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- | TIE SYDNEY 3USHATALKEil | + | ====== The Sydney Bushwalker. ====== |
- | A monthly bulletin of matters of interest to. the Sydney | + | |
- | Reiby Place, Sydney. | + | A monthly bulletin of matters of interest to the Sydney |
- | ' | + | |
- | V.01 | + | === 340. April 1963. Price 1/-. === |
- | 340 APRIL 1963 Price 1/- | + | |
- | Editor: Stuart Brooks. | + | |**Editor**|Stuart Brooks| |
- | Business Manager Alex. Colley. | + | |**Business Manager**|Alex. Colley| |
- | C 0 N.TENTS | + | |
- | From Your Editor | + | ===== Contents ===== |
- | ^ 4 | + | |
- | At Our General Meeting | + | | | |Page| |
- | A.Colley | + | |From Your Editor| | 2| |
- | Letters to the Editor | + | |At Our General Meeting|Alex Colley| 4| |
- | Countegany to Araluen | + | |Letters to the Editor| | 7| |
- | -A Colley | + | |Countegany to Araluen|A Colley| 8| |
- | 1963 Reunion Report | + | |1963 Reunion Report|Capon|14| |
- | liatswell' | + | |Travels with a Vinegar Bottle|Final Recall|20| |
- | Paddy' | + | |Day Walks| |22| |
- | Travels with a Vinegar Bottle | + | |Federation Report| |23| |
- | Final Recall | + | |Anzac Memorial| |24| |
- | Day aalks | + | |
- | Federation Report | + | ===== Advertisements ===== |
- | Anzac Uemorial | + | |
- | 2. The Sydney Bushwalker April, 1963 | + | | |Page| |
- | ....ninw | + | |Hatswell' |
+ | |Paddy' | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
Hi, | Hi, | ||
- | I arrived | + | |
+ | I arrived | ||
When I was first married, this distrait and anxious appearance of mine served me in good stead on occasions when I was late home without explanation or had carried around a letter for a week without posting it. It was about three years, in fact, before this device was seen through and the font of sympathy dried up. It will be interesting to see how long it works with S.B.W. | When I was first married, this distrait and anxious appearance of mine served me in good stead on occasions when I was late home without explanation or had carried around a letter for a week without posting it. It was about three years, in fact, before this device was seen through and the font of sympathy dried up. It will be interesting to see how long it works with S.B.W. | ||
+ | |||
Fifteen years ago, when Alex Colley was Editor, he felt prompted to remark that he would not pressurise people into writing articles. If sufficient material were not forthcoming, | Fifteen years ago, when Alex Colley was Editor, he felt prompted to remark that he would not pressurise people into writing articles. If sufficient material were not forthcoming, | ||
- | Well, Ancient Committeeman' | + | |
- | Certainly, there are some probleme | + | Well, Ancient Committeeman' |
- | to achieve on the present market and would require | + | |
+ | Certainly, there are some problems | ||
I would also like to see the question of our meeting place given some thought. Reiby Place is not entirely suitable and we should be looking for a more appropriate and permanent abode, possibly in conjunction with other walking bodies. | I would also like to see the question of our meeting place given some thought. Reiby Place is not entirely suitable and we should be looking for a more appropriate and permanent abode, possibly in conjunction with other walking bodies. | ||
- | April, 1963 The Sydney Bushwalker 3. | + | |
- | | + | Likewise, we should look to our responsibility as a walking club. Are we doing all we should in attracting the youth of this country to walking not only as a pastime but as a way of life, and holding their interest once they join? I don't think we are, and I feel that our younger committee members, not being completely inbued as yet with the traditions and conventions of this club, may well have some novel and refreshing ideas on this subject. |
- | Are we doing all we should in attracting the youth of this country to | + | |
