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| - | MEMORIES OF THIS AND THAT. | + | =====Memories Of This And That.===== |
| - | by Rod Carruthers. | + | |
| - | MEMORIES. They came crowding back at our sixtieth anniversary function at the Menzies. Faces that I had not seen for many years recalled some of the happiest days of my life when, with pleasant companions, I spent many days and nights tramping around our bushland. | + | by Rod Carruthers. |
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| + | ===Memories.=== | ||
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| + | They came crowding back at our sixtieth anniversary function at the Menzies. Faces that I had not seen for many years recalled some of the happiest days of my life when, with pleasant companions, I spent many days and nights tramping around our bushland. | ||
| My introduction to the Sydney Bush Walkers was brought about by Walter Tarr (Taro). He was a fellow patient of my dentist and, learning of my interest in the bush, he invited me to meet some fellow enthusiasts at a small meeting at Lilyvale. I was a keen bike rider at the time so I rode to Helensburgh then wandered down to Lilyvale where I was introduced to the rest of the party. It was only a matter of days after that meeting before I joined the Club. | My introduction to the Sydney Bush Walkers was brought about by Walter Tarr (Taro). He was a fellow patient of my dentist and, learning of my interest in the bush, he invited me to meet some fellow enthusiasts at a small meeting at Lilyvale. I was a keen bike rider at the time so I rode to Helensburgh then wandered down to Lilyvale where I was introduced to the rest of the party. It was only a matter of days after that meeting before I joined the Club. | ||
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| My earliest recollection was on one of my test walks. Twenty-one of us became known as the Leaderless Legion. Our official leader did not show up but we managed to complete the walk satisfactorily and were credited with having completed one test walk (1933). | My earliest recollection was on one of my test walks. Twenty-one of us became known as the Leaderless Legion. Our official leader did not show up but we managed to complete the walk satisfactorily and were credited with having completed one test walk (1933). | ||
| - | One member of that party became my mate during many miles of walking. His name was Gordon Manell. When he told me his name it sounded a chord in my mind. On arrival home I asked my father did he know someone by the name of Manell. "Oh, yes", he said. "When I was | + | |
| - | a night officer on the railway he was also one of the officers." | + | One member of that party became my mate during many miles of walking. His name was Gordon Manell. When he told me his name it sounded a chord in my mind. On arrival home I asked my father did he know someone by the name of Manell. "Oh, yes", he said. "When I was a night officer on the railway he was also one of the officers." |
| That was the start of a profound frindship. We became known as the hermits because we always set up our own camp and campfire. We had our own special menus, our specialty being salmon kedgeree followed by apricot sponge and custard. We lived well on our walking trips. We did become attached to another group who included Gordon Smith, Jack Lynch and Jean Travis (who married Gordon Manell later), Nanette Gorringe (who married Jack Lynch), Jess Martin and the Mullins sisters. | That was the start of a profound frindship. We became known as the hermits because we always set up our own camp and campfire. We had our own special menus, our specialty being salmon kedgeree followed by apricot sponge and custard. We lived well on our walking trips. We did become attached to another group who included Gordon Smith, Jack Lynch and Jean Travis (who married Gordon Manell later), Nanette Gorringe (who married Jack Lynch), Jess Martin and the Mullins sisters. | ||
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| This small crowd went out into the bush every weekend come rain or sun. We had fantastic campfires, especially listening to Gordon Smith' | This small crowd went out into the bush every weekend come rain or sun. We had fantastic campfires, especially listening to Gordon Smith' | ||
