“TOPAZ” REACHING THE PEAK

Two inches away from the ground, four legged baby“Topaz”- the sausage dog was sitting happily on the top of Mount Blainey accompanied by his Master, 33 other walkers and two other fully grown canine mates ”Lady” and “Saba”.  This was the Polish Bushwalkers way of celebrating the Queen’s Birthday at the Flinder’s Peak Camp Site.  We could not believe that “Topaz” the Daschhound could make to the top of this steep hill.  But he did. The day was just beautiful and when we reached the bottom of our target, we saw a tall pyramid, made of crumbled lava stones and rusty looking boulders, partially covered in prickly Lantanas, stinging trees, knotted stringy creepers and clumps of dry grass. There were no shady trees to protect us from the scorching sun, so even half dried up branches and twigs were a great help in grabbing on, when lose stones embedded  in soft soil were moving away from underneath our feet.  We carefully avoided sending stony avalanches to the walkers below us.  But even so, they did roll down occasionally.  Some of us felt uneasy about very narrow paths and our feet nearly dangling over the steep ravine. I wished we weren’t returning this way. The element of danger did not appeal to me. No one would like to slip off the path , zigzaging the mountain.  We helped one another, stretching a friendly hand, when necessary, so after an hour or so of intensive climbing in the blazing sunshine, we all found ourselves on the top of this bare, wind swept witches’ playground, just big enough for us to stand up.  Would there be enough room for the helicopter to land, if we needed one, as someone suggested and was willing to pay for it?  Would there be enough room to set up a large tent for this group? Maybe not, but the view from there, compensated for this rather energetic exercise.  Swanbank Power Station and Ipswich were on one side and Mt Tamborine and the Cunningham Gap on the other. Happy and relaxed, we took time to blow bubbles (real bubbles from a bottle), to replenish our energy resources, photograph one another and prepare for a descend. The thought of going down this same way was a bit daunting, with so little room  to put one foot beside the other, without risking one’s life. A friend suggested a prayer for a safe return, so I dutifully joined in, although in different languages, but the message was this same. There was no use talking of the  “fear of heights”, sore legs or scratches. We just had to pull ourselves together and get to the bottom of the hill.  Slower, or faster, with a few tears, many prickles caught in our clothing, basting in full sun and getting hotter by the minute, we happily progressed towards the end of our ordeal. However we felt a bit uncomfortable, when Topaz’s” Master could not see his pet. “Topaz” having been carried in a backpack part of the way eventually gained his freedom and run away with “Lady” and they could not be seen, ahead of us. As “Topaz’s” absent Mistress did not allow her pet to take part in this bushwalk, due to his tender age, it would be very inappropriate for the Master to return home with “Topaz” not only exhausted but missing.  We all felt for the welfare of the “Topaz’s” Master if the dog was harmed in any way.  The search and rescue action was taken up immediately, when the loss was reported.  We called one another over the distance,  asking to hold on to the sausage dog. A gallant walker grabbed “Topaz” into his arms and cuddled him until a happy reunion with the Master. At the campsite, people were nursing their injuries. One’s arm looked as it was sandblasted with a brick. Did his suspend himself between two big boulders and simply hang on? There were a few drops of blood and scratches on many arms, a painful stinging tree bite. The texture of my  knitted pants and my top was embellished with a thick layer of black, one inch long prickles, setting a new trend in a fabric fashion design: a three dimensional furry fabric. When I started getting a bit uncomfortable,  it didn’t take long to deprickle my clothing, but it felt harmless compared with the pain the young girl, sustained from a stinging tree. It was good to join our friends at the camp site, as not all from our group were walking. Some people joined our group just for the company and it is great to socialise in those rather unusual circumstances.

Lucky dogs had the water bottles carried for them. We had to carry our own. There were times of disagreement when they had to drink from one dish. They did not like sharing. Walking together was one thing, but sharing water and a dish, was another.  The message was clear: “The water is mine, the dish is mine, it belongs to my master and me.  Keep away and leave me alone!”. 5 kg “Topaz” our sausage dog accompanied  by 45 kg an Alsatian “Saba” and a Labrador “Lady” soon settled down under our tables. They knew what we were going to do.  Rubbing gently at someone’s foot and wagging of tails usually resulted in some nice morsels of salami, cakes, biscuits, grapes and sweet corn, as the sophisticated by now dogs progressed with their owners to the organic and vegetarian diet.  Strict meal times and dieting regimes were usually forgotten on these outings. We had to be happy sometimes, didn’t we?  Our unsupervised by now pets  entered into a finger licking competition, begging for some more of chicken drumsticks, claiming unattended food, resting on blankets and slowly getting into a second stage of enjoyment in life, a range of  physical dog exercises. What would be nicer than chasing one another’s tail, licking, pretending to fight and wrestle? Short legged teenager “Topaz” found a common language with “Lady” resting on the ground. The third dog was eliminated from the game. They worked out a simple principle: “Two is a company, three is a crowd”.  Didn’t that remind us of something we already knew? The generation gap did not bother the dogs. Pure fun and freedom were expressed in so many ways.  In consideration to our drivers,  Champagne didn’t flow this time for the Triple Birthday Party, but the colourful, home made cakes were there, dutifully recorded on a video tape. An “Obertas” representative was rather impressed with our activities and promised to bring some more walkers for the next time. He believed this walk would be helpful in “clearing the head”. Whether he meant, an everyday “head stress” would be replaced by an adrenaline flowing,?  Or the “head stress” be suppressed by a physical pain of the muscles pushed to the limit? Or by the fear of getting injured?  I did not know, but probably all these three elements would work as a “head clearing” agent.   Like our dogs, we had a very diverse group this time, three generations, different ethnic cultures, body shapes and backgrounds.  The presence of three past presidents of  “Polonia” was noticed, 4EB Radio executives, public servants, academics, and other fun loving people. Organisers Eva and Janusz Rygielski should be very happy for gathering such a diverse group in pursuit of a “head clearing” exercise, under a sunny Australian sky. For more information contact Eva Rygielski on Ph: 3288 4647.

P.S. “Brakes” in my upper legs have not still been “released”, three days after the walk as I can feel the muscles still pulling, when walking down the steps. Would this discomfort help me “clearing my head”? If so, it is recommended.

Beata Borowska.