total received funds
Sponsor our team and help us raise money for Oxfam Australia.
We're well past our target of $3,000
Sponsor our team and help to overcome poverty and injustice.
We've raised $5,794.
We're walking 100km. Help us make a difference.
Help us reach our target of $3,000.donate to our team
our top online donors
where does the money go?
27 April
The Final Event
Well, after 8 months of training the big day finally arrived and Team 144 – Holdfast Grasshoppers were ready. We could not have asked for better weather (24C and sunny).
27 April
The Final Event ....cont
The Team met at Jells Park at 6.15 am, just before sunrise, and there was a real buzz in the air. Registration was swift and before we knew it we were tagged, numbered and lining up ready to go. The support crew, Dave and Steve, along with Barry and Steve were all there to wave us off and wish us well.
27 April
The Final Event ....cont
At 7.00 am the first of the walkers/runners passed under the Start line. The first section to CP1 (Churchill National Park) is quite easy. Gay’s Auntie Muriel met us at Tirhatuan Park to wish us well on the journey ahead. Whilst heading towards Endeavour Hills we came across Team 55 – The Dirty Dozens, whom we had met months before on a prior training walk. It was great catching up with them again. We arrived at CP1 at 9.12 am where we had a brief stop before heading on to CP2. Soon after departing CP1 you have a small hill to climb. The views at the top of the hill on the Wallaby Track are lovely. From here you walk through Lysterfield Park before arriving at CP2 (Lysterfield Lake). We arrived at 11.54 am after walking 21.5km.
27 April
The Final Event ....cont
.jpg)
We were met at Lysterfield Lake by the Support Crew and Barry. The boys had set everything out for us so that all we needed to do was sit down, stretch and eat. After a nice light meal and a short break we headed on to CP3. We wouldn’t see the boys again until CP4 (Olinda) for dinner. At Birds Land Reserve we decided to stop for 10 minutes and enjoy the shade of the tree. Gay tendered to one of her “hot” spots on her feet. Feeling refreshed we started the uphill journey towards Grants Picnic Ground. This next section is steep as you climb your way from Tecoma into Belgrave and past Puffing Billy. Once passing Puffing Billy you have one more hill to climb and then you enter the Dandenong Ranges National Park. We arrived at CP3 (Grants Picnic Ground) at 14.54 pm. We had now walked 34.8km and we were all feeling pretty good.
27 April
The Final Event ....cont
Upon leaving Grants Picnic Ground you walk through Sherbrooke Forest and then Alfred Nicholas Gardens. After leaving the gardens you hit Hackett’s Road. I’m pleased to say that the road had not suffered too much from the recent rains and it was still well graded which made ascending it easy. Before we knew it we were at the top of the hill. From the top of Hackett’s Road you have only 3.4km to go till the next CP4 where our smiling support crew would be waiting. We arrived at Olinda at 18.08 pm, just as the sun was going down. The grounds were a hive of activity. We found the boys and settled in for dinner. Thanks to Steve, Lachie, Chris, Adi and Ashleigh for meeting us at Olinda and providing some morale support. The home made soup and fresh rolls went down a treat for dinner.
27 April
The Final Event ....cont
At this point we have walked 45.2km and the girls are feeling pretty good. After a nice long break we left Olinda for CP5 (Graham Colling Reserve). As it was getting cold we all rugged up with hats, scarves, jumpers and gloves. Within half an hour of walking through the RJ Hamer Forest Arboretum we all had to strip off as we were roasting! At the bottom of the Range Gully Track we hit the HALF WAY mark!!
27 April
The Final Event ....cont
From this point you walk through the Dandenong Ranges National Park. Brony was starting to have some issues with her feet, so had to attend to them on the track. Not an easy thing to do in the dark. After climbing the hill at Track 13 we came across the filthy Melba Track. We had been told by the organisers that a rope had been put in place to help the walkers. At first we couldn’t see the rope, so we started the steep descent. However, thankfully soon after we’d started, someone from one of the other teams saw the rope, so we all gingerly crossed over the track to grab it. This section is extremely dangerous, and doing it in the dark is a nightmare. I was surrounded by girls from a different team and we were joking about what we should be doing on a Friday night and I can tell you that breaking our necks was not high on the list of things to do. With the exception of Brony, all of our team and the girls that I was walking with slipped over on the track. The only thing that prevented us from a major injury was the rope. Sadly we came across teams later on who had lost members to injury at this point. Hopefully the organisers will review this section for future walks.
27 April
The Final Event ....cont
At the bottom of the Melba Track you still have 7kms to go to CP5. Our feet were pounding from the steep descent and I knew my big toes were not going to come out of this unscathed. Claire was now having unexplained feet issues and she was in some pain (post the event she found out that her arches had collapsed). The pace of the group started to slow as tiredness and sore feet started to prevail. We arrived at CP5 (Graham Colling Reserve) at 23.24 pm. At this point many teams decide to stop for an extended break. We had decided that unless we needed too, we would just have a break to change socks, check feet, eat etc and then we would keep going. We departed Graham Colling reserve at 00.38 am on Saturday morning with still 40kms to go. The next section of the track is on the Warburton Trail, so it is flat, straight and boring. Once we had all loosened up from our break Brony found that she felt much better. Her feet were still sore, but she wasn’t as dejected. The group trudged along the Warburton Trail. Gay and Brony put in their IPODs to pass the time away (and to distract them from any ailments) and Claire and I played eye spy.
27 April
The Final Event ....cont
We arrived at Woori Yallock at 3.41 am and we were all feeling the affects of the “witching” hour. We had some more soup and checked on our feet. We were relatively lucky with the weather, it was cool and damp, but it wasn’t foggy and cold. We all wrapped ourselves up in our blankets and tried to get 10mins shut eye. One of our fellow members was feeling a little off colour, which was a concern to all as we were worried about hydration issues etc. After an extended stop at Woori Yallock we were all ready to move on . (It was now 5.40 am). As well as this event being tough on competitors physically it is also tough on everyone mentally. In reflection leaving CP5 was a pivotal point. It felt like anyone of us could have pulled the pin, due to tiredness, soreness or just wanting it to be over. But we were all determined to keep going.