- | walking not only as a pastime but as a way of lifer and holding their interest once they join? I don't think we are, and I feel that our younger committee members, not being completely inbued as yet with | + | The small increase in fees agreed to at the Annual General Meeting is only a stop-gap. Ron Knightley's motion to increase the active married rate by 10/- p.a. and the entrance fee by 5/- p.a. (thus bringing in an extra £25 p.a.) was put forward so as to shelve the matter for a fulther six or even twelve months or possibly to close the issue so that the meeting would finish before midnight. Either that, or I, for one, was the victim of plot, cunningly conceived by the firm of Redmond, Gentle |
- | the traditions and conventions of this club, may well have Some novel and refreshing ideas on this subject. | + | |
- | The small increase in fees agreed to at the Annual General Meeting | + | |
- | is only a stop-gap. Ron KniEhtley's motion to increase the active married rate by 10/- p a, and the entrance fee. by V- p a. (thus bringing in an extra 25 p a.) was put forward so as to shelve the matter for a fulther six or even twelve months or possibly to close tho'issue so that the meeting would finish before midnight | + | |
Time alone will tell. | Time alone will tell. | ||
- | 111,1 11.... | + | |
- | LIST OF OFFICE-BELRERS FOR 1963 | + | ---- |
- | Ron Kniuhtley. | + | |
- | Bill Rodgers. Jack Gentle. Colin Putt. | + | ===== List Of Office-Bearers For 1963. ===== |
- | Gordon | + | |
- | Elaync | + | |President|Ron Knightley.| |
- | Sandra Bardwell Hilder | + | |Vice Presidents|Bill Rodgers. Jack Gentle.| |
- | Hcathur | + | |Secretary|Colin Putt.| |
- | Round. | + | |Treasurer|Gordon |
- | aex. Colley | + | |Committee|Elayne |
- | H. Gray | + | |Social Secretary|Edna |
- | N. Bourke C. Broad, | + | |Membership Secretary|Sandra Bardwell.| |
- | G. Wagg. | + | |Walks Secretary|Wilf. |
- | G. Nacg. | + | |Federation Delegates|Heathur |
- | M. Berry. W. Rootes. J.Turner. Stuart Brooks. | + | |Substitute Fed. Del.|Alan |
- | President | + | |Business Manager|Alex. Colley.| |
- | Vice Presidents Secretary Treasurer Conmittee | + | |Parks & Playground Rep.|H. Gray.| |
- | Social Secretary Membership Secretary Walks Secretary | + | |Hon. Auditor|N. Bourke.| |
- | Federation Delepates Substitute Fed. Del. Business Manager | + | |Hon. Solicitor|C. Broad.| |
- | Parks cSc Playground Rep. | + | |National Parks Ass. Delegate|G. Wagg.| |
- | Hon. Auditor | + | |Conservation Secretary|G. Wagg.| |
- | Hon. Solicitor National Parks 2Lss. | + | |Trustees|M. Berry. W. Rootes. J.Turner.| |
- | Delegate Conservation Secretary Trustees | + | |Editor|Stuart Brooks.| |
- | Editor | + | |
- | 4 The Sydney Buahwalker Aril, 1963 | + | ---- |
- | AT OURJUIVIJALGENER& | + | |
+ | ===== At Our Annual General Meeting. ===== | ||
Alex. Colley | Alex. Colley | ||
- | The Club's founders, who are reputed to have spent several meetings discussing one word of the constitution, | + | |
- | At the start of the meeting apologies were received from Rene Browne, Joe Turner, Edna Garrad, Mollie Rodgers and Elsie Bruggie. Then two | + | The Club's founders, who are reputed to have spent several meetings discussing one word of the constitution, |
- | members | + | |
- | Atter the presentation of the swimming carnival prizes the meeting got down to the serious business of adopting the annual report. Speaking against the adoption, Ron Knightley said that a report should be factual rather than Opiriaative. Specifically, | + | At the start of the meeting apologies were received from Rene Browne, Joe Turner, Edna Garrad, Mollie Rodgers and Elsie Bruggie. Then two members |
- | Meanwhile correspondence was read. It included a letter from Joe Turner in which he expressed thanks to the Committee for keeping "the old club going" and the hope that Bill Rodger 's words to active | + | |
- | April 1963 The Sydney Bushwalker 5 | + | Atter the presentation of the swimming carnival prizes the meeting got down to the serious business of adopting the annual report. Speaking against the adoption, Ron Knightley said that a report should be factual rather than opinionative. Specifically, |
- | development of existing tracks it did not want new tracks blazed as they might be in the wrong places and lead to confusion. Some areas were planned as wilderness, without tracks (bulldozer-happy N.S.W. authorities please note). | + | |