| - | At this time I was working at The Sydney Morning Herald and one of my jobs necessitated-- working from eleven at night to eight into the next day. This meant that I had a few hours to spare on Saturday mornings, during which time I did some exploring before meeting the rest of the party at a prearranged rendezvous later in the afternoon. Some of my wanderings were in the area west of Heathcote and Waterfall. I found this to be a very interesting and little known area without any tracks or signs of any human activity. On one of my trips I reached a small insignificant stream which flowed in an easterly direction towards Heathcote Creek. This insignificant stream developed into a series of small crystal clear pools with a potentially ideal camping area. Having discoverd this delightful area I decided to keep its location to myself. | + | |
| - | I did tell Gordon that I had found a beautiful area but I would not tell him where it | + | At this time I was working at The Sydney Morning Herald and one of my jobs necessitated working from eleven at night to eight into the next day. This meant that I had a few hours to spare on Saturday mornings, during which time I did some exploring before meeting the rest of the party at a prearranged rendezvous later in the afternoon. Some of my wanderings were in the area west of Heathcote and Waterfall. I found this to be a very interesting and little known area without any tracks or signs of any human activity. On one of my trips I reached a small insignificant stream which flowed in an easterly direction towards Heathcote Creek. This insignificant stream developed into a series of small crystal clear pools with a potentially ideal camping area. Having discoverd this delightful area I decided to keep its location to myself. |
| - | was. He knew the region I had been exploring so at every chance he had he would try and locate it. He would set his tent somewhere near Kingfisher Pool and explore the surrounding country side. Where the stream entered Heathcote Creek it was still insignificant so Gordon ignored it. But one day he did decide to follow this stream and he discovered this idyllic spot. He immediately told the Club and soon it became a very popular rendezvous - Morella Karong (1936). | + | |
| - | * * * * * * * * * * * * | + | I did tell Gordon that I had found a beautiful area but I would not tell him where it was. He knew the region I had been exploring so at every chance he had he would try and locate it. He would set his tent somewhere near Kingfisher Pool and explore the surrounding country side. Where the stream entered Heathcote Creek it was still insignificant so Gordon ignored it. But one day he did decide to follow this stream and he discovered this idyllic spot. He immediately told the Club and soon it became a very popular rendezvous - Morella Karong (1936). |
| - | AN OFFER TO S.B.W. | + | |
| + | ---- | ||
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| + | ====An Offer To S.B.W. | ||
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| + | For that late Christmas gift Paxtons Photographic at any of their stores offer a 10% discount, but not on specials OT advertised lines. | ||
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| + | ---- | ||
| Be an angel, become a devil, a printer' | Be an angel, become a devil, a printer' | ||
| - | Page 8 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER December, 1987 | + | |
| - | DIARY OF ATASMANIAN TRAMP. | + | ---- |
| - | JANUALL | + | |
| - | WALDHEIM TO LAKE ST.CLAIR. | + | |
| - | Starters: Dot Butler, Barbara Evans, George, Helen, Kathleen & Susan Gray, and Bob, Rosslyn, Emma & Michael Duncan. | + | =====Diary Of A Tasmanian Tramp - January |
| - | Saturday. Among the hustle and bustle of Sydney Airport stood excited children, neatly combed and clothed waiting for their first plane trip. Elegant women in becoming dresses waited to fly to distant family. Tourists with swagman hats, " | + | |
| - | and cameras slung around their necks waited to depart on the next leg of their holiday; all happy, all excited, all milling around. A group of ten people stood in a corner. Donned | + | by Emma Duncan. |
| - | in heavy walking boots and sandshoes, thick socks, worn faded shorts, old shirts, thick jumpers and terry-towelling hats, they talked quietly. Could these people too be going on holiday??? | + | |
| + | ====Waldheim to Lake St. Clair.==== | ||
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| + | ===Starters:=== | ||
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| + | Dot Butler, Barbara Evans, George, Helen, Kathleen & Susan Gray, and Bob, Rosslyn, Emma & Michael Duncan. | ||