27 April
The Final Event ....cont
The next section was going to be hard as it was long (20.4km) and tedious. From Woori Yallock you head along the Warburton Track through Launching Place, and then you go off through to the Don Valley along the O’Shannassy Aqueduct to Warburton. The other girls put in their IPODs to help get them through the next section. I spent my time chatting and walking with other teams. You meet some amazing people on the trail. Just prior to departing the Warburton Track we came across Michael and Alex. These boys had set up a stall of tea, coffee, cordial and seats for trailwalkers. It was free to anyone who wanted to stop! Thanks boys, the break and tea was a godsend.
27 April
The Final Event ....cont
The O’Shannassy Aqueduct seems to go on and on and on. Just when you thought you were getting close to Dee Park (a rest spot) you found that it wasn’t the case. The team were hurting but were still walking (a good sign)! We got to Dee Park and had a quick toilet stop and something to eat whilst enjoying the views over the valley. We still had 5.4kms to go until we got to CP7, so on we went. About 1km from CP7 we came across a group of girls who were serving lemon water to trailwalkers – it is small tokens such as these that really make an impact (thanks girls). We arrived at CP7 (Warburton Golf Club) at 11.17 am. It was great to see the boys waiting for us with a well needed smile. After having something to eat and a well needed rest we knew that we had almost made it. We only had 7kms to go. Although they are a hard 7kms the worst was really behind us.
27 April
The Final Event ....cont
At 12.34 pm we left the boys for the last time, knowing that the next time we saw them it would be at the Finish Line! We traversed the Backstairs Track in the quickest time ever. We then followed the track throughout the Yarra State Forest. We talked and joked with fellow walkers. Finally we were at the bottom of Mt Little Joe. This is the last hill to traverse. We all walked up it at our own pace. At the top of this section you have 5kms to go! We all started the last descent. At this point the smiles were starting to surface on everyone’s faces as they knew the finish line was not that far away.
27 April
The Final Event ....cont
After 100km, a time of 31 hours and 54 minutes, one hundred and forty-two thousand and fourteen (142,014) steps, the Holdfast Grasshoppers crossed the Finish Line at Wesburn Park. We came 510th out of 729 teams that started. Only 422 (58%) of full teams of four crossed the finish line. Twenty-two full teams retired. When you look at these numbers you realise that it is a huge effort to get all four members across the line and one that we are all proud off. Dave, Steve and Barry met us with hugs and kisses at the finish line. It is a very emotional experience crossing that line and a few tears were shed. Once we’d had a few photos taken we went off to enjoy a glass of cold bubbles and some nibbles under a tree. Ahh, it tasted great! Thanks to Steve and Dave for looking after us on the track. We couldn’t have done it without your support during the event. Thanks to Barry for taking some great photos during the event. To those who helped out with looking after Lachie during training and the event – thank you.
27 April
The Final Event ....cont
Thanks to all our friends who sent text messages throughout the event. The conundrums, statistical information and messages of inspiration helped to keep us going. Thank you to the organisers of Oxfam. The event ran very smoothly. A big thank you to the amazing volunteers who you meet along the track who cracked jokes, ensured we got across roads safely and who just offered smiles at ridiculous times of the morning. To everyone who sponsored our team, thanks. I can’t wait to see the final tally once all our funds hit the website. There is talk about doing it again in 2011! Stay tuned to see who is brave (or is that stupid) enough to return to the track! Hope you’ve enjoyed following our progress over the past 8 months as much as we’ve enjoyed taking the challenge.
23 April
Sponsorship Book
Well the sponsorship books have been collected and sent back to Oxfam. All up we collected $755 in cash/cheques. I can’t wait to see that hit our website total!
23 April
Intimo Fundraiser
Claire held a post-event Intimo Party Fundraiser last night. This was a great opportunity for the Team to get together (where we didn’t have to walk) and allowed us to chat to others about our success.
23 April
Intimo Fundraiser... cont
We raised $130 from the Raffle. Congratulations to the girls who won and thanks to everyone who donated the following gifts to the raffle: • $90 Intimo voucher; • $80 Intimo voucher; • 1/2 price Intimo garment; • Prancing Horse Estate Pinot Noir wine (x2 prizes) – thanks Tony for this generous donation; • 2 movie tickets. Dorothea our Intimo Consultant also agreed to donate 10% of sales from her commission to the cause, an extremely generous gesture. We are still waiting for the final figure of donations from the sale, but believe it will be around $130. Thanks to everyone who purchased something on the night.
23 April
We Made It!
I’m pleased to report that Team 144 – Holdfast Grasshopper made it across the Finish Line at Wesburn Park on Saturday 17 April at 2.54 pm. A total time of 31 hours and 54 minutes. Stay tuned for the final blog on the adventure of this epic walk.
15 April
One More Sleep!
All our bags are packed, we’re ready to go …… well, after one more sleep we will be ready to go. The last minute preparations are done, the food is cooked (and we will be eating well), we’ve sorted out our tubs, now all we need is for tomorrow to arrive.
15 April
One More Sleep! ... cont
We’ve Committed, Endured and now it is time to Achieve! Good luck to all the Teams on the Trail tomorrow, and thanks in advance to all the support crews and volunteers who give up their time so freely to ensure this event can go ahead.
11 April
It’s Almost Time!!
With less than a week to the Big Walk, it is great to see the fundraising total inching its way towards $5,000, which is well above what we had pledged to raise. Thank you to everyone who has so far contributed towards this fantastic total. Your generosity is overwhelming. Whether you’ve donated through direct sponsorship, or by way of buying wine, Tupperware or chocolates, it has all helped. Team members and Support Crew are currently busy preparing for the walk next week ensuring that they have everything required to make it a successful journey. From Friday, you can follow our progress on line via Team Tracker to see how far we are from the finish line. I can almost taste the glass of champagne that awaits us at the end. Don’t forget to read the final Blog on how we faired and if you want to donate towards our Team, you’ve still got time.