- | The depreciation bone was then returned to the meeting. Frank:Barlow moved that, in future, the depreciation charge be 20% flat. He pointed | + | Meanwhile correspondence was read. It included a letter from Joe Turner in which he expressed thanks to the Committee for keeping "the old club going" and the hope that Bill Rodger' |
- | out that, after 5 years, we would be very lucky to get 25 for our deuplicator: | + | |
- | Wilf alder then gave us his walks report. The first walk on the | + | The depreciation bone was then returned to the meeting. Frank Barlow moved that, in future, the depreciation charge be 20% flat. He pointed out that, after 5 years, we would be very lucky to get £25 for our duplicator. |
- | programme (a swimming trip to the Shoalhaven) was " | + | |
- | Megalong Valley to include the great granite section of the Cox. The walk was led by himself, and attended by four members and one prospective. On | + | Wilf Hilder |
- | the Saturday the Cox was L. feet in flood, making cascading "fast and furizunu. After a storm on Saturday night it rose to 12 feet, becoming far too fast and dangerous for swimming. The party then turned to Mitchell' | + | |
- | up to Evans Head Lookout and followed the cliff tops around to Govett' | + | On the 8th, 9th and 10th Bob Duncan, |
- | Leap. On Sunday of the same week-end Stuart Brooks led 4 // | + | |
- | On the 8th, 9th and 10th Bob Duncan, | + | Wilf reported that the 50,000 series maps of Ulladulla and Wingham were now available. There was also a new edition of Myles Dunphy' |
- | After some long swims in the river, which had a good volume of water the party camped at Tallomal | + | |
- | The Sydney Bushwalker April 1963 | + | In general business Jack Wren pointed out that two months after the Annual General |
- | NUf reported that the 50,000 series maps of Ulladulla and Wingham were now available. There was also a new edition of Myles Dunphy' | + | |
- | In general business Jack Wren pointed out thft two months after the Annual General | + | The last business of the evening was to decide the amount of the annual subscription and entrance fee. Jack Gentle moved that a new scale of fees - Active single members |
- | notice of meeting there was not much extra work rind, if they-were crossed off most would have to be readmitted again.. It was decided to leave it to the dog. | + | |
- | The last business of the evening was to decide the amount of the annual subscription and entrance fee. Jack Gentle moved that a new scaleof | + | The meeting closed at 10.40 p.m., beating the cleaner by a narrow margin. |
- | said that this was not E1,300 of realisable assets | + | |
- | Colin Putt criticised Jack Gentle' | + | ---- |
- | writer | + | |
- | for our reserves - we could easily dissipate the good work of the past, and even if we spent only 100 on a typewriter we would be nrht down to the boards." | + | ===== Letters To The Editor. ===== |
- | The meeting closed at 10.40 p m., beating the cleaner by a narrow margin. | + | |
- | April 1963 The Sydney Bushwalker | + | Mr. Colley' |
- | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. | + | |
- | ' | + | Since the dawn of time, man has had to pit his wits against his environment. The fact that cars have replaced sabre-toothed tigers and that walkers (as distinct from people) seek simplicity and solitude in a concrete jungle does not alter the basic problem of adaptation for survital. Mr. Colley' |
- | Since the damn of time, man has had to pit his wits against his environment. The fact that cars have replaced sabre-toothed tigers | + | |
- | and that walkers (as distinct from people) seek simplicity and solitude in ,a concrete jungle does not alter the basic problem of adaptation for | + | The situation is not as black as all that. It is now possible, for example, to reach the Kowmung from Kanangra |
- | survital. Mr. Colley' | + | |
- | gympathetic | + | The danger lies (and here I am in full accord |
- | 1963. | + | |
- | The situation is not as black as all that. It is no possible, for example, to reach the Kowmung from Hanangra | + | |
- | The danger lies (and hete I am in full acaord | + | |
