ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

This one is a bit rough, but it was one of my early pieces ...

My first love is bushwalking! And I’ve been privileged to traverse many wild,
inaccessible regions of this country. I try and get out as much as I can
but find it progressively harder to do so.
I’ve explored the reasons for this in …


Sagging Superstructures
(c) 2005 Manfred Vijars


Each bushwalk my pack seems heavier to me
.... I've been hiking for many a year
Bowed down by the load as I travel so free
.... Oh yes, I have all the right gear.

Technology's given us bushwalking folk
.... Equipment so strong and yet light
But the pack’s webbing belt attached to this bloke
.... Must extend for me, oh, what a plight!

My boots come to view when I'm in recline
.... As I'm resting while watching my billy.
My stamina seems to go into decline
.... When traversing some land a bit hilly

As I hike I listen to bush symphonies
.... Then hunger pangs hammer away
I eventually yield to those agonies
.... And so I prepare my entree.

Now the highlight for me of a day on the track
.... It's a grand festive lunch that's extended
Then to digest your meal you just gotta lay back
.... and savour those flavours you've blended.

My al-fresco luncheons are modest of course
.... But some planning sure goes a long way
With wide choice of food from so many a source
.... Lunchtime is worth the outlay.

My bushwalking mates, barbaric and course
.... Make fun of my love for nutrition.
And say if self- discipline I don't enforce
.... Quite soon I may need a mortician

They look upon my selection 'gourmet'
.... as excessive and over the top
But the crap that they eat? Ah well s'ok;
.... It's rubbish so I wouldn't swap

Food choices were thin when I first started out
.... As a strapping young teenager then
When good hiking food was almost nought
.... So your choices need no acumen

Those bloody big cans of baked beans we would pick
.... And spaghetti of course was in keeping
Camp pie or spam was a mysterious pink brick
.... Of fat, sawdust and abattoir sweepings.

And Cans of braised steak and onions enjoyed
.... Approval although not a banquet
This product now has been re-deployed
.... So top breeders can recommend it.

I would carry fresh items like onions and bacon
.... And the odd crunchy vegetable too
So a culinary triumph would be in the making
.... Just add garlic or ginger to stew.

The mealtime concoctions of those silly blokes
.... Were designed to be wolfed down real quick
Too much of a hurry for us refined folks
.... No wonder some of them get sick

But what is the point of such effort for grub
.... When you travel away and outback?
Well, the distance you walk and the time in the scrub
.... It's reward for the comforts you lack.

My pack may be heavier, my waistline widening
.... And gauche passers-by might well laugh
But there is nothing grander while in shade reclining
.... Viewing faraway peaks while partaking of .....

... some rusks, topped with rollmops and fetta don't fill me
So Smoked salmon, gherkins all topped with Boccini
and one or two kranskis, tomatoes sundried,
of course there's chorizos and Smoked bacon sides,

Sharp cheddar, foccacia and cherry tomata
those thin shaves of parma with pesto and gouda
Stuffed olives, dolmades and Piquant salami
Grilled peppers and cold meats including pastrami …

washed down with ....

Dolchetta Cianti Tarrango Frascati
Mateus or Merlot ... NO FURTHER CAN I GO!!
Oh tell me please tell me how to reconcile
My love for the bush and my feasts so worthwhile!!
---

_________________
"If a picture paints a thousand words - that's Art!
However if a few words paint a thousand pictures - that's POETRY"
(Graham Fredriksen 1956 - 2010)

Good yarn Manfred, - I reckon it's carrying round all that tucker that's wearing you out.

My bushwalking survival kit consists of a bottle of Bundy and a couple of cans of sardines, occasionally supplemented by ...... cant tell you, - not supposed the eat the wildlife these days.

_________________
Henry P Snicklesnorter

Hi Manfred,
I agree a very good yarn.
If we should ever happen to meet up on a track somewhere I hope it's around lunch time mate.
Have you ever thought of walking the Bibbulum Track over here in the west? It's pretty long so you might need a freezer truck to support you, I've walked sections of it
Sounds like if it's Henry I happen to run into I'll have to run my own roo down, mind you I usually carry a can of coke.

Terry

Since we're on a camping theme, I thought I'd resurrect this old one ....

_________________
"If a picture paints a thousand words - that's Art!
However if a few words paint a thousand pictures - that's POETRY"
(Graham Fredriksen 1956 - 2010)

Mateus heaven forbid.

_________________
Neville
Singleton Bush Poets.

At least when you've transferred it from your pack to your stomach you've lowered your centre of gravity a bit...

Neville everyone knows you dont need an excuse to Mateus

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Campfires, good company and a few beverages under a night sky , it doesnt get any better than that

Goodonya Mannie.

I’ve said it before if ya gunna go camping ya gotta do with style.

Some Smirnoff a little to rub on ya feet at night and a lot to rub on ya tongue.

Blue cheese n bickies, anchovy stuffed olives a few pickled mussels at sundown
how could ya not like roughing it out the bush.

TTFN

_________________
I Keep Trying

aah Marty, they go well with Mateus or better still a flagon of brown muscat.

_________________
Neville
Singleton Bush Poets.

That transferral worked well Stephen, my centre of gravity is much lower now ...

Marty, stop being so primal ...

Right on the money with the Schmirnoff Davo ...

From memory, the cream sherry was more suited to the Tom Piper camp pie Nev ...

_________________
"If a picture paints a thousand words - that's Art!
However if a few words paint a thousand pictures - that's POETRY"
(Graham Fredriksen 1956 - 2010)