09 April
Tupperware Fundraiser
To help boost the fundraising a little more we decided to hold a Tuppeware Party. I mean to say, you can never have too much Tupperware, can you! Thankfully a lot of our friends also agreed with this sentiment, which meant we’d have a successful night. For those that attended the party we also held a Raffle. First prize was a Tupperware Hamper donated by Kylie Charlton (Tupperware Consultant); second prize was movie tickets; third prize a bottle of champagne and fourth prize a bottle of red wine. There were some happy attendees at the end of the night when their tickets were drawn out! A good night was had by all. We raised $325.00 which was a combination of sales and the raffle. Thanks to everyone who bought something.
02 April
Wine Fundraiser - Jackswine.com.au
Who would have thought that selling wine would be the easiest way to raise funds for such a worthy cause After a successful fundraiser back in 2009, we decided to try our luck again. We agreed that we needed to sell at least 6 dozen cases to make it worthwhile. Well, 22 dozen cases later, we made $682 from our wine sale, and with a very generous donation from jackswine.com.au the total became a whopping $800.00. Thanks to Jack, Peter and the Team from jackswine.com.au for once again assisting us with this fundraiser. Also a big thank you to everyone who bought wine. Overall we sold 50 dozen cases of wine – not a bad effort!
24 March
Saturday 20 March 2010
The weather today will be gorgeous for the Two Bays walk. Thanks to Troy for looking after Lachie again, and to Barry for driving us to Cape Schanck and taking some group photos. We left Cape Schanck light house car park at 2.55 pm. After having a brief discussion with fellow Trailwalkers (who confirmed we were on the right track for the Two Bays walk) we headed off for a 26km walk.
24 March
Saturday 20 March 2010.... cont
Soon after departing Cape Schanck you get some great vistas of Bass Strait. It was a perfect backdrop for the first section of the walk. The first 5kms was easy walking and we covered it in under 1 hour. Barry met us near Flinders Road to take some more photos whilst we had our first break. From here you depart from the coast and walk through Greens Bush. We stopped for a short break at the other side of Greens Bush (at Limestone Road), where we stopped last week before deciding to not walk on to Cape Schanck.
24 March
Saturday 20 March 2010.... cont
Along Hyslops Road we came across the Footsloggers who were out for a leisurely 40km walk. It is always good to speak with fellow Trailwalkers and to share in each others experiences. After a group photo we wished each other well and headed off in our respective directions.
24 March
Saturday 20 March 2010.... cont
Once back in suburbia we come across a small playground, which I wasn’t allowed to play in last week! But as it was getting close to dusk we had to stop to get out our torches and this was a perfect spot to do it. So needless to say I got have a play this time. After leaving the playground you head towards Arthurs Seat National Park. From here we climb the steep hill leading from McClarens Dam. It’s a great feeling when you can walk up a hill and feel good at the top! The sun was starting to set. We walked for about 1 hour in the dark before arriving at our final destination (Latrobe car park) at 8.30 pm. The paparazzi (aka Barry) met us and afer a few more pictures he drove us back to Rye where Steve had prepared risotto for us (thanks Steve it was great).
24 March
Saturday 20 March 2010.... cont
Today’s walk was the last we would be doing as a group. It was great to finish our final group training walk on a high. After 8 months of training in sometimes extreme weather conditions, over different terrain, and over varying distances I am pleased to report that Team 144 are ready. Roll on Friday 16 April 2010! Thanks again for everyone’s support in getting us to this spot. To those who drove us; fed us; looked after Lachie and put up with disrupted weekends, we say thank you. To those who have sponsored us by way of donations or buying wine, chocolate, Tupperware etc, thanks. You have helped us not only meet our pledged amounts but exceeded it!
16 March
Saturday 13 March 2010
Today we have headed back to the Peninsula for our next training walk. We planned to do the Two Bays Walk from Dromana to Cape Schanck (26km). Thanks Barry for dropping us off at the Latrobe Parade Carpark.
16 March
Saturday 13 March 2010.... cont
We departed the carpark at 2.55 pm in glorious sunshine. From the carpark you head up hill through Arthurs Seat State Park. The view across the Bay was spectacular. The water was very glassy. At the top of the hill you take the track that descends to McLarens Dam. On our way down the hill we noticed a fire off in the distance. So we rang Steve and had him check the relevant websites to ensure that we were not going to be walking in to any danger later on. He gave us the all clear so we continued walking. We stopped at the Dam for a break. The last time we were here the weather conditions were considerably different. So it was nice to be able to sit in the shade and enjoy the surrounds for a few moments.
16 March
Saturday 13 March 2010.... cont
After you leave Arthurs Seat State Park you walk through residential areas and parkland around Rosebud South. Whilst walking through Greens Bush towards Browns Road we noticed that the smoke we had seen earlier now appeared to be in direct line with where we were walking. We had also started to notice ash from the fire. So another call was made to Steve. Steve reported back that the fire was contained and that it was on the other side of the Mornington Peninsula National Park to where we would be walking. Just before Limestone Road, we decided it was better to turn around and head back towards Dromana. Although the fire was not directly where we were walking the only thing between us and the fire was bush.
16 March
Saturday 13 March 2010.... cont
The good thing about returning from where we came, meant we got to walk up all the hills we’d just walked down! Brony decided to take us back a slightly different way. When we got to Waterfall Gully Road, instead of turning towards McLarens Dam we kept going along the road. At the top of the road we joined the Kings Fall Track and sat for another break at the Waterfall Lookout. It was a gorgeous evening to sit at the Lookout. The sun was due to go down so we all ensured our lights were handy.
