A Letter Home (July, '68)

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A LETTER HOME (July, '68) Dear Ma, Dear Pa, dark. With Ivan's (the leader) return How are you over there in U.K.? from the farmer whose land we were Hope all is well. I have just come round about to cross, we set off. What a heck from a very strenuous weekend, to which of a lot of mud. I tried to go round experience I think I shall devote all this it but eventually landed right in the letter. From this weekend's "experience" thick of it. It was over my boots. And I can honestly say tramping is not, as then, there was this creek, you see. It I had previously thought, anything like had to be crossed and naturally as none hiking. Why, today, I am but an aching, of us had wings with us at the time it sore, lump, not even fit for tackling a meant going through it. The start of the few steps. crossing was fine and then it happened; just out of reach of the far bank the This saga begins Friday night when I level rose to about the knees. Boots, made, what was for me, in all the gear, socks and me soaked up to the knees a very self-conscious trot across town to in ice cold water. I know, Pops, dear, the muster point-Wellington Railway that you advocate jumping into a creek Station loading bay. Being starving at the first opportunity to soak new hungry, having just left work and also boots, but this was ridiculous. At this early by about one hour, I thought I'd point, ten minutes from the start, I dispop into the buffet. Mind you, when I tinctly remember thinking if indeed arrived at the said buffet and noticed tramping was what I wanted to do. all the smirks from a large number of On the other side, would you believe, the other customers, I realised I must a camp site was being sought. I obviously indeed cut a somewhat striking figure. hadn't misheard earlier! and I nearly My feet were housed in great big died at the prospect. Anyway, a site was found, flies erected wood enormous boots with two pairs of thick chopped, fire started and (no a tent!), of water socks, which curled out over the top of boiled for a "brew", and billy then the the boots. The trousers were threequarter was hit. I was very pleasantly hay length and baggy (obviously converted when I woke up Saturday morning surprised with gents!). These followed by a black oil streams of sunshine, fresh clear air, me skin parka, an enormous, simply enorm- being warm and feeling reous pack on my back, topped off by a freshed gorgeously after a good night's furry hat upon my head! very sleep. The day started with a "brew" and Time came round and I made my then out came primus stoves and frying way to the loading bay. There I came pans. I was quite amazed, I had not given across people-hundreds of 'em-skis, a thought to a cooked breakfastski poles, packs, boots, suit cases(!), bags, though I didn't go without one due to içe picks and indeed such a conglomora- the generosity of Joe (and a lecture on tion that I was quite put-off and nearly how to start a day). went home again. How anybody ever We crossed the creek and walked toorganises anything out of that chaos I'll wards a grass bank where we had a never know-yet needless to say all the rest and started off again-no more restother groups and parties found them- ing-must keep going, we were told. selves and set off for their respective Up over the farmland, over the bushweekend jaunts! line and into the bush. Well, really, I All our gear and then ourselves were wish the second wind would come that packed into the Kombie and we sallied Iwas told would come if I kept going. forth. The journey, which seemed end- We hit a hazard-one enormous fallen less, was broken by a stop for some re- tree trunk-nothing to. hang on to and freshment and it was after this that my we were on a steep bit of hillside. We feet started to object to being packed were all over this when it was realised into boots-pins and needles-and then we weren't on the trail. The trail was someone queried about the overnight soon found and needless to say we had camp site. I must have misheard-why, to reclamber over the hazard, this time we are going to a hut thought I! in a downhill direction, and from here we sallied forth with no idea of time Turned off the main road and fol- on the part of us new ones who just lowed for what seemed hours an un- put one foot before the other and folsealed road that finally ended at the lowed the one in front. It didn't take farm. Part "A" of the tramp reached at long before we (the new ones, that islast. Gosh-had no idea it could be sO myself, Joy, and Sue) were climbing mechanically through streams, over roots set their stew to cook. Oh, did it smell and fallen trees and generally "on all good and we all waitèd with great exfours"-would the top never come. Joe pectations for our own, and, by jove, stayed with us, I think to make sure it was good. By the way, Ma, it was all we didn't sneak any rests, and Ivan, Lyn, cooked over an open fire. I'd just love and Peter went on to the top. Well, Sue, to have seen your face on viewing our Joy, and myself nearly dropped in our efforts. tracks. We did stop for a rest and Joe did a good business in pack carrying. I hit the hay and do not remember At last the front of the party came into another thing till I awoke Sunday mornsight, waiting for us on the saddle. So ing to an awful lot of noise from Joe! near, yet sO far-how well worn is We'd have to get up as the weather that phrase and yet how very, very true! didn't look too good and we were to We were one party again and an enorm- go down the river. If this swelled we ous feed was had on chocolate, raisins, may not be able to cross it, etc., etc., fruit, etc. Having recouperated and etc. The deerstalkers had long since disthought on all the effort I had just made appeared. I must admit that although I felt weary, With brew, breakfast, washing I had in fact enjoyed getting that way, which was done with grit from the river- up, though I know at one point of the climb bed I lived and learned all the time), all I could think of was home. and all other chores over, we were off. Ivan went on ahead to make sure With our departure, the sun came out. the turn down from the saddle wasn't I'm not quite sure what we followed. missed, then came Peter and myself, At first it appeared we were crashing the rear being brought up by Joe, Sue, and bashing through virgin bush. I sup- Lyn, and Joy. I have never been through posed, somewhat vaguely at the time, so much mud in my life-right up to that it was known where we were and my ankles and that is no exaggeration. where we were going, though most of Peter and I came across Ivan's pack. my attention was focused on me. Oh, Obviously a point to muster. We called my shoulders, would they ever be the Ivan and in five minutes he appeared same again. What we did was to follow and said he had been climbing a tree. the track and then climb down to the Climbing a tree, eh-funny, I thought, river level. We all made it safelyfunny. (Apparently one climbs a tree to straight into shin-high bog at the botmake out the lie of the land). The "rear tom. Ah, river level-pleasant, you may guard" caught and off we set. How think, Mum, but walking along the Rualovely it was to Ube going down hill. The mahunga was not quite the same as party remained virtually in one piece on walking along the Embankment-River this leg and what seemed like hours Thames. I just had to accustom myself later and we were once again somewhat to hopping from boulder to boulder. mechanical in movement, down hill or Bank protrusions were overcome by wadno, a hut appeared. I wondered if per- ing into the river around them. We conhaps it was a mirage but I gathered tinued this boulder hopping for what together all my remaining strength and seemed hours and then came the shock. reached this hut-Roaring Stag-at the I don't know why, really, that I should double. Got in, sat down and for what have viewed the crossing of the river as must have been five minutes just sat and a joke. Probably never having been faced did nothing, thought nothing, said with these circumstances before, the nothing and heard nothing. When the reality seemed completely without fabric. senses started to return-first my back, Joy and I, at this time being last, saw then my shoulders, then my legs, well I the ones in front crossing. Oh, knew I had all these parts but I had stuff, we thought, then the adventurers" great never been aware of their presence like went deeper and eventually arrived at this before and all at once too!! Off came the other side,, having been immersed the boots and wet socks and on went up to their thighs. Well, my eyeballs dry clothing. nearly dropped out and we about-turned The fire was lit, brew made, and then to see if the river was any shallower the evening began-an absolute hive of farther up, but no, so linking arms along industry indeed. We were still preparing with Ivan and Joe, we stumbled over. our stew when the three deerstalkers ar- Oh, heavens, was that water cold. rived-the first occupants of the hut. The other side reached, I was just They had done all their preparing first about to throw all down and get out a thing in the morning, including all the towel when I realised I would have been wood chopping. They came in now, no the only one if I did. So off we deer to their credit, unfortunatly, and wet legs and all. We made three trotted, cross- ings that morning, each just, and every at hapless state and dissolved into bit as cold, as the one before. When a mirthapt lump. having crossed the river, we took to the Light was falling, the wind was getting bush again and passed through knee- up and the river was crossed twice more. high ferns. I tell you, Mum, every now Oh, how welcome that little vehicle and then the thought ran through my looked when we finally reached it. What mind, if only you could see me now. a motley crew we must have presented Let's face it, I was all that you had on the roadside, and the hooting horns brought me up against. The biggest of passersby confirmed this, though I "against" being wet feet and they had must say I was completely beyond carbeen sopping since ten minutes after the ing. The other arrived and when start on Friday night. all was ready aparwe we set. It was all I could do to keep my eyes from dropping Anyway, the bush was entered and out I was so exhausted. at first the trail completely disappeared I arrived home, had a hot bath and under fallen trees and slips. When found slept like a log till this morning. Am it promptly disappeared again. I was now at work, and should be working, feeling I'd been walking for years and wondering how long my muscles are years when a fallen tree had to be going to complain. I suppose there is negotiated. I'd never seen such a big only one way to overcome the agonies tree trunk. Anyway Ivan hopped over -more action. Don't worry, Ma, Tll not and I followed but, unfortunately, ended kill myself. That's my lot, don't forget straddled across the tree, face down, to send all the latest gen from London pinned by the weight of my pack. The will you. only way to move me was for Ivan to With fondest regards, yours achingly, pull and Joe to push. Joy took one look -Margo