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- | ====== The Sydney Bushwalker ====== | + | ====== |
A Journal devoted to matters of interest to the\\ | A Journal devoted to matters of interest to the\\ | ||
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The most popular trip was to Yerranderie and the Colong caves, the popularity being due to cheap bus fares from Camden arranged by an enterprising Yerranderie resident desiring to see his township a tourist resort and not merely a mining village. Of course, many of our members went considerably farther afield than the Caves, despite the various entertainments staged in Yerranderie for their benefit. | The most popular trip was to Yerranderie and the Colong caves, the popularity being due to cheap bus fares from Camden arranged by an enterprising Yerranderie resident desiring to see his township a tourist resort and not merely a mining village. Of course, many of our members went considerably farther afield than the Caves, despite the various entertainments staged in Yerranderie for their benefit. | ||
- | Peter Page and Ray Birt took a small party over the end of Clear Hill and went with them to the " | + | Peter Page and Ray Birt took a small party over the end of Clear Hill and went with them to the " |
- | Grace Edgecombe and Marie Byles took several members from a recently formed society known as the Highbrow Hikers, (Double H, no relation to Toc H) over the highlands behind Omega and Berry on the South Coast, and got the full benefit of the rains which swept in from the sea. | + | Grace Edgecombe and Marie Byles took several members from a recently formed society known as the Highbrow Hikers, (Double H, no relation to Too H) over the highlands behind Omega and Berry on the South Coast, and got the full benefit of the rains which swept in from the sea. |
- | Jean Trimble, Richard Croker, Tom Moppett, Dorothy Lawry, Phil and Wally Roots went from Oberon to Morong Falls above the Kowmung, and indicating the country we wish to see made into the Blue Mountains National Park, they met the following other parties at one stage or another of their journey: The The (( [sic] )) Rigbys | + | Jean Trimble, Richard Croker, Tom Moppett, Dorothy Lawry, Phil [Phyllis Roots] |
- | The Cox' | + | The Coxs River saw a number of parties besides that of George Dibley' |
If Easter trips are any indication, there is more than sufficient evidence as to which country is most loved by the Bush Walkers and why it is so urgently necessary that it should be converted into a Blue Mountains National Park. | If Easter trips are any indication, there is more than sufficient evidence as to which country is most loved by the Bush Walkers and why it is so urgently necessary that it should be converted into a Blue Mountains National Park. | ||
- | In addition to the Easter trips, we must record that taken prior to Easter by Jean Travis, Gordon Mannell and Jessie Martin from the south of the South Coast across the Tablelands to the Main Southern Line. From Moruya, the party went up the Deua River, crossed the Highlands, investigated the little known Bendithers | + | In addition to the Easter trips, we must record that taken prior to Easter by Jean Travis, Gordon Mannell and Jessie Martin from the south of the South Coast across the Tablelands to the Main Southern Line. From Moruya, the party went up the Deua River, crossed the Highlands, investigated the little known Bendethera |
We are also surprised and relieved to be able to report that Frank Freeguard, Marie Byles, Suzanne Reichard and Dot English have returned safely from a rock-climbing expedition to the Warrumbungle Mountains in the company of the former president of what was generally known as the Katoomba Suicide Club. The expedition, or more precisely Dot and Dr. Dark, succeeded in making the first ascent of the Split Rock, involving a particularly difficult rock-climb. Dot's remarkable climbing ability probably accounted for their success and if she lived in a more mountainous land it would also probably make her almost world-famous. | We are also surprised and relieved to be able to report that Frank Freeguard, Marie Byles, Suzanne Reichard and Dot English have returned safely from a rock-climbing expedition to the Warrumbungle Mountains in the company of the former president of what was generally known as the Katoomba Suicide Club. The expedition, or more precisely Dot and Dr. Dark, succeeded in making the first ascent of the Split Rock, involving a particularly difficult rock-climb. Dot's remarkable climbing ability probably accounted for their success and if she lived in a more mountainous land it would also probably make her almost world-famous. | ||
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|Q. Where can I see the devil' | |Q. Where can I see the devil' | ||
- | |A. At the S.B.W. Club room Fridays, between 6 and 7.30 p.m. | + | |A. At the S.B.W. Club room Fridays, between 6 and 7.30 p.m.| |
|Q. My shorts, although comparatively new, always seem to split. Do you think the material is faulty?| | |Q. My shorts, although comparatively new, always seem to split. Do you think the material is faulty?| | ||
|A. So it seems.| | |A. So it seems.| | ||
- | |Q. How will I get down the old goat track from Wentworth Falls to Kedumba | + | |Q. How will I get down the old goat track from Wentworth Falls to Kedumba |
