198401
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- | THE SYDNEY.. BUSHWALKER Established June 1931 | + | ====== |
+ | ==== Established June 1931 ==== | ||
A monthly bUlletin of matters of interest to The Sydney Bush Walkers, Box 4476 G.P.O. Sydney, 2001. Club meetings are held every Wednesday evening from 7.30 'pm at the Cahill Community Centre (Upper Hall), 34 Falcon Street, Crow's Nest | A monthly bUlletin of matters of interest to The Sydney Bush Walkers, Box 4476 G.P.O. Sydney, 2001. Club meetings are held every Wednesday evening from 7.30 'pm at the Cahill Community Centre (Upper Hall), 34 Falcon Street, Crow's Nest | ||
- | Editor: Evelyn Walker, 158 Evans Street, Rozelle, 2039. Telephone 827-3695. | + | |Editor:| Evelyn Walker, 158 Evans Street, Rozelle, 2039. Telephone 827-3695.\\ | |
+ | |Business Manager:| Bill Burke, 3 Coral Tree Drive, Carlingford, | ||
+ | |Production Manager:| Helen Gray\\ | ||
+ | |Typist:| Kath Brown\\ | ||
+ | |Duplicator Operator: | ||
- | Business manager: Bill Burke, 3 Coral Tree Drive, Carlingford, | + | ==== January 1984 ==== |
+ | | | |Page | | ||
+ | |Wallowing at Wyanbene | ||
+ | |Poem - Reproduced by permission from "The Quiet Land" | ||
+ | |Tigers Not Extinct | ||
+ | |It Turned Out Fine Again |Tom Wenman | ||
+ | |Yalwal Instructional | ||
+ | |The Coolana Pyramid | ||
+ | |Eastwood Camping Centre Advertisement | ||
+ | |Meeting Notes - November General Meeting | ||
+ | |Head Due South - Reprint from August 1960 |Carl Doherty | ||
+ | |"Of Ships and Shoes and Sealing Wax...." | ||
+ | |Walking' | ||
+ | |Social Notes for February | ||
- | Production Manager: Helen Gray. | + | ===== WALLOWING AT WYANBENE ===== |
+ | By Roger Browne and Michelle de Vries Robbe | ||
- | Typist: Kath Brown. | + | Friday 16th December saw 16 people discovering the Deua National Park. Heavy rain had fallen recently, and we squelched along the track from the car park to our campsite on the Upper Shoalhaven River. " |
- | + | ||
- | Duplicator Operator: | + | |
- | + | ||
- | January 1984 | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Wallowing at Wyanbene by Roger Browne and Michelle de Vries Robbe | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Poem - Reproduced by permission from "The Quiet Land" by Peter Dombrovskis and Ellen Miller | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Tigers Not Extinct | + | |
- | + | ||
- | It Turned Out Fine Again Tom Wenman | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Yalwal Instructional Diedre Schofield 8 | + | |
- | + | ||
- | The Coolana Pyramid | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Eastwood. Camping Centre Advertisement 10 | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Meeting Notes - November General Meeting Barry Wallace | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Head Due South - Reprint from August 1960 Carl Doherty 12 | + | |
- | + | ||
- | "Of Ships and Shoes and Sealing Wax...." | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Walking' | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Social Notes for February | + | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | WALLOWING AT WYANBENE. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | By Roger Browne and Michelle de Vries Robbe. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Friday 16th December saw 16 people discovering the Deua National | + | |
The Trip Info Sheet had asked everyone to bring some Christmas decorations, | The Trip Info Sheet had asked everyone to bring some Christmas decorations, | ||
Line 59: | Line 43: | ||
Returning to the outside world after caving is a beautiful experience. The air becomes warm and welcoming, the smell of dust gives way to the aromas of plants, animals and moist earth, and the light appears filtered and bright to eyes accustomed to feeble yellow torchlight reflected off muddy rocks. | Returning to the outside world after caving is a beautiful experience. The air becomes warm and welcoming, the smell of dust gives way to the aromas of plants, animals and moist earth, and the light appears filtered and bright to eyes accustomed to feeble yellow torchlight reflected off muddy rocks. | ||
- | As only one car was left at the cave (the other drivers having opted out at the wind tunnel), we crammed eight people plus lots of caving gear into a small Chrysler Sigma. | + | As only one car was left at the cave (the other drivers having opted out at the wind tunnel), we crammed eight people plus lots of caving gear into a small Chrysler Sigma. |