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| + | ===Saturday.=== | ||
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| + | Among the hustle and bustle of Sydney Airport stood excited children, neatly combed and clothed waiting for their first plane trip. Elegant women in becoming dresses waited to fly to distant family. Tourists with swagman hats, " | ||
| The baggage men weighed endless numbers of neat suitcases, some proudly new with shining leather, some plastered with colourful stickers. Among the procession of suitcases ten scruffy back-packs lay humped together. They were stuffed so full that their fraying seams seemed about to burst. Most were the colour of dead grass; two were bright blue, with blue coils of foam cased in bright orange bags strapped to them, The gaping pockets gave glimpses of blackened billies, mittens, and packets of dried food. Could these packs be going to the same destination as the holidaying suitcases??? | The baggage men weighed endless numbers of neat suitcases, some proudly new with shining leather, some plastered with colourful stickers. Among the procession of suitcases ten scruffy back-packs lay humped together. They were stuffed so full that their fraying seams seemed about to burst. Most were the colour of dead grass; two were bright blue, with blue coils of foam cased in bright orange bags strapped to them, The gaping pockets gave glimpses of blackened billies, mittens, and packets of dried food. Could these packs be going to the same destination as the holidaying suitcases??? | ||
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| The group of ten comprised George and Helen Gray, their daughters Kathleen and Susan, Dot Butler (the most experienced and toughest of them all), Barbara Evans, Mum, Dad, my brother Michael and me. We took off from warm sunny Sydney Airport, and landed three hours later in cold drizzling Devonport Airport, Tasmania. Our ' | The group of ten comprised George and Helen Gray, their daughters Kathleen and Susan, Dot Butler (the most experienced and toughest of them all), Barbara Evans, Mum, Dad, my brother Michael and me. We took off from warm sunny Sydney Airport, and landed three hours later in cold drizzling Devonport Airport, Tasmania. Our ' | ||
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| In the space of three weeks we were to do two nine-day walks. We were driven by bus from the airport through the rain and sleet to Waldheim, a beautiful village in rainforest, and the starting point of our first walk through the Central Reserve. We had planned to camp, but because of the rain, the campground on the flats by the river had become an extension of the river. Undecided what to do, we sheltered in the day hut, along with about one hundred people in similar indecision. The day hut was tiny, with a few chairs, two narrow tables, and a wooden holey floor through which blew an icy wind. There were fireplaces at each end, both of which were lit, filling the hut with smoke. Dusk was approaching, | In the space of three weeks we were to do two nine-day walks. We were driven by bus from the airport through the rain and sleet to Waldheim, a beautiful village in rainforest, and the starting point of our first walk through the Central Reserve. We had planned to camp, but because of the rain, the campground on the flats by the river had become an extension of the river. Undecided what to do, we sheltered in the day hut, along with about one hundred people in similar indecision. The day hut was tiny, with a few chairs, two narrow tables, and a wooden holey floor through which blew an icy wind. There were fireplaces at each end, both of which were lit, filling the hut with smoke. Dusk was approaching, | ||
| - | "This is no good," muttered Dot, and marched outside intent on finding a woodshed in which to spend the night. But Dot, being of a curious nature, snooped around Waldheim. Waldheim consists of several small holiday huts, which must be booked one year ahead. Dot peeked in the windows, and saw that one eight-bunk hut was occupied by two old ladies. She knocked on the door, introduced herself, explained our situation, and asked the ladies if they would allow the ' | + | |
| - | the hut had abandoned their holiday because of the atrocious weather so we spent the night there, warmed by hot lemon and rum. | + | "This is no good," muttered Dot, and marched outside intent on finding a woodshed in which to spend the night. But Dot, being of a curious nature, snooped around Waldheim. Waldheim consists of several small holiday huts, which must be booked one year ahead. Dot peeked in the windows, and saw that one eight-bunk hut was occupied by two old ladies. She knocked on the door, introduced herself, explained our situation, and asked the ladies if they would allow the ' |