|A. Probably with a sprained ankle, broken leg, and much bad language.| | |A. Probably with a sprained ankle, broken leg, and much bad language.| | ||
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===== A Canadian Comment On Our Disparagement Of The Term " | ===== A Canadian Comment On Our Disparagement Of The Term " | ||
+ | |||
+ | (( ? Possibly in reply to "The Federation - A Whimsy" | ||
' Hiking (tell the S.B.W.) means to **us** long tramps into unfrequented places where we cook meals having " | ' Hiking (tell the S.B.W.) means to **us** long tramps into unfrequented places where we cook meals having " | ||
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(( Just a quick note. I found it interesting to see ' | (( Just a quick note. I found it interesting to see ' | ||
- | 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, | + | 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, |
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' | + | 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' | 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' | ||
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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, | 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, | ||
- | 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 " | + | 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 " |
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 " | 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 " | ||
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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 " | 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 " | ||
- | Meantime it continued to snow and the movie photographers began to hatch diobolical | + | Meantime it continued to snow and the movie photographers began to hatch diabolical |
Scene 1: The experts, as they do their famous high jump, knocking an apple off the photographer' | Scene 1: The experts, as they do their famous high jump, knocking an apple off the photographer' | ||
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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 | + | 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 |
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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---- | ---- | ||
- | ===== PADDY COMES DOWN IN THE WORLD ===== | + | ===== Paddy Comes Down In The World ===== |
- | Having tired of the exhilarating and rarified atmosphere of the second floor and being unable to redeem certain promises regarding an escalator and/or lift, Paddy has shifted | + | Having tired of the exhilarating and rarified atmosphere of the second floor and being unable to redeem certain promises regarding an escalator and/or lift, Paddy has shifted |
In these new roomy premises, Paddy has ample floor and shelf space adequately to display his gear. All Bushwalkers are cordially invited to come along and have a look. | In these new roomy premises, Paddy has ample floor and shelf space adequately to display his gear. All Bushwalkers are cordially invited to come along and have a look. | ||
- | FASHION NOTE: | + | **Fashion Note**: |
Sleeping bags are being worn extensively this season, Slumber Green being the popular colour, filled with the duckiest down. They may be fitted with hoods, frills, zipps or elastic tops according to individual taste. | Sleeping bags are being worn extensively this season, Slumber Green being the popular colour, filled with the duckiest down. They may be fitted with hoods, frills, zipps or elastic tops according to individual taste. | ||
- | ECONOMY HINTS: | + | **Economy Hints**: |
- | One of our young marrieds sends the following hint. Have your sleeping bag fitted with an 8 foot zipp and when not camping out, open up the bag and use it as a quilt (purple certificate to Mrs. GolightlyCoalheaver | + | One of our young marrieds sends the following hint. Have your sleeping bag fitted with an 8 foot zipp and when not camping out, open up the bag and use it as a quilt (purple certificate to Mrs. Golightly-Coalheaver |
- | HINT No, 2: | + | **Hint |
- | If the wintry weather works its way through your old bag, have Paddy put a few more ounces down in. It costs 1/1- per ounce for the dawn and 2/- for opening up the bag. 4 oz of down will generally fix the most obstinate case (Two out of ten to Miss Thora Winterbottom, | + | If the wintry weather works its way through your old bag, have Paddy put a few more ounces down in. It costs 1/- per ounce for the down and 2/- for opening up the bag. 4 oz of down will generally fix the most obstinate case (Two out of ten to Miss Thora Winterbottom, |
- | NEW ADDRESS | + | | |**New Address** |
+ | |**Phone B.3101.**|F.A. Pallin. | ||
+ | |:::|327 George Street, Sydney. | ||
+ | |::: |Opposite Palings. | ||
- | Phone B.3101. | + | ===== See Tasmania For Two Shillings ===== |
- | F. A. PALLI N. | + | Dot English [Dot Butler] |
- | 327 GEORGE STREET, SYDNEY. Opposite PALINGS. | + | 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' |
- | - 14 | + | 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. |
- | SEE TASMANIA FOR TWO SHILLINGS, | + | The first important item, after purchasing my ticket for the small sum of £2:15:0 (( Two pounds, fifteen shillings )), was to get my bike aboard - preferably without paying for it. Accordingly I rode Lavinia down to the wharf at about 1 o' |