Time was running out for our 11 km afternoon walk, so we had a quick lunch and wash and left the campsite at ten to five (!). The first stop was the Big Hole - 100m deep, 40m across and a very neat cylindrical hole. It is truly impressive. Then we joined a fire trail and headed to Marble Arch, a small cave and canyon with interesting blue and red marbling patterns in grey and white rock. | Time was running out for our 11 km afternoon walk, so we had a quick lunch and wash and left the campsite at ten to five (!). The first stop was the Big Hole - 100m deep, 40m across and a very neat cylindrical hole. It is truly impressive. Then we joined a fire trail and headed to Marble Arch, a small cave and canyon with interesting blue and red marbling patterns in grey and white rock. | ||
Line 69: | Line 53: | ||
The park has been scarred by the construction of a large network of fire trails since the map was compiled (1975). The old foot and horse trails appear to have fallen into disuse and we were not able to locate them, even though we crossed their positions on the map-many times. However, one of the fire trails followed our general route for much of the way. The fire trail is 4 km shorter (at 18 km) than the old horse trail, but involved 100 in more climbing (for a total vertical of 900 m). Parts of the fire trail are extremely steep. The last 3 km follows Curmurlee Creek, a delightful mountain stream which feeds the Deua River. At the Deua we found an excellent swimming hole and stopped for a swim and a short (but not hurried) lunch. | The park has been scarred by the construction of a large network of fire trails since the map was compiled (1975). The old foot and horse trails appear to have fallen into disuse and we were not able to locate them, even though we crossed their positions on the map-many times. However, one of the fire trails followed our general route for much of the way. The fire trail is 4 km shorter (at 18 km) than the old horse trail, but involved 100 in more climbing (for a total vertical of 900 m). Parts of the fire trail are extremely steep. The last 3 km follows Curmurlee Creek, a delightful mountain stream which feeds the Deua River. At the Deua we found an excellent swimming hole and stopped for a swim and a short (but not hurried) lunch. | ||
- | The downward trip had taken 3 hours, but the return trip took from 3 to 5 hours, depending on the walker. Fortunately,, the weather was with us - the glorious sun during our swim changed to an overcast sky and the temperature dropped rapidly as we started our walk back. The general opinion was that it was a lovely spot, but with a price to pay in the climb out. | + | The downward trip had taken 3 hours, but the return trip took from 3 to 5 hours, depending on the walker. Fortunately, |
- | We regrouped at the campsite. Roger' | + | We regrouped at the campsite. Roger' |
- | cough in to Braidwood, where it was repaired. | + | |
The long climb out from the Deua, and the mechanical problems, meant that that it was almost midnight before the last participant was safety home, tired but happy. | The long climb out from the Deua, and the mechanical problems, meant that that it was almost midnight before the last participant was safety home, tired but happy. | ||
+ | ===== POEM ===== | ||
- | Poem. by Ellen Miller. | + | by Ellen Miller |
- | + | ||
- | From THE QUIET LAND by Peter Dombrovskis (photos) and Ellen Miller (poetry), published by Peter Dombrovskis, | + | |
+ | From THE QUIET LAND by Peter Dombrovskis (photos) and Ellen Miller (poetry), published by Peter Dombrovskis, | ||
Reproduced by permission. | Reproduced by permission. | ||
Line 89: | Line 72: | ||
Often full of misty rain. | Often full of misty rain. | ||
- | Light doesn' | + | Light doesn' |
+ | It slips into it like long, slanting fingers, | ||
or filters in a lacy pattern through the tree tops. | or filters in a lacy pattern through the tree tops. | ||
Line 96: | Line 80: | ||
Sometimes, a green light. | Sometimes, a green light. | ||
- | And it doesn' | + | And it doesn' |
+ | for darkness comes quickly in a rain forest. | ||
Days seem shorter here than on the open moorland. | Days seem shorter here than on the open moorland. | ||
- | Camping places are difficult to find, for the forest floor\\ is seldom flat and is littered with fallen trees\\ and criss-crossed by streams. One sleeps around roots,\\ or on a hill, or curled like a caterpillar. | + | Camping places are difficult to find, for the forest floor\\ |
+ | is seldom flat and is littered with fallen trees\\ | ||
+ | and criss-crossed by streams. One sleeps around roots, | ||
+ | or on a hill, or curled like a caterpillar. | ||