| - | That night was my first experience of TVP - textured vegetable protein, a soybean meat substitute. It looks and feels remarkably like small cubes of cork. Made up as spaghetti sauce, it looks deceptively palatable. I managed to eat about one quarter of my serve before I passed my plate to Dad. Dad, old garbage guts himself, renowned for relishing pineapple skins, was looking decidedly green by the time he was halfway through his serve, and with my, | + | |
| - | Michael' | + | That night was my first experience of TVP - textured vegetable protein, a soybean meat substitute. It looks and feels remarkably like small cubes of cork. Made up as spaghetti sauce, it looks deceptively palatable. I managed to eat about one quarter of my serve before I passed my plate to Dad. Dad, old garbage guts himself, renowned for relishing pineapple skins, was looking decidedly green by the time he was halfway through his serve, and with my, Michael' |
| - | all the TVP out for them. The animals in Tasmania were well fed during our walk. | + | |
| - | Sunday. In the morning the weather was better, though still cloudy, cold and windy. Dot went to the Ranger' | + | ===Sunday.=== |
| - | next night. We then decided to do a day walk, donned our wet weather gear, and set off. | + | |
| - | December, 1987 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER | + | In the morning the weather was better, though still cloudy, cold and windy. Dot went to the Ranger' |
| - | Page 9 | + | |
| - | While walking through Waldheim, we passed a group of holiday-makers. " | + | While walking through Waldheim, we passed a group of holiday-makers. " |
| Our plan was to circumnavigate Dove Lake. On the road to the lake the heavens opened, and the wind howled. The first leg of the track climbed through forest to Hanson' | Our plan was to circumnavigate Dove Lake. On the road to the lake the heavens opened, and the wind howled. The first leg of the track climbed through forest to Hanson' | ||
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| At about 12.30 we reached a small emergency shelter hut, and went in and ate lunch. Being soaked to the skin, we ate quickly; after only five minutes of sitting still I was frozen, and wanted to move on as soon as possible. Eating was made difficult by the water dripping from my parka sleeves reducing the food to a sodden mess. A few other walkers joined us in the hut; they told us that all the huts in the Reserve were full, and that the weather had been bad for three days. | At about 12.30 we reached a small emergency shelter hut, and went in and ate lunch. Being soaked to the skin, we ate quickly; after only five minutes of sitting still I was frozen, and wanted to move on as soon as possible. Eating was made difficult by the water dripping from my parka sleeves reducing the food to a sodden mess. A few other walkers joined us in the hut; they told us that all the huts in the Reserve were full, and that the weather had been bad for three days. | ||
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| Leaving the hut, we continued to climb up the track in order to sidle across the front of Cradle Mountain. The track was running like a creek, and the water was ice-cold. It wasn't long before my feet stopped aching from the cold and became numb. Once when we stopped for a minute, Helen wondered why she couldn' | Leaving the hut, we continued to climb up the track in order to sidle across the front of Cradle Mountain. The track was running like a creek, and the water was ice-cold. It wasn't long before my feet stopped aching from the cold and became numb. Once when we stopped for a minute, Helen wondered why she couldn' | ||