Dissembling Hot Rod. | Dissembling Hot Rod. | ||
- | Anxious Eastwood Mother need not feel so anxious. I knew two valkirs, who carried away by a zeal for lightweight walking, shared the one pack, the one toothbrush, and the one pipe. They still remain reasonably active and even appear occasionally on club walks. The fact that Eff See in can still summon the energy to write about his experiences and thus, presumably, enjoys reasonable health, bears mute but telling testimony to the danger in becoming over excited over the interchange of a few germs. | + | |
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | Anxious Eastwood Mother need not feel so anxious. I knew two walkers, who carried away by a zeal for lightweight walking, shared the one pack, the one toothbrush, and the one pipe. They still remain reasonably active and even appear occasionally on club walks. The fact that Eff See Wun can still summon the energy to write about his experiences and thus, presumably, enjoys reasonable health, bears mute but telling testimony to the danger in becoming over excited over the interchange of a few germs. | ||
And don't forget, the end result of A.E.M.' | And don't forget, the end result of A.E.M.' | ||
+ | |||
Beecroft Bacillus. | Beecroft Bacillus. | ||
- | The Sydney Bushwalker April 1963 | ||
- | COUNITGAN/ TO ARALUEN | ||
- | The Story' of an 01d-fashioned Walk. - A.Colley | ||
- | It was on Christmas Eve that three old-fashioned walkers boarded the 8.45 p m. for Coma. Oblivious to Progress and Development, | + | ---- |
- | folding chairs and tables, or any of the rest of the equipment popularly considered necessary to make the bush bearable, we set out, determined to walk from Countegany to the Araluen. River with the help of a 4 mile to the inch ordinance map and a compass. Equipped for the heat and flies of summer, we had nothing but our packs and clothes we wore. Bill Cosgrove and I, apprehensive of an 8 day pack in the heat, had cut our food below the 2 lb. a day mark. John Scott' | + | |
- | The boarding of a train at the start of a long bushwalking trip is, to me, always an exciting event. Behind lies work, the city and the business uniform (block suit, white shirt, tie). Ahead is the bush, | + | ===== Countegany To Araluen. ===== |
- | .perhaps the challenge of country you don't know. After days; or weeks of weight-paring preparations, | + | |
- | John and I were delighted to climb, into our bunks between clean sheets and fleecy blankets in our well polished cedar-.lined sleeper (none of your steel and plastic for the likes of us). Bill, thade of sterner stuff, was determined to sit up all night, if necessary, in second class and save KO. The main concession to progress | + | === The Story of an O1d-fashioned Walk. === |
- | (268 miles in 10 hours. 24 minutes - ay. 25.77 mph) had been eliminated. | + | |
- | .. | + | - A.Colley |
- | Dawn, as we approached Cooma, revealed a dull wintry looking day. | + | |
- | We were the only walkers on the train and the only passengers to breakfast at the R.R.R. | + | It was on Christmas Eve that three old-fashioned walkers boarded the 8.45 p.m. for Cooma. Oblivious to Progress and Development, |
- | April 1963 The Sydney Bushwalker 9 | + | |
- | Note: In deference to the old-fashioned author, the mp shows Icnds as a single broken line and the author' | + | The boarding of a train at the start of a long bushwalking trip is, to me, always an exciting event. Behind lies work, the city and the business uniform (block suit, white shirt, tie). Ahead is the bush, perhaps the challenge of country you don't know. After days, or weeks of weight-paring preparations, |
- | Arokaea | + | |
- | 11.1 Er017; heia | + | John and I were delighted to climb into our bunks between clean sheets and fleecy blankets in our well polished cedar-lined sleeper (none of your steel and plastic for the likes of us). Bill, made of sterner stuff, was determined to sit up all night, if necessary, in second class and save £3. The main concession to progress |
- | In, I I | + | |