- | Dot English. | + | " |
- | In a weak moment I happened to mention to our newly-appointed Editress, Miss Hyles, that I had just completed a 400-mile bicycle tour of Tasmania of a fortnight' | + | "Receipt! What receipt?" |
- | 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 wbuld you, and I know you are just as lazy as I am. I shall, instead, tell you the interesting | + | "For **that**" |
- | The first important item, after purchasing my ticket for the small sum of Z2:150, was to get my bike aboard - preferably without paying for it. Accordingly | + | "Oh, that's all right", I smiled cheerfully, "The boy in the office says it goes as passenger's luggage |
- | "Receiptl What receipt?" | + | "Then he doesn' |
- | "For that" - indicating | + | "Well I haven' |
- | "Then he doesntt | + | "It would be if I didn' |
- | he strung off a list of wheeled vehicles, including bikes. | + | So here was a deadlock. We both just looked at each other. Suddenly a whistle |
- | + | ||
- | "Well I haven' | + | |
- | + | ||
- | "It would be if I didn't know about it," he replied, "But now that I knor about it I wouldn' | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Sc here was a deadlock. We both just looked at each other. Suddenly a whistle | + | |
The boat sailed the next evening at 6 o' | The boat sailed the next evening at 6 o' | ||
- | -15 - | + | 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? |
- | A little lass Who came racing up, all breathless, to wave me a fond farewell a few minutes before the boat drew oat, 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' | + | 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. |
- | + | ||
- | goon 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. | + | |
When the bell rang for dinner we weren' | When the bell rang for dinner we weren' | ||
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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 =men, and I'ditto, ditto, ditto. ditto. to get away from men. As we had so much in common,'we immediatelt | + | 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 |
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. | ||
- | I was Somewhat | + | I was somewhat |
- | "I say, I'm sorry," | + | "I say, I'm sorry," |
" | " | ||
- | " | + | " |
Say that to an Australian and he'll be amused and think you're a good sport - say it to an Englishman and he'll think you're rough and uncouth - which just goes to prove that there' | Say that to an Australian and he'll be amused and think you're a good sport - say it to an Englishman and he'll think you're rough and uncouth - which just goes to prove that there' | ||
- | The young man was annoyed; I thought it time to retire from the contest, so, haughtily wrapping the bed-spread round me, I stepped into the nearest vacant bathroom. | + | The young man was annoyed. I thought it time to retire from the contest, so, haughtily wrapping the bed-spread round me, I stepped into the nearest vacant bathroom. |
"Yew cawn't go in there," | "Yew cawn't go in there," | ||
- | I bowed, smiled with my teeth, and prepared to enter the adjoining bathroom. "Yew cawn't go hin there hither," | + | I bowed, smiled with my teeth, and prepared to enter the adjoining bathroom. |
- | -16 - | + | "Yew cawn't go hin there hither," |
"Young man," said I, all sarcastic-like, | "Young man," said I, all sarcastic-like, | ||
- | So now you see haw it was that Eustace, being blood brother to the Head Steward, made use of him to spoke my wheel. | + | So now you see how it was that Eustace, being blood brother to the Head Steward, made use of him to spoke my wheel. |
- | Whenever I skulked into the bathroom to be sick, Eustace would crow delightedly, | + | Whenever I skulked into the bathroom to be sick, Eustace would crow delightedly, |
I would give him a withering look, intended to burn him up completely, and then forget all about him and my dignity while Mother Nature took the upper hand. Don't gather from this that I spent most of the time being sick. I think I bore up very well; and had a most enjoyable trip. Still, I did have my moments. | I would give him a withering look, intended to burn him up completely, and then forget all about him and my dignity while Mother Nature took the upper hand. Don't gather from this that I spent most of the time being sick. I think I bore up very well; and had a most enjoyable trip. Still, I did have my moments. | ||
- | 'You may sing of a life at sea, | + | ---- |
- | + | ||
- | With a yo-ho-ho for the winds that blow, | + | |
+ | 'You may sing of a life at sea, | ||
+ | With a yo-ho-ho for the winds that blow, | ||
But (as friend Ernest would say) that's all fiddle-de-de' | But (as friend Ernest would say) that's all fiddle-de-de' | ||
- | and I nearly went Arazy with joy when I went up on deck on the Monday morning and and discovered that we had arrived, and that there was firm land awaiting us. | + | and I nearly went crazy with joy when I went up on deck on the Monday morning and and discovered that we had arrived, and that there was firm land awaiting us. |
- | As the boat did not leave Burnie until evening, most of the passengers went ashore, and a crowd of us spent the day ' | + | As the boat did not leave Burnie until evening, most of the passengers went ashore, and a crowd of us spent the day ' |
