December 18th to 21st, 1994
After much planning and the usual end of year school stress, the family set off on the precursor to our eventual "long" trip ... Central Australia. This trip of six weeks should allow us to determine our readiness - in a technical sense - for the four months that are taking shape for July / October of next year. It will give us the chance to acclimatise to the need to set up and break down our camp on a regular basis, using the different tents and gear that have been purchased for the specific tasks required.
We left a little later than originally planned, but the 9:30 am departure time did not greatly affect our travelling and we arrived at destination one - Abercrombie Caves - after about four hours on the road. Mum and Dad (June and Les) had arrived approximately 90 minutes peior to us and they had done their usual trick of finding the best spot and sweet talking anyone about to assist them. Of course, my sarcasm is meant to mask an admiration for the way they can immediately mix with types so often found "on the road". After this short a time, Dad had the van organised in the best location and had organised a tent site for us. Mum, in the mean time, had established social contact and was swapping life stories with several woman who, judging by their condition, will be receiving a Christmas card from Tooheys or perhaps several wineries in the Hunter Valley!
The Abercrombie Caves was a suggested rendezvous for us, as The Garden Gnome and Wife were returning from Melbourne with the new, personally designed caravan. Arthur - "The Little Bloke" - had once recommended the caves as a likely village for a spot and so we had changed the original choice of Kanangra Walls NP.
The ensuing weather was hot - 39 to 41 degrees Cover the four days - but the attractions and company excellent. A few rigged tarps and some good activity choices led to a very pleasant way to start our mini odyssey. Included in leisure activities were two very informative walks through caves. The first was a self-guided event and featured the maincave of the area, the Grand Arch. This was little more than a continuous cavern of about 30 metres width/height, that has one dog-leg bend about half way along the 197 metre length. After completion, we encouraged Mum to try it, but to no avail.
The second cave walk was a bonus feature, as the ranger /guide was late and we were his only customers, he decided - following some gentle prodding - that the combination of his recalcitrance, the heat and the more senior age of some of our party, would be a good reason to include an additional cave and a trip back through the self-guided cave. Thus we avoided the hot and arduous trip over the top of the short, but steep hill, to the cave entrance.
Given that Dad had been allowed through the caves as part of our two-cave family ticket concession, this was an even greater bonus for the total cost of $35.
The caves were very interesting - the more so as we were the only members of the party passing through with the guide. Most of us had seen more spectaculnr features but the attention, courtesy and price could not be argued with. The caves were originally "discovered" by bush rangers led by Ralph Entwhistle in 1830. His gang - the Ribbon Gang - were here for little more than a month, but in that time they avoided discovery. Fifteen of the original gang of 130 had decided to hide here, but twelve were captured and hung, after they ventured away from the caves, in search of food.
The caves were officially opened for tours in 1879. They are managed by the same Trust that administers Jenolan and Wombean Caves.
Some problems surfacedfor the first time. Importantly, the fridge did not appear to be coping with the heat and was not doing that for which it was designed. After checking the obvious, I rang repair men in the major centres within the area code. After many knock-backs, a friendly chap from Orange suggested that I give the fridge some rough treatment - "kick it and toss it about like afootball" - then invert it for 24 hours.
Added to this was a leak in the double air mattress, leading to a deflation rate that Paul Keating could only dream of. Repair kit needed !
On the third day, our entire group set off early (7:00 am) for the 7km return walk to the Grove Creek Falls, to the south. Grove Creek runs through the main cave and the camping area and had only stopped running in the past week. Despite this, there were many substantial pools.
The walk to the falls was a little rough, even at the best of times. However, the early departure avoided the bulk of the hot part of the day. The final stage of the walk entailed some rock-hopping. Dad, the children and myself did the final clambering to actually see the falls but this proved to be disappointing owing to the lack of flow and the position we were in. Their was a viewing platform but the delineated track to this was considered to steep for most of our party to attempt. After seeing the falls, I climbed a steep rock and ascended to the viewing platform. The view was ordinary but the climbing was fun! In the process, I almost sconed Mum and Sue with a rock dislodged by my foot.
Our final evening with Mum&Dad was great fun, as we introduced them to our version of Celebrity Heads. It was a scream. as we proceeded to try to and fool each other. Dad's final effort - "Is it as good as Bushells ?" - ranked high in the esoteric stakes and the stewards are still out as to whether it was a legal selection.
On the fourth morning, Mum and Dad departed without hiccup, despite Mum being convinced she was about to be the caravan's first captain as Dad threatened to lunch the van into the creek during the hook-up. Her fears proved unfounded and they left us, as always, better for the experience of seeing them and sharing their company. We hoped that their day would end successfully, with the reversing of the caravan into the specifically engineered parking space at 44 Southdown Rd.
Facing another hot day (eventually 41C), we packed food and swimmers and headed for the swimming hole at Stable Arch. This was an inspired choice, to say the least and we passed the majority of the day swimming, reading ancl relaxing by a superb geological feature, in the shade of trees and with a natural swimming hole to cool off in.
In the early evening, Sue and the children hand fed the Crimson Rosellas that had been our carmpsite companions since the first day. Birds landed and fed from their heads, arms and shoulders - we really must get a film! It was a great end to a great family day and the perfect end to wonderful beginning.
Good news on the fridge, was its apparent recovery after the advice of our telephone repair man was followed.
During the course the day, Sue and I further planned the Family Christmas that was raised in discussion with Mum and Dad. Given the co-operation of the Rangers, we would be able use these facilities and stay cool, regardless of the weather. Further thought will be applied to this task.
