutes before she was due out, I had only time to ascertain that Lavinia had gone from the shed; and presumed she had been stowed below, which later proved to be correct. The boat sailed the next evening at 6 o'clock, and as I didn't arrive until ten minutes before she was due out, I had only time to ascertain that Lavinia had gone from the shed; and presumed she had been stowed below, which later proved to be correct.
  
-A little lass who came racing up, all breathless, to wave me a fond farewell a few minutes before the boat drew out, brought as a parting gift a packet of dried fruits; but as she was not allowed on board she tied it to a streamer I held, and the whole concourse of people watched with bated breath while I carefully drew up the precious packet on its flimsy attachment. As I finally reached out and grakbed it a loud cheer rent the air, and the sigh of relief from several hundred throats caused many of the streamers to snap - or was it that the boat was moving out?+A little lass who came racing up, all breathless, to wave me a fond farewell a few minutes before the boat drew out, brought as a parting gift a packet of dried fruits; but as she was not allowed on board she tied it to a streamer I held, and the whole concourse of people watched with bated breath while I carefully drew up the precious packet on its flimsy attachment. As I finally reached out and grabbed it a loud cheer rent the air, and the sigh of relief from several hundred throats caused many of the streamers to snap - or was it that the boat was moving out?
  
 Soon the last streamer was snapped, the last eye piped, the last handkerchief waved, and the crowd on the wharf faded from sight and we were Southward bound. Soon the last streamer was snapped, the last eye piped, the last handkerchief waved, and the crowd on the wharf faded from sight and we were Southward bound.
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 For the next half-hour everyone was too preoccupied with food to be conversational. However, meal over, we all went on deck to become acquainted. For the next half-hour everyone was too preoccupied with food to be conversational. However, meal over, we all went on deck to become acquainted.
  
-While doing the rounds with others from our table, Fate saw fit to arrange a meeting between myself and an attractive young Danish lad. He had taken the trip to get away from women, and I ditto, ditto, ditto. ditto. to get away from men. As we had so much in common, we immediatelt (( [sic] immediately )) knew we were soul-mates, and spent the rest of the time together, - that is, except at meal times, for we had been placed at different tables and the Head Steward found he couldn't change our places, for reasons known only to himself, but nevertheless suspected by me; for later I saw him so pally with the youth in charge of the ladies' bathroom that you'd think they were brother and sister. Now there had arisen an insuperable barrier between this Knight of the Ladies' Bathroom and myself, as I shall hasten to explain:+While doing the rounds with others from our table, Fate saw fit to arrange a meeting between myself and an attractive young Danish lad. He had taken the trip to get away from women, and I ditto, ditto, ditto. ditto. to get away from men. As we had so much in common, we immediately knew we were soul-mates, and spent the rest of the time together, - that is, except at meal times, for we had been placed at different tables and the Head Steward found he couldn't change our places, for reasons known only to himself, but nevertheless suspected by me; for later I saw him so pally with the youth in charge of the ladies' bathroom that you'd think they were brother and sister. Now there had arisen an insuperable barrier between this Knight of the Ladies' Bathroom and myself, as I shall hasten to explain:
  
 Naturally, I was travelling light, so was unencumbered with kimino, topcoat, or the like. On the first morning, at the insistence of the second gong which was being violently clashed up and down the corridors, I fell out of my top bunk and made a hasty dash for the adjoining bathroom, draped in a ship's bed-spread. Naturally, I was travelling light, so was unencumbered with kimino, topcoat, or the like. On the first morning, at the insistence of the second gong which was being violently clashed up and down the corridors, I fell out of my top bunk and made a hasty dash for the adjoining bathroom, draped in a ship's bed-spread.
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 I swallowed this in good faith for the first two days; but my illusions gradually vanished as time went by and I realised that the good road, like the Fata Morgana, retreated always before me as I pursued it. However, I reconciled myself by remembering that I had a whole fortnight in which to cover the journey. The countryside was magnificant (( [sic] magnificent )), and certainly did not warrant one's passing hastily through it. I swallowed this in good faith for the first two days; but my illusions gradually vanished as time went by and I realised that the good road, like the Fata Morgana, retreated always before me as I pursued it. However, I reconciled myself by remembering that I had a whole fortnight in which to cover the journey. The countryside was magnificant (( [sic] magnificent )), and certainly did not warrant one's passing hastily through it.
  
-From Burnie for 25 miles the road follews the northern coast-line, giving one views of long stretches of blue ocean dotted with rugged, green-topped islets, and secluded little sandy beaches for swimming.+From Burnie for 25 miles the road follows the northern coast-line, giving one views of long stretches of blue ocean dotted with rugged, green-topped islets, and secluded little sandy beaches for swimming.
  
