Not All Who Wander Are Lost

29 August

That was Sydney Trailwalker 2010

Trials and tribulations? You bet! Todd was forced to retire at 50km as he "hit the wall" and just had nothing left in the tank to continue. Michele fell early in the race (like 10km into it) and bruised her knee badly but managed to continue to the end with the support of painkillers and a few swear words (yes ... Michele ... swear words ... but nothing very bad). Giles and Kate just plodded on with minor ailments in comparison so can't really whinge.

p.s.Todd and Michele are both recuperating and vow "No more Trailwalkers!!!!"

29 August

43km - Dinner never tasted so good

Andy did a sterling job looking after us through the night time sections - this was about 8.30pm (I think) at Apple Tree Bay.

29 August

Still smiling

Okay, so we'd only been walking for 9km.

29 August

Caffeinated and ready to go

Finally Trailwalker Day has arrived. Too late for late minute training ... now we just do it!

16 August

The Final Assault

Our final BIG training weekend AND we had the full team together AND we have a team photo!

Saturday 14 - We decided to do a variation from the Trailwalker route, and after consultation with our trail expert (Jonathan) did a loop from near the Sphinx down to Gibberanong Waterholes and along the creek to Bobbin Head. From there we did a figure 8 (almost) up the Birrrawanna Track. Back at the marina we stopped for a caffeine boost before the final assault up the Sphinx Track to our starting point. Todd had never seen the Sphinx before!!! We didn't do much of the Trailwalker course but we did enjoy our almost 20kms of walking.

Sunday 15 - Another day of new adventures. We started at Seaforth Oval heading out on the Bay Track (much more scenic than the TW route). Then we hoofed along the road to Carroll Creek Track which connected us to the TW route which we followed back through Davidson Park and Ararat Reserve to Seaforth Oval.

16 August

A sunny Sunday jaunt in the national park

8 August - After *wild* birthday celebrations for Jacqui and Michele on Saturday night we were up and out early Sunday to hit the trail. Jacqui and Dave were substituting for Todd, so we had some new faces and new conversation to add to the mix.

All it all it was a pleasant day out, starting from Bobbin Head and finishing just before Davidson Park. Giles had to turn back for an early exit ... he said he ran back but we have our suspicions that he may have caught a taxi !!!!

Photo - Dave, Jacqui and Michele relaxing at the Cascades

05 August

Not all kilometres are equal

In the past few weeks we've been walking ... and walking and walking some more.

Saturday July 25 we walked from St Ives to Davidson Park, about 22km, in 4 hours. This left us feeling confident that we are indeed getting fitter and faster.

The following weekend, July 31 we were brought back down to earth. We embarked on our "long march" from Brooklyn to Mt Kuringai, about 34km, and it took us 8.5 hours. We still think we are getting fitter but this definitely highlights how much tougher the beginning of the course is than the later sections!

21 July

Missing. Team Photo.

We did actually take some team photos. Then Kate accidentally deleted them! Next time ... perhaps.

20 July

On the trails

A leisurely team stroll from the start to Berowra occupied most of our Saturday. Trailwalker map clocks it as 29.5km but our team GPS operator recorded only 25.63km. I'll go with the Trailwalker figure!

Michele has volunteered to bring the trundle wheel next week.

14 July

Was that only 18.3 km?

The Leunig calendar this month pretty much sums it up.

Our first full team walk finally happened last Sunday. Todd is back on his feet. Giles is in the country. Kate has recovered from the flu. And Michele ... she was always walking.

We tackled an 18.3km circuit from Berowra Community Centre (CP2), down through Lyrebird Gully and up to Mt Kuringai. Before hitting CP3 at Apple Tree Bay we turned left, leaving the TW course, to loop back to Berowra. This is the first time Kate has revisited Lyrebird Gully since breaking her arm there while training for Trailwalker in 2006!

29 June

Rogaining (almost) champions - 20 June

Nothing like a bit of variety in your training schedule. Michele and I competed in the Paddy Pallin 6hr rