User Tools

Site Tools


195805

This is an old revision of the document!


TiE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER A monthly bulletin of matters of interest to the Sydney Bush Walkers, c/- Ingersoll Hall, 256 Crown Street, Sydney. Box No. 4476, G.P.O. Sydney. !Phone JW 1462. 281 MAY, 1958 Price 1/-d. Editor: Gaol Wagg, 131 St. Georges Ores.) Drummoyne MI 3435 (B) 1-2 p m. Business Manager: Brian Harvey Reproduction: Jess Martin Sales & Subs: Jess -Martin Typed By: Grace Wagg CONTENTS wa. The Answer Is The Question 1 At Our April General Meeting - Geof Wagg 2 The Sanitarium Health Food Shop (advt.) 3 Magnificence In The - ullouldylf 3 Your. Walking Guide 6 Leica Photo Service (advt.): 7 Signs Of Things To Come - Joan Walker 7 Hat swell' s Taxi & Tourist Service (advert.) 9 Greater Blue Mountains National Park Project - . - Myles J. Dunphy 9 , What Happened On The 3ast1e Trip - “Bullmoose” 12 . Attention Please - “Blue Gum” 14 The Challenge - -,Geof Wagg , 15 The Fed. (very) Reunion . !Caron 16 Barrington Blues or Joan's Moans - Joan Walker 17 Paddy News (advt.) 20 - suppOse almost everyone who climbs, especially when they're new or out of practice, ',at some time gets this feeling. It usually comes at the wrong moment 5, just before the most difficult or exposed part of a climb. You look down and the ground level seems to have receededwith a rush. All at once you get the feeling that you'd like to it down on something large and flat and hang on with both hands, and how you envy those people down there so unconcernedly doing things that are perfectly safe. What am I doing here? Risking my life in a dirty, scrubby crack on the side of an insignificant–chunk of rocki Where amI going? Up to the top just to come down again (if I'm lucky). What good does it do? What madne ss II“ 2. Once started on the climb, it's not so bad, and by the time you've pulled yourself up that last little pinch you've begun to feel as though you own the whole mountain. And then the summit, the view, the comradeship and abseiling down again in great swoops sixty or a hundred feet. Ohl Why do we climb? Why do we eat? G Goof Wagg With our brand new President in the chair and a comfortable number of members present, the April meeting got off to a good start by pinning the Flannel Flower Badge on Margaret Ryan. A Tipperary welcome to_you Irish, and lang may y1 lum reek. (horn, something wrong there.) The next thing Margaret knew, she had been elected Assistant Secretary as well. It seems that about the only time our meetings can reach a rapid decision is when they have some innocent willing to do a job of work for thorn. In the correspondence we received Dave Roots explanation of the Press interview which roused the interest of so many members. The facts appear to be that to gain publicity for other clubs of which he is a member, Dave allowed himself to be interviewed, and in the midst of a waiter of descriptions of breatht aking feat s on, rook and snow, first ascent s, etc., he chanced to lot slip a mention of some ascents of the Harbour Bridge. Needless to says he (and his clubs) wore almost as horrified as we to see the way in which the article was written up; and the S13.14*, whose spotless? name hadntt even been mentioned, must have come from the file of a previous occasion. Apparently the Gluts that David was representing find this type of publicity a stimulant to waning membership. It will be interesting to see what effect it has on our own. After this the meeting really got down to business, and as we were wading through the reports, Ken Meadows' wife, who is new to all this, leaned across to Henry Gold (a fellow countryman) and whispered, !glow long do those meetings laigh?ri “Oh, they never finish before ten osclockit returned Henry with conviction borne of painfull experience.. Just to make him wrongs when the reports were concluded there was no general business, so the President was able to hring down the Bone at a little after nine. A jtgly good meeting. Wish there were more the etamei or…..nommornmersomnimengs11. Lady's threepocket frame Rucksack as new 5/10/.. See Bill Rodgers 3. HEALTH FOOD SHOP on4NEGETARIAN CAFET SOMETHING NEW IN FOOD' VEGETARIAN SAUSAGES A meatless high-protein food which comes to you in cans. May be fried, broiled or grilled over your campfire. Delicious for 'breakfast with eggs - or added to your evening stew in place of fresh meat. They're sustaining toot!, You'll find that Sanitarium Vegetable Sausages make eating at any meal more superb. Try a tin on your next trip!! 13 HUNTER ST SYDNEY. 8W1725. INTHLEOILEST Recently, I was returning from Tokyo to Sydney by air and. learned that, if I came back via Bangkok, I could spend .an additional 24 and fly to Siem Reap and back to Bangkok, and then on to Sydney. You can imagine my delight in learning this, for never have I been in a position to spend only 24 and see one of the greatest Wonders of the World. Siem Reap is l hours' flight by Royal Air Camboge from Bangkok, generally 'III an easterly directions The Siam Reap Airport is quite a friendly affair. The three customs and Immigration officials checked one's papers and passports, another man collected the tickets out of Siam Reap, then passengers and officers all step in the only bus, the door of the air terminal is locked, and the whole party rattles off, to Angkor. The Customs and Police officers are dropped just before the Hotels The Grand Hotel is rather a palatial two.-storey affair, with tiled floors throughout, every room with its own bathroom, and downstairs the Dining Room, Lounge Rooms and Terraces all with their own special collection of small lizards clambering over the walls. In each bathroom there was a large urn of water and on top of it a lid with a small, short-handled dippers I cleaned my teeth in the tap water, and -then realised I had probably caught some tropic germ, and that I should have used the water from the urn. However, it was too late. It also crossed my mind that perhaps, like Hong Kong, Angkor had a water Shortage and at certain hours of the day it was cut off. Therefore, this could be used for flushing Am the toilets. It was not until two days later that I learnt that the Buddhists always wash in a squatting position and pour water over themselves, and so these urns were for the many Buddhist visitors to wash in their own traditional manner. I did not suffer any ill effects from brushing my teeth or drinking the water. On arrival at the Hotel, the driver said, alien minutes before the first inspection”, so I quickly registered, took my only piece of luggage, my rucksack, up to my room; and came down, at in the bus, and we did,, in fact, move off in ten minutes. Fifteen minutes later, along a good tarred road; we passed an immense shoot of water. It was the moat 200 yards wide around the building of Angkor Wat. In one portion, there was a great expanse of carmine-tipped lotus in full flower. Over another area, there was an equally large clump 9f-puTe,white labile, holding their blooms up to the sun and recalling that poetic na*for-the Buddha, 110h, thou jewel in the lotus blossom”. The Ohinege look upon tho lotus as being a symbol of purity and excellence because g gob a perfect anii symmetrical thing of beauty can coma from the dark mud of #40 lalc9/ On past thtp wonderful sight we drove to Angkor Thom. This is approached :through the Victory Gate, on either side of which are a row of demons and also of-gods. Thew groat statues are supporting a stone ballustrade. Hero is even a much larger moat that had once boon filled with water. Inside was open park-like forests and there, set amongst the trees, was the Temple of the i3ompassionate Buddha. On the many towers wore the heads of Buddha facing four ways, with the smile of compassion on his abhor- wise stern lips, the greying lichens on the immense foaturos adding to the softness. We entered onto a terrace, and there commoncod reading the hit cry carved in stone of the Khymor race which put this building up about 1,000 years ago. The carving is vigorously and clearly done, and dhows the sort of food that was oat on, the method of Cooking, otc. Fish wore spoared onto sticks, and about half a dozen roasted at a time over a glowing fire4 Pigs were boiled whoa() in a cauldron. Monkies and poaeocks wore in the troos. One alligator was oven eating a man who had fallen overboard during 4 fight between two canoes. So scones of domestic. affairs and tribal histomles are' carved. We wont along corridors, some filled with a groonish moss on the walls, where a little moisture had soaped in, but most of thorn perfectly dry We clamborod up almost vertical stops onto the next loyal. Hero the area was surrounded with a wide balcony, the rail again made of a stone cobras, ;tho ends being decorated in the form of a seven-headed cobra with hood rect. In the chapels at the four corners on this level, there had boon Lingua stones. Those are of Bhramin origin, the first section being round, the second octagonal, and the lower sootion square. They wore indicative of The Destroyer, Preserver, and C.Ireator. An act of worship was to pour water over the sacrod stone, and so there was a trough to catch the water and a channel to load insido the temple.. The third and topmost section of the building had another chapel, but it was empty. 5. Nearby was the Elephant Terrace, nearly a quarter of a mile long. Life-size elephants supported the ends, and the whole of the front section was carved with elephants in bas-relief facing towards each other. You can just imagine the richness of the effect when real elephants were also used during ceremonial processions. It was on this huge Terrace that King Jvavarman would hold court. The Girls of the Palace would come forth and, with their little fingers, would raise the curtain for the King to appear at the window. This relates Cambodian dancing, so formal and traditional; to the outward ritual of court procedure in the past. We have a very excellent picture of the times in the writings of Ta-Kauan. Ho was an ambassador sent from the Emperor of Poking. He stayed in Angkor from 1296 to 1297. This was when the L)ambodian Empire was EMI at the height of its splendour and some 80 years before its mysterious destruction. This document was discovered in the Imperial Archives in Peking, and was first published in Europe in 1902. In another part is the Temple of Ta Prohm. This Temple is still covered with forests and greet trees writhe and twist their trunks and roots in the most fantastic way. Most of the building is standing erect, but in other parts the stones have fallen to the ground and lay awaiting their turn to be re-erected, In this particular Temple there is an inscription stating that there were 12,600 workmen employed at the one time. At the far end of this Temple, about ono-third of a mile from its entrance, there is a huge rectangular lake, appearing to be -1-mi10 across. It has ceremonial stops loading down to it, on the top of which was once erected a light building. This great expanse of cool water would be most welcome in the hot Cambodian climwto. The next day I wont to visit the tomb of Angkor Wat. This immense place covers over 29 acres in area, and the five towers are higher than any buildings in Sydney. An approach to it is made across a stone-flagged causeway 200 yards long. On each side, the cool waters reflect the lotus biome. ,First comes the main entrance with long colonnades on each side, that on the north having at the very end a special entrance cut for the elephants and carts. Behind the colonnade is a long frieze depicting historical incidents. This is carved from sandstone, and the sandstone is polished by hand. The whole design is executed with superb artistry. The insides of the pillars are decorated with a fine stone carving of rosettes, looking for all the world like a brocade or damask. In each column was a reserve about 15n high and 8“ wide with the figure of a Celestial Dancer. It seems the several hundred of those are all in traditional dance poses. The main courtyard inside is decorated with two water gardens and two libraries. They are also built of stone, of superb proportions, and enriched with carvings. The second section of the Temple is carved on its four walls with murals depicting stories and legends, mainly of The Buddha. One of them is 150 yards long. Just think of the art school necessary to train so many skilled craft amen. The inner sanctum and their section of the Temple is approached by twelve very steep stone staircases, ascending up to the central tower. This was used only by the priests, and was not approached by the ordinary people. 6. it breakfast the following morning, a Vietnam friend and his sister were telling me of a visit they had made the night before by moonlight. When they Caine to the innermost temple, some local Buddhist monks were praying and chaxiting. Their local guides were frightened and ran back to the second section while they stayed for a quarter of an hour. listening and drinking in the harmonies. They later returned to the second courtyard, and by previous arrangement, the Jambodian guides danced and sang with them for a couple of hours. The city of Angkor, with its many temples, was covered and lost in forest until 1860, when the French and Jambodian Governments decided to clear them and make them available for the world to see. The job is not yet completed, and so it is for this reason that the wonders and glories of Angkor have not been known to the outside world. It is only since the airfield has been built that travel to Siem Reap has been so easy. Now, if anybody is going through Bangkok, they certainly should arrange to spend the extra 24 and as many days as possible to visit those wonderful and glorious relics of the pasts just think folks, Edna Garrard will actually be in tlambodia seeing these very things on the 11th of May. ow ianininnomneesiftarr.Ell . LOMEALKI NG GUIDE W jjo. 45 Easy walk with tracks all the way. Itctensive views of Wild Dogs etc. Walk particularly suitable for first walk in this area. cost, 22/2. 46 Good test walk through interesting country, with river walking, rock hopping, track walking, etc. Goat - 24/9. 47 Rock hopping along creek, with patchy scrub to Galston Gorge. Goat - 6/1. 4E3 Pleasant. test walk in South Goagt area. Climb to Barren Grounds, then flat and downhill walking. Gout 31/6. 49 Easy walk through Lower Blue Mountains, creek walking most of the way. Cost - 15/5. 50 Standard National Park walk with good track. Goat - 7/8. 51 The “Three Peaks Trip”. This is the trip to find out if you are fit. (Too bad if you arentt - Ed.) Two 2,500 ft. ascents and long mileage make light packs essential. Goat - 54/9. 52 Pleasant tee wall?. through Upper Groso Valley. Good track with medium grade out of :valley. Goat - 24/9. 53 Interesting teat walk in Georges River area. Track and river walking. Goat - 9/10. alEAP NSemakti Vitamisor in good order - makes cakes, extracts fruit juices, splits atoms, etc. See Thelma Phillips - FM5251 or B0666 ext. 342 (B) PHOTOGRAPHY ? ? Yoz press the button, weill do the rest t Finegrain Developing Sparkiing Prints Your Rollfilms :JO or Leica films - r”:11!.7,/ 24, ; A Perfect Eniargements deserve the best SERVICE LEICA PHOTO SERVICE 31 Macquarie Place SYDNEY N.S W. SIGNS OF THINGS 1….1\r4 Joan Walker With this winter's programme we have tried to improve on the often inadequate R-Ivip-E graclite of trips. You will find after the mileage and usual R-11-E term there are sometimes additional letters and numerals. These letters first ma,y I explain what they stand for and how we have applied theta R.H. Rock hopping. Walking down a creek instead of a ridge is the usual way of R.H. You may be hopping from rock to rock in the creek, or perhaps wading through it for some distance. R. Rock scrambling. Up and over large boulders in a creek, or perhaps a small waterfall or a bit of a cliff line. This is NOT rock climbing. It is nothing that a helping hand and a calm approach shouldn't get you over - but if you hate heights, check with the leader of an R.S. trip as to what is involved. 8 S or TS Scrub or thick scrub. Somewhere, where, without a track you have to make your way through ti-tree or some such growth, or perhaps a patch of ulungleu such as on the South eoast ridges. You may need “long-unsu for thick scrub, and try to get a big tough walker in front of you. LPL., Loose rock. A seree slope or ridge covered with broken, rock, Just take it slowly and look out for that rolling stone. Bracketed numbers after these letters indicate the approximate mileage of each - not necessarily continuous - and figures in thousands are heights of major climbs not by tracks or well worn routes. For instance, we wont describe Grand canyon on the programme, nor the way over Clear Hill. If you have reached there you will make it onto Narrow Neck. Prospectives and new members note:- These signs do not necessarily mean that such a trip is harder or more difficult than another. Two or three miles of rock hopping in creeks you will probably take in your stride and scrub-bashing, though messy, is soon over and forgotten. Three thousand feet sounds an awfully long way, but take it steadily and youtll be O.K. We are trying to show something of the type of country you will be traversing and giving you a chance to be prepared for it. It is the final picture drawn by the terms rather than the individual sign that is important. Keep these symbols in perspective as something to help you, not as a deterrent to new ',makers. The leader is the best source of information on a trip - he has planned it and knows whet is involved. Ask his advice before deciding that a trip is too hard for you. The Walking Guide in the magazine will describe all trips more fully, with details of fares, terrain and scenery, so please have a look at that too. Now leaders and walkers, this system is far from perfect, it needs improving and I want your suggestions - constructive please, and preferably in writing. Also, if you have definite views on how your trips on the next programme should be annotated, well then let me know. 0111.111.1prommINII….1 - George Grey NE IS YOUR GUIDE by Harold Gatty-. During the war there was compiled a handbook:known as uThe Raft Book” to assist those cast adrift at sea. Now by the same author we have a more comprehensive book dealing also with finding your way on land. Here is a book that will inspire you to sharpen your senses of observation and deduction of the natural things around you. Can you, without any instruments or charts0ell the time by the stars, predict the state of the tides or the phase of the moon, or estimate distances with any accuracy? This book is 'a mine of useful information. In it you will find chapters on birds, waves, wind, trees and many other things of interest to those who enjoy the bush. MAKE USE OF YOUR LIBRARY 9. FOR ALL YOUR TRAYSPORT PROBLEMS CONTACT HATSWELL'S TAXI & TOURIST SERVICE 1.0….. RING “WRITE WIRE OR CALL ANY HOUR DAY or NIGHT 'Phone: Biheath W459 orlia51 Booking Office - 4 doors from Gardner' s Inn Hotel (LOOK FOR HE NEON SIGN) SPEEDY 5 OR 8 PASSENGER CARS i',V2-,ILABLE LARGE OR SMALL PART I -.]S CA tE 7T, D FOR FARES: KANANGRA WALLS 30/- per head (Minimum 5 Passengers) PERRY' S LC OKD OWN 3/- f2 77 t7 ;2 It JENOLAN STATE FOREST 20/- 44 77 I? 7f If CARLON ' S 7A RM io/- , ii if ii 72 WE WILL BE PLEASED TO r.1011E OTHER TRIPS OR SPECIAL PARTIES ON APPLICTION 0… ..1…21101 (Ea. . Myles J. Dunphy Following an interview kindly granted me by Dr. van Someren concerning the above-mentioned scheme, I received the following letter from the Secretary of the Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board. Both it and my comments on this important subject are published here for the information of Sydney Bushwalkers. 18th December, 1956. Dear ir, FUrther to the discussion which you had recently with the Board's Ohief Medical Officer, Dr. van Someren, I forward herewith, as requested, a copy of a plan (No. i400023) Showing within green edging the physical catch. ment area of the Warragamba Dam proclaimed on 8th July, 1955, (vide Government Gazette NO. 66), and'in red edging, the section proclaimed on 4th September, 1942 (Government Gazette No. 112). Both proclamations were made under the Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Act 1924/540 As explained by Dr. van Someren, the Board is by no means unsympathetic with your desire that the whole area be largely retained in its virgin state so that its scenic beauties will not be affected. In fact, it is in its awn interests that the area Should be disturbed as little as possible. 10. The Department of Land approached the Board some time ago in connection with the Blue Mountains National Park, and after due consideration was informed by letter on 17th August, 1954, that the Board was averse to ouch a park being set up at the time, as such action might prejudice the more comprehensive consideration that the whole catchment area would warrant at a later date. The Board feels that the creation of a National Park Trust (which it is assumed would be necessary if the proposal were adopted) would result in divided control, which would not make for smooth and efficient administration of the area. Moreover, it is essential that the Board should retain full control of the oatchment its primary objectives being the prevention of pollution, surface erosion, etc. Increasing quantities of water are being brought into supply from the Warragamba River and much as the Board regrets the restriction, it has been necessary to prevent camping in the Burragorang Valley. This district has for years attracted a largo number of people, especially in the summer, who have camped on or near the river tanks and used the river for bathing. Such practices can only bring about a potentially dangerous amount of pollution* However, the Board has all the necessary power for the development of the catchment as it may think expedient, and on giving consideration to just what use can be made of the area, consistent with tho essential need to maintain proper control, duo regard will ho paid to the representations you have made on behalf of organised bush waYrimg clubs. It this stage, however, I am afraid that I am unable to lot you have any definite information in this respect. Yours faithfully, A. R. STAFFORD, Secret ary. Idain,onmon,Insiatalrmarmaisizs01.81011 law= (1) Publication of the above letter has boon delayed about fifteen months pending results of inquiries made in other directions, namely: the matters of Oolong-Church Creek Reserve limestone-quarrying leases; timber-cutting within Reserve No. 67062 (96,000 acres, gazetted 15th October, 1937), specifically on South Boyd Heights and in Kanangra vicinity; the establishment of a State Forest in the Blue Labyrinth; and timber-cutting in another area of the Blue Labyrinth, but nearer to Woodford. (2) The status of the undermentioned places and their present and future availability for bushwalkers and others, for scenery preservation, fauna and flora conservation, and general bushland recreation, are of outstanding importance:- Narrow Neck Peninsula, Kedumba and Jedar Valleys, ht. Korrowall, Megalong and Galong Valleys, Big Bend of Cox's River, Low Gangerang, part of High Gangerang, Lower Kanangra Creek, Kanangra River, Mts. yclops and Paralyser, and most of Krungle-Bungle Range (Guouogang, Queahgong, eta.). (3) Whereas the boundary of the Water Board's 'proclaimed' area precludes practically all the above-mentioned places being in the Greater Blue Mountains National Park (and in the Central Blue Mountains National Park now being officially designed) the possibility of commercial interests obtaining permission -to operate within either or both areas of the Board is very real. us (4) It should be possible for the kown lands and public; reservecbeyond 1 the Nproalaimedu area, tut still within the Nphystoaln catchment area* to be reserved or dedicated as a special Primitive Reserve, to save them from commercial. exploitation* shooters and aldnogett era. This step is imperative. These places are aenolan, Tugloth Tipper and Middle Kowmung* Werong, Waterfall* Lannigans and other adjacent creeks* Rindook Highlands, Spring Range* South -Boyd Plateau, Murat and Nanangra Tops* Boyd Range and airintyl a Creek* bit minus Kanangaroo and Banshed State Forests. Parts of these lands are within Reserve No. 67062* for Preservation of Fauna and Flora (15/10/1937) (5) The tract of land to be dedicated or gazetted as the Blue Mountains National Park includes only parts of the Central Blue Mountains* the chief feature being the canyon of the Grose (Grose River Valley). About half the Blue Labyrinth is included. The area within lines joining Springwood, Lover Grose River, Glenbrook and Springwood is not included. There is nothing southward of the railway from Wentworth Falls to about Blackheath, but the northern boundary extends to Mt. Wilson. (6) It is acutely disappointing to realize that the famous scenic* mountainous tract of country* as seen southward from Wentworth Palley Leura* Katoamba ant Med3.0w Bath* as far as 21.-villa, aloudmaker, Maroobauateroof Cyclops and Guouogang, never can be part of the Blue Mountains National Park. 'Bub if the Water Board eventually decides “to play ball” with the outdoors public to the extent of organizing this trust as a primitive area or reserve, and allows approved parties and persons a continuation of access and recreational use of it* than the value of this facility will bo 1=0=0 to the people litio need it. (7) The letter from the Board's Secretary indicates that the Board intends to take its own time to formulate a plan for the use of the area othor than as a water catchment* that it has tho power to develop it, also that it favours a land condition along the linos of what bushwalkors regard as a primitive are or natural park. MYloa 3. Dunphy (18/3/58) UMMUM Three men* three very tired men. Their knees are stiffening now, and their battered feet can barely hobble up the main street of Icatocaba. Where have they come 'from? 1Prom Hilltop* down Starlight's Trail, along the &Mai River and the Cox* then up Black Jerry's Ridge into Katoombas all within forty-eight hours - the Hundred Miler has faUeni How many times would it have been done tefore bit for this thing Cr that? How miu3y are glad* how many disappointed? Who knows? But be sure of this* that as many as have tried and failed will aoknowledge the ability and the quality of these three men. Johnny Manning - Mick Elphiok op Freddie Worrell 12. _ Have you ever been on atrip that you've done :before into. easily, accessible country, where the ridges are ,sa- familiar that they lose much of their mystery ..and :enj-oyraent? .Do you ever -come home from one of these trips and ;on:thinking…back .(except for the company,- which' is in lots of cases, enough - to make a trip 'pemOrable). ask yourself, -.0Where.-have..ye; been' 1: ife. -bashed up so and so creek, had lunch on the same spot as we had it on three other trips, burnbup the spur on to the main ridge and _belted along into such and. such a statio4 without lifting- our eyes from the -track. Tired, exhausted and somehow cheated of a- good trip because the country had.-lost-_-its. newness. There is noneof the “Opeth isistherightbloodyridg'e!! incentive, Ador, is there -anyT- IlOwthellwillwegetuptheren urge to, add: -lustre- to the trip. - _ . . What's all this leading up to? Thei_Easter trip from Sassafras to Drury's Farm via the Gastle and Pidgeon House (or Gook's Pidgeon House as we were corrected). Our party of dx- members, some of whom had visited -Various parbs along our proposed _route, bxt none had yet been t b.-the joining link between lit. Renwick and the Castle and: this;. was - to be our objective challenge man againe mountain and all that stuff. , We started walking a couple of miles past Sassafras (maybe this is where I should have started the article) and bashed it out along the to the Vine's. The whole way_ is agai n accessible by oar in fact, we were passed by two a mile. or so before the burnt out saw mill.- The countryside, though burnt out recently, has made a remarkable recovery in as much as instead,of pushing through great green fern branches, you now push through dirty, burnt black dittos. , . As we plodded ;down - the steep sides of the -. creek near the saw mill, we - noticed a mi xed party- ahead.,, presumably from_lhe cars, -similarly-plodding down . the timber track, but one Chap with a smallish pack- iseemed to -be crawling -on hands and knees at a remarkable rate. We didn't take much notice at fire, bushwalkers being what they. aro, they should crawl on all fours if they prefer It there is nothing much to stop them (excgmk:stinging nettles on the navol) but as he passed one large gumtree his actions sent me diving for my glasses, and to my relief I found it was a large alsation dog carrying his own gear. Well – the sights one see a. . We followed along the route that Golin putt so much _time and-energy into reconnoitring- (and if,you think that as weak, you're in for a shock) - towards kt…Renwick.- This way consists mainly of a succession of burnt -out . . ….,. ',wombat 'parades': and swampy flats. … So, late on Saturday morning, we approached the which looks unclimable (rockalimbers excluded) except for ways. The fire Was a deep crack, running ,right -through, folloW, And ;ultimately 'Showed u_qa 4ke1y way to the top. climbed it but needeil'an Yvonne. (Get it? ,;:iJleave:,;.on . , We descended 'a….Watercourse to another burnt out gully, willahti as they say in the West, 11140cad tear the gilts out of a kangaroo:I. We turned to the right up another creek, pushing through mere burnt out rubbish, to the strangest little valley you ever would see. It was (and I suppose it still is) only a couple of miles in attapiOers, nestled behind Mb. Renwick more or less a saddle between it and the next-hump. All around it were rocky crags, fin shaped base of Mt. Renwick a_ couple of possible which we_ proceeded to We. could have ,RenWick a. :res.) ridges and erodedMite sem Warty feet, others three hundred feet, gcdng book in layers to the tops. It was hard to keep your eyes in one spot. They seemed automatically to move grata meinature Mb. Olga to a miniature Bread:nil% then a miniature Ayres Rook sort at one edges you're looking at one and the nett at something else.' Thisgully, though 97.3% rock, had trees growing out of every smack and watercourse available. Though most were bunt, a few found enough moisture and a. -firm footing in cracks high above our Wadi and them stood out white and ghostlike. We found water and shade besida a little rook cliff and settled in for lunoh. Here we discussed our attempt to reach the Castle, mhich eould only be two or three alas off and yet hadn't been seen. In moot instances it is useless to climb up one - Ade of the ridge or rook expecting to find away down the other side, for 'it is a feature of this type of country that after struggling up a ridge or a 'rook on one side, you are met tr a beautiful view and a perpendioular drop. Some (or all) of the party were - worried about what lay ahead and the two cracks which ran through the high wall* though they qppesred uninviting, seemed our only weir. It vu not idthout wee thought that it was suggested as an alternative that wo should return through Mt. Renwick and make our way to the alyde s known route should time run out. So *Ile Ignette Ryevitas, -someone said, matt out the Ball thus Mooset be a way through here samewheret. With the meal Complete, he party was anxious to nove off into it, (Nits being a large ein) We ellabed to a split in the walls and looked out at Watering and the end of Byargee Walls, which were terrific, and welcome sights, but on looking down into the deep, narrow gully we began to wonder at our *banns of getting through. There was a scene on this rooky step of a photographer madly taking _shots on a fatly =posed film, then trying onoe awe to arrange the impatient figures in the foreground on reloading. We went to “look -down week =Umber two, which appeared very ecru and on pushing through a' little way, a fair drop was evident. That me of the Mae who thought a fair drop was a blonde rang lady; so to crack number one. id; 'Irak this too was very scrub, hit became out lower down till Suddenly, through the fallen timber, appeared the top a drylah waterfall. Imagining a aheor drop (a young lady inY if lone) of these ()rooks will get me dropped.. we approached the top with staking arts tut it was found to be quite accessible. We climbed down and caroled to the base of the cliff, and there acvoarod two very aloe cliffs with low saddle between. Some of us decided I was the Owns, and to be Frank terlaw swab, there was nothing to 'stop us sidling round to it. Don't be too Airon though, think of the atter-Matth ova don't wank to do what vs Don at amok' ally Colley, these klec could be right though*, said the So at throo-thirty weailrivod at the saddle-with =oh rejoicing. Leering our packs behind, we climbed -the tlastle. and really drauk in the intoxicating panorama that ley Wore us. - We camped in the tie* below the saddle and continued down Tabora* tlreok next der to camp on the Clyde. Melly wit tomtit, the track to Mures, only stopping to climb Pidgoon Nous and have luneh, arriving just as our transport appoarod in the clearing. - Returning to Nowa, vo enjoyed Tine *ate, over which we agreed it had boon one trip in a hundred. ',:i f. ..';.. -.;!:: :,. ',.'-' :-.-'.!.' ,f;4;—-: 4-fe.:,7-2::','. .: :7 :…1: . -.F….,::,:. r-:,-…: -_ ..,..!,: j-',- 7,1,–_-i ::,..',:, 7,-;:._,_,7,_,.- Z'I'-':51-1,.!'i ;17:' -, ?..'fl r..t, -!.:, 1:–' 17e -, zli:',7:;'”!. ,;,,',”':',::-,:7r,. 7:-,=1,77-7,-j-% N.:,:& :1'.:1'7*.f5-h M.4.4.,..24-131 ”,P.'A. _ , . _ L “ t',”:7:.-:;:',.`,…:,T 3.7.,:.17:1 -.;.-' ..: :“'; , -7..c.L7-',;,'-: :. ,1”, 1:: ;40R,,,:j – it -. … - ._…- -,., t: .,, ..z,:-….; 7Iii:, ,,,:,31.,!.,71.: :,…..,i;;r - ,.. 1-7,-.::, ,..,, , z-: :-.- , _.-5' , .-i,–::: ,,-.-.. :. ,!….“.7., ',' L'i ..r.. ., …f.', . t t.' , '. - is. Riltiart-Pq. anti. ' . - …. ,.._ - ..:.. - - -, , -: -,,,, -…,-..;–. , 4.- z., , … 4. ti ',..-,-..,-*:,, '—: :' 4,,.-:.-…='!”'“r.-Tr !-Voti.. ' -,- - .:.;'::”:-.-.J r-“:4,.$ :',^ it -:- ; r:: ,. ':.' ;'f) ,',' ..? *, . : , - ..;”_(,f.7,=S7,r.,1:: :12 7..e !jF:7– :- 1?.!: t;:rt:-.. ;::'.! 13 1.*T:::, ..:7=- .,“:::.,,,-7z ::,:f!'LLI—:'-',2i. i….,,`:-A'ji.-.,. 73-.:;._:_; :`;:,:,-.:::::.'7:.;:::: :11 ;r:::*.:i.,,,, '. , After reading Alex i.3 4-11ey!,s Itkro *ete Ne a &ytaberAt…141..gW.-:' Axii.*1..% '.; Apitla2 _…. .. 7.,-., ._._ ,.. i : . .:,..;:. i , ,_.. ,..,..,..1,-…..:., ., ……'._,- .:::……,…,. n. Etifibinralkern') -1,..:thix*,…twoiRroffactives Alr-pgrtleular-,mtlt :a r.spfieta:Vmentign.- I reF,J.,:o, ,..7,t,,,11,…9 ..k.4.p.,:y9,93g As,34.mio o 4o3,-ned. the, Zaist-erAzia t. pl.-Barri -: -.rem lops*: _.., 4.4,.., … .. e ., …., ,.., ; …,…: ,.: ,',..k ta 4… j:…-,..,;,;,..7, ._…:,:…..;r1 1:;,::: .. -:::,, ;;::*,:i…1: '-,7;-:-…:“_ '6-4,,-7 ^,” zz-,e,..ti,17.1c44. 1. 1:),-.:',::.4 =7,-,i'..t t.-,:g. .1..;,-.c, :..:.:,-7,.'lr.1,1; _.7., .., rem, the- 344e…. their sot -u-R,44…441,- Snowacqw nli,,;.13:9agx-iga,?.1.cor.).,:anit,.parttyit,T.F!'4;:c:,. their,, en% una pasak tr-O. join =a wa -a-, 4, k.4 girls, .–:-:,:r.:…,t141, k;,, ….: ..t,-.. AgRe 4. ' -ti-7.1-rigi :P q…ii sKr…4-atIou.V..i,b oint., ;C.Ountry fr,-;:…1,…..`,:: ger,97 41.k.,,W.,ik. z-. 4315.,lit -,4 EA”, czARA9394ft-rkP-44,-Egrt14.. 9.,XP.WINettl. that ea C.7!`,E :::- I 4h e., $.. kylp..1,91.A,.y.,91.9.17e), pk,.p ,..zaxEys-iphig..:r.,:crwzn;gear-.,FandPc1,-Or situr, darr Y's= – -,-…,,….,,,…..i*P…..it* ilqr ',. fPol-449r5TarglitgaDitimii:, ablAtiy-LA 2.,.. -.2 and Aa..the,se sa34c1. females-,:had_ neith4 ,..,. , ets “r pa rty-pr9B. sod f,cwwarci: wad-,opinyed-. ,Pii-gttc citithe$- :parr-J.230' on -Topjgn i-,::+.!nae4.119.s',91;37figUrkrkge AeS, ;PP._ rzil%rg,-“whbitzthe YoungY nee walke42weara ly ou,r ca,mr . 4.1 .P lau agon oulx,fprtitude–WO, ajamire in our prospectives. Having neitfier sleeping bag, tent or food, they had spmt, ngi;, zeifekAmsgast 040c; ib nd wore ravenous.: Such devotion seive rewargliag,NA,g94h4iitoren,duarf..94- party making contributions to their meal, and as they wore by now so far from home ,,,311,34791.,,wa)s, not, alternatpre..1:20.::t o ?FrOlit4then on they:',1-16K,441.1.4341._6344f.!, c*pelPt O'R. a sow-Aap-ags;,.yhop tho:tidetai :: memb ou4Qsto*ppeaso,sa thel v-vcoracii cga4roungt-appotititzti, 1.*W.kie = - - =.111,92-90;FPgiI 11.9137c79.2.4A, :P119-2VbFg.F,Igled.41,19zaAng.1/113:62qat'attiaughilboriv tonwaig,he r,ough,:pat chos- troubling them pet:: ,..a./..14 -'.,.ancr-thoy-J, &Lowed . - . , groat intere's1 in the rain foreeta.;; : - 1,:-… J. t lave ,w510.,orklyi. one tbing,,sge .4d cl. -10.3*4Ari ttc . -.Q1c,.:1001-mq 4149,

Pn F9aoh-1-,1:1g,13-417. '4-.:-.11.g,-,b9n, g49. 4491113eittkke part, y,..do4icliad.3111:3 boat thing to d a,v441)ri4g-;:them-4,,,Swdzippieaiidtcaim.,foR tiviik umartbotr-gue:rdiats . ,,,, ., 00 ' .L.,….. 7 uld — be 3_ rnip- d ana reciiii;t4Lem y.,-. -7,1”; ..,- ,- …. ./p-?:', ,”'s ,.. 17, s Mir ,:pft -.1“:i. -.-.1,–,4 4.- :I: ' – ' ! f –.- '-.z.- . .. , ,.. —= ,.,…,, …..e. - ., . 4 c A…..,,.., …;..i ..,.. ,…….. ….-44. .,……- …,,,. ,-…, -…..s? d ,,.: -, , -, .4 ii ;7 - 7.-. la ):%1 ZP , that 4: . e” . is% c,7; 91D.-1,q2 -,:.?,1:1,11,512109,14-2-.Pna, -fgleao.:-,–thwatuleaf, ljhould':baco: wailked aria. thfise zoling at erg ii oulirl not ,.,-4ve.–totvpt r4e-pr oftilddmialker,:—-'=' aon o (thig oug Aone-: a en -t, b. ,e4ough f ct p..–ttkorotigh….inittkti), r Akiit,the..<.-usuali ,…,. , r L… - -,–__ . .1. ….. ..,.,1,1, … … s . <, monv134..-, a r,- , ,. ..-….,., - …….q.P3-1; r–'… -;. ::.. , '. -,-*-…:. - ;-:.; . ,….= ,i ti 1.7.:`..n:.:',s1.)-i-r., ,.2-:…f.:. .,- …,1 4'1/4 :,–. — ' ' ,4t: ',..:1'-' 7 f'.4.3.0., a ,,..1.7:!..1. fa;.;'…,-: :- ….17,::' 4.:-.“-;:::: ',F.:::- '.:'; t f tile- - —f- ' – a ” -.1*Ft “ ' '-' ,, . ,,..,-.n9*.i:mge ,:. ?yag,,, T w 94_ -.44,1te;:-: 9,,J,,peckgarct.P:tesx-dont weIcome-Abeni::.; as member–.. and -pirit opir–elib 1-3-. dg ,,..) ,,,S1,7, 921 t4q99,1. lare WorS -safrothOss-alzagerotbeaver!tjb40.1r:nz ,- ——'– ..uple o …., ,9111,61.-1,1..,-,:P/APs. ;. ,:.,-;,75..1 st':-:::,….,-;—–:,:- Ii. –; L'ff ..3' .,..:.`, JiZ 1;I t Et:IT-SO-4T _. ,—a, cor. 2 :r:.,,,L.f.Y.i.:-.'“Ii.' 3…2, C=1; %rig idti) 4.c T , be DaLai laaina, a constant 441jt oxt-.30z0;,st',V: mazaiong hrgx teirer_11-ini _ the years had several painful encounters with Spike Stitt, the family's faithful ,tbr4Pgt-._ jAhr_aple to anoor,:L.;*.aricgth dip P-587;44113:44 Spike! otata mlerp a-tf3.ewAmp-moton totiviape,ett) V. ;. xr I Jusi ' , - Wr'D.7%,…F., 'NZ rel, - =7,0 ,,,sr: A., XIV - ' 41! 14 11610 tales no chances. 4tyPreAlmt. sp.Odut toysnzirAte jaissiichia.:` shaker. hands with Spikey, enquires after his health and tickles him where he' s tick- lie at j a, th a:Poqi-lat 7:q z ck, 4,,L , tICTaff..t,a1 :44 11I'm on the right side of Spike these days, TI he says lithe ou.' 3.ein OD,Z0 -113E ,57,412:.:1-,.c.::.? . 1; Q12 15. TEEaiaLLENGE Geof Wagg On the Friday night of the last weekend in Nays under the light of a fUll moons a group of walkers will step from the hire cars on to crunching gravel road at Kanangra Walls. The gold air will sting their nostrils with scents of night and frosts while across the shadowed valleys they will see the great glaas moon send crystal moonbeam; tinkling down theSpires and lay like silver dust sheets on the well known, well loved scene. With a joke or two they'll shrug :.their shoulders int o;-weightles s packs ands folding their =is with hands tucked in against the biting airs start off across the Tops to their first night's resting place 2 below Smith's Pass. - Before them lies The diallenge.. The idea conceived in ra shness that Can't be set aside. It can't be done. It T4 be done. 'It 13OUI2) be done. a WILL BE DONEII If not this times then the next or the next. If not by us, then by others. Wake in the cold and dark and rise from your stoney bed to a tasteless breakfast. Walks no fly, with feathered feet between the sally scrub just as the earliest sunbeam reaches out to touch the Tops. Leap Gabe's Gap and spurn the stones beneath your feet while the fire within drives you on and on. Snatch a mouthfull of water in Kanangra Ctseeks then start the weary toil of that steeps steep climb to Paraliser; feel the se mrit's breath upon your brow a moment: and with stumbling feet turn once more to the depths. Tired now, and glad to rests you cook your foods but still the fire burns and as the sinking in swings up the moon again, your feet are toiling upwards, Stiff and sores but upwards to the rocky shelf where you lay down. Wake, another day. The dawn wind blows away your sleep as the night has swept away your weariness. Take your pack and climb again to meet the sun. Take that early morning view from Guouogang Trig, $ee how far you've come - see. how far you have to go - and swing along the crumbling ridge - Qeah agong Jenolan - the Cox. Half the day gone and a day's walk still ahead, but now there is no doubt. Don't feel the creek stones bruise your feet, don't let those steep climbs break your hearts nothing can stop you now. On the tracks the goal within your grasps feet no longer touch the ground - fly, fly, glide along - a friend before you, tread where he trod, a friend behinds let it drive you on. The last climbs but you see nothing; the last few steps, then all together step on to the bitumen road and shouts wHOCELA.Y1I We did. it tit Then go to sleeps for the last mile is the bitterest one of au. Wells that's The aiallenge. Johnny Manning is doing the same trip that _weekends only starting from Katoomba. another club is doing our trip in reverse. We'll see them all along the ways and I hope we see you. The Challenge lies there for anyone, to take up at any time. The battle is inside yourself. STCRK NEWS Our congratulations to Betty and Phil Hall on the arrival of their latest babe. A. son, I believes and they're going to call him Geoffrey 16. THEMiv eszLRE_CTITION - Taro Once again legions of bushwalkers showed their capacity for missing worthwhile functions. These Fed. meet a ask for only a fraction of the year, and it seems that even, that eannotr be spared. Era is perfection for a reunion. There is room, aplenty for twenty thousand, but not that many Came down.. It's remote bushiness and closeness to the city makes it. beyend;. from 3entral to putting Up tent involves only twenty 'minutes walle5/12 from the Gairfo Lookout 'or even less from Garie. In point of travel trouble there is not the slightest excuse for skipping this meet. ” . 