EPIC JOURNEY

Evening Star, Issue 23237, 10 April 1939, Page 17

EPIC JOURNEY

SPIRIT OF THE PAST KERIVALE SUPPORTER'S INITIATIVE Quite a number of people are aware of the fact that about 2,400 years ago a messenger from Leonidas did some cross-country running in the marathon 'district of Greece, In some it is remembered from an even earlier period that a youth called Leander used to put up some fine swimming across the Hellespont so that he might visit the girl friend, and the exploits of Hinemoa, who reversed the procedure, are, of course, well known to flew Zealanders. Dick Turpin’s ride to York is another matter that has received a good deal of publicity in one way or another, and half a dozen similar exploits w ;, l be easily recalled by the cbgnosbenti. After all this, it is only fair that Mr J. Hughes, at the moment a visitor to the city, should have his share of the limelight. Mr -...ughes has'been busily pushing a bicycle for the past fortnight in order to watch the MerivaleAlhambra!' 1 football match' which 1 was played on Saturday. Leander was only a youth when he swam his nightly mile, Dick Turpin ! was barely out of his apprenticeship to a butcher, but Mr Hughes is in his seventieth year, and his exploits must be considered in the light of that information. He has been a keen supporter of the Merivale Club for many years, and his ambition has been to support his club at this annual match, but financial considerations had previously prevented his doing so. However, he has now retired and last pension day, March 23’, after collecting the amount duo to him, he mounted his bicycle and set out for Dunedin. The first riight he camped in a plantation at Norwood, and by the second he had reached Dromore, where he found another plantation. By Saturday he had made Ashburton, and here he stopped over Sunday. _ The next three nights he stopped in various plantations along the Toad, but on Thursday he discovered a tin hut for his accommodation with Straw for his bed. Mr Hughes retains a very pleasant memory of that straw.- Pino needles, he says, take a lot of collecting. By Friday he' 1 had made Totari and on Saturday he reached a hut belonging to Dr Trotter, where he stopped over Sunday. The next night, at the Kilmog he ran into heavy fog aijfl was drenched to the skin. However, he found shelter in the hut of a good Samaritan, and here he stopped some days to dry his clothes! Mr JhKitto, 1 who lives on the other side of the’Brown Hoiise, was his next host, and from there he came da Thursday to Dunedin. ‘ The match is played now, and there was no more enthusiastic supporter for either side than Mr Hughes i If'was the fiftieth anniversary of the game, and although his side lost, Mr Hughes maintains that his trip was well worth while. Even though he’ is limited to playing the game 'from the bank, it will readily be admitted that his spirit represents what'if tkkes to make any game worth while. The bicycle which he rode was bought by him over 26 years ago, and if it is typical of the Christchurch, bicycles, it must have had a good deal of use in that period. It is now undergoing repairs. He carried a 601 b pack and a Small quantity of food. This he supplemented along the route, by what means was not divulged, it is understood that had it not been illegal, trout would have played a large part in the menu, and' it should be emphasised that various small heaps of fish bones at Mr Hughes’s camping places were left there by local stray cats. ' ' Much of the- story-' remains to be told. Mr Hughes leaves this -week on his return trip. May the breeze blow kindly but firmly at his back. His newfound friends in Dunedin hope that this will be the forerunner of many visits from this game veteran.