- | And if a fire has to be lit in this rain-sodden\\ part of the wilderness, and the flames begin to flicker,\\ the darkness is black, and thick,\\ | + | And if a fire has to be lit in this rain-sodden\\ |
- | and filled with small sounds... | + | part of the wilderness, and the flames begin to flicker, |
+ | the darkness is black, and thick,\\ | ||
+ | and filled with small sounds… | ||
and it is so easy to imagine things. | and it is so easy to imagine things. | ||
- | TIGERS NOT EXTINCT.\\ | + | ===== TIGERS NOT EXTINCT |
- | by Alex Colley. | + | |
- | As Gordon Lee has pointed out, the Tigers did some notable:walks. The original (1937) Tigers accomplished this, not by walking fast but by starting early and walking steadily all day. There was time to enjoy the bush, take photographs, | + | by Alex Colley |
- | lunch on the second day of our Katoomba to Picton walk, "The rabbits check out." | + | |
- | because I carried a light pack. | + | As Gordon Lee has pointed out, the Tigers did some notable walks. The original (1937) Tigers accomplished this, not by walking fast but by starting early and walking steadily all day. There was time to enjoy the bush, take photographs, |
In the early days of the Club very few walks were cancelled and nearly all were completed according to programme, despite the fact that many walks were in little known country and maps often crude. One reason why walks were completed as per schedule was that, in those days, we relied almost exclusively on public transport. Trains and buses had to be caught on time, and having been conveyed to the start by public transport, we had to get back to it. It was difficult to cancel walks and almost impossible to chicken out by short-circuiting a walk, because there were no parked cars to return to. | In the early days of the Club very few walks were cancelled and nearly all were completed according to programme, despite the fact that many walks were in little known country and maps often crude. One reason why walks were completed as per schedule was that, in those days, we relied almost exclusively on public transport. Trains and buses had to be caught on time, and having been conveyed to the start by public transport, we had to get back to it. It was difficult to cancel walks and almost impossible to chicken out by short-circuiting a walk, because there were no parked cars to return to. | ||
- | Gordon' | + | Gordon' |
- | Gordon is wrong an one point. Some of the Tigers have gone- beyond, but many have not. Despite their astronomical age they are neither toothless nor decrepit. They are still bushwalking; | + | Gordon is wrong an one point. Some of the Tigers have gone- beyond, but many have not. Despite their astronomical age they are neither toothless nor decrepit. They are still bushwalking; |
- | well be the only ones of their age who are. They lead programme walks and often do four and five day mid-week walks. The average age of five who recently climbed Mounts Gudgenby and Kelly is inscribed in the book on the | + | |
- | top of Mount Kelly as 68 years, with a rider "is it a record?" | + | ===== IT TURNED OUT FINE AGAIN (OR DON'T TRUST THE WEATHER) ===== |
- | IT TURNED OUT FINE AGAIN (OR DON'T TRUST THE WEATHER).\\ | ||
Being a record of Gordon Lee's walk 2, 3, 4 December\\ | Being a record of Gordon Lee's walk 2, 3, 4 December\\ | ||
- | by Tom Wenman. | + | by Tom Wenman |
Walk out to Coal Seam Cave on a Friday night? What ever for? However on this occasion it proved to be worthwhile. Mind you, as I stumbled along a slippery muddy path in the darkness, with a fast-fading torch, I did wonder if my journey was really necessary. | Walk out to Coal Seam Cave on a Friday night? What ever for? However on this occasion it proved to be worthwhile. Mind you, as I stumbled along a slippery muddy path in the darkness, with a fast-fading torch, I did wonder if my journey was really necessary. | ||
Line 132: | Line 120: | ||
Gordon had led us unerringly through the dark, misty, and moonless night. At the foot of the 'short cut' descent to the cave however, obviously feeling suitably elated he attempted a sort of 'pas de soil' and disappeared with a shout into the darkness. We peered anxiously down as it appeared that Gordon had mistaken the location for his display of exuberance. All was well, however, and his descent had been brief and a four-point landing effected an the path leading to the cave. | Gordon had led us unerringly through the dark, misty, and moonless night. At the foot of the 'short cut' descent to the cave however, obviously feeling suitably elated he attempted a sort of 'pas de soil' and disappeared with a shout into the darkness. We peered anxiously down as it appeared that Gordon had mistaken the location for his display of exuberance. All was well, however, and his descent had been brief and a four-point landing effected an the path leading to the cave. | ||