4. Things happen at Feds. that 'donut -at-. ordina r.y reunions, and when clubs come from afar, we,lopals should roll up to greet them. Hail Newcastle. The outlook was bleak on leaving th o train at Waterfall, just a few S.D.W., not enough to stir a. bus to 'action so we few Went by hire car. Era was a fine choice, it has everything,- especially now. What a prelude is the look down from, the Game; that ocean-lapped square mile just down there; wood and ;water in abundance and. Ours for tb o taking, every inch of it. No please, no permits, exactly as daptain jook had it when ho passed that way. Looked at squarely this ia something remarkable in a bossed about welfare state. Yes, the Game Lookout is a, fine place to have a few minutes non-talky meditation. All that blue unchanging expanse and lush emerald undulations just below even some white tents springing up like flowers. One can indead proudly proclaim, ?Thin is mine own country, deedless, but mine owm for a weekend. And what finer approach could there be than the walk down Thelma Ridge, a rocky, twisting track -with ever-widening glimpses ofthe carpets of blue and emerald, all through the leafy lattice of friendly tree a. Thanks to recent . rains, the camping inlets are a deep piled profusion of 'everything that 'grows. There are patches of green the limit of greeness,- and just over there are pe tches of twice that. The creeks have voices that can be heard. NO need to go Up the gully for a bill3rfull. Every size, shape and colour of tent flecked the lush green slopes and all -(1 hope) captured in a 'BOb Duncant a film. In spite of the alleged wood famine, enough logs were out and dragged in to make a fine big' and steady fire, and this was not the only fire, for not far away down the slope two spitted lambs were roasting for hours just to top off the camp night. With Faddy on deck everything went with a swing with quite a lot of last 'year's flavour in it - not to imich evident organization. Again Ken Stewart gave us some fine songs awaking, alas, memories of the days when S.B.W.s could do this. One very fine item Was by the Y.M. club. A dozen sat down in a circle and chanted to the click of bOnes real abo. It recalled a great item by Frank Cramp which was given many years ago. So geed this is, it should be repeated and taped for future use on a wider Scale. It could be nearer the water at Era so that the pedal bass of the surf could be an unending background. A olubmate in the G.M.W. would be happy to do this. There was another OS surprise. Late Saturday afternoon I was sitting by the Ashdown tent when suddenly, unmistakably, came the skirl of bagpipes - yes bagpipes. Jean Malcolm (naj. Ashdown) was drousily peeling spuds: The pipes 17, had an extraordinary effect on Jean, her eyes threw off the sleep and positively blazed, while the knife! How those spuds copped it. Only heaven knows how many NODonalds joined their ancestors in the next five minutes. The pipes proved most popular, near or afar, and at the campfire they piped many a droning lay, including a slide into a dance tune, which lured a dozen imps. into the open to give a wild and whooping display, hurling each other about like wind blown leaves. All very exciting, unexpected and really good fun. Game many more items, the closing speech, brakes off, and then something marvellous. The spitted lambs had been dissected, portioned . , and were served with bread slices to join the hot drinks. And what a job it must have been to cart down all the piping to build the spit, and carry it back. ;Misers for all the Trojans. who plot and execute these happy diversions. All this was backed up by weather perfection; Saturday night 700, dropping but two overnight. Calm, still, starry night, peace and gOodwill in abundance with aver the pipes leaping to life again. Once the piper gave us a Bach fugue in F double sharp minor, and the drones came into their own. Johan Sebastian would have applauded STOP - there's something fishy about this, but let it pass. Sunday again and still perfection - a day of dipping and lazing tind late afternoon the piper gave yet another fine turn, no more than marching half a dozen in single file to the beach and home. The blue and the dune, the green cupped valley, the haversacked file and the fading notes of the pipert Yes, Feds. are too good to miss, and Era cannot be beaten for these functions. We had it as much to ourselves as at Wood's Creek; not a stranger came by save a lone horseman and that too was a credit, for no landscape is complete without a horse, and some fine ones were down there decorating the sward with their fzee -flowing, unleathered gait. And so to the car of the Paddy, and the walk around to Garb, just a track for grubs, not to be compared with the space travel of Thelma Ridge. And here endeth a splendid weekend. Such piping! Such lambing' Such weather! We lucky people! …11111110.1.111..111M11=1Mi.11.10.1 &atINGTON or JOTt3M0J.NS Joan Walker nI wart twentytwo reserved concession returns Maitland and twentytwo single extensions to Scone” said I to the ticket-seller. “And I want my lunch in five minutes” said the ticket-seller to me, shutting his window in my face. An I caught the glares of the rest of the queue I wondered just whai the Admiral had let me in for. By Good Friday dawn my fears had not been allayed. We started the trip in best White Ant tradition in Scone Hotel, where, having mislaid three of the party in the four hundred yards between station and pub, near thirty walkers snatched an hour's sleep on the floor, to be awakened at six with hot tea and buttered buns. Perhaps this restored the party somewhat, so that as the bus sped to Stewarts Brook I could look around the mob, thirty in all - seven fellow. travellers, a solo walker soon known as the nTaggern and twentytwo 18. prospective a, a member of two days standing, active and not so active walkers, and an nold-timertt revisiting - a good club cross-section. The pleasant landscape passed by and the high places of the Woolooma Range drew our gaze until eventually Barrington itself was visible. Firm whipping-in moved the party