Christopher Robin's Expotition

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Christopher Robin's Expotition Lesley Marshall One Queen's Birthday Weekend, Christopher Leading from the rear did of course Robin managed to persuade Tigger, Owl, mean that The Troops became spread far Piglet, Eeyore and an assortment of and wide over the hillside, but, as thirty of Rabbit's Friends and Relations, C.R. wasn't too sure just how many of to go on an Expotition to find Lake Rabbit's Friends and Relations had Colenso (North Ruahines). Pooh wasn't tagged along, and anyway he didn't invited because he was a bear of very have enough fingers and toes to count little brain. But if there is any that many, this didn't really matter. truth in the saying "No brain, no pain", then Pooh would have had a distinct The Troops and leaders re-grouped on advantage over everyone else. top of the first hill and admired the view of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Egmont Being an Expotition, they took untold before setting off with Owl and Tigger provisions as well as useful items in front because owls are very learned such as an Hawaiian hula skirt and (they can spell words such as onomatpaddle (Christopher Robin's = useful in opeia) so obviously he would be able to performing all manner of rites), hats find the start of the track through for every occasion (Piglet), a water the bush. C.R. said "It's all downhill pistol that wouldn't (Eeyore), brollies, now, Troops". Eeyore said "Yeah, yeah". a bugle and a "For Sale" sign. After some time of sidling down through Christopher Robin had a word to his tussock, scrub and snow however, it Dad about the three days fine weather became apparent that they weren't quite required for an Expotition but forgot where Owl had thought. In fact, they to mention desirable temperature and were miles away. Hence, C.R. came to hence the first night of the Expotition the rescue and led them to the saddle which was spent in a tractor shed and near the start of the track, where they a woolshed, was a decidedly chilly one. had lunch. Despite the fact that they This did serve however to get The would obviously not now make Lake Col- Troops (as Christopher Robin preferred enso that day, morale was high and there to call Rabbit's Friends and Relations) was much laughter and hilarity, playing on the move nice and early with Chrisof bugles, pushing of Eeyore's pack topher Robin, Owl, Piglet and Eeyore off (talk about laugh!), etc. leading from the rear and Tigger bouncing along first behind then in After lunch, the track was found 300 front as Tiggers do. feet up from the saddle and after half an hour or so of competitions as to ion was on the right track. Of course who could slip and fall on their rumps they weren't so everyone then went back the most (one of Rabbit's prettier to where the second section had last relations was later to be presented seen a track. with a Double Certificate for her remarkable ability to stay on her feet), The track gained, most of Rabbit's Ironbark Hut was reached. Somehow, Friends and Relations decided to have enough flat(ish) space was found lunch there and return to Base Camp as around the hut to pitch five flies on it was now 2 p.m. so they obviously the permafrost and thus the Expotition's weren't all going to make it to the Base Camp was established. Lake and back by dark. C.R., Owl, Tigger and Eeyore with Piglet and three Eeyore, being rather slow, found that Friends/Relations ex the second section Eeyore was to sleep on the outside of decided to make a final bid for the one fly but just sighed and thought Goal of the Expotition ("more fool us" "If anyone has to be cold, of course thought Eeyore.) it will be me". However, C.R. heard Eeyore sigh and said that he'd sleep Thus they dropped the thousand feet on the outside and keep Eeyore warm. to the river and proceeded along the Hence, Expotition sleeping arrangements sidle track led by Tigger. Just when were established and everyone hit pit they thought they were nearing the Lake after a four course Expotition-sized they found themselves climbing very dinner a la Christopher Robin. steeply up and up, until, on looking out to their left and down 500 feet Next day the Expotition split into they could see the famed Lake Colenso three sections; C.R., Owl, Tigger, itself. Somebody's suggestion that Eeyore and two Friends/Relations went considering the lateness of the hour to find Lake Colenso via Unknown Campand the fact that the Lake itself was site, depending on Owl's wisdom to a bit of an anti-climax, why not have know when they had found a campsite lunch in the sun where they were, take that was unknown; most of the other lots of photos of the Lake and forget Friends and Relations set off to find about trying to reach it, was favourthe Lake via the track from Ironbark ably received and this was done. Hut; and the rest, being the only sensible Friends and Relations, decided On the way back, at the foot of the to stay put rather than risk the pre-lunch climb, they found the track dangers that might be lurking on the they should have gone along to get to way to the Lake such as getting lost the Lake, providing that they had been (no offense to Owl). in fact on the track to Unknown Campsite, so it seems that Tigger was as good at C.R. et al set out first and the first navigation as Owl, but as Eeyore said obstacle they faced was the deep, wide, to Eeyore "If you've seen one lake, freezing river running past the hut. you' 've seen them all". While the others stood uncertainly on the bank, wishing that the walkway would They got back to Base Camp just before miraculously move from its position a dark to find that the more resourceful mile up the river. Eeyore, who didn't Friends and Relations had managed to believe in miracles took the plunge get a large campfire started and this thinking "A little pain never hurt any- became the focal point for the evening one" and then "Besides, my toes won't as campfires do on all good Expotitions. hurt because now I can't feel them". The others followed and they began After another sumptious dinner, two of criss-crossing up the stream directly the Friends/Relations who aspired to opposite. Halfway up a Great Waterfall being Great White Hunters but who hadn't had to be sidled round but there were seen any deer apart from the ones no other obstacles and after 12 hours suspended from the Friendly Neighbour- Owl announced that they had reached hood Chopper, set off back up the track Unknown Campsite. by torchlight to spend the night on the saddle in the hope of having better The map showed a track from here to luck, or failing that, to have a better the Lake but after C.R. had led them chance of shooting down any flying deer up the creek (or so to speak) and that happened to be passing. As for Tigger had bounced around looking for the other Expotition members, one by one to no avail, they decided to bush one they retired to bed, the last to do bash up a likely looking spur, which so being a group of stayers deeply they did and finally reached the ridge involved in a Philosophical Discussion. top with still no sign of a track. Here they found some interesting lime- Next morning, C.R. said that E.T.D. stone stack-like formations and Tigger was 9 a.m. The Troops took him bounced to the top. of one where he made literally which he hadn't expected, so very loud Tigger-like noises which were while he was singing Songs To Turn answered by the Expotition's second Over And Go Back To Sleep By with section who soon joined them from along Eeyore and a Relation, The Troops were the ridge thinking that the first sectfolding frost-frozen flies, packing up and departing for the saddle. to be recalled. When C.R. had counted all the legs and divided by two, and At 10 a.m. which, as every Expotition came to the conclusion that all the Leader knows, is what he means by important people were there, all set off "E.T.D. is 9 a.m.", C.R., Piglet, for the last time, arriving at the road Tigger, Owl and Eeyore started up the end safe and sound although a mad heifer 2000 foot climb to the saddle where careering along the farm track towards the others were waiting, whereupon them had a few of the boys worried for lunch was had. Morale, as usual, was a minute. high, despite the cold wind, and The Troops were impatient to begin the final The last laugh (had there been anyone stage of the Expotition, so C.R. pointed there to witness it) came when poor them to the top of the hill and off they old Eeyore, upon arriving home, began went. In no time at all, and in their unpacking, only to find a ten stone usual manner, there were thirty direct- rock had been put in Eeyore's pack ionless Friends and Relations spread before Eeyore had set off in the out over the entire hillside, some morning "which" thought Eeyore to sidling, some climbing. Of course, it herself "is what you'd expect". was at this stage that the track they should have been following was discovered and after Tigger had bounced Christopher Robin - Jack McConchie, along it for a while to check it out Owl - Neil Woodrow, Tigger Chris and bounced back to report that it was Garton, Piglet - Kev Sheppard, Eeyore indeed the official track, everyone had me.