- | | + | Dawn, as we approached Cooma, revealed a dull wintry looking day. We were the only walkers on the train and the only passengers to breakfast at the R.R.R. There was just one taxi available, which we secured for our ride to Countegany. We were in new country as soon as we left the Station, so map-reading commenced, as we had to pick from the car the divide between |
- | I I / | + | |
- | 01 1 4 31- 3 | + | [ Map ] |
- | + | ||
- | tr. | + | (Note: In deference to the old-fashioned author, the map shows roads as a single broken line and the author' |
- | 471 8 1 | + | |
- | In :)L0 Mtn. | + | Our map showed the Badja River to the north west and the Tuross River to the South east, the distance between the rivers being about 6 miles. Both streams sported |
- | 111 nt,t)7,111) eiti,472- | + | |
- | (raiDaree x. | + | Next day we groped our way further along the divide in the mist, crossing little swamps and streams and occasionally finding timber tracks. We hoped at some stage to see an eminence called Big Badja, but visibility was almost nil. From this point we intended to turn due east along a ridge leading to the Deua River. Judging by the time we had taken we calculated we must be somewhere near this eastward running divide. Since we couldn' |
- | 1 , is..) ...- | + | |
- | = s I eA ' - C. | + | Down we went through ferns and over rocks on a slope so steep we could barely cling on to it, till at last we found our stream, noisy not because it was large, but because it was rushing steeply down a narrow gully without a skerrick of a bank. Camping was hopeless - the only way to progress was along the stream itself. Perhaps beyond that waterfall things would improve. But after ten minutes scramble over roots, water and rocks, things were no better, so there was nothing for it but to crawl up the ridge on the other side. Up and up we went - getting dark now. One or two places at last where we might make a camp spot. Then a little rocky shelf about three quarter way up the ridge. We all got to work. Heaved the boulders away, pulled out the scrub, and there was room for the tent - rough, but flat enough to sleep. We made a fire, but cooking wasn't worth the effort in that cramped spot. Nor did we have water (though we collected some off the tent later). We were thankful just to lie down - it was too cold and wet to feel thirsty. |
- | t .) | + | |
- | 1 c,) _- f i | + | By morning we were quite attached to our little plot on the ridge, and were reluctant to resume our climb over the boulders through the cold, dripping undergrowth. But soon the scrub thinned the slope flattened and we sensed an improvement in our fortunes. They were, in fact, to improve all day. It was the first of many days of most enjoyable walking. In about half an hour we reached a track, then a timber-getter's clearing with a hole full of clear water. The drizzle had stopped and a ray of sunshine shone through the clouds to warm us. Soon we had a good fire going and were eating a hearty breakfast. |
- | % _co ciNor ..... | + | |
- | X I , ,i. | + | After breakfast we crossed more swamps. Keeping east (away from those gullies) we soon espied a clearing on our left, which we rightly surmised was the head of the Badja River. In the middle of the clearing, not far off our course, was a house. In these days when every car may carry a load of shooters, fire starters, fence destroyers, or potential lost hikers, one is never sure of one's welcome in what were once the back blocks. But we decided it would be nice to know for sure that we were on the Badja, so we started towards the house. " |
- | \ ci .... | + | |
- | / e, A" | + | Next morning we at last ascended the misty crag. For a few minutes the mist lifted sufficiently to see Mr. Broadhead' |
- | i I | + | |
- | s , - | + | We camped on the edge of a clear stretch, over which we looked to dark hills covered in low scrub, between the two upper branches of the Shoalhaven, and beyond to the edge of the Deua escarpment. |
- | - . | + | |