- | Morning revealed, beneath the overhang of the cave, a wet green panorama of gum trees and shrubs with a mist drifting amongst them. This, with the sound of rain and the dripping water from the overhang suitably dampened | + | Morning revealed, beneath the overhang of the cave, a wet green panorama of gum trees and shrubs with a mist drifting amongst them. This, with the sound of rain and the dripping water from the overhang suitably dampened |
- | + | ||
- | By the time we had finished | + | |
- | clearing, probably for the Gods to descend by Air Chariot it is believed. Despite all this the bush showed strong signs of revegetation | + | |
- | Our way to the Kowmung was to be via Roots Ridge, | + | A lift to the pub spared us the last four miles roadbash also and speeded up our move out. With the exception |
- | By the time we had reached the Kowmung, apart from some puffy white clouds as a reminder of the earlier inclemency, blue sky predominated and gave us a sunny stroll along the river. It certainly looked the best I have seen it for a very long time. A steady flow covered the dry patches which have seemed so prevalent in recent years, however there was not too much flow to obscure the clarity of the water. | + | |
- | We stopped for a pleasant lunch in the shade of some tall old Casuarinas. All along the banks these are now re-establishing themselves | + | *(Note: The “old railway” mentioned is the line built about 1907 to carry shale oil products from Newnes to the western line at Newnes Junction about 10 miles east of Lithgow. The railway ceased operating in the 1930s, but the formation, including |
- | In contrast to the absence of cattle, other animals, native and nonnative proliferated. Large grey kangaroos hopped lazily away at our approach and then stopped to watch us from a few feet higher up the bank. Rabbits seemed to be getting numerous again and a lone feral cat was obT served. Many birds including wildfowl protested noisily at our approach. | + | ===== "OF SHIPS AND SHOES AND SEALING WAX" ===== |
+ | by Jim Brown | ||
- | Towards | + | I don't know why I pay so much heed to what Don Matthews says, unless it's because he so often says the same thing I an thinking. Indeed, perhaps, he' |
- | There was one great problem | + | At any rate Don recently told me he had been on Roy Braithwaite' |
- | The pleasant sunlight scene was soon destined | + | (This, in turn, reminds me of a story dating back to the War years. A blacked-out train pulls into a blacked-out station. "Say," says an American serviceman, "What burg is this?" To which Bob Younger replies, "Oh, I guess it's Helen' |
- | I was left to myself and my thoughts. Being unwilling to retire quite so early I sought | + | Actually, |
- | During the night it rained very heavily | + | As a result I had Phoned Roy and told him that, in the absence |
- | down the Gingra Ridge and was loath to start now. In fact there was no problem | + | |
- | In our progress we again disturbed numerous animals including a wombat which moved somewhat disdainfully and reluctantly out of our path. Whilst leading the party along the creek Roger was suddenly observed | + | Well, you may say, what's all this scribbling in aid of? I have to admit, nothing |
- | We lunched almost traditionally at the foot of Crafts Ridge whilst we contemplated the results of an unfortunate slaughter of an ancient casuarina and at least one gum tree. By the authorities, | + | ===== WALKING' |
- | A purposeful stride up the ridge and along Kilpatrick' | + | News release from the Premier' |
- | You know, I really do think I prefer to see it all in the light of day. | + | A new activity called " |
+ | " | ||
- | YALWAL INSTRUCTIONAL.\\ | + | ===== SOCIAL NOTES FOR FEBRUARY 1984. ===== |
- | by Deirdre Schofield. | + | |
- | In the mad mild month, of November\\ | + | by Jo Van Sommers. |
- | Along with others I became a Club member\\ | + | |
- | With Bill Holland' | + | |
- | Aligned our compasses from F say through | + | |February |
- | Never mind the missing letter by G!\\ | + | | |8 |
- | Adjusted our needles | + | | |15 |Members Slide Night. " |
- | The arrow pointed to where to walk by degree. | + | | |22 |Magazine Wrapping Night. An experiment in doing the magazine at the Club night - join the hitherto secret rites - get stuck into the wrapping |
+ | | |29 |Double Header Slide Night:- Keith Docherty' | ||