16 March
Saturday 13 March 2010.... cont
From here it was literally all down hill in the dark. Rather than being picked up at the Latrobe Parade Carpark, Brony took us all the way down to the beach, where we walked a little further to MacCrae. Steve picked us up at 9.00 pm. Although the walk wasn’t as planned, we still managed to do 25km and took in more hills than expected. Thanks Steve and Troy for looking after Lachie throughout the day. Weather and fires permitting, we are planning to do the Two Bays walk next week!
04 March
Sunday 28 February 2010
Today we decided to do a 20km stroll at Wilson’s Promontory! Brony and Steve had spent the prior week camping down the Prom and we thought it would be a good place to do our next training walk. Gay was unable to join us due to other commitments. Claire and Lachie arrived at the Prom on Saturday afternoon and camped overnight with Brony and Steve. By all accounts Lachie enjoyed sleeping in a tent! I decided to spend the night in luxury and stayed with friends in Fish Creek! We met at 8.00 am at Telegraph Saddle Car park. We decided to do a round trip into Sealers Cove and back which was 20km.
04 March
Sunday 28 February 2010.... cont
From the car park the first 3 kms have you winding your way up the hill towards Windy Saddle (and it lived up to its name). After that you have about a 5km walk downhill. It was good to see that the sections burnt from last years fires were recovering well. The scenery was lovely. Once you get to the bottom of the hill you have approximately 2 km of easy walking along the boardwalks. The boardwalk takes you to the beach at Sealers Cove. We walked along the beach and got as far as the river crossing. We decided to have a break here where we sat for an hour enjoying the views and watching the various hikers cross the river.
04 March
Sunday 28 February 2010.... cont
Just prior to leaving we had a very short sun shower. Looking at the rain clouds over the nearby mountains we thought we were about to get drenched so we got our coats ready. However, it wasn’t to be today and we thankfully stayed dried for the duration of the walk. The walk back to Telegraph Saddle was uneventful. We arrived back at the car park at 1.00 pm. We were very pleased with our walking pace of 5km per hour (with the 1 hour lunch break). We headed back to Steve and Brony’s campsite where Steve made us a great cuppa and toasted sandwich (thanks Steve).
17 February
Sunday 14 February 2010
Today it was Brony’s turn to have the day off (that is, if you can call working and being on your feet for 8+ hours, a day off)! The plan for today was to once again walk from Grants Picnic Ground (CP3) and have us finish at Clegg Road, approx 2kms prior to CP5. (A total distance of 23km.) Gay, Claire and I departed Grant’s Picnic Ground at 8.35 am in the drizzle. There was a potential for storms later that day, so we were hoping they would hold off until we were off the mountain. It was very wet and muddy underfoot. The walk through Sherbrooke Forest was very picturesque and smelt great due to the rain. We stopped for a quick snack in the Alfred Nicholas Gardens, but due to the mozzies we didn’t stay long. Given the recent rain we were dreading the next section, which is the infamous Hackett’s Road, as the last time we walked it we found it extremely difficult to climb due to the slippery surface.
17 February
Sunday 14 February 2010.... cont
Well, you could hardly wipe the smiles off our face when we got to Hackett’s Road. The road had been graded and the huge wheel ruts had been filled in. Hackett’s Road was a breeze (is the training paying off!). Fingers crossed the road is maintained until after the main walk. We arrived at Olinda at 11.10 am where we sat and had our lunch break. By now it had stopped drizzling. After a 15 minute break we headed off to tackle the next section, which is mainly downhill. The route takes you through the RJ Hammer Forest Arboretum. We managed to navigate this downhill section with no mishaps. Due to the big storms last week there were a number of trees and branches on the track which we had to clamber over or around. We were definitely grateful that today wasn’t windy. By now the sun had broken through the cloud and the walking conditions were very favourable.
17 February
Sunday 14 February 2010.... cont
We were getting close to the Melba Track which was the next section we were dreading. The Melba Track is extremely steep and very slippery under foot. On the actual walk we will be doing this section in the dark, which is why we had decided to traverse it again to help us prepare for it. Thankfully we all got down the hill in one piece although our toes and knees were throbbing!! The good news is, once you are at the bottom of this steep section the remainder of the trail walk (until Mount Little Joe) is basically flat and you are over half way there! We arrived at COG’s, the coffee shop at the beginning of the Warburton Trail at 1.50 pm where Dave was waiting to take us back to the cars (thanks Dave). After a stretch we went back to Grant’s where we of course indulged in Deavonshire Tea. Thanks also to Chris for getting up extremely early this morning so you could look after Lachie whilst Claire was out walking.
08 February
Friday 5 February 2010
Today saw Claire, Brony and I walk from Oakleigh to the City. Gay was sadly at work! It was much cooler today and for most of the walk we had light drizzle. We departed Oakleigh at 10.10 am. We meandered our way down to the Malvern Golf Course, where we picked up the bike trail which leads you in to the city. The bike trail leads you through the suburbs of Glen Iris, Malvern, Kooyong (where you walk on a suspension bridge under the Monash Freeway), Toorak, Richmond (where the girls tried out their skills at rock climbing!), South Yarra, Melbourne Park, with us eventually finishing at Federation Square.
08 February
Friday 5 February 2010 ... cont
The walk was approximately 18kms and we completed it in 3 hours at 1.10 pm! We finished with lunch at Federation Square before making our way back home on the train.
02 February
Sunday 31 January 2010
The last time we walked up Mt Little Joe, Gay was unable to make it past the Backstairs Track due to health issues. Today’s walk was to ensure that Gay became familiar with Mt Little Joe! The final leg CP7 (Warburton Golf Course) to the Finish (Wesburn Park) is only 7km so we decided that we should start from Dee Park which would make the walk 12km. Unfortunately Claire was unable to join us today. Gay, Brony and I met at Dee Park and departed at 10.50 am along the O’Shannassy Aqueduct for approximately 4km. It was lovely walking through here as we were shaded from the heat. You eventually depart the Aqueduct and meander through the streets of Warburton to the CP7.
02 February
Sunday 31 January 2010 .... cont
We arrived at the Warburton Golf Course at 11.50 am where we enjoyed a 15 minute break. By now it was very hot. Temperatures ended up reaching 37C before the cool change later in the day (not that we benefited from the change)! We departed the Golf Course at 12.05 pm for the final section (7km and two hills)! The first hill you come across is the Backstairs Track. Both times we have found this section to be quite stifling, with little breeze to cool us down. We were very pleased to reach the top of the Backstairs Track where we sat for a few minutes to recharge the batteries. The Golf Course to the top of the fire track is only 1.5km but on a hot day in stifling conditions it felt a lot longer. The next section is reasonably easy walking however there is very little shade to protect you from the sun. The views over the Yarra State Forest are great and help to keep your mind off how you are feeling.
02 February
Sunday 31 January 2010 .... cont
At about the 3.5km mark (in this section), I have to admit that I became geographically embarrassed. This sadly resulted in us taking the right track instead of the left track! For the next 1.5km we walked down a very steep hill. This wasn’t surprising as we knew we had to traverse downhill before we hit Mt Little Joe. However, what was disturbing was that when we reached the bottom we realized we weren’t at the right point!! After pouring over the map to decide if we could meet up with the other track (without going back up hill) we decided that it was better to play it safe and re-climb the hill rather than get lost in the forest! We love hills, but not on a 37C day! So after refueling we started on the long track back up the hill. We tried to see the light side of things by telling ourselves that the more hills we walk the better we would be, but at this stage of the walk it was a little disheartening to know that once we reached the top of this hill, we still had to walk down another hill and then up Mt Little Joe! Thankfully the walk up the hill felt easier than the walk down. At the top we took the left track and hoped we were now on course again! It was very pleasing to see the gate at the bottom of Mt Little Joe.
02 February
Sunday 31 January 2010 .... cont
After reloading on barley sugars and jelly beans, we started the trek upwards. As the map book states, it is gentle becoming challenging! The first section was a breeze! The challenging section took us a little while to climb but we eventually made it to the top. We could now see Wesburn Park in the distance. It is literally downhill from here! Brony called Steve to ensure he was there to meet us at the end with cold drinks! We got to the bottom at 2.45 pm and were very happy to see Steve, who greeted us with an air conditioned car and cold drinks. The 12kms became 15km and it took us 4 hours (about 1 hour longer than our original plan). Considering the extreme heat, and the additional hill that we had not factored in to our psyche, I think we did very well. Hopefully this walk will hold us in good stead. At least when we hit Mt Little Joe for the event it will seem shorter, as we won’t be adding in the additional hill!
18 January
Thursday 14 January 2010
Happy New Year! Firstly, I would like to pass on our thoughts and prayers for those in Haiti. Oxfam have 100 staff on-the-ground supporting rescue efforts, assessing the damage and providing safe water and shelter material for the people who have lost their homes. To read more about Oxfam’s efforts or to donate to the Haiti appeal, follow the link below: http://www.oxfam.org.au/explore/conflict-and-natural-disasters/current-emergencies/major-earthquake-in-haiti
18 January
Thursday 14 January 2010.... cont
With only 13 weeks till the big event, the Team are back in training. After today’s walk we will have trained on 100% of the Trail. Not a bad effort. Talking of efforts, with the continued generosity of sponsors, we have raised $2,400 to date. Today we are walking from Jells Park (the start) to CP3 (Grants Picnic Ground). This ensured we would get a few hills in our training session as well as allow us to enjoy Devonshire Tea at the end! After the earlier heat wave this week we were pleased that today was going to be 24C. Steve and Chris (Brony and Claire’s mum) waved us off from Jells Park at 8.40 am. Thanks Adi for again looking after Lachie today. Without the continued support of family these training walks would not happen. The first section is very flat as we wandered through Wheelers Hill, Scoresby, Mulgrave, Endeavour Hills to Churchill National Park. It was great to see how well Churchill National Park was recovering from the fires of 2009.
18 January
Thursday 14 January 2010.... cont
Whilst we were walking to CP1, there were two gentlemen about ½ km in front who appeared to be in training. We finally caught up with them at CP1 where we enquired as to whether they were involved in the Trailwalk or just out for a stroll. Dennis and Brian confirmed they were indeed in training. They form part of Team 57 (Dirty Dozen). These guys are inspiring and I want to be like that when I grow up. Dennis is 60 and this is his 12th Trailwalk. Brian is 68 and this is his first walk. We could all learn a thing or two from them. After sharing morning tea with our new friends we all headed off to CP2 (Lysterfield Lake) together. The next section of the trail starts to meander uphill. At the top of Lysterfield Hills Track you have an awesome view and on a clear day (like today) you can see out to the Peninsula. At this point we parted company as the boys headed off in front. From here it is mostly downhill or flat. We arrived at CP2 at 12.40 pm and stopped for lunch, checked bandages before heading off to CP3.
18 January
Thursday 14 January 2010.... cont
This section is familiar to the group as we have walked it twice before. Some members of the group were feeling a little fatigued. This was mainly due to the Christmas/New Year break where it is difficult to find time to train (or in Brony’s case the fact that she’d just worked 6 days straight on here feet and was spending her one day off walking!). We were pleased to see Dennis and Brian at Bird’s Land Reserve. We shared afternoon tea together before embarking on the hills that lead you to Belgrave! At Belgrave we waved Dennis and Brian farewell as their day had ended. We continued on for the last 3kms to Grants Picnic Ground. After climbing the last hill (Old Monbulk Hill Road) we had 2.2km of easy walking to the finish. We completed the 34.8km at 4.20 pm. The group enjoyed coffee and Devonshire Tea. Steve picked us up and drove us back to our cars.
22 December
Merry Christmas
Thanks again to everyone who has sponsored the group so far through donations, wine orders (feedback to date has been very positive about the wine!) and eating chocolate! With your support we have raised 60% of our pledged amount. On behalf of the Holdfast Grasshoppers I’d like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe 2010. Don’t forget to follow our progress in 2010 as we work towards the big 100km walk in April.
07 December
Thank You!
Firstly, thank you to Jacks Wine (www.jackswine.com) for assisting us with the wine fundraiser. When we first discussed selling wine as a fundraiser I thought if we sold 10 dozen bottles I’d be happy! Who would have thought we would have sold 28 dozen! Thank you to everyone who bought the wines. Collectively we raised $860.00 and Jack kindly rounded it up to a neat $900.00. Our total to date is looking great. With the second round of chocolates almost sold we hope to reach $2,000 before Christmas. We would also like to acknowledge Rye RSL who has just donated $100.00 to our Team (as they are paying by cheque you won’t see their name on the website). Thanks again to all of you who have supported us to date. To have raised over half of our pledged amount with 4 months to go is wonderful. Who knows, maybe with a few more fundraising activities in 2010 we might surpass that figure.
29 November
Saturday 21 November 2009
Today we have decided to add some variety to our walk and have headed down to the Peninsula, where Brony has agreed to lead the group this week. We are combining this training walk with a night walk to check out our headlamps and to see how everyone copes walking at night. Originally we had planned to walk 35km, but at the last minute we decided to make it a longer walk and we set the bar at 43km! Forecast for the afternoon/evening was mild with rain! Thanks to Shelley and Troy for looking after Lachie – who by all accounts had a wonderful time. Thanks also to Annex (a local group from the Peninsula) for donating hats to the Team to wear. At 3.05 pm, after the group photo (courtesy Barry) we headed off from Brony’s house in Rye. After traversing a few small hills we got to the foreshore in Rye and we headed off towards Arthurs Seat. The first 13km is flat and walking along the foreshore was very pleasant. We stopped for a short bite to eat near Rosebud. Little did we know it would be the last time for many hours before we would sit down again!
29 November
Saturday 21 November 2009 .... cont
About 5.00 pm I received a message from Dave letting us know that we might get wet in the next hour or so (on reflection, it was a bit of an understatement). As it had been trying to rain for the past ½ hour we heeded the warning and put on our raincoats. Although, given how warm we were feeling we weren’t sure it was a good idea as the coats acted like a sauna! As we were nearing Dromana the heavens opened! We were in for a wet evening.
29 November
Saturday 21 November 2009 .... cont
Whilst walking in the rain we were all pondering what we would normally be doing on a Saturday night and wondering who in their right minds would be walking 43km in the rain! But we are lucky – we have a choice. We know that at the end of the walk we can have a warm shower, put on dry clothes and sit in comfort. Whereas the people/communities we are raising funds for don’t have a choice. It is a sobering thought! So when things get a little tough it is good to remember those less fortunate than you. By the time we got to the top of the Arthurs Seat carpark we were drenched, but our spirits were still high. The next section is hilly with uneven steps, which makes it difficult to walk. Once we got to the top Brony led us on two walks (approx 17km). The first walk was to the Dam. At this point it had actually stopped raining! To get to the Dam you have to walk downhill (I hate giving up the high ground). At the bottom of the Dam we had another bite to eat (it is amazing how good a vegemite and cheese sandwich can taste). As the ground was wet we had to eat standing up, which meant we couldn’t give our legs a rest. Whilst it wasn’t raining, we pulled on dry (or semi-dry) jumpers, beanies and gloves and also ensured our torches were handy as nighttime was looming.
29 November
Saturday 21 November 2009 .... cont
After a quick break we headed back up the steep hill! From here we did the Kings Fall Track. It was a great walk and the wild flowers were in full bloom. We stopped at the lookout but there was no waterfall. However, Brony’s socks held enough water to compensate for the lack of water flowing from the waterfall! For the past few hours we had been talking about our shoes squelching (not a nice feeling). At Kings Fall lookout Brony decided to take her shoes off and wring her socks out – it was amazing how much water her socks held. Claire took one shoe off, but her socks hadn’t absorbed as much water so didn’t bother with the other shoe. Gay and I decided against taking our shoes off as we were concerned we wouldn’t get them back on again! We finished the rest of this walk in dusk, but due to the low cloud it was quite foggy. Brony at least got to try the fog light feature on her headlamp We got to the main clearing at the top of Arthurs Seat just as nighttime fell.
29 November
Saturday 21 November 2009 .... cont
With torches and headlights on we traversed the last section of the hill and got down safely. This section was great training as the terrain was very similar to the track from Olinda (which we will no doubt be traversing in the dark come the actual walk). Once at the foreshore we sat briefly (first time since Rosebud) and made “good night” calls home before heading off for the last section of the walk home! The rain came again! By now we had been walking over 6 hours and it was getting late. It is amazing how slow your body/mind reacts. As we were walking along the foreshore bike paths there were numerous puddles had appeared. Those in front were on puddle watch. We would yell that a puddle was coming up and invariably you’d hear a splash, ohhh soon afterwards! Although you knew there was a puddle, it was sometimes hard to get the brain and then the body to react quick enough to move! It was quite funny. As we were getting closer to Rye we agreed that a rest, toilet stop and a coffee were needed. Where do you go at 11.00 pm at night, but McDonalds! The photo of Gay and I at McDonalds is a rare site, as normally neither of us would be seen dead there! However, at times like this even McDonalds is inviting and we could finally sit down! After a short break we headed off for the last 3km!
