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195905 [2012/12/21 12:08] – [Yvonne Renwick] colin195905 [2012/12/21 12:17] – [Molly Rodgers] colin
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 Having completed this diversion we surveyed our sodden bags and, to our amazement, Having completed this diversion we surveyed our sodden bags and, to our amazement,
 Brian suggested we get out of them and spend the night sitting up. As it was not yet Brian suggested we get out of them and spend the night sitting up. As it was not yet
-midnight Irene and I protested volubly against such folly, preferring pneumonia recumbent, enclosed in bag, to pneumonia sitting up, without bag. After much seeking we found some not so wet portions of our bags, twisted these round to our backs, and lay back hopefully 'wooing Sleep. Whether it was the constant bellowing of the tent in the wind, the rhythmic drip drip from various parts of the tent, and the gentle spraying of the rain (through the japara) on our faces we'll never know,+midnight Irene and I protested volubly against such folly, preferring pneumonia recumbent, enclosed in bag, to pneumonia sitting up, without bag. After much seeking we found some not so wet portions of our bags, twisted these round to our backs, and lay back hopefully wooing sleep. Whether it was the constant bellowing of the tent in the wind, the rhythmic drip drip from various parts of the tent, and the gentle spraying of the rain (through the japara) on our faces we'll never know,
 but we did sleep, fitfully. With the dawn came a very wet Alex, adjuring us to pack up as quickly as possible and get going. After hastily eating some cold rice and apple we wrang ourselves, and our gear, out, hoisted up rucksacks, and squelched off, after our leader, into the mist. but we did sleep, fitfully. With the dawn came a very wet Alex, adjuring us to pack up as quickly as possible and get going. After hastily eating some cold rice and apple we wrang ourselves, and our gear, out, hoisted up rucksacks, and squelched off, after our leader, into the mist.
  
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 they can both swim because, in the morning, they were both seen fast asleep, floating at the end of their anchor lines. they can both swim because, in the morning, they were both seen fast asleep, floating at the end of their anchor lines.
  
-I couldn't understand why I was so cold during the night. Every time I moved it seed as though a block of ice was against my back.  After a,most hideous and+I couldn't understand why I was so cold during the night. Every time I moved it seemed as though a block of ice was against my back.  After a most hideous and
 sleepless night I dozed off and dreamt I was pouring myself out of my water-bag sleepless night I dozed off and dreamt I was pouring myself out of my water-bag
 (fantastic thing to dream). Waking from the nightmare I realised that the reason for feeling cold was that my sleeping bag was full, and I mean full, of water. Anyhow, after pouring myself out, I found that Brian had got a fire going and that the rain had stopped. On examination, the only dry article of gear was my camera which was inside three plastic bags. (fantastic thing to dream). Waking from the nightmare I realised that the reason for feeling cold was that my sleeping bag was full, and I mean full, of water. Anyhow, after pouring myself out, I found that Brian had got a fire going and that the rain had stopped. On examination, the only dry article of gear was my camera which was inside three plastic bags.
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 There was considerable consternation in the Leyden-Cosgrove tent a couple of times, but the night continued wet and windy until about 2 a m. when a bright light There was considerable consternation in the Leyden-Cosgrove tent a couple of times, but the night continued wet and windy until about 2 a m. when a bright light
-Shining into the tent and Max Gentle's voice woke me from a doze saying 'Who's in here? I'm washed out". So he came in and settled down. Water may have been running+shining into the tent and Max Gentle's voice woke me from a doze saying 'Who's in here? I'm washed out". So he came in and settled down. Water may have been running
 under the grass but the tent wasn't letting any rain through. under the grass but the tent wasn't letting any rain through.
 +
 To while away the hours until dawn we discussed this and that - women in our lives, the possible difficulty in ascending the rock face of the fissure later in To while away the hours until dawn we discussed this and that - women in our lives, the possible difficulty in ascending the rock face of the fissure later in
 the morning and whether we should go on to the Clyde River or return along the the morning and whether we should go on to the Clyde River or return along the
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 I think perhaps that we did not suffer as much as some that night. In fact now that I look back on it from the comfort of my home some five weeks later I can't help feeling that I may have been exaggerating a little about our discomfort. Of course we got wet, or at least Pam and I did. Pam had found herself the cutest little hip I think perhaps that we did not suffer as much as some that night. In fact now that I look back on it from the comfort of my home some five weeks later I can't help feeling that I may have been exaggerating a little about our discomfort. Of course we got wet, or at least Pam and I did. Pam had found herself the cutest little hip
 hole earlier in the evening but as it soon turned itself into a hip bath it had to be hole earlier in the evening but as it soon turned itself into a hip bath it had to be
-vacated, although by then it was too late. Also the wind changed through the night and blew in on her. As far myself I only got my dry bed sox wet and my shoulders where the water seeped through the groundsheet, but Bill was dry: When the rain first began Bill, with true protective instincts, offered to sleep at the end of the tent from whence the weather came. Standing in the pouring rain, with the mind lashing his groundsheet about him, he gamely tied a spare groundsheet across the end of the abdulled tent and then, although quite exhausted from this great effort,+vacated, although by then it was too late. Also the wind changed through the night and blew in on her. As for myself I only got my dry bed sox wet and my shoulders where the water seeped through the groundsheet, but Bill was dry: When the rain first began Bill, with true protective instincts, offered to sleep at the end of the tent from whence the weather came. Standing in the pouring rain, with the wind lashing his groundsheet about him, he gamely tied a spare groundsheet across the end of the abdulled tent and then, although quite exhausted from this great effort,
  summoned the strength to put our three packs along the inside to help hold down the groundsheet. As I said, Bill was dry!  summoned the strength to put our three packs along the inside to help hold down the groundsheet. As I said, Bill was dry!
  
-Although the night seemed long we did sleep a little and in our waking moments were entertained by snippets of conversation coming from David's tent, next to ours. Max had moved in during the night and whiled away the hours recounting a few of the more romantic moments of his life to a weary David. But it was very frustrating the way the mind roared right at the most enthralling pointApart from that it was interesting to lie back listening to the sounds of the night and try to decide whether those shrieks and moans came from the wind in the casuarinas outside the tent or were in reality the sounds of souls in despair.+Although the night seemed long we did sleep a little and in our waking moments were entertained by snippets of conversation coming from David's tent, next to ours. Max had moved in during the night and whiled away the hours recounting a few of the more romantic moments of his life to a weary David. But it was very frustrating the way the mind roared right at the most enthralling pointApart from that it was interesting to lie back listening to the sounds of the night and try to decide whether those shrieks and moans came from the wind in the casuarinas outside the tent or were in reality the sounds of souls in despair.
  
 And so the night at last became day and after a hearty breakfast of one half apple, one half orange, one chocolate-coated biscuit each and the promise of a lolly later, we began one of the longest walking days I can remember. And so the night at last became day and after a hearty breakfast of one half apple, one half orange, one chocolate-coated biscuit each and the promise of a lolly later, we began one of the longest walking days I can remember.
  
195905.txt · Last modified: 2012/12/21 12:19 by colin

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