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| We descended to Wilk's Lake, a hanging lake ringed with waterfalls, and then sidled high above Dove Lake in rainforest - sheltered from the wind at last. The rainforest was beautiful; mossy, green, and dripping. However, the track was steep, muddy and slippery, so much of the time was spent watching our feet instead of admiring the rainforest. We descended further and walked around the shore of Dove Lake, then back along the road to Waldheim. Looking back across the lake, our entire route was shrouded in grey cloud, which merged into the grey waters of the lake. | We descended to Wilk's Lake, a hanging lake ringed with waterfalls, and then sidled high above Dove Lake in rainforest - sheltered from the wind at last. The rainforest was beautiful; mossy, green, and dripping. However, the track was steep, muddy and slippery, so much of the time was spent watching our feet instead of admiring the rainforest. We descended further and walked around the shore of Dove Lake, then back along the road to Waldheim. Looking back across the lake, our entire route was shrouded in grey cloud, which merged into the grey waters of the lake. | ||
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| After the wind and sleet, the hut was luxurious; we stripped off our clothes, wrung the water out, warmed ourselves, and thankfully donned pajamas, the only dry clothes we had. Barbara rigged an elaborate network of ropes around the hut on which she hung all the clothes. Every so often each piece would be moved one place along the ropes to ensure that everything had a turn over the stove. The shoes were lined up beside the stove. It was still raining and the wind was howling when we went to bed, so we decided that if it was still raining tomorrow, we would leave the mountains and go to the reputedly sunny East coast. | After the wind and sleet, the hut was luxurious; we stripped off our clothes, wrung the water out, warmed ourselves, and thankfully donned pajamas, the only dry clothes we had. Barbara rigged an elaborate network of ropes around the hut on which she hung all the clothes. Every so often each piece would be moved one place along the ropes to ensure that everything had a turn over the stove. The shoes were lined up beside the stove. It was still raining and the wind was howling when we went to bed, so we decided that if it was still raining tomorrow, we would leave the mountains and go to the reputedly sunny East coast. | ||
| - | Monday. We woke to a clear morning with patches of sun. Deciding to do the walk, we packed our gear and moved off. Our packs were extremely heavy as we were carrying eight days worth of food, plus sleeping bags, tents, cooking utensils, clothing, etc. Although divided between the four in our family, the packs were still heavy, making them hard to take on and off, uncomfortable, | + | |
| + | ===Monday.=== | ||
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| + | We woke to a clear morning with patches of sun. Deciding to do the walk, we packed our gear and moved off. Our packs were extremely heavy as we were carrying eight days worth of food, plus sleeping bags, tents, cooking utensils, clothing, etc. Although divided between the four in our family, the packs were still heavy, making them hard to take on and off, uncomfortable, | ||
| Our food was strictly rationed. One sachet of instant porridge for breakfast, nine Vita- Brits, 4 cm of cheese, 10 cm of cabanossi, one slice of lebanese bread, peanut butter and one Violet Crumble bar for lunch; and TVP or a Vesta meal for dinner, with Milo for dessert. We discovered too late that most of the lebanese bread was mouldy. I didn't like porridge, and I could never eat much of the dinners, so I lived mostly on Milo. Towards the end of the walk I spent a lot of time each day working out how much of my rations I would eat at lunch, how much for afternoon tea, and how much for dinner. Looking back now, I am surprised at how long the thought of food kept my mind occupied. I was never actually hungry after each meal, but I was never full. | Our food was strictly rationed. One sachet of instant porridge for breakfast, nine Vita- Brits, 4 cm of cheese, 10 cm of cabanossi, one slice of lebanese bread, peanut butter and one Violet Crumble bar for lunch; and TVP or a Vesta meal for dinner, with Milo for dessert. We discovered too late that most of the lebanese bread was mouldy. I didn't like porridge, and I could never eat much of the dinners, so I lived mostly on Milo. Towards the end of the walk I spent a lot of time each day working out how much of my rations I would eat at lunch, how much for afternoon tea, and how much for dinner. Looking back now, I am surprised at how long the thought of food kept my mind occupied. I was never actually hungry after each meal, but I was never full. | ||
| - | Page 10 | + | |
| - | THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER December, 1987 | + | |