29 November
Saturday 21 November 2009 .... cont
We got safely back to Brony’s at 12.35 am (Sunday morning). The statistics are as follows: 43km, 9 ½ hours walking, averaged 4.5 km/hr, 57,335 steps! Not bad, even if I do say so myself. We poured Gay in to her car and waved her good bye. The rest of us ripped off our shoes and headed for a warm shower. Once we had all changed and were warm and dry we sat and enjoyed a glass (or two) of wine/champagne! Amazingly, after being extremely worried how our feet would look after being in wet shoes for most of the walk, I am pleased to report that overall our feet came through it okay. Walking in extreme conditions is great training and we all took away handy tips of what to do next time we are in this situation. We all pulled up well the next day and Brony even went to work (after only 2 hours sleep) and stood on her feet for 7 hours! The Team deserve a pat on the back for their efforts. With 4 months to go to the big walk we are well on our way to success. This was the last planned group walk for 2009. Although, be rest assured, we will all still be training separately between now and when we meet in January 2010.
13 November
Sunday 8 November 2009
Today the group has decided to walk from CP6 (Woori Yallock Primary School) to the Finish (Wesburn Park via Warburton). At the end of this walk we would have successfully trained on 80% of the trail. The day was forecast to be hot, so the Team decided to meet at 7.30 am. A big thank you to Chris (Brony and Claire’s mum), for agreeing to get up so early so she could look after Claire’s son Lachie. Thanks also to Steve who had agreed to play Support Crew for the day. We left Claire’s house just before 8.00 am and got to Woori Yallock at 8.30 am. After the obligatory photograph we were off and back on the Warburton Trail! This year Oxfam have changed this section of the walk. After traversing the Warburton Trail for 5km, at Don’s Road you deviate off the trail and through the Yarra Ranges National Park, through the Don Valley (which is very picturesque). At the end of Ferngully Road, there is a short sharp incline (300m) before you reach the O’Shannassy Aqueduct. The next 10km along the Aqueduct was lovely with the sounds of the stream, the birdlife and the great views along the valley.
13 November
Sunday 8 November 2009 .... cont
We stopped for a breather and something to eat at a picnic area which overlooked the mountain range and Brony kindly pointed out Mt Little Joe – which is the hill we still had to traverse later in the day! After a nice rest we continued our walk to the Warburton Golf Course (CP7), where we sat to catch our breath before heading on. By this stage it was really warm, 32C+ and I was grateful that there was a tap where we could fill up our water bottles. CP7 (Warburton Golf Course) to Finish (Wesburn Park) is only 7km. Although it is not far, it is by far the hardest section, especially when you consider that by this stage you would have walked 93km! Although we were only walking 27.4km today, due to the heat the body almost felt as though it had walked the full distance. The group headed off knowing that Mt Little Joe awaited them. As this was the third time I had traversed Mt Little Joe, I knew what was ahead, so wasn’t daunted. Although the others were a little apprehensive about what lay ahead.
13 November
Sunday 8 November 2009 .... cont
Before you hit Mt Little Joe, you have to traverse the Backstairs Track. This is a narrow track that is up hill for approximately 1.5km. The girls hoped that this was the start of Mt Little Joe, but alas it was just a precursor. The heat was very oppressive through this section as there was no breeze. Gay was starting to feel the effects of the heat (and was starting to turn rather pale). She managed to get to the top of the track but was a little unsteady. This is where the support crew come in. No sooner had we got to the top of the track, Steve called to see how we were going and how long we’d be. We still had a good 1 ½ hours walk to go and Mt Little Joe was beckoning us. Gay made a courageous decision at this point and asked Steve to pick her up. Thankfully we were at a spot where this was possible. Steve picked Gay up 20 minutes later and whisked her off to lay by the river for an hour. To pull out is always a hard call to make as you don’t want to let the team down. But in these instances it is a good call to make as these walks are meant to be fun, and if for some reason you are not feeling right, you should never walk on to the detriment of your own health. Brony, Claire and I decided to continue on. The next few kms is easy going and then you start to head downhill. Always a bad sign as you never want to give up the high ground!
13 November
Sunday 8 November 2009 .... cont
At the bottom of Mt Little Joe, we pulled out our secret weapon which was going to get us up the hill. Chuppa-Chups! The description in the Trail book always makes me laugh as it states “follow this path around to left and then shortly after begin to climb 900m (gentle becoming challenging)”. The good thing is, you know it is only 900m, but with the heat beating on your backs and after a number of hours of walking, that 900m can sometimes go for ever. We took it slowly and rested at each flat point under the trees to get our breath. At the last rest point I knew we didn’t have much further to go, but the others were not aware of that and all they could see was that the hill kept continuing. The smiles on their faces was precious when they got to the next rest point and I told them we didn’t have to go any further up the hill. I can report that the girls got up the hill with no real issues and made lots of mental notes to tell Gay at the other end. The rest of it is literally downhill, and we got to the Finish at 3.55 pm (7hrs 20 mins after we’d set off that morning). Brony commented that it was the longest 7km she’d ever walked. Steve and Gay met us at the other end with cold drinks. I am pleased to say that the colour had now returned to Gay’s face and she was feeling better for her snooze by the river. After a short stretch, we all jumped eagerly into the airconditioned car and headed home. Our next walk is going to be a night walk, so we can check out our torches etc. We have decided to head off the Trail for this walk and will be heading down to the Peninsula. Thanks to everyone so far who have supported us by way of donations, buying chocolates or wine!
28 October
Saturday 24 October 2009
Today we have decided to walk from CP4 (Olinda Reserve) to CP6 (Woori Yallock Primary School). Dave again agreed to play chauffeur between the two points. We had planned to depart Olinda at 8.00 am. The morning was glorious, which was lucky, as one of our team members was running late! So the rest of us sat and soaked up the morning rays whilst waiting. During the wait Bronny filled us in on her toe jabbing incident earlier in the week that left her foot bruised and sore! She was reasonably confident that she’d be able to walk the distance on a sore foot. We waved Dave off at 8.30 am and planned to meet him around 3.30pm later that day. This year Oxfam have changed the trail slightly. Instead of going to Silvan Reservoir for the next CP they had us traversing a different route through the Dandenong Ranges National Park straight towards Graham Colling Reserve (on the Warburton Trail). The new tracks were quite scenic, although one proved a little dangerous for the editor!! Sadly, whilst going down an incline, where it was slightly slippery, I decided to take a fall and landed heavily on a rock. [Although I was able to continue on, I have to report that the next day I had a bruise the size of my hand on my butt that is rather purple and very sore. I also strained the muscles in my neck and back! And they say exercise is good for you!] Anyway, the fall only halted proceedings for a short time so on with the story!