- | /,,, ,,, .,.3 . , | + | Next day we made our way across the valley and up an easy ridge to the top of the old track leading down to Con Creek in the Deua Valley. It is difficult to find the track from above because there is no defined ridge at the start. We made our way to a blue bush ridge which indicated limestone, like the ridge we had come up at Easter, and it took us some time to find out that there were two blue bush ridges. Had we kept on to the wrong ridge we would have faced some hours of battling. Once on the right ridge we soon ran into burned cuntry, which continued for some ten miles down the river. Wherever there are cattle there are regular bush fires. |
- | ,.. | + | |
- | ''',/ | + | We camped that night on another beautiful camp site next to the Deua. Apparently the scrub burners don't operate much above this point, because the banks are intact and the river is perfectly clear and almost free of the stones, sand and gravel which is washed from a catchment constantly bared to erosion by burning. A river like this is rare now. |
- | F | + | |
- | 0 | + | The old Bendethera homestead is an interesting relic of the days of Dad and Dave, built with the axe and adze and the crosscut saw, out of slabs and round bush timber. Scattered around was the discarded equipment of the era of horses - single furrow plough, diamond harrow, horse collars, an old grindstone with hand forged handle, hooks, bits of chain, camp oven etc. We found later that the equipment had all come over the track from Moruya by pack horse. We rightly surmised that, since life without a car is insufferable the farms marked on Myles Dunphy' |
- | 1 ...,.%! / . | + | |
- | ".. .... - | + | Our first move after putting up the tent was to go for a swim in a lovely rock pool some 20' deep and 100' long. Here a tantalising sight was seen. At our end of the pool, a couple of feet under water and a couple of yards away, nosed a trout well over a foot long. We had a small length of line and hooks, but had inadvertently omitted to buy any fishing license. Anyway the canny fish wouldn' |
- | ", 1 '" | + | |
- | Z.n. "', | + | |
- | IsE---UrCnberie. Mht. | + | |
- | | + | |
- | 4 f il. i*, | + | |
- | .. . .... _ ::: 1, i N 1 ,c i | + | |
- | ' 40571 | + | |
- | | + | |
- | i t< -' ' `..:46/7.; , 4' At 4 (2 "/' | + | |
- | ie. ss, ,NI, . , ..``' | + | |
- | 1 i Mik41/ | + | |
- | - it i | + | |
- | #1 i )ri ''' | + | |
- | 1 4 (1 i Ifr...., Pi.. t 1 ts: , | + | |
- | , - -...: , - -..... ......, . _ | + | |
- | \,. ......., 1,4.- -....., _ . | + | |
- | ' | + | |
- | - _ | + | |
- | - | + | |
- | paid off the t=i, put on our ground sheets, | + | |
- | Our map showed the Badja Fixer to the north west'and the Tuross.River to the South east, the distance between the rivers being about 6 miles, Both streams sported | + | |
- | The bush was thick, the mist was thick, and the divide almost featureless except for occasional granite outcrops covered in thick wet undergrowth. This was meant to be an easy day with our full packs (in the anticipated heat), but it was too cold to sit around.' Ilfter | + | |
- | ?".' | + | |
- | F1/, I I | + | |
- | e | + | |
- | wet/ | + | |
- | +tit 44. | + | |
- | r | + | |
- | I / | + | |
- | 4 * \Din.; C )""" | + | |
- | , 1.74_eagy | + | |
- | Boc4; Hai /7 | ||
- | ' | ||
- | 1/4A ., .g. \ | ||
- | % ..,. | ||
- | N . | ||
- | 10 The Sydney Bushwalker April 1963 | ||
- | Next day we groped our way further along the divide in the mist, crossing little swamps and streams and occasionally finding timber tracks. We hoped at some stage to see an eminence called Big Badja, but visibility was almost nil. From this point we intended to turn due east along a ridge leading to the Deua Elver. Judging by the time we had taken we calculated we must be somewhere near this eastward running divide. Since we couldn' | ||
- | that the ground was falling away to the north, where lay the Shoalhaven. There was only one may to find out - turn east and see. For a couple of hours the theory seamed to work out There were ups and dawns and much crawling through ferns and under and aver logs, but no big drop. Sometimes we started down, but came to a saddle and rose again. It seamed all right. Then we went down two or three hundred feet, and it | ||
