A Blast From the Past

Let's go back to the 1960s - 1968 to be exact (or as exact as my ageing memory allows!)
I was doing a lot of climbing and tramping back then - almost every second weekend.
By chance we met up with two other climbers - Ray Calder and Graham Boddy. Can't recall exactly where - either the CMC's Kennedy hut or the Alpine Club hut at Arthur's Pass. I think they asked to join my group on a winter traverse of Cassidy - B'limit and on to Temple. It was then or in the Waimakariri at probably Carrington hut. Whichever it was, I struck up a friendship with Ray and we climbed together for a briefish period throughout 1968-69.

Ray Calder at Carrington Hut

Ray Calder and Richard Plowright crossing the Waimakariri River

Around New Year 1968-69, Ray and I drove up to Arthurs Pass to embark on an ambitious traverse of Mt Philistine, Mt Rolleston, Mt Armstrong, and Carrington Peak - all in a 24 hour period. After a few hours sleep on the Otira Valley track we were on the summit of Mt Philistine at 0500 - a good start. Sadly half way along to Mt Rolleston the weather turned to shite and we had to withdraw. We were back at my trusty Morris Minor about noon on the Saturday. Neither of us particularly wanted to return to the city so I suggested to Ray that we drive to Ross on the West Coast to visit Chris, whose boyfriend had recently died from cancer, and see how she was faring. I knew her boyfriend, having treated him, gotten to know him well, and shared many a pint at the Valley Inn in Heathcote with him. He asked me to look after her after he'd died, so thought this would be a good start.
We didn't quite make it to Ross - a one way bridge just south of the Totara River had a bump a tad too much for my Morris which managed to stove the fan into the radiator. And so we walked the last few kilometres into Ross in our knickerbockers (my old school longs cut down by Mum) and long Norsewear socks and climbing boots. A great introduction to Chris's family!! The rest is history from the visit and the subject of maybe a future yarn. Soon after that I lost touch with Ray - work, developing relationship, marriage, family, and overseas - all got in the way.

........Until recently!!
Last year, as briefly described in a previous blog, I visited China  and Tibet on a photographic tour. I struck up a great friendship with a couple on the trip from Orari, just north of Temuka. God knows how the subject of Ray came up, but it turns out he and his wife were close friends with the Orari couple. Small world!!
And so, two weeks ago we drove the 150kms down to Orari for the weekend where we finally caught up with Ray and his wife Kath. A great catch up and reunion after an absence of nearly 48 years. The old black and white photos appeared and lots of stories told. Nothing had changed - well not much!!
A great evening over dinner. Thank you Heather and Alistair for making this happen. We were having so much fun that evening we completely forgot take any photographs.

And what about Graham Boddy? Ray had lost touch with him too. But by chance a few years ago, Chris and I were at a social dinner with our friends Doug and Rose (I used to tramp and kayak with Doug and Chris worked with Rose). Doug is the guy standing outside Greenlaw hut in a recent blog. Who should be there at this dinner but Graham, a good kayaking friend of theirs. He was asking about Ray too. Now I will soon be able to update him. Let's hope the next meeting will be less than 48 years!!

And whilst I was looking out the old photos I came across this old black and white image below.......

Stuart Hawker outside Barker Hut

Stuart Hawker was part of the group doing that tramping and climbing back in 1968. Here he is about 17 years old. Stuart is now an International Captain with Air NZ and in a few months will relinquish his left hand seat and start collecting his pension like the rest of us. My how time flies - not just 777s!!

Centennial, Heroes, and Survival

So today is 20th May 2016. What's so special about this date I hear you ask? Be patient and I will tell you - but first a story.

When I was a teenager I came across an adventure book called 'South' by Ernest Shackleton. It looked a good read, so went to bed early at 353 (no TV there to distract me then) and buried myself in the book. At 5am I finished it - totally mesmerised and spellbound by this amazing story of survival. To this day it remains the only book I have read from cover to cover without putting it down.

I speak of the Antarctic expedition lead by Ernest Shackleton and his ship Endurance, captained by Frank Worsley, a Kiwi from Akaroa, not far from home. The ship was crushed by pack ice in the Weddell Sea in the Antarctica. I'll leave you to read the story - it is well worth the effort, but in short they man-hauled several lifeboats for hundreds of miles to Elephant Island on the Antarctic Peninsula. They were on terra firma but no-one knew where they were or what had become of them - and no ships were likely to come their way.

Endurance stuck in the pack ice

The iconic image of Endurance by expedition photographer Frank Hurley

Shackleton was determined to rescue his men. One of his lifeboats was called 'The James Caird' - with the help of his carpenter this boat was modified and a mast and sails prepared. Six men, including Shackleton and Worsley, launched the boat and set sail for South Georgia, 800 miles distant, leaving the rest of the expedition members on Elephant Island, hopefully to be rescued later.

Launching the James Caird from Elephant Island

On the 18th May 1916, thanks to superb navigation skills by Worsley in terrible conditions, they arrived on the southern side of South Georgia at King Haakon Bay. At 3am on the 19th three of them - Shackleton, Worsley and Crean - started the daunting trek across the island to the nearest whaling station. At 3pm on the 20th they walked into the whaling station at Husvik near Stromness.

Frank Worsley's hand drawn map of the journey across South Georgia

The crossing had taken 36 hours - an adventure worth reading in itself. Not without its moments!

In modern times a number of climbing parties have tried to replicate the crossing - it has been done, but no-one has ever got close to the 36 hours.

The next day they returned by local boat to rescue the three members back at King Haakon Bay on the south side. Later, after several attempts to get to Elephant Island were thwarted by ice, the remainder of the expedition was rescued.

I have left huge gaps in the story, so you will have to read 'South' to complete the epic.

And so, about this date - the 20th May 2016. It is 100 years to the day since Shackleton, Worsley and Crean arrived to announce their survival to the world and commence the rescue.

How do I know this? Well by sheer coincidence, I happen to be reading 'Frank Worsley - Shackleton's Fearless Captain' by John Thomson, and I just happen to be at the arrival at Stromness. Quite the shock!

Not bad for an Akaroa boy!!

To finish off this epistle, see the advertisement that Shackleton put in the newspaper in London to attract applicants........................

Huts - 05

OMG!!
Maybe the Alzheimers really is setting in.
My big brother Barry (I think the only person who reads these blogs) has recently reminded me that I have forgotten one hut in the Waimakariri Valley within the APNP - Greenlaw hut. And following the shock of that, I also remembered that I had also forgotten Bealey Spur hut. Now believe it or not, but both these huts were amongst my favourites. How could I forget them!!

Greenlaw Hut
Greenlaw hut was situated about 50 minutes walk downstream from Carrington hut a few hundred metres up Greenlaw Creek. This hut was invariably by-passed by trampers, preferring to get to either Carrington or Anti-Crow huts - or even out to Klondyke Corner.
However I loved it - it was quiet, well appointed, light and in pretty good condition. The last time I stayed there was with Doug Rankin when we did the Three Pass trip from west to east in 1986. Sadly, not long after that the APNP saw fit to remove it as it was under-utilised.
One challenge when walking down the Waimak riverbed from Carrington to Greenlaw was to search for the old car which was driven up the Waimak from the old Bealey pub way back in the 1920s. Sadly it never quite made it to Carrington - although it did get very close - only a few kilometres short. I saw it a few  times on the true right side of the riverbed in the 1960s but never did get a photograph of it. I suspect it has gone forever now....... but you never know!

Greenlaw Hut

Bealey Spur Hut
This hut was an old musterer's hut - the oldest hut in the area built in 1925. A gentle uphill two hours from the Bealey Village at the foot of Bealey Spur will bring you to the hut door in a clearing. It has recently been renovated - now with foam mattresses rather than the old sacking bunks - but still retain the old beech supports internally. The views looking out across the Waimak are outstanding on the trek in, and at Happy Hour as short walk for two minutes with supplies will bring one to open tussocks overlooking Klondyke Corner and looking directly up the Mingha River to Mt Oates.
Beyond the hut and maybe a 40 minute gentle climb - now in open country will bring you to the top of the ridge towards Jordan Saddle. The views from here both up and down the Waimakariri River are to die for! This would have to be one of my favourite places in the mountains. I've taken my wife, my granddaughter, overseas friends, etc up here on numerous occasions. It is a great place for a day trip, an overnight trip, or a launching spot for ventures beyond - Jordan Saddle and the Avoca, Lagoon Saddle to name two.
And to think I forgot it!!

Bealey Spur Hut - Arna and John

 And just to prove the 40 minute ramble above the Bealey Spur hut is worthwhile............

Waimakariri Valley panorama from Bealey spur above the hut

Moody morning looking down the Waimakariri Valley from the spur above the hut

Cass

I cannot talk of the reopening of the Art Gallery (previous post a few minutes ago) without mentioning Rita Angus (Rita cook as she was in the 1930s).
As a Canterbury artist she was outstanding. They must have been very heady times back in the 1930s with all the known artists either living together - or coming together on a regular basis to discuss, paint, debate, etc.

Rita Angus did a number of paintings in the Cass area at Craigeburn. This is her most famous painting. The gallery reframed it not long before the earthquake - a big improvement I felt.

However she also painted this one (below) which I personally prefer - and have a print of in our guest bedroom here at home.

