[SUBW-A] PRESIDENT'S BLUDGE TRIP: 29 September - 1 October

[tom murtagh]

G'day walkers,

It seems like only yesterday, or the day before, that we were out walking on
a long weekend.  Thankyou Mr Apec, it was great!  But more about that later.

If you squandered your public holiday, or you just feel like another,
you're certainly in luck because the October Long Weekend is coming up in
a few weekends.  This means many things, but most importantly it means
it's time for the annual PRESIDENT'S BLUDGE TRIP (PBT) -- a three-day
bushwalk down to the Kowmung River in the Blue Mountains.

If you already know what the PBT is, the executive summary is that this
year we'll head into Hatchers Hollow and stay there -- controversially --
for both nights*.

If you want to come along, please mail me ASAP with the usual details:
 - your NAME and contact details,
 - if you have a vehicle available, are there any available seats, or
 - if you need to get a lift in someone else's vehicle.

THANKYOU.

If you don't know what a PBT is, read on.

The President's Bludge Trip is a hallowed SUBW tradition, and one of the few
things hard-coded into the Club constitution.  It's kind of a big deal!
The trip is held each year on the Labour Day long weekend in October.
Typically, participants drive out to near Kanangra on the Friday night,
spend most of Saturday walking down to the mighty Kowmung River, camp there,
bludge around on the Sunday, and walk back on the Monday, get home late
and smelly in the evening, then head into work the next day fresh as a daisy.

Many people are confused by the term "Bludge Trip", and are horrified to
discover that in fact the bushwalk is quite difficult, generally off-track,
covers a fair distance, and the last day is almost entirely up-hill in the
stinking hot sun with a cracker of a hangover.  So, I will be explicit:

This is NOT a beginner's trip!

It's a 3-day trip into the wilderness suitable for fairly strong walkers.

Truth be told, the "bludge" bit is really everything except the walking.
Once we get down to the Kowmung the idea is really to have as much fun as
possible, and after thirty-odd years of PBTs people have really gotten
this down to a fine art.  Participants are strongly encouraged to bring as
much fine food and beverage as they can carry in (and possibly out).
In fact, bring anything that you feel might increase the general fun of
proceedings.  It would be nice to get a string quartet happening this year,
but I understand that cellos are heavy so banjos will do just fine.
As always, this is a formal trip so ties and collared shirts are mandatory.

So, if you have a strong pair of legs, and you're not doing anything else
from September 29 to October 1, please mail me as soon as possible.

Cheers -- and hope to see you there ...
tom
9351 3142

PS:
* Attempts to eke out a campsite further upstream earlier in the year
resulted in a number of freezing deep river crossings, shoddy navigation,
and a miserable lingering chest and throat infection, so I'm taking the
easy way out.  Besides, it's my trip and I like Hatchers Hollow.  This way
everyone can sleep in on Sunday as late as they please.