 From Devonport on the coast, the road runs inland through typical English countryside - golden fields surrounded by hawthorn hedges, each field holding a neat, well-made haystack; shapely English trees raising their stately heads and adding to the richness of the landscape; convict-built buildings, some in ruins and some as good as the day they wore constructed; heaped stone walls, also the work of convict labourers; and blackberries, blackberries, blackberries. Never before had I seen so many blackberries all at the one time. You could stand in one spot and fill a bucket without taking a step. It might be fair to the Main Roads Board of Tasmania (if any) to admit that my slow rate of progress was due as much to this overplus (( [sic] Dated synonym of surplus )) of berries as to the condition of the roads. My trail through the island was blazed by a track denuded of blackberries, just as though a grass-hopper plague had passed through. One might mention, also, that Tasmania is very richly supplied with orchards - a veritable Paradise to the vegetarian. Without stressing the obvious, it is easy to see how a vegetarian with broad vision could easily pass through at practically no expense to herself, moreover, without committing any petty theft. From Devonport on the coast, the road runs inland through typical English countryside - golden fields surrounded by hawthorn hedges, each field holding a neat, well-made haystack; shapely English trees raising their stately heads and adding to the richness of the landscape; convict-built buildings, some in ruins and some as good as the day they wore constructed; heaped stone walls, also the work of convict labourers; and blackberries, blackberries, blackberries. Never before had I seen so many blackberries all at the one time. You could stand in one spot and fill a bucket without taking a step. It might be fair to the Main Roads Board of Tasmania (if any) to admit that my slow rate of progress was due as much to this overplus (( [sic] Dated synonym of surplus )) of berries as to the condition of the roads. My trail through the island was blazed by a track denuded of blackberries, just as though a grass-hopper plague had passed through. One might mention, also, that Tasmania is very richly supplied with orchards - a veritable Paradise to the vegetarian. Without stressing the obvious, it is easy to see how a vegetarian with broad vision could easily pass through at practically no expense to herself, moreover, without committing any petty theft.
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 The road has been mounting steadily all day, and I've been doing a deal of walking up hills. In the early afternoon I struck a trail of tomatoes, apparently shed from a passing cart. I followed them' up hill for about half a mile, collecting the =squashed specimens in a sugar-bag I carried slung on the handlebars for just such scavenging purposes. Like the Man with the Muck Rake, my eyes were never raised above the ground, and my thoughts were following distinctly mundane channels, making laborious calculations as to the marketable value of my unexpected harvest if I swopped (( [sic] )) half of it at the next township for butter or tomatoes butter being worth about 2/- per lb. and tomatoes 2d. per lb. retail. The road has been mounting steadily all day, and I've been doing a deal of walking up hills. In the early afternoon I struck a trail of tomatoes, apparently shed from a passing cart. I followed them' up hill for about half a mile, collecting the =squashed specimens in a sugar-bag I carried slung on the handlebars for just such scavenging purposes. Like the Man with the Muck Rake, my eyes were never raised above the ground, and my thoughts were following distinctly mundane channels, making laborious calculations as to the marketable value of my unexpected harvest if I swopped (( [sic] )) half of it at the next township for butter or tomatoes butter being worth about 2/- per lb. and tomatoes 2d. per lb. retail.
  
-Being so preoccupied, I was entirely unprepared for the magnificant panorama which suddenly confronted me on topping the rise. About a mile below, the Tamar Valley stretched away into the far distance, with Launceston and its outlying suburbs dotted along its meandering banks like miniature dolls' houses.+Being so preoccupied, I was entirely unprepared for the magnificent panorama which suddenly confronted me on topping the rise. About a mile below, the Tamar Valley stretched away into the far distance, with Launceston and its outlying suburbs dotted along its meandering banks like miniature dolls' houses.
  
