This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
SILVA. STROLL - NOVEMBER 14-16 Susan Fry
When you mention a "Silva trip”, the response is invariably a smile, no matter who you tell, so it was with some apprehension that the medium Silva trip undertook their unknown mission into the dark depths of Mt Holdsworth on Friday night. Armed with a fitsful of indecipherable grid references, the mediums decided to play it safe and crash at Holdsworth Lodge for the night, while the fit trip zipped up to Mountain House to brave the resident rats. The next morning the mediums were uy with the sun, poring over map and compass in a futile attempt at working out the planned route. This was followed by a short stroll down the Atiwhakatu River and an unwelcome encounter with the famous Tararue mud that was to plague them ali weekend. At about 0910 hours the mediums discovered a convenient little spur that would lead them to the I 801 knob cn Mt Holdsworth. They reached it at 1030 hours, and then bashed straight down through impenetrable jungle - against all odds - to reach Carrington Creek around lunchtime. After a quick bite to eat, the mediums were itching to move on, and to attempt to reach Totara Creek under the skilful navigation of Murray Hughes who, pointing a finger, said “It's roughly in this direction. Who needs a compass?" and proceeded to lead his two unsuspecting companions deeper into the uncharted wilderness - leaving them no time to draft a will or to make their final confessions! After safely reaching the 575m spet height some time later, the mediums decided that the wheel of fortune must be spinning their way. They dropped off into Totara Creek, floundering down a stream or two on the way, and then decided to camp at Totara Flats, which Murray assured Rob was a “savannah paradise“ and is on record as saying “now would we lead you to a place with sandflies?" Camp was set up among the trees and the brave expiorers built up a roaring fire and cooked their delicious meal of savoury siudge, which soon disappeared without trace. This was followed by a huge fresh pineapple to wash it all down, and some meaningful conversaticn ebout computer software, drinking habits and the use of wooden legs . as multi-purpose items e.g. firewood, knifeholder etc. The mediums then hit the pit after a friendly game of cards in the fly. A
The next morning they slept in, ignoring their resolution for a 0500 start made the night before. So, at 99900 they set out for a climb out over the infamous High Ridge (known for claiming two lives). Flaxy Knob was reached about 2% hours later, where the mediums had such a long stop that they almost became part of the vegetation, but eventually they managed to uproot themselves, and dawdled across High Ridge for the next three hours, stopping on the way to quench their thirst with another large guzzle on the faithful pineapple (wrapped in newspaper). Powell Hut was reached at 1445 hours, and the long-suffering mediums decided to Lunch here before tackling the final stage of their journey down to Holdsworth Lodge. With less than an hour to spare, Susan bade farewell to the other two at the hut, and ran blindly down, the track - fearing the wrath of Dale Parsons should they be late. _ However, all in ali, the mediums had an interesting and worthwhile: experience, learning, among other things: 1. How to find your way by pointing a finger in a general direction. 2. : How to score a great suntan. 3. 101 ways to use a 22.x 12cm pineapple. 4, Most of all, how to keep going, grit your teeth, smile in the face of adversity und pretend that: boulder in your boot is a tiny grain of sand. Those on the trip were: Rod Henry (trip chaplain), Murray Hughes {chief optimist) and Susan Fry (scribe).