half a mile up the brook for breakfast and then the pleasant preamble to the main lousiness began as we wandered up the country road. Twentytwo walkers in groups of three and four scattered the landscape and the leaders began to wonder just how one stopped such a party in one place at one time, Lunch below Meehan? s Peak probably provided the answer, though perhaps our oyes wore still blinded - it took another two days to convince us that you can't. After lunch those who ate in the valley rejoined those who ate on tho heights and that slow pull up to the trig began. A wonderful walk if only the ground would lie down a little. From the gum-clad ridge with its stoop grass and bracken covered slopes we looked out on. lightly timbered hills and valleys of the farmlands, haze and clouds softening the bare linos of grassy ridges. A turn of the track and to the south we saw those mysterious forests of this area with groat trees and looping vines, and that jumble of untouched ridge and deep river valleys that spread out from Barrington. Just before dusk as many of the party as possible crowded onto the Barrington Trig for the benefit of the photographers and wore rewarded with a last view over tho northern ridges. A quiet camp on the river nearby - and a very tired party found the ground a much bettor resting place than NeS.W. train seats. The plans for next day meant moving camp about five miles downstream. This was not the complete victory for White Ants that it would seem as we would degrees on the way to t.3a reyts Peak and the Plano Wreck. It was as we moved out out the plains that a false note sounded - Tarots flute or Henry Goldt a mouth- organ around a campfire I have enjoyed - but a full scale orchestra dogging our stops is too much Mr. Hooper! A transistor radio was almost consigned to the deepest creek by an angered mob, but was spared when its owner. promised a Goon Show broadcast the next night. Carey's Peak, indeed a place of many moods, was to us a clear and beautiful ontrancer. From the long, low ridge leading down eventually to the Williams to the high summits of Mt. Royal the eye wandered; down the steep ridges into the Paterson and Allyn valleys, over rugged peaks and by cool rivers we could lot our walker, a spirit a roam, but a quick look at the nearer vegetation made tho open plains of Barrington scorn pleasant and most desirable. But why, with those rivers and peaks to stir not a soul must there be a plague on this spot directing the vioworts eye to Nowcastlo, Singleton, Maitland and similar monstrosities of man? Eventually when all the angles and foregrounds had boon exploited by tho photographers (and this trip drew too many - there should ho a maximum number of cameras allowed on a trip) we reassembled on the plains and continued to the big pool for the night. Recommending this campsite almost made me forgive Jim his radio - a wide bond of the river forms a deep and blue pool, mirroring the noaror trees, and, bordered by a level alto, backed by gentle, tree-clad hills. Here wo camped two nights, but that first evening should be remembered. We gathered round the campfire after dinner and, beneath the full moon of Easter, sang and danced and talked. We heard of Max Gentle's first trip into the Gangerangs thirty years ago, then spoke of various exploits of the last twelve months; songs from chronic operas followed old traditional ballads, and the clear starry ay, patterned with racing clouds bore a moon such as city dwellers never see. The smoke from a dying fire crept along the river bank, out of the hollows rose soft white mists, the fire logs crumbled and the night grew cool as reluctantly at first we retired to our tents. Sunday saw us rock-hopping down Barrington River where it begins to drop towards the valley. From a meandering stream it had become a quickly falling rivqr steep ridges of “jungle rising from it, boulder strown and full of small cascades and rapids. Wb sought some semi-mythical falls or whatever joys the river could dhow us. Alas, rock hopping is not everyone's delight and no restrictions could keep the party-together. Necessity it was that gave us four distinct lunch spots that day, and as each group felt its limits had been reached, it turned for camp. The last group reached what would seem to be the beginning of the main drop in the river, and though returning 4thout seeing around the corner was cruel blow, we felt we had seen enough to draw us back one day. Across the ridges we returned to camp, dropping to the pool at dusk just as those already there lit their “pillar of fire” to guide our steps. When I cldnsider all I had heard and the little I had myself experienced before of Barrington weather, the four clear, fine days we enjoyed worc certainly unusual. Not once, but twice could we enjoy a clear view from Caroy's, and it was soft sunshine, not the silver of raindrops, that dappled the forest as we descended to the Williams. Though the timber track now loads almost to the heart of the Tops, and signs of tourists spread along the way, one can still forgot these in the grandeur of the forests. Giant figs, buttressed by stranglers of intricate tracery, the august gums that stretch to the sunlight, staghorns and delicate ferns, vines of every size weaving amongst the strange forest trees - not for one moment can ono cease to rejoice in the beauty around. On my part, it was with sadness that I left the forest for the ordered grounds of Barrington House and the bus to Maitland. arrar……sxwm4.000 ELjazail The other weekend Frank Young, Henry Gold, Frank Rigby and George Grey spent their time dismembering and disemboweling the Land Rover in which they plan to make a circuit of Australia. Neither Henry nor Digby, it appears, are much accustomed to this kind of thing. In fact, Digby made the mistake of arriving in spotless white overalls just as the others had got their hands nice and dirty. Henry and Digby then got buoy dismantling the sump with guide book in one hand and a spanner in the other. From the book,TRemove the speedometer cable' - do you think this is it?” III don't know. What do you thinkV oI donut know. Well, off it comes.“' Of course they forgot to drain it first and when they unscrewed the plug it was “Hasten Jason, bring a basin”. Then presently, ',Bring another basin”. Anyway, all good clean fun. Each year the tide ebbs and flows in Paddy's shop ….. ..during the summer it is the Bushwalhers shop with a few skis in it but in the winter the SKI GEAR comes in and takes a major-p1t5-6-eTTY ALL BUSHWALHERS dhould come in and have a look at the colourful array of SKIS and all the what-have-yours which relate - theteto. S PEC IAL 1958 PRICE LIST of SKI GEAR is now ready-7-r frig:“ write or call. PADDY PALLIN PTY. LIMITED PADDY PAWN Lightweight Camp Gear 201 CASTLE REAQ11 St SYDNEY

195805.1338176022.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016/04/08 12:58 (external edit)

Donate Powered by PHP Valid HTML5 Valid CSS Driven by DokuWiki