- | With a minimum of fuss and a 12 degree plus,\\ | + | ===== LETTER TO THE CLUB FROM THE LANE COVE CUB & SCOUT TROOP ===== |
- | We matched black arrow to red needle\\ | + | |
- | From compass to landmark then landmark to map\\ | + | |
- | We aimed to find our way without error or mishap. | + | |
- | Learnt | + | I am writing as a concerned parent on behalf |
- | Armed with such knowledge who could need anything | + | If any of your membership is interested, he/she can contact Club President, Joe Berry, 38 Cope Street, Lane Cove, 428-4820 for further information.\\ |
+ | Thank you.\\ | ||
+ | Ann P. Nixon | ||
- | We raw recruits so to speak practiced upon each other,\\ Mouth to mouth, that those lacking air might soon recover.\\ | + | ==== TRIP DATE CHANGE |
- | Hypothermia victims were in no short supply\\ | + | Morong Deep trip programmed for 10,11,12 February has been changed to 17,18,19 February. |
- | But that cure we simply did not need to try! | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Through Margaret' | + | |
- | So on to the bludge walks, no more tests at last!\\ | + | |
- | Peter packed the pack but no one was pickled\\ | + | |
- | He showed us what not to buy when the weather turns fickle. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | THE COOLANA PYRAMID.\\ | + | |
- | by A Nonny Mouse. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | You may or may not have read Episode II of the Coolana Pyramid Saga - either way it matters not. Here in this account we will find that several contentious matters have arisen in areas of mathematics, | + | |
- | There still seems to be some dissension as to its shape. Shape deter- | + | |
- | mines semantics. This in turn gives the tourist advertising media more or less meat to chew an when determining the slogan which will attract the American and Japanese loopies in their ones and twos to this the Eight Wonder of the World. | + | |
- | Pause for a moment and pander. "The PyrPrid of Coolana" | + | |
- | All of this required a rethink. So red hot from the Redfern drawing | + | |
- | board came the answer. "The Cone of Coolana" | + | |
- | we were sure that all of these figures and figurings would be ably handled by Miller computations. | + | |
- | (More complications. Big Ben who had contract4d for a Korner Kiosk in the original plan were forced to scrap their prepared ads.) | + | |
- | At the site meeting Builder Gray was insistent that this would not be a Kinky "Cone. The base must be level. This led cansulting, | + | |
- | Of course, heavy water would have to come from Lucas Heights. Union rep. | + | |
- | Lee (everybody out) insisted in no uncertain terms that Management must adhere to the Butt edict of originality. Transport of the heavy water must be manual. A Vatiliotis lightweight brainwave came up with the solution - a billy brigade. | + | |
- | Lee held out for wet money at 2.013 x the normal rate but Paymaster Burke had his rate of 1/ per litre per metre upheld and so the work commenced! | + | |
- | Worker entertainment came into conflict with Actor' | + | |
- | However Entertainer Extraordinaire Sister Hookway had engaged many well known artists - The Wallace-Finch trio, admired for their close harmony, Fiona and James dance duo, their Party Der is a feature, Capon and Denham whose bottle balancing and fluid disposal are held in awe by all. | + | |
- | All in all, the deuteronomy team passed the billies with aplomb, and the first arrived on site just as the last sod was turned. | + | |
- | * * * * * * * * * * | + | |
- | BUSHWAILKERS | + | |
- | Lightweight Tents * Sleeping as *. Rucksacks Climbing & Caving Gear Maps a Clothing 'z Boots * Food. | + | |
- | | + | |
- | DiSTFO BUTORS OF: | + | |
- | Paddymade Karrimor Berahaus 0, Hallmark * Bergans Caribee * Fairydown 0 Silva * Primus a Companion a and all leading brands | + | |
- | Proprietors: | + | |
- | LJ | + | |
- | stro, | + | |
- | ., | + | |
- | JA% 1,?.. | + | |
- | 1174. I 4:71 | + | |
- | I FS | + | |
- | Z.'I | + | |
- | bt*..e.- | + | |
- | 111' | + | |
- | FikgiEZ: | + | |
- | 71 t | + | |
- | Lkti | + | |
- | EAsTwocm CANVAS 3004:3S f.ES | + | |
- | 3 T(t' | + | |
- | '34 | + | |
- | 1 | + | |
- | 1: " | + | |
- | :14 | + | |
- | - | + | |
- | +- | + | |
- | January, 1984. THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER Page 11 | + | |
- | MEETING NORES. | + | |
- | by Barry Wallace. THE NOV.EMBE GENERAL MEETING. | + | |
- | It was around 2010-When-the President, in the chair, belaboured the unfortunate gong with what has become the traditional billet of wood and called the 15 or so members to order. | + | |
