Trephina Gorge

22 July, 2007

Last weekend we went to Trephina Gorge to camp. Fun times and pretty easy going weekend really. This post is a little late but anyways.

The gang up here all stacked into a car and drove to Trephina Gorge which is just an hour and a half out of town. I secretly wanted to go climbing so I told a group from the climbing gym to come too. They didn't come out to camp but they turned up Sunday to climb. Unfortunately by then I couldn't even stand anymore because of my terrible condition that I'll speak of later.

Here are the fat campers (a term for people who camp out of cars, not our actual weight) sitting around the camp site. We had it all to ourselves. Very good indeed.

As we drove up Michelle suggested we stop for firewood as the camp site was a very popular one and flammable material would be scarce. Good idea as she was right.

And we were ready for the burnings.



Everybody then went to explore the Gorge. Naomi had the new Harry Potter book so she stayed behind and I hung around to bother her and photograph the "river" that runs into the Gorge.



Here I am looking back at the campsite from the middle of the "river." Skinny dipping later would be a hilarious affair. I suppose we could roll around in the sand.

Looking towards the Gorge and still in the middle of the "river."

Looking the other way. So calming. Would like to see it when it flows though.
Then the night came...

Sitting around the fire with our own bard Damo, who didn't recite ancient Celtic poems but played the ukulele real good like.

And it was really quit dark if I didn't use my flash.

And we began to cook our chow. Potatoes wrapped in foil, thrown into the fire, a hot plate for meat and vegetables, a billy for hot water to mix with Cointreau. Delicious.

I was the most unimaginative. A piece of chicken, a roast potato and a fresh tomato off a chopping board with the trusty lock blade. Salt and lemon and it was done. Delicious and slightly dangerous in the dark.

Then the fun began with random songs issuing from Damo and Michelle. There should be a youtube video here with a ukulele solo from Damo. If you are looking at an RSS feed (i.e. facebook peeps) you probably won't see it.



Then strange instruments of which the name escapes me appear. Sounded like we were killing small, furry animals at this stage as Michelle and Damo were playing different songs.

And of course bum jokes like this perspective trick shot that makes it look like Sarah is photographing Adrian for- Ahem... posterity.

After many drinks and laughing and trying not to fall down the pit toilet in the dark we went to bed.
I mentioned earlier my terrible condition and this is when it visits me with the greatest strength. In the tent, wrapped in a sleeping bag against the zero degree temperature (I think it may have even gone lower) my claustrophobia sets in. Thats right, the curse of the sleeping bag.

I can't sleep and have to mouth calming mantras to myself as I slowly realize I'm trapped in my sleeping bag and I'm going to die. I have to unzip and kick it off and sit upright and cough. But now I get too cold so, against my better judgment, I return to the sleeping bag, zip it back up a little at a time until the feeling returns and so the cycle begins again. No sleep for me unless I can lie spread out and snore luxuriously. I am not for the cold weather.


The next day the climbing crew show up and we set up a few top ropes in the Gorge. Victoria unaware of me photographing her.

Photo stolen from Zoe Barker's collection totally without permission.
Zoe and Dave climbing Hammock in the Shade (the name of the climb I think. Grade 17).

And then we went home.

Ahhh....