" | " | ||
- | I should have taken that as an omen - but no, - I smiled a superior sort of smile as much as to say, "Ten miles? | + | I should have taken that as an omen - but no, - I smiled a superior sort of smile as much as to say, "Ten miles? |
- | + | ||
- | "Oho I just keep going," | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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 magnificantj and certainly did not warrant one's passing httgtily. threrugh | + | |
- | + | ||
- | - 17 - | + | |
- | + | ||
- | From Burnie for 25 miles the "road fellews the northern coast-line, giving . one views of long stretches of blue ocean d.:;ted 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 surrour_cled by hawthorn hedges, each field holding a neat, well-11184e haystack; shapely 2nglish 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; | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Tasmania is a land of Lots-of-Time. In the countryside the amber air lies so quiet over the sleeping hills and dales, and even in the towns of Launceston and Hobart nobody hurries. One striking difference, comparing these towns with Sydney, is that the traffic gives way to pedestrians. I didnit see old ladies frantically dashing across the main streets, as in Sydney. If they happened to be half my across as a motor car approached, the car would pull up....and take it quite as a matter of course. I saw no traffic cops, although I was informed that there was one in Hobart. However, I havenit come to Hobart yet; Pm just approaching Launceston. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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' | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Being so preoccupied, | + | |
- | As I stood propped against | + | " |
- | 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 immacultte Bond Street model, its noble lines somewhat disfigured by a tattered fly-veil, for Tasmania was supposed to be suffering from a plague of faies, 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 | + | 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 |
- | - 18 | + | 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. |
- | BB had been out a week now, and the hat was still shining in all its pristine glory. As we were both going the same wayiwe forthwith joined forces, and together raced down the mountain side, taking | + | From Devonport on the coast, the road runs inland through typical English countryside - golden fields surrounded by hawthorn hedges, each field holding |
- | my comrade celebrated his many narrow escapes from death dawn the mountain side, by promptly running into a P.M.G. car, which brought him up with a jerk that buckled his frame so badly it looked like the back of a camel. It was only now that I discovered this rash youth had been riding a fixed-wheel bike, converted into a free-wheeler, with no brake on it. I think my heart is as strong as most; but it nearly stopped dead as I thought | + | Tasmania is a land of Lots-of-Time. In the countryside the amber air lies so quiet over the sleeping hills and dales, and even in the towns of Launceston and Hobart nobody hurries. One striking difference, comparing these towns with Sydney, is that the traffic gives way to pedestrians. I didn't see old ladies frantically dashing across the main streets, as in Sydney. If they happened to be half way across as a motor car approached, the car would pull up....and take it quite as a matter |
- | we spent the afternoon | + | The road has been mounting steadily all day, and I've been doing a deal of walking up hills. In the early afternoon |
- | My companion was a very merry lad. He said I simply must COMR and stay with friends of his for the night, as he wouldn' | + | 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 |
- | About eleven o' | + | As I stood propped against a post admiring the view, a youth emerged from a nearby store and approached |
- | pasted through | + | He had been out a week now, and the hat was still shining in all its pristine glory. As we were both going the same way, we forthwith joined forces, and together raced down the mountain side, taking the hairpin bends on one wheel and laughing like a couple of maniacs, while the wind tried to whip us from our seats. We swooped into the main street of Launceston, all breathless and wind-blown, and here my comrade celebrated his many narrow escapes from death down the mountain side, by promptly running into a P.M.G. car, which brought him up with a jerk that buckled his frame so badly it looked like the back of a camel. It was only now that I discovered this rash youth had been riding a fixed-wheel bike, converted into a free-wheeler, with no brake on it. I think my heart is as strong as most; but it nearly stopped dead as I thought of the risks he had been taking, egged on to greater speed by me. As I had a hand brake as well as a back-pedal one, I gave him my hand brake, |
- | very soon passed into more pleasant country, although | + | My companion was a very merry lad. He said I simply must come and stay with friends of his for the night, as he wouldn' |
- | Lavinia managed | + | About eleven o' |
