Mudlarks on the Maymorn (June 11th-12th)

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** MUDLARKS : ON..T THE..1 MAYMORN. June 11 -12th. It was my third tramp, and remembering the saying "third time lucky", I had high hopes for a good week end. My two previous efforts had resulted in rather dampened spirits, with emphasis on dampeneds We arrived at Cloustonville at 11 o'clock on the Saturday morning and the weather was far from encouraging, but there were some very optimistic weather forecasters in our so we managed to set out cheerfully. As usual, about half an hour after the paryhonta start I lost sight of the rest of the party. "Never mind you're doing fine," said genI "It won't be long before you can keep up with them. 1 I still have my doubts! The trip in was uneventful, and we arrived at Renata Hut safe and sound to find a nice fire and hot soup waiting for us. There are some things to be said for being slow! Wet garments were soon off, and warm woollies on, and in no time the billies were bubbling merrily. Everything was fine, except perhaps, for the fact that one was ignorant as to the identity of ones neighbour, partly because of the thick smoke which prevailed, and partly because of streaming, blood shot eyes, caused by the smoke. Still I I think the boys did a good job on that unfinished chimney. The stew went down a treat and we sat and gazed at the fire, burhing cheerfully under a billy of water, destined for Mary's hottie. Not for long! The picture changed to one of chaos - water- water everywhere and a swamped out fireplace. Accusations flew in every direction, but Neill soon got another fire goinge Guilty conscience? It was Mary's last trip with the club for somet time and the boys were doing their best to make it a memorable one; the following morning I lost count of the times she was dragged from her sleeping bag, and in her shoeless feet sat upon a tree stump outside the hut, surrounded by MUD. "Hori" was very gallant and went to his bethothed': S rescue (occasionally). He looked very much the part in his tight fitting, long woolly underpantso Departure time arrived, and David and I set off at 1 o'clock, having a good start on the rest of the partyo John Armstrong, wishing to be out early came with us. After about ten minutes John left us and went on ahead, We came to a junction and turned left on to a clearly disced track, A few minutes after I was surprised to see David reclining, somewhat ungracefully, in a pool of mude "Resting already? I said, laughing. However, David did not appreciate my remark and imformed me it was no laughing matter. We trudged on for about an hour, putting the lack of footprints down to the fact that we had missed a shortcut, usually taken by trampers. Eventually, David began to have doubts as to whether we were on the right track, and he got out his map and compasse We were travelling in a definite southerly direction, and there was only one track marked on the map, so he thought that we could not go far wronge It soon became evident that we were NOT on the Maymorn track, but being too late to turn back we ploughed on regardlesso The discs had gradually deteriorated and we wasted much time in looking for theme The murk was closing in and the situation no longer appeared humorouso I was feeling a little apprehensive as to whether we would see civilisation againo A recent tramping event, which had taken place in that area, flashed more than once through our minds, and we appropriately renamed ourselves. It was 4.30 pom, and I was tired, so we stopped for a rest, at the same time looking for a good place to camp, should it become necessaryo We were discussing our hext move, when what should I see, but a tramper emerging from the bushes. "A tramper" I exclaimeds David appeared to ignore meo I repeated n a trampero 1 He turned and looked in the direction indicated and stood quite still and stareds As the tramper came nearer, we realised that it was Mary Fraser. She looked up and the next few moments should be recorded in tramping memoirs as n very touching". Mary and David just stood and gazed at each other and then with one accord shouted out each others name and rushed forward, As they clasped hands tears rolled down Mary's cheeks I have never before seen anyone so pleased to see David! The relief Mary experienced must have been terrific, Come to that, it made me feel much better too, and we all behaved as if we had been out for a week. We felt very bucked up and continued with renewed energy. Mary explained how she came to be alone and on the wrong tracks She had left the hut an hour after us, departing a few minutes before "Hori", > Dudley, Noel and Neill, to obtain a starts Barry and LLoyd had left at 1.30, half an hour before her. She missed the turn off, as we did, and had mistaken the same well disced track as the Maymorno Our recent footprints confirmed, in her mind, that she was on the right track. She realised, however, that she was wrong when it was too late to tun back and decided to try and catch up, if possible, to the trampers in front. She had no torch and very little food and it'must have been rather frightening She too, had experienced the deteriorating discs and had not been able to go as fast as she desireds Howeverg she made excellent time, and I am still amazed that she could catch up, on her own, having left one hour after use We lost height rapidly and were out of the bush in half an hour and we could see Cloustonville in the distance and the Maymorn Ridge to our lefte We shouted and were delighted to hear a replyo We hurried on, but the light was failing as we dropped down a very steep slope to the roads We were met by a very puzzled John Armstrong, who had answered our callso It was six ofclock and he was beginning to worry as to why he was the only one out, and was about to go back to investigate, when he heard our callso

We realised then that "Hori" and the bays had caught up to Barry and Lloyd, without seeing Mary, and that they were most likely looking for her. This was confirmed by Barry and who came out at 7o'clock. Dudley and Neill, they said, were following footprints, which were it very clear, and Hord. "Hori" and Noel were staying in the hut in case she went backa "Hori" had asked that should Mary get out, someone was to go back and tell him. So David and John went back in to tell him, with every intention of coming out again that night. At eight o'clock Dudley and Neill joined uso They had followed Mary's prints right out and having only one torch, found the last part very difficulto Phone calls were then made home and we sat in Barries car and waitede Neill left us at about 10 o'clock on his motor-bike. At.430 ael mo it became obvious that the party would not be out that night and we left Cloustonville, I went to bed when I should have been getting up and there was ofcousse a lot of absenteeism from work, Monday. David, John, "Hori" and Noel got out at 10 asl m. to find no transport, except John's motorbike, which takes only himself, and Noell's bike which had a large nail in the tyree David obtained a lift on a lorry and left Noel and "Hori" mending the puncture. Five of us now have an unusual red line on our maps, and the boys had searcg practice, so I suppose the week end could be termed as "successful, I The Party - Mary Fraser, Aljce Borley, "Hori"Hall, John Armstrong, Dave Borley, Dudley Morris, Iloyd Wilkin, Barrie Bright, Neall Sandford, Noell Miller.