 As I stood propped against a post admiring the view, a youth emerged from a nearby store and approached me, wheeling a bike. He was clad in our regulation Bushwalker garb as far up as the neck; but there the similarity ceased, for his head was graced by an immaculate Bond Street model, its noble lines somewhat disfigured by a tattered fly-veil, for Tasmania was supposed to be suffering from a plague of flies. He was holidaying per bike, as I was. Being unwilling to put his hat in his pack, where it might be crushed, he had perforce to wear it. As I stood propped against a post admiring the view, a youth emerged from a nearby store and approached me, wheeling a bike. He was clad in our regulation Bushwalker garb as far up as the neck; but there the similarity ceased, for his head was graced by an immaculate Bond Street model, its noble lines somewhat disfigured by a tattered fly-veil, for Tasmania was supposed to be suffering from a plague of flies. He was holidaying per bike, as I was. Being unwilling to put his hat in his pack, where it might be crushed, he had perforce to wear it.
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 Miles out of Hobart I met a boy wheeling his bike along. It was the usual story - a puncture and no pump. I offered to race into the next town, about five miles away, and buy him a pump, but he said it wouldn't be fair to make me ride an extra ten miles when I had already come so far, and that the walk would do him good. I walked with him for about a mile and found him fine company. As he had already been walking for several hours before I met him, I made a secret resolve to speed ahead, and bring him back a pump after all, so waving a cheery farewell, departed. It was a very small town; but the local store was well-stocked and soon procured me a pump. I left my pack with the storekeeper and raced back to the lad. We had the puncture repaired in a few minutes; but then discovered that the front fork was practically broken through. It would have been dangerous to ride, so it had to be wheeled after all. Miles out of Hobart I met a boy wheeling his bike along. It was the usual story - a puncture and no pump. I offered to race into the next town, about five miles away, and buy him a pump, but he said it wouldn't be fair to make me ride an extra ten miles when I had already come so far, and that the walk would do him good. I walked with him for about a mile and found him fine company. As he had already been walking for several hours before I met him, I made a secret resolve to speed ahead, and bring him back a pump after all, so waving a cheery farewell, departed. It was a very small town; but the local store was well-stocked and soon procured me a pump. I left my pack with the storekeeper and raced back to the lad. We had the puncture repaired in a few minutes; but then discovered that the front fork was practically broken through. It would have been dangerous to ride, so it had to be wheeled after all.
  
-My newly-found friend was due back at Hobart the following evening, and the only means of conveyance was the mail-car, at the exhorbit ant price of 15/- for the trip, which sum he did not possess. However, by pooling our brains, we soon formulated a brilliant plan. We put up at the local hotel at l/6 a head, and next Morning sent the damaged bike on to Hobart for 1/-, per the mail car, while we both set out with my bike to do the 25 miles to Hobart.+My newly-found friend was due back at Hobart the following evening, and the only means of conveyance was the mail-car, at the exorbitant price of 15/- for the trip, which sum he did not possess. However, by pooling our brains, we soon formulated a brilliant plan. We put up at the local hotel at l/6 a head, and next Morning sent the damaged bike on to Hobart for 1/-, per the mail car, while we both set out with my bike to do the 25 miles to Hobart.
  
 Double-banking was impossible on the equally impossible roads, so we worked on the following system. I would ride the bike down a hill and up the next, at the top of which I would leave it by the roadside and walk on. By the time I was at the bottom of the next hill my rear-man would have reached the bike, and would ride it down the hill and up the next, on whose summit he would leave it for me and walk on. In this way we achieved many miles. We were resting at the bottom of a steep hill, paddling in the creek and eating the interminable blackberry, when a lorry of road-workers pulled up and offered us a lift for six or seven miles. This was very cheering; but the piece of information passed on by one of the men was far from cheering; to wit, that my map was decidedly faulty. (We still had twenty-nine miles to do to reach Hobart.) However, they told us that several timber lorries would be passing through within the two hours, and we could easily get a lift in. So we cheered up again, and sure enough, we hadn't left the road-workers more than a mile behind when a timber lorry pulled up, and we heaved the bike aboard and were driven right into town to the Mail Depot, where my companion of the road regained possession of his vehicle. I accompanied him to the local oxy-welder's, where he wished to have his bike repaired. Double-banking was impossible on the equally impossible roads, so we worked on the following system. I would ride the bike down a hill and up the next, at the top of which I would leave it by the roadside and walk on. By the time I was at the bottom of the next hill my rear-man would have reached the bike, and would ride it down the hill and up the next, on whose summit he would leave it for me and walk on. In this way we achieved many miles. We were resting at the bottom of a steep hill, paddling in the creek and eating the interminable blackberry, when a lorry of road-workers pulled up and offered us a lift for six or seven miles. This was very cheering; but the piece of information passed on by one of the men was far from cheering; to wit, that my map was decidedly faulty. (We still had twenty-nine miles to do to reach Hobart.) However, they told us that several timber lorries would be passing through within the two hours, and we could easily get a lift in. So we cheered up again, and sure enough, we hadn't left the road-workers more than a mile behind when a timber lorry pulled up, and we heaved the bike aboard and were driven right into town to the Mail Depot, where my companion of the road regained possession of his vehicle. I accompanied him to the local oxy-welder's, where he wished to have his bike repaired.
193605.txt · Last modified: 2015/11/30 12:26 by sbw
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