T.T.C. Barn Dance Weekend

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L.Z.C.BARILDANGE. This trip, following on the Igmont weokend, was a great strain to the constitutions of thoso hardy typos who went on both. Still, it was worth it. The truck set off rather late on the Friday night with some Tararuas plus a lot of gear helping to fill it up. It's a wondor thet Frank and Co. weren't thrown bodily off the truck and their boer purloined but all arrived safoly at Andrews. The T.T.C. were sleeping at the foot of the Puffer so that thoy could sell rofreshments on the track to all comers the noxt day. They had a good system worked out whoreby they charged 9d. per glass at the foot of the Puffer: 1/- per half way up and then 9d. again at tho top thus making sure that they fooled everyone. Dick and Sid slopt at the foot of the Puffer with thom while the rest of us wont through to Smiths carrying a few T.T.C. tonts to mako sure we didn't breek into a run. Saturday was spont in nll sorts of odd games. In the late morning we watched Keith sot snil down the gorge on a. reft he'd mado out of all sorts of bits and pieces. It was a great sight seeing him sinking gradually lower in the water until just before he struck the rock that ended his voyage there was only his hoad and shoulders visible above the rivor - but at loast we didn't have to go round to Foathorston to colloct him. After this interlude we had two very invigorating games of "cricket" on the Hut Opening Campfire site where we have playod before. Of course the best team won both games - we're protty good aron't we team? - after a lot of enjoyment had been had by all. We started our perty a little early at night and so were feeling in good spirits whon we walked up to Tauwharenikau Hut for the fun and gemes up there. Many incidonts could be told of the nights doings but of course we might hurt someones feclings. (How's the Southorn Max? - and the Mopoke Kaith?) Times of getting to bed varied sonsiderably but we were all certainly fast asleep when the whole show came to an end - around 4.30 we were told the next day. Sunday was not a very good day as far as weather wont - there was plenty of rain hanging around and most of us took it decidedly easy although some strolled up to Tauwharenikau to have a look at the haggard faces up there. During the day those who hed got back to Smiths dry-footed the previous night took graat pleasure in telling the great majority who hadn't all about it. 7llen es usual was the source of much fighting over the weekend and in the end about noon we found a good way to keep her out of mischiof. If you lay her gently on the floor, get four bods to sit on her to keep her there, tie her arms down with puttees, put her in her sleeping bag and tie. that round too and then put her in her sleeping bag cover and also tie that she doesn't seem to be ble to cause very much trouble. Incidentally, the worst trick of the weekend was when WG were trying to cool her down in the river on the Saturday. I was so busy trying to make sure that I didn't go in too that she was able to grab my ski cap and throw that in. Sunday afternoon saw many people on their way out over the Puffer heading for home. I passed 26 people on my trip out and when I can do that there must be a very large population on the track. It rained most of the way out and I think the funniest thing I saw was Rod running down the Puffer in sand-shoes. He'd had dry boots and wet sandshoes so had preferred to keep his dry boots for the truck. We weited some time at the Barn for our truck and when it came we were rather crowded with the addition of T.T.C. bods. While we were waiting Frank arrived and displayed for inspection a groy jersey that had been found in Teuwharenikeu. Someone racognised it.as Bill Bridge's so Frank immediately decided to auction it off. Bidding was not very spirited with penny rises and eventually it went for 1/6. I'm not saying who bought it as he might get into a lot of trouble - and, talking of trouble - I wonder if Bill has heard about it yet and if so what ho said to Frank? Those on the truck were:- Ellen Slattery, Dallas Doran, Betty Evens, Phil Phillips (Leader), Dave Lowe, Rod Milne, Sid Reid, Dick Noble, Keith Durrant, Colin Horne, Mel Manning, D. Jeffs, Dick Archer, Max Barie, J. Dow, J. Corrigan, Joc Morris, Frank Dement, Betty Metthews & Terry Moore. Terry.