| We walked up Horse Trail towards Scout Hut, with the patches of sun growing bigger and bigger; it wasn't long until all our wet weather gear was taken off, and sleeves rolled up. At Scout Hut we learnt that a very large party of Scouts had just left and we hoped that we would not catch up with them. Because the track was almost vertical, we were soon up on the plateau, where once again exposed to the cold wind we quickly put all warm clothing back on. The view across the plateau was magnificent, | We walked up Horse Trail towards Scout Hut, with the patches of sun growing bigger and bigger; it wasn't long until all our wet weather gear was taken off, and sleeves rolled up. At Scout Hut we learnt that a very large party of Scouts had just left and we hoped that we would not catch up with them. Because the track was almost vertical, we were soon up on the plateau, where once again exposed to the cold wind we quickly put all warm clothing back on. The view across the plateau was magnificent, | ||
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| Crystal clear tarns were scattered across the plateau; Cradle Mountain loomed up on our left, the top dusted with snow; the plateau stretched on ahead, with mountain peak after mountain peak in the distance. | Crystal clear tarns were scattered across the plateau; Cradle Mountain loomed up on our left, the top dusted with snow; the plateau stretched on ahead, with mountain peak after mountain peak in the distance. | ||
| - | We ate lunch at Kitchen Hut, and the cloud lifted further, even allowing a few rays of sunshine through. The area brought back memories for most of the party. I had been here | + | |
| - | when I was nine, and climbed Cradle Mountain in a snow storm. Dad, George, Helen and Dot had walked here many times before. Once Dot and a group of our friends had been caught in a blizzard and sheltered in Kitchen Hut, which was buried in snow. | + | We ate lunch at Kitchen Hut, and the cloud lifted further, even allowing a few rays of sunshine through. The area brought back memories for most of the party. I had been here when I was nine, and climbed Cradle Mountain in a snow storm. Dad, George, Helen and Dot had walked here many times before. Once Dot and a group of our friends had been caught in a blizzard and sheltered in Kitchen Hut, which was buried in snow. |
| - | Kathleen decided to climb Cradle Mountain, so Helen and George waited for her while the rest of us went on. We sidled around the back of Cradle Mountain, alternatively walking through low, scrubby eucalypt forest and plains covered with scopari - a very dense, prickly bush. Ahead lay the beautiful mountains, Barn Bluff and Pelion West. At the far side of | + | |
| - | Cradle Mountain was the top of a cirque; we walked along the rim of the cirque, Bluff Valley, which was also beautiful. I could see right down the valley, and look back up the sheer rock face of Cradle Mountain. The track was muddy, and became even muddier on the descent to Waterfall Hut. The entire hillside down to the hut was like a sloping swamp; for every step | + | Kathleen decided to climb Cradle Mountain, so Helen and George waited for her while the rest of us went on. We sidled around the back of Cradle Mountain, alternatively walking through low, scrubby eucalypt forest and plains covered with scopari - a very dense, prickly bush. Ahead lay the beautiful mountains, Barn Bluff and Pelion West. At the far side of Cradle Mountain was the top of a cirque; we walked along the rim of the cirque, Bluff Valley, which was also beautiful. I could see right down the valley, and look back up the sheer rock face of Cradle Mountain. The track was muddy, and became even muddier on the descent to Waterfall Hut. The entire hillside down to the hut was like a sloping swamp; for every step I walked, I slid three. My shoes and overpants were soon plastered in sloppy mud. It was like walking through porridge. |
| - | I walked, I slid three. My shoes and overpants were soon plastered in sloppy mud. It was | + | |
| - | like walking through porridge. | + | |
| Susan, Michael and I reached the hut after about an hour of sliding (it would have taken only 20 minutes if the track had been dry). Waterfall Hut was in an extremely pretty position; it was on a mossy plain with a waterfall immediately behind it, tumbling out of the rainforest. And behind that again rose Barn Bluff. The hut was of course full so we found a campsite next to a small stream in the rainforest, and started looking for firewood, a prickly procedure. A small hill behind our campsite was covered in waist high scopari, with a few widely scattered gum trees. Under the gum trees was a fair amount of wood, but finding it was difficult. Then it had to be dragged through the prickly scopari into a convenient pile, and finally carried in armfuls through the prickly scopari to the campsite. | Susan, Michael and I reached the hut after about an hour of sliding (it would have taken only 20 minutes if the track had been dry). Waterfall Hut was in an extremely pretty position; it was on a mossy plain with a waterfall immediately behind it, tumbling out of the rainforest. And behind that again rose Barn Bluff. The hut was of course full so we found a campsite next to a small stream in the rainforest, and started looking for firewood, a prickly procedure. A small hill behind our campsite was covered in waist high scopari, with a few widely scattered gum trees. Under the gum trees was a fair amount of wood, but finding it was difficult. Then it had to be dragged through the prickly scopari into a convenient pile, and finally carried in armfuls through the prickly scopari to the campsite. | ||
| - | The local fauna were well fed that night; the possums ate my dinner, and the leeches ate my blood. Leeches are one of two animals that I cannot stand, the other being snakes. Since Tasmania is wet and muddy and many people visit the area, bringing a constant supply of food, the leeches are in their element there. Undoubtedly, | + | |
| - | but I don't mind giving them food, while I do object to food being sucked from me. Also, I am allergic to leeches; leech bites swell up into big lumps, which bleed for days, and itch for weeks. So I spent most of the evening checking my body and the ground around me for leeches. In between this constant surveillance I noticed the moon had come out. | + | The local fauna were well fed that night; the possums ate my dinner, and the leeches ate my blood. Leeches are one of two animals that I cannot stand, the other being snakes. Since Tasmania is wet and muddy and many people visit the area, bringing a constant supply of food, the leeches are in their element there. Undoubtedly, |
| - | Tuesday-. I woke to rain, but it soon became fine scotch mist/ | + | |
| - | was very muddy. It is difficult to explain what the mud was like. Originally, the track was normal track size, about 50 cm across. However, the soil is peaty, so tramping feet have converted the peat to deep mud. To avoid the mud, later walkers have walked either side of the track, but these secondary tracks also have become mud pools, resulting in a wide mudpool. Later walkers-still went to the side of the bigger pool, eventually making an even wider pool, and so on. So the " | + | ===Tuesday.=== |
| - | the track. However, because I had a heavy pack, I couldn' | + | |
| - | often find myself surrounded by vast pools which I couldn' | + | I woke to rain, but it soon became fine scotch mist/ |
| - | the depth of the mud by looking; it could be anything from ankle deep to waist deep. As the | + | |
| - | thought of back-tracking was not inviting, I usually jumped the pools, and hoped that I would reach the next island, or that the mud would not be too deep. Once I missed, and landed in the middle of a thigh-deep pool; as soon as I put my other foot down to pull the first up, it too sunk; I had to grab a tree and pull myself through the mud to the edge of the pool and then haul myself out. The rest of the group were unable to help, as they were laughing | + | It rained all day, and was again extremely windy, but the terrain was fairly flat. We climbed a small hill giving us a view of Lake Windemere, which was probably very pretty, but everything - water, vegetation and sky - was a murky grey. We walked down to and around the lake to Windemere Hut, where we ate a late lunch. The hut was jam-packed with the Scouts, who, much to the delight of the younger children, chatted up Kathleen. After lunch, as it was too far to walk to the next hut, Dad and George looked for a campsite. The site they selected was a breeding ground for leeches. If I stood still and looked down, I could see about ten leeches humping towards me as fast as they could hump. This was not conducive to standing still for longer than two seconds, so I collected wood, and then went down to the lake for the daily ritual of washing my shoes and socks. |
| - | uncontrollably. In some parts a wooden boardwalk had been built in an attempt to conserve | + | |
| - | December, 1987 THE SYDNEY BUSHWALKER Page 11 | + | That night we discovered that when thrown in the fire, leeches violently explode with a satisfying POP. As I had previously thought leeches indestructible - they survive, stamping, squashing, and cutting with camping knives - I was delighted to find a way of permanently disposing of any that humped onto me. |
| - | the vegetation, and to prevent the area from becoming the Central Tasmanian Mudpool; unfortunately these parts were few and far between. Other parts of the track had had wooden logs laid for the same reason, but a long time ago. Over the years the logs have rotted, and sunk into the mud; | + | |
| - | sometimes saving me from sinking waist deep in mud, but at other times looking stable, only to sink as soon as any weight was put on them. | + | Soon after dinner it began to rain, so we went to bed early. The rain poured down during the night, even drowning out Dad's snores. At one stage a corner of the tent flooded, but in the wee hours of the morning it stopped. I looked forward to a warm sunny day. |
| - | It rained all day, and was again extremely windy, but the terrain was fairly flat. We climbed a small hill giving us a view of Lake Windemere, which was probably very pretty, but everything - water, vegetation and sky - was a murky grey. We walked down to and around the | + | |
| - | lake to Windemere Hut, where we ate a late lunch. The hut was jam-packed with the Scouts, who, | + | To be continued... |
| - | much to the delight of the younger children, chatted up Kathleen. After lunch, as it was too | + | |
| - | far to walk to the next hut, Dad and George looked for a campsite. The site they selected was | + | ---- |
| - | a breeding ground for leeches. If I stood still and looked down, I could see about ten leeches | + | |
| - | humping towards me as fast as they could hump. This was not conducive to standing still for longer than two seconds, so I collected wood, and then went down to the lake for the daily ritual of washing my shoes and socks. | + | |
| - | That night we discovered that when thrown in the fire, leeches violently explode with a satisfying POP. As I had previously thought leeches indestructible - they survive, stamping, | + | |
| - | squashing, and cutting with camping knives - I was delighted to find a way of permanently disposing of any that humped onto me. | + | |
| - | Soon after dinner it began to rain, so we went to bed early. The rain poured down during | + | |
| - | the night, even drowning out Dad's snores. At one stage a corner of the tent flooded, but in | + | |
| - | the wee hours of the morning it stopped. I looked forward to a warm sunny day. | + | |
| - | TO BE CONTINUED. | + | |
| - | BELVEDERE TAXIS BLACKHEATH | + | |
| - | 10 SEATER MINI BUS TAXI | + | |
| - | 047-87 8366 | + | |
| - | | + | |
| - | UPPER BLUE MOUNTAINS | + | |
| - | SIX FOOT TRACK | + | |
| - | PICK UP ANYWHERE FOR START OR FINISH OF YOUR WALK - BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT | + | |
| - | Share the Fare Competitive Rates | + | |
| - | A HUGE | + | |
| - | RANGE OF | + | |
| - | GEAR TO CATER | + | |
| - | FOR EVERYONE' | + | |
| - | NEEDS, WHETHER | + | |
| - | IT BE FOR.... | + | |
| - | O Bushwalking 0 Canyoning | + | |
| - | Caving | + | |
| - | O Climbing | + | |
| - | | + | |
| - | * Cycling | + | |
| - | or Car Camping | + | |
| - | eastwood | + | |
| - | camping | + | |
| - | centre | + | |
| - | 3 Trelawney Street Eastwood 2122 Telephone (02) 858 3833 | + | |
| - | Proprietors: | + | |
| - | ... | + | |
| - | December, 1987 The Sydney Bushwalker Page 13 | + | |
| A PUZZL | A PUZZL | ||
| This is not a test of your mathematical ability. It will, however, give you some gauge of your mental flexibility and creativity. In the three years since the test was developed it has been found that few people could solve more than half of the questions in the first try. Many, however, reported getting answers long after the test had been set aside, particularly all the questions over a period of several days. Take this as a personal challenge. | This is not a test of your mathematical ability. It will, however, give you some gauge of your mental flexibility and creativity. In the three years since the test was developed it has been found that few people could solve more than half of the questions in the first try. Many, however, reported getting answers long after the test had been set aside, particularly all the questions over a period of several days. Take this as a personal challenge. | ||
198712.txt · Last modified: 2016/09/26 12:11 by tyreless