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Caving
Labertouche caves have often been included
in the Club programme as a day trip. Entry to the caves requires abseiling
or a wire ladder, and it usually takes a couple of hours to get through.
Other caving trips done by the Club have included Bats Caves, near
Portland, and various lava caves in the Western District. Caves in the
Grampians have also been included in Club trips, the cave in Hollow
Mountain near Mt Stapylton being perhaps the most spectacular. Other caves
or, more strictly, over-hangs in many cases, with Aboriginal paintings,
have been included in Grampians trips, often led by Fred Halls.
The most extensive caving trip programmed
by the Club was led by Sue and Rex Filson to the Nullarbor caves. This was
a three-week trip visiting about twenty caves, many of which required a
wire ladder to enter.
Doug Pocock
Rock
climbing
While many Club members pursue this
activity, it has rarely been programmed. Mark Tischler led an introductory
trip to Mt Arapiles, but on most Club trips members restrict themselves to
rock scrambling. Some members have done the New Zealand Alpine Club course
in mountaineering and have continued on to climb in New Zealand.
Doug Pocock
Club cycling
trips
Programmed cycling trips by van and train
began in the mid-seventies, when many Bushies had bought cycles. They were
keen to get away from the suburbs and head for the countryside on good,
quiet roads with low density traffic. The trips were held on a Saturday.
Train trips were pleasant but could not be compared with the ones by van
- a real luxury. The most important advantage was that the leader was always
able to organise a wind-assisted ride, which ensures a more enjoyable and,
at times, thrilling ride. A strong wind at one's back makes cycling a real
joy.
Denis Barson was our main driver for van
trips, and the Club owes him a great deal for his help. A van cycling trip
meant much extra work, for Denis would have to remove three-quarters of
the van's seating on Friday night in preparation for loading up to 18
cycles on Saturday morning. Cycles would have to be protected with packing
material of some kind, then roped in securely. After the ride Denis would
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