28 October
Saturday 24 October 2009 ... cont
Not to be outdone, Bronny tried to take out all three of her Team members shortly afterwards by tripping on a stick. The stick got caught between Gay’s legs and sent Bronny flying towards Claire and I! How Gay managed to stay upright and Bronny managed to avoid the rest of us is a surprise, but thankfully she did. It’s times like this you wished you had a video camera! Along Tk 13 we decided to stop for morning tea. The dappled sun on the trees and the sound of the birds made for a very enjoyable break. We still had one nasty hill to traverse (Melba Track) before we were on flat ground. Melba Track is steep and very rocky. My fall had knocked me and my confidence was not high. However, I don’t think I was the only one to breath a sigh of relief at the bottom.
28 October
Saturday 24 October 2009 ... cont
We stopped for an early lunch at Mt Evelyn Reserve. It was lovely sitting in the sun with the local cricket teams playing in the field. After our quick break we headed for the start of the Warburton Trail. Although we had only just had lunch, it was too hard to pass up a coffee break at the Bike Shop at the start of the Trail. At this point we all felt like we’d rested more than we had walked. We decided to not stop at CP5 (Graham Colling Reserve) and continued along the Warburton Trail for the next 13 kms.
28 October
Saturday 24 October 2009 ... cont
The trail is flat and straight and can be quite boring. The body and mind can struggle with the consistency and boredom. During the actual walk the trail will claim a few people if you are not mentally prepared for the long track ahead. The hills are almost a blessing. We stopped for another break at one of the old railway stations (where we got eaten alive by mozzies).
28 October
Saturday 24 October 2009 ... cont
We arrived at Woori Yallock Primary School at 2.45 pm, 6 hrs 15 mins since we left Olinda. We were well ahead of schedule, which pleased us all. Apart from a few niggles with sore hips, knees or toes we arrived reasonably unscathed, although we are wondering if we should change our names to the “walking wounded”! Our next trip is scheduled for mid November where we hope to walk CP6 (Woori Yallock Primary School) to the Finish (Wesburn Park) 27.4 km!!
20 October
Sunday 13 September 2009
Well I’m pleased to say that the first walk did not dampen the enthusiasm of the new comers and they came back for more. Today we decided to tackle the hills again and walk from CP2 to CP4 – a total of 25.5 km. We met at Lysterfield Lake at 8.30 am and departed at 8.45 am. The weather was overcast and threatening to rain. We had walked less than 400 m when it did start to rain, so we decided it was prudent to don the rain coats. Although it was not raining heavily it was persistent enough to make us leave the coats on for the entire walk, which meant we felt like we were walking saunas as the coats definitely kept the heat in! Given the group had walked this section last month it was familiar so the time passed quickly and the walk from CP2 to CP3 went without incident. . We stopped for a short time at Birds Land Reserve for a quick bite under shelter. We arrived at CP3 in 2 hrs 45 mins. We stopped at Grants for a coffee break before tackling the next section.
20 October
Sunday 13 September 2009 .... cont
We left CP3 just after 12.00 noon to tackle the next lot of hills and mud! The walk through Sherbrooke Forsest is lovely and the rain gave the forest a refreshing smell to the air. However the downside was the muddy tracks which made for a slower and more difficult walk. The walk along Sherbrooke Creek was very picturesque. The rhododendrons were in bloom in the Alfred Nicholas Gardens as were all the spring bulbs and it is a nice lead up to the infamous Hacketts Road (see insert). It definitely held up to is reputation. The rain made the track extremely slippery and difficult to walk up. We were all glad to get to the top of this hill. The only other hill left to traverse before reaching Olinda is Old Road, but it is relatively tame after Hacketts. Before we knew it we were at Olinda where we were met by Dave (our trusty support crew). By this time we were reasonably damp and glad to be heading off for Devonshire Tea. Our next walk is scheduled for mid October where we are planning on walking CP4 to CP6
20 October
Sunday 15 August 2009 - First Walk
Get ready to follow Team “Holdfast Grasshopper” on their journey towards Oxfam 2010!! I am joined this year by Bronwyn, Gay and Claire – all first timers to the Trailwalk. Being the veteran (as this is my second time – and yes, some are questioning why) I have been tasked with showing the group the way on the Trail (and thankfully I can say I didn’t lead them astray on our first walk)! Today, as time was restricted, we decided to tackle CP2 (Lysterfield Lake) to CP3 (Grants Picnic Ground), which is 13.8km. The weather was strange. It started very overcast but cleared up to a lovely 19C with very strong winds.
20 October
Sunday 15 August 2009 .... cont
The first 7.3km the trail is fairly easy (lulling everyone into a false sense of security) and it is also very pretty. It was great to see how well the area around Birds Land Reserve has regenerated from the fires earlier in the year. We stopped at the Reserve for a short break before tackling the next section which is when you hit the hills going through Tecoma into Belgrave. The hills are graded at a level 3 difficulty and I was pleased to see that the other team members handled it without too much effort! Although a few of us were huffing (me included), I know with a bit more training we should be able to traverse these hills without too much effort. Once at Grants Picnic Ground we enjoyed a well earned Devonshire Tea (hmmmm, definitely a great way to finish the day). The 13.8km took us just under 2hrs 50 minutes, which was a great pace. Question is can we keep this pace up over longer distance? To see, stay tuned for the next installment.