- | There was an apology from Denise Shaw and new members Shirley Morrow and James Rivers were welcomed in the usual way. | + | |
- | The MinutES were read and received with no business arising. | + | |
- | Correspondence comprised letteRS to our new members; from N.P.W.S. acknowledging our letter ref. horses and trail bikes in Kuring-gai Chase; from Phyllis Ratcliffe, a tribute to the late David Ingram; as well as the usual magazines. | + | |
- | The Treasurer' | + | |
- | The Walks Report began with the news that George Walton' | + | |
- | walk of 14,15,16 October was modified somewhat due to storms and other undisclosed reasons. Nonetheless, | + | |
- | alas, was almost sans musicians, but the singing went on until 0.300 Sunday. | + | |
- | There was no report of Ralph Pengliss harbour walk on Sunday, but we believe there were 19 people on the trip. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | The following weekend, 21,22,23 October, saw Frank Woodgate with 4 people | + | |
- | enjoying the swimming an his Glenbrook Creek walk. Reports of the F.p.w. Search | + | |
- | & Rescue exercise over the same weekend leave your scribe wandering how far to the next accident. There were 12 people on Ian Debert' | + | |
- | Bill Holland had 12 people on his Bungonia/ | + | |
- | Over the weekend of 4,5,6 November Steve and Wendy Hodgman had 14 people on their Nattai bird-watching trip, and Don and Jenny Cornell reported.11 bads and a good walk for their Cox River trip. Of the two day walks there was no report of Ken Gould' | + | |
- | General Business saw a call for a volunteer for Search & Rescue contact. Kath 1VicInnes came forward and was welcomed by the assembly. | + | |
- | After that it was just a matter of announcements and it was all over for another month at 2055. | + | |
- | Page 12 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKM January, 1984. | + | |
- | ... | + | |
- | HEAD DUE | + | |
- | (Notes by Jim Brown: This trip story was published.in the nagazine of August, 1960, and evidently relates to a walk carried out over the Queen' | + | |
- | Some of the other stories reprinted in the magazine in recent months have covered exploratory walks, while others have told of journeys affected by rough weather. This tale, on the other hand, is a "fun utory" pure and simple, with walkers doing the thing that gives them pleasure in happy company. You can tell it was a happy company because of the outrageous things said about the leader and other members. | + | |
- | Several of the people mentioned, including the author, are no longer with the Club, but present members will readily identify the leader, Bob Duncan; also George Gray, Helen Gray (then Barrett), Dot Butler and | + | |
- | daughter Rona, and Heather White. It sounds as though it was a thoroughly | + | |
- | memorable walk for those taking part.) | + | |
- | Following Snow Brown losing his party on the Wblgan last year the requests for another such trip were so great that it was agreed to make it an annual event. This year the " | + | |
- | master of incompetence and bungling, one Robert A. Duncan. A harbinger, of | + | |
- | things to come occurred the preceding Wednesday night when Duncan took an hour to arrange the seating of eleven people in three cars. He aid however give us a detailed briefing, the main points being - a total distance of 30-35 miles, days distances to 025 of a mile, a constant pace would be set, walking would commence at 64am and if necessary he would use force to maintain the schedule. | + | |
- | We reached Newnes at 1 am, and the trouble started. My four " | + | |
- | passengers thought it unnecessary to pitch the tent and were debating who would sleep in the car and who would sleep under the tent. As it may have lasted all night and they were not considering accommodating me either in the car or the tent I solved their problem - I locked the tent in the boot and took' possession. of the back seat leaving them to choose a suitable tree for shelter. First light found our illustrious leader ringing an electric bell in our ears. The effect on Helen Barrett was to cause her to say " | + | |
- | At eight, somewhat behind schedule, the leader headed downstream whilst ,George gray headed upstream. These differences of opinion with respect to navigation became the prime feature of our attempts to get lost. That the party led by Snow had only reached Annie Rowan' | + | |
- | by Carl Doherty. | + | |
- | Page 13 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER January, 1984. | + | |
- | down the tunnel. Our inspection took but half an hour and thereafter we had great difficulty restraining Bob from roaming off towards every likely | + | |
