As this is one of COG’s more significant events, it is
worth saying a word or two about it - and I shall, being careful
not to trespass on the role of the official chronicler, from whom we shall hear
through the normal channel. I sometimes think that a noticeable division
within the members of this club is between those who have attended a few of
these events and those who have not. They are recommended to anyone with
any enthusiasm, or even tolerance, for camping out and getting up where the
birds are.
This one was not all that well participated in, 13 persons
roughly split into the male and female, and into those actively supporting the
economy and retired layabouts. Mozzies and grass seeds were BAD, the
weather, the birds and the company were GOOD. Best of all was the lively schedule
of activities splendidly organised by Margaret McJ and Charles, who, it must be
said, had met with some difficulty in even gaining access to the site.
The key was finally obtained through a tortuous process which culminated in a
clandestine drop and pick-up, arranged at LACHLAN FERTILIZERS in order to conceal
the trail.
But, going back a bit, the timing of the whole thing of
course depended on the state of the moon. It is traditional at
Easter camp-outs to have someone comment on the moon, like: ‘Gee,
look at that full moon. That’s a co-incidence. We had a full
moon at the last Easter camp-out’. There is a reason why this must
be said EARLY in the camp-out. As we all know Easter Sunday in the
governing tradition must be the first Sunday after the first full moon after
the (southern) Autumn equinox. As the relevant f/moon was on 30 March,
this meant that by the Monday (5/4) the moon was not really all that fullish.
I shall report further on other points of interest that arose
during this excursion.
