Twistn Across the South'n

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* TWISTN ACROSS THE SOUTH'N You've gotta really get with this trating, there were showers and a light, tramp'n jazz, like crazy man, ree-al cooling breeze, but no snow, not anycrr-azy. Now this leader he come where. The party staggered into Alpha along and he's real square grand-daddy- Hut, forty thousand were trodden into 0, and he says "Listen you cats, you're the ground in a mad stampede for the gonna dig this South'n Cross'n with a best bunks, and thus exhausted collapsed solid beat, scrub my backbone, I've got into their septic pits. After dinner, an itch in my feet. Bruce had enough energy to do "The Ten Tungameats left Wellington, in Twist", and then accompanied by "The spite of the weatherman's forecast that Four Clods" gave a painful rendering the weather would be "real cool man". of "Dook of Earl". A performance only Chief Guide Miller did a primitive kind exceeded by a duet from Middieditch and of war dance which he called "The Clarkson, who not only sang different Twist", whilst Leader Clarkson did an- tunes but also different songs. This was other kind of dance which he called "The an excrutiating experience for everyone Dirty Liver", and so at the unprecedented including Messrs. M. and C., who early hour of 7.39 p.m. we departed from sounded to be in great agony. Wellington for Otaki. During the night the drum, drum beat Apart from a torch failure, by a cer- of raindrops turned to the gentle patter tain Dutchman, who wishes to remain of tiny snowflakes. Sleeping bags clung anoynmous, little of note occurred on like shells to a paua, upon reposing forms our way to Field's Hut. At crack of tired trampers, whom might lie there o'dawn, the sonorous sounds of slumber until "The Twelve of Never" (and that's were disturbed by the sonorous tones of a long, long time). We came out via the alarm clock, followed by softly in- the Marchant, 'cept Henk and Murrav, toned curses, yawns and the sounds of who went via Omega Track and Smith's boots being thrown. Two brews of tea Creek. Along the Marchant Track the and four smokos later, found us with no snow was "real cool man". Twenty excuse for staying in the hut any longer. minutes' later we reached Dobson's Hut The weather promised to be fine, but for a welcome brew, in another Twenty quickly promised to change its mind. minutes' we reached the Shelter Hut. Àn early lunch at Kime Hut was accom- When we reached Wellington the spokespanied by the rhythm of rain beating on man of the party said, "Thanks Norm, the roof, a real solid beat, to which I enioyed the trip, I was really miser- Bruce did "The Twist" (to keep warm). able". A gleam of sadistic pleasure came There was mutinous talk of staying at into Norman's eye, and Bruce did "The Kime Hut, but the leader a real mean Twist". "I don't dig trampers, the're man, shook his head, and pointing. cried crazy man, ree-al crr-azy!" "Onwards! the trip must run". George -NORM. CLARKSON. Middleditch, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Those on the trin: Middleditch, replied "You're ruthless (Leader). Norm. Clarkson Clarkson". George Middleditch, Margaret Webb, Bill Drake, Murray We crossed in mist through which the McNatty, Henk Berthulet. Kevin Brown. Colin sun tried, but never succeeded in pene- Paul Green, Bruce Miller. Harvey,