- | looking ruin. | + | |
- | Even before lunch it was obvious to all that Lyndsey' | + | |
- | ;' | + | |
- | The spirits of most were high and humour was not lacking, in fact Heather' | + | |
- | remarks were rather astounding. Late in the evening Snow, from his sleeping bag, suggested a brew but the water buckets were ampty.. As usual the girls | + | |
- | looked to the male members who to a man refused the task an the grounds that the women were lighter on their feet, thus more surefooted in the dark, and it | + | |
- | would be safer for them to go. Even Heather' | + | |
- | On Sunday morning Bob decided to curtail the walk somewhat by leading up the first likely creek downstream. On the assurance of Snow and another | + | |
- | authority that "once above the cliff line the plateau beyond is as flat as a | + | |
- | table", | + | |
- | seemed to follow no set drainage pattern. We walked along a dry and uninteresting ridge until we reached a swamp at an opportune time for lunch. Heather, | + | |
- | Snow, George and myself took the rearguard that afternoon and soon dropped well | + | |
- | behind owing to Snow and George insisting an leading off down side spurs, and their peculiar habit of stopping every now and again to eat waratah seeds. The Mount Cameron track was located after much meandering along the ridge and we overhauled the main party at dusk. | + | |
- | The campsite was in a shallow saddle well sheltered and with no chance of | + | |
- | anyone drowning as there was no water within a mile. Rona and Dot devoured | + | |
- | their leg of mutton - I do not say devoured without justification. Their method, which is rather unique, consists of ramming a stake through a pre-cooked leg and throwing it in the fire until it gets hot or you get impatient. Having removed it from the fire it is held by the stake and the thin and of the leg and revolved until a section appears which looks hot enough, smells all right or can be torn apart without the nose obstructing the work of devouring it. It is passed from one to the other and heated as frequently as required. Another innovation was a Mellah-making competition which for coagulation was wan by Gwen Seach and for flavour by Heather. In order to get a flying start the following morning we rolled in rather early. | + | |
- | The flying start wasn't even a flutter as it was seven before anyane stirred. According to Duncan' | + | |
- | Page 14 THE SYDNEY BUSAWALKER January, 1984. | + | |
- | a few miles we came upon a recently vacated. campsite which we assumed to be that of several stockmen we had net the previous day. We reached a..) road junction at the edge of the pine forest as Duncan' | + | |
- | but as all recent footprints had gone that way Snow was quick to take the opportunity' | + | |
- | (Note from J.B. - After a good deal of backing and filling, the party came | + | |
- | up with the stockmen again, and it was realised that Helen was away ahead - "still travelling south at a fair turn of speed towards the Lithgow slag heap" | + | |
- | One of the stockmen and a coule of dogs took off to round up Helen, | + | |
- | while the others were given correct directions to Ind Newnes. More barking from the dogs in the timber, more yelling from us and round the hill came | + | |
- | Duncan and the Butlers so we waited a little longer. Helen came trotting around the hill. She stumbled up to the group and looking Duncan straight in the face said, "It just goes to prove that you cannot estimate a person' | + | |
- | expect a man to have full command of his faculties. At that hour a slight error was permissible" | + | |
- | The order of march was now reversed - the idea being to reach Newnes, bring the cars up and so save Lyndsey the last four miles walk. On Dot's request a member of the Catholic Bushwalkers, | + | |
- | left the pine forest she clearly marked our way with large arrows, muttering as she drew them, "You can't trust Duncan, he'd go astray anywhere" | + | |
- | ity gaining the upper hand we asked why her interest in Bob. " | + | |
- | Dot, constructing a great timber arrow pointing towards the valley, "Rona i$ with him and I don't want her to miss school tomorrow" | + | |
- | A lift to the pub spared us the last four miles roadbash also and speeded. up our move out. With.the exception of my car taking a Teat on the steepest part of the road out and holding up half a dozen cars, the run to | + | |
- | Katoomba was uneventful. | + | |
- | * * * * * * * * * * | + | |
- | *(Note: The "old railway" | + | |
