[SUBW-A] TRIP REPORT: Freshers Trip, 28-29 March 2009

[tom murtagh]

WHO:  Fritz, Nicole, Kathleen, Jeremiah, Alex Moore, Michael, Christy,
      Jamal, Alex Meekin, Kirstine, Dayna, Kate Hayes, Ting, Ralf, Yuriko,
      Jana, Ashley, Karine, Albert, Jin Yi, Kim, Sausage, Falk, Sabine,
      Melanie, Pete Raines, Lauren, Kate Lord, Mitch, Pete Harvey, Tom,
      Kate Sullivan, Ben, Nina [list confirmed at least 70% accurate]
HOW:  Grassy Hill Firetrail down to the Colo
WOH!  I know, right?

The "Freshers Trip" is one of the several traditions that the Club
maintains.  Each year, a group of fresh-faced newbies are tricked, trapped,
bribed or otherwise cajoled into a straightforward overnight trip to
somewhere wonderful in the hopes of entangling them in the web of SUBW.

Fritz generously took it upon himself to organise the walk this year -- a
departure from our usual haunts, instead heading down to the limestone of
Bungonia Gorge, an area which has really impressed us on a few previous
trips.  Alas, scant days before the walk, Albert had to spoil the fun by
noticing that the entire Bungonia SRA was closed all week for a massive
Pig And Goat Shoot-A-Thon.  Disaster!  Maps of the Sydney Basin were
hastily examined and prodded, and the glass was smashed on the Colo River
Contingency Plan.  Beautiful clear water, soaring sandstone cliffs, and the
most persistent sand known to humanity -- it was hardly a tough decision.

Saturday found us a beautiful warm, sunny day.  The original plan was to
drive out along the Grassy Hill Firetrail to its bitter end, to ensure
adequate bludging time, but with the party assembled at the turnoff from
the Putty Road, certain troublesome elements in the party determined that
a good old-fashioned Road Bash would be a better way to break the ice.
So, we did that.  There is then a well-defined track down to a big bend on
the Colo, whereupon Fritz contemplated the situation and decided that
camping on the beach, rather than among the trees, would be the best way
to maximise the amount of pernicious Colo sand that everyone would get out
in their clothes, packs, tents, food, hair, intimates etc etc.  So, we did
that too, and got about bludging.

It wouldn't be as good bludging without a case of beer, so we had two of
those, and it wouldn't be as good if the beer was warm, so Albert kindly
reached into his Science Fridge and got us a couple of eskies of dry ice.
(I definitely recommend Science Fridges to anyone contemplating a summer
bushwalk.)  We have footage of astounded freshers splashing terrified
downstream pursued by steaming chunks of ice and our Beer Officer
prostrate in a smoking raft.  Of course there was swimming, and liloing,
and the always horrifying tableau of SUBW veterans getting around with
nothing save a camera and budgie-smugglers, but eventually the shadows
grew long as the sun dipped early below the walls of the Colo Gorge.

Then, things started to liven up.

I won't bore you by detailing the Bacchanalia that transpired, but suffice
it to say that wine, women and song all got a look-in.  The "Wild West Show"
also made an appearance.  If you're familiar with the Show, I think it's
fun to cast your mind back and try to recall your reaction the first time
you heard it, because it helps to understand the mystified faces around the
campfire on each Freshers Trip.  Verse after verse, "in this corner" after
"in this corner", until the penny drops.  "Ah, it is just a dumping ground
for the worst puns in the universe*.  I understand now."  At some stage,
a shipment of latecomers arrived with extra supplies, which they appeared
to have already largely consumed.  The extra volume was not well received
by a separate party who were tented up in a cave on the other side of the
river, but luckily they made the best of a potentially awkward situation --
so, apologies to them.  The night wore on as silently as plausible.

Next morning -- uh, a couple of hours later -- we were a party transformed.
Gone was the bonhomie.  Gone was the idle chit-chat.  Stony faced and grey,
silently munching on muesli bars and left-over brie, clearly the group was
already upset about the prospect of the trip's imminent completion.
With hopes of prolonging the fun, Pete Raines and Ashley set up a bit of
abseiling for interested beginners, some others had a shot at the grade 5
rapid (yeah, right) just below the campsite, and a big old carpet python
happened across our festivities.  But all good things must come to an end,
we packed and legged it up to the road and back to civilisation.

Very many photos have already emerged:
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/populvuh/28032009ColoGorge
http://www.david-noble.net/bushwalking/FreshersWalk09/FreshersWalk.html
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~aburke/FreshersTrip2009038-29/index.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/t-f-m/sets/72157616148178813/

Based on small sample sizes, it seems that a good time was had by ALL.
So, good work everyone.  Take the rest of the day off!  Thanks to Fritz
for organising it, and especially to the drivers.  Hope to see everyone on
more trips in the future.

Oh -- and don't bother trying to get the Colo sand out of your gear, it
lives there now.

Cheers
tom

* All credit goes to Dayna, who had a much more elegant but NSFW phrasing
of this.