- | -19 | + | Lavinia managed to achieve a puncture about nine miles from the nearest town, and as I had burst my pump three days ago I could not mend it. I had wheeled her hardly more than a hundred yards, when I encountered two youthful schoolboys in Dad's car, out to do a spot of shooting, with crows and rabbits as game. They had a pump which was made to fit my bike, and we soon had the damage repaired, the lads almost fighting to see who was to do the knightly act for the ladye (( [sic] Archaic spelling of lady )) in distress, while all the fayre (( [sic] )) ladye had to do was to look on and give praise for their remarkable speed and handiness with rubber solution and patches. They insisted on presenting me with a rabbit corpse, which I accepted so as not to hurt their feelings, despite the fact that the billy I carried was of such miniature proportions that not more than the beastie' |
- | One of the little inland towns - a. sedate and charming place is well-known for the good echo which can be awakened | + | One of the little inland towns - a sedate and charming place - is well-known for the good echo which can be awakened |
- | The East Coast is considered to have some of the finest scenery on the Island. Certainly, its beaches are exquisite, with sands as white as snow and sparkling water said to be as blue as the Aegean Sea; deep purple in the shadows. The numerous islets, some flat and some in the form of mountains rising sheer from the sea, make this coast-line so different from what we knau on the mainland. | + | The East Coast is considered to have some of the finest scenery on the Island. Certainly, its beaches are exquisite, with sands as white as snow and sparkling water said to be as blue as the Aegean Sea; deep purple in the shadows. The numerous islets, some flat and some in the form of mountains rising sheer from the sea, make this coast-line so different from what we know on the mainland. |
Proceeding down this coast we came to the orchard country, where apples, pears and plums were being picked and packed. | Proceeding down this coast we came to the orchard country, where apples, pears and plums were being picked and packed. | ||
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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' | 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' | ||
- | My newly-found friend | + | My newly-found friend |
- | Double-banking was impossible on the equally impossible roads, so we worked on the following system. I would ride the bike dawn a hill and up the next, at the top of which I would leave it by the roadside and walk on. By the time WRS 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 | + | 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' |
- | + | ||
- | 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' | + | |
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- | - 20 - | + | |
Apparently Hobart is somewhat pre-War and conventional in its morals. The oxy-welding expert, a man of brawn and muscle, stared at me as I dismounted, with eyes that popped white from his grimy face. | Apparently Hobart is somewhat pre-War and conventional in its morals. The oxy-welding expert, a man of brawn and muscle, stared at me as I dismounted, with eyes that popped white from his grimy face. | ||
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" | " | ||
- | So I thought it prudent to go out to the back of his workshop and change into my longiuns. | + | So I thought it prudent to go out to the back of his workshop and change into my long' |
- | " | + | " |
- | Before I left I was given directions for finding the road to the top of Mount Wellington, where I had planned to camp. It was now almost dark, and as | + | Before I left I was given directions for finding the road to the top of Mount Wellington, where I had planned to camp. It was now almost dark, and as I didn't have a lamp I thought I'd better hurry; but I hadn't gone very far when the oxy-welder' |
- | I didn't have a lamp I thought I'd better hurry; but I hadn't gone very far when the oxy-welder' | + | I spent all the next day luxuriating on the beach, only going into town to find out how the boats were running. As I had been a fortnight away, I thought |
- | I spent all the next day luxuriating on the beach, only going into town to find out haw the boats were running. As I had been a fortnight away, I.thought it time I returned to the bosom of my family, so finding | + | We left Hobart in bright sunshine, and after two wet and drizzly days, arrived in a wet and drizzly Sydney. Still, there' |
- | We left Hobart in bright sunshine, and after two wet and drizzly days, arrived in a wet and drizzly Sydney. Still, there' | + | ---- |
- | as the gangway was run up and I stepped ashore, I realised that it's good to have a home to return to, when all is said and done. It would be a lonely | + | Books! 'Tis dull and endless strife:\\ |
+ | Come, hear the woodland linnet,\\ | ||
+ | How sweet his music! on my life,\\ | ||
+ | There' | ||
- | Books! 'Tis dull and endless strife: Come, hear the woodland linnet, Haw sweet his music on my life, There' | + | W. Wordsworth. |
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- | Wo Warder/ | + | |
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- | e. | + | |
+ | ---- | ||
193605.1424646080.txt.gz · Last modified: 2015/02/23 10:01 by elddawt