- | was getting late. Was that water we could hear down below? A bit further, 800 feet down. Yes, it was water. Better to go down to it and camp than to get up to a dry ridge top just before dark. Down and down, steeper and steeper. Then the mist rolled away for a few minutes, and for the first time we Saw. About four miles to the north and some 2,000 feet above us there rose a mighty crag - Big Badja, of course. By the look of the country it was a tough day's walk away. | ||
- | Down we went through ferns and over rocks on a dope so 6teep we could barely cling on to-it, till at last we found our stream, noisy | ||
- | not because it was large, but because it was rushing steeply down a narrow gully without a skerrick of a bank. Camping was hopeless - the only way to progree was along the stream itself, Perhnps beyond that waterfall things would improve. But after tenminutes scramble over roots, water and rocks, things were no -better, so there was nothing for it but to crawl up the ridge on the other side. Up and up we went - getting dark now. Ofte or two places at last where we might make a camp spot. Then a little rocky shelf about three quarter way up the ridge. We all got to work, Heaved' | ||
- | By morning we wero quite ?ached to our little Dlot on the ridge, and were reluctant to resume our climb over the boulders through the cold, dripping undergrowth, | ||
- | April 1963 The Sydney Bushmalker 11 | ||
- | 411111.K. | ||
- | After breakfast we crossed more. svamps Keeping east (away from those gullies) we soon espied a clearing on our left: which we rightly surmised was the head of the Badja River. In the middle of the clearing, not far Off our course, was a house. In these days When every car may carry a load of shooters, fire starters, fence destroyers, or potential lost hikers, one is never sure of one's welcome in what were once the back blocks. But we decided it would be nice to know for sure that we were on the Badja, so we started towards the house. " | ||
- | flowing thrOugh the rushes which made our paddock so' green; Had we tried to cross it, only our hats would have remained above water, At the hoMestead we soon found we had come to exactly the right place. The owner, | ||
- | Mr. Bert Broadhead evidently had mostly the right kind of visitors, Most of them were trout fishermen/ some Of wham had clubbed together to build | ||
- | a hut on his property. One of them, by his description; | ||
- | on it and listened, not quite as carefully as we should have, to Mr, Broad- head's description of the track to it. After that we lost a few minutes in one false move, but from then on found the track nearly all the way We knew when we capped that night that we were quite near the mountain; though we still couldn' | ||
- | Next morning we at last ascended the misty crag. For a-few minutes the mist lifted sufficiently, | ||
- | trees/ fallen logs, and thick dripping undergrowth. We had had enough of that already, so we turned north west as Mr. Broadhead hAd suggested and, about a mile along, came on to the jeep road to Snowball.' | ||
- | 32 The Sydney Bushmalker Aoril 1963 | ||
- | We camped on the edge of a clear stretch, over which we looked to dark hills covered in low scrub, between the two upper branches of the Shoal haven, and beyond to the edge 6f the Deua escarpment. | ||
- | Next day we made our way across the valley and up an easy ridge | ||
- | to the top of the old track leading down to Con Creek in the Deua Valley. It is difficult to find the track from above because there is no defined ridge at the start. We made our way to a blue bush ridge which indicated limestone) like the ridge we had come up at Easter) and it took us some time to find out that there were two blue bush ridges. Had we kept on to the wrong ridge we would have faced some houi-s of battling. Once on the right ridge we soon ran into burned cuntry, which continued for some ten miles down the river. Wherever there are cattle there are regulnabush fires. | ||
- | We camped that night on another beautiful camp site next to the Deua. Apparently the scrub burners don't operate much above this point, because the banks are intact and the river is perfectly clear and almost free of the stones, sand and gravel -which is washed from a catchment constantly bared to erosion by burning. A river like this is rare now. | ||