Art Gallery

Chris and I have promised each other we will take time out from our busy lives and do something together each weekend. Hopefully this promise will last - and so far it has. 'Tis good for the soul.

Our Christchurch Art Gallery reopened just before Christmas, after all the repairs following the February 2011 earthquake were finally completed. Sadly I was away overseas at the time. Chris was here and was the first through the door on opening day. She was keen to escort me through the new exhibitions, most of which were based around local art and artists - and appropriately so. I have to admit it was quite an emotional moment walking back through those doors after over 5 years.

'Sunset, Craigeburn' 1932 - Colin Lovell-Smith

One of my favourite Canterbury paintings is this one below "Camp in the Kowai' by Austen Deans from Peel Forest.

Anzac Day

It is an annual event for us to get up early on Anzac Day to attend the dawn service. This year was no exception. In recent years our granddaughter, Arna, being an air cadet, has marched in the parade. Sadly this year she was absent as she was away on a senior cadet course at Burnham military camp but she attended parade there.

The oldest veteran this was 103 years old - very spritely for his age -and long may he continue this way. He led the parade, driven in a WW2 Willys jeep.

In so much as I am against war, I am so grateful for what our forebears did to enable us to have the the freedom we experience today. Sadly though, the world does not learn. Memories are short!

The oldest veteran centre of attention after the service

28th Maori Battalion Jeep, complete with accessories!

Budding soldier?

Local media interviewing

Anzac Exhibition

Laurence Aberhart, a well known New Zealand photographer, has a distinctive style. He works mainly in black and white - and captures buildings, maori carvings, museum work, war memorials, plus some landscape. He is gathering together a contemporary history of New Zealand and overseas.
His work is exhibited internationally and examples of his style can be found in many galleries.

The Christchurch museum recently exhibited his war memorial series (both New Zealand and Australia) prior to this year's 100th anniversary of Anzac remembrance parades.

The Annual Tramp

It all started in 1981with four of us, all keen trampers and mountaineers, deciding to come together for an annual event - and here we are in 2016 and just completed the 36th annual jaunt into the mountains.
Four of us this year. Sadly Peter missed his first ever annual tramp due to house repairs. Graeme too - almost didn't attend due to urgent appendix surgery, but with the promise from the rest of us that we would carry his heavy gear, he managed to come along - and maintain his perfect annual attendance, now the only one with a 100% record.
This year we drove down to Lake Ohau and with the 4WD managed to almost get up the Hopkins riverbed to the Huxley River. A pretty laid back trip this year - up as far as Broderick Pass - good food, good company, happy hours, etc - and the final night spent at Ohau Lodge, a dated but very pleasant place with views to die for, excellent food, good bar, and comfy beds.
The 40th anniversary is only a few years away, we'll have to start planning something special. In the meantime a book is being prepared. Graeme has written up all the journeys and I've recorded most of them with my camera.
Below are a few images from this year's tramp.......................

Huxley River terraces from Huxley Forks hut

Swing bridge in north branch of the Huxley River

Upper Huxley Valley from Broderick hut

Main Divide south of Broderick Pass

View from Broderick hut door

Geology on the Main Divide

Mountain Beech tree on the edge of the bush - upper north branch of the Huxley River

North branch of the Huxley River

The four lads this year - Graeme, John, Adrian, Stuart

Fireside Ambience

Moody afternoon up the Hopkins Valley

Homeward Bound

Spectrum - Street Art 2016

What do Urban Jungle, Soles, Icarus, Deow, Telmo and Miel, Seth, etc have in common?
They are all street artists.

Twelve months ago, I blogged several times regarding Spectrum 2015 and the display at the YMCA plus new street art around the city.
Well, it's here again in 2016 - and if I understood correctly, this is going to be an annual event for at least the next five years and the venue at the YMCA is to be set up as a permanent home for street art displays. Great news.
Below are some of the artworks at the YMCA this year.

As well, there are new street arts on various walls in the CBD. I haven't had the chance to bike around and view these yet, but I will - and soon.

As new ones are painted, others will disappear as new buildings are erected in rebuild of the city. Maybe in another 100 years - as happened after the earthquake a couple of years ago - these new buildings will be demolished and future  generations will discover these artworks. I'll post the new ones in due course.

The first artwork you come to is a 3D display on clear perspex - ~4-5 layers of it. You zig zag your way through these layers and come to the front - to the right you see the top image (above), to the left you see the lower image (above).
But...... if you carefully align yourself, you see this (below). Very clever!!

Other artworks ..............

There is one artist (a local - maybe Canterbury) whom I feel is worthy of mentioning. His work is on display year after year. Milton Springsteen - obviously his art name, but the way he takes examples of well known art and reproduces them with a twist is clever. Three examples are scattered in the above group.