- | to carry shale oil products from Newnes to the western line at Newnes Junction about 10 miles east of Lithgow. The railway ceased operating in the 1930s, but the formation, including the famous "Glow Worm Tunnel" | + | |
- | ffA-1.ca2.aig, | + | |
- | -"OF SHIPS AND SHOES AND SEALING WAX " | + | |
- | by Jim Brown. | + | |
- | I don't know why I pay so much heed to what Don Matthews says, unless | + | |
- | it's because he so often says the sane thing I an thinking. Indeed, perhaps, he's the best argument I know for astrology, that notoriously unscientific | + | |
- | cult. You see, he wasborn under the sign of Cancer (20 June - 20 July approx) which is designated by the sign of the Crab, and is presumably a lot better than being a Capricorn (sign of the Goat) or an Aries (the Ram). I mean, where else except in a Crab would you find a gentle, retiring and normally rather shy person who will still get up at a Reunion campfire and cheerfully | + | |
- | play the Goat (though NOT a Capricorn)? I don't know the answer to that, | + | |
- | because I, too, was born under the sign of the Crab. | + | |
- | At any rate Don recently told me he had been on Roy Braithwaite' | + | |
- | could go through, with still enough room for the overhead wiring. Don confirmed that they had to transfer at Waterfall to buses which than went | + | |
- | through Helensburgh township - a good two to three kilometres from the station of thatnname. "It was," he said, "one of the mast interesting parts of the trip. I'd never been through Helansburgh town before." | + | |
- | (This, in turn, reminds me of a story dating back to the War years. A blacked-out train pulls into a blacked-out station. " | + | |
- | serviceman, "What burg is this?" To which Bob Younger replies, "Oh, I guess it's Helen' | + | |
- | Actually, I had a fair idea what was afoot at Hblensburgh. I had been down there a few days earlier, passing through the shopping centre on a rail- bus: had seen Otford Station as two platforms with a great trench (and no rails) in between; had walked back to Lilyvale along the tracks, chatting to some of the surveyors, shovel-men and drivers of bull-dozers and other exotic machinery. I'had observed the shortened " | + | |
- | , As a result I had Phoned Roy and told him that, in the absence of any road trafficable to buses, he was unlikely to be able to start from Lilyvale Station, but could get to Otford by devious ways and railway buses. Evidently, this is what he did, with a party of 14 people. One of them, Joe Marton, drove | + | |
- | his car along the road from the Upper Causeway to the Karingal Picnic Ground, just across the Hacking River from Lilyvale Station site, and waited there for trains that never came in. Finally he walked to Burning Palms and" met lp with | + | |
- | the party. | + | |
- | Well, you may say, what's all this scribbling in aid of? I have to admit, | + | |
- | nothing in particular. After all, I did call it, quoting the Alice in Wonderland nonsense "of ships and shoes and sealing wax.....and cabbages and kinge. | + | |
- | * * * * * * * * * * | + | |
- | Page 16 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER January, 1984. | + | |
- | WALKING' | + | |
- | News release from the Premier' | + | |
- | A new activity called " | + | |
- | " | + | |
- | ***XXXXXX# | + | |
- | SOCIA1. NOTES FOR FRUARY 1984. 'by Jo Van Sommers. | + | |
- | February 1 - Cormittee Meeting. | + | |
- | 8 - General Meeting. | + | |
- | 15 - Members Slide Night. " | + | |
- | are invited to bring their slides and prints. | + | |
- | 22 - Magazine Wrapping Night. An experiment in doing the | + | |
- | magazine at the Club night - join the hitherto secret | + | |
- | . rites - get stuck into the wrapping and labelling. | + | |
- | 29 - Double Header Slide Nightl- Keith Docherty' | + | |
- | scenes, insects and flowers. Colin Barnes calls his | + | |
- | similar subject " | + | |
- | ' | + | |
- | I am writing as a concerned parent on behalf of the 1st Lane Cove Cub & Scout Troop to ask whether any of your members would be interested in becoming a Warranted Cub Leader. 1st Lane Cove, the oldest troop in Lane Cove, desperately needs more leaders (we have one but need three) and faces dissolution if none is forthcoming. What the Cubs are missing most at the moment are opportunities for bushwalking and camping. | + | |
- | If any of your membership is interested, he/she can contact JCub President, Joe Berry, 38 Cope Street, Lane Cove, 428-4820 for further information. | + | |
- | Thank you. ANN P. NIXON. | + | |
- | TRIP DATE CHANGE. Morong Deep trip programmed for 10,11,12 February has been changed to 17,18,19 February. | + | |
198401.1417235191.txt.gz · Last modified: 2014/11/29 15:26 by kclacher