- | The old Bendethera homestead is an interesting relic of the days of Dad and Dave, built with the axe and adze and the crosscut saw, out of slabs and round bush timber. Scattered around was the discarded equipment of the era of horses | ||
- | Our first move after putting up the tent was to go for a swim in a lovely rock pool some 207 deep and 100' long. Here a tantalising sight was seen. At our and of the pool, a couple of feet under water and a couple of yards away, noeed a trout well over a foot lone. We had a small length of line and hooks, but had inadvertently omitted to buy au' fishing license. Anyway the canny fish wouldn' | ||
Next day, for almost the first time, some flies arrived. It was our rest day, so we were glad to take shelter in Bill's mosquito net tent, emerging only to make cups of tea, cook dampers and wash our clothes. It seemed ages since we had left the car at Countegany. So varied had our experiences been since then that we found difficulty in recalling where we had camped on the previous nights. | Next day, for almost the first time, some flies arrived. It was our rest day, so we were glad to take shelter in Bill's mosquito net tent, emerging only to make cups of tea, cook dampers and wash our clothes. It seemed ages since we had left the car at Countegany. So varied had our experiences been since then that we found difficulty in recalling where we had camped on the previous nights. | ||
- | We spent that afternoon and the next two days making our way down the River to its junction with the AraIuen. It is a beautiful valley,, | + | |
- | April 1963 The Sydney Bushwnlker 13 | + | We spent that afternoon and the next two days making our way down the River to its junction with the Araluen. It is a beautiful valley, |
- | corapa, | + | |
- | consequently it is probably much cooler in summer. On the last day we | + | Mr. Wildey, the taxi proprietor |
- | - | + | |
- | came into cleared country. From here we could-have- followed the road | + | And so back to another train. This time a modern |
- | into AraIuen; | + | |
- | Mr. Nildey, the taxi proprietor | + | We had covered some 70-80 miles, done about 50 river crossings, and arrived back tired but happy. I always think it is a good walk if you feel a bit lost when the party breaks up at Central, and this was no exception. I keep recalling views and incidents on the walk, and I will go on doing so. One may forget nearly all the days in one's life, but a day's walk is never quite forgotten. |
- | about half a mile. Dotted over the flat valley landscape are the remains of some miner' | + | |
- | And so back to another train. This time a modern | + | Back in town I was pleased to find that for a few more easy payments, a new lawn mower, on which one can sit while the works whirr beneath, is now available to tired business men and others. A car to the office, a seat at the desk, a car home, a seat on the lawnmower for fresh air and exercise, and a run on the bitumen on Sunday. No walking at all! Isn't Progress wonderful! |
- | one which whisked us quickly, though by no means smoothly, back to Central in four hours. How nice to observe the rat race on the road from a train window: | + | |
- | We had covered some 70-80 miles, done about 50 river crossings, and arrived back tired but happy,, I always think it is 'a good walk if you feel a bit lost when the party breaks up at Central, and thia was no exception. I keep recalling views and incidents on the walk, and 'I will go on doing so. One may forget nearly all the days in one's life, but a day's walk is never quite forgotten. | + | ---- |
- | Back in town I was pleased to find that for a few more easy paments, a new lawn mower/ on which one can sit while the works whirr beneath, is now available to tired business men and others A car to the office, a seat at the desk, a car home, a seat on the lawnmower for fresh air and exercise, and a run on the bitumen on Sunday, No walking at all: Isn't Progress wonderful! | + | |
- | 4...-eirsha.,-)... | + | |
- | 11+ The Sydney Bushwalker April 1963 | + | |
1963 REUNION =CET | 1963 REUNION =CET | ||
Capon | Capon |
196304.txt · Last modified: 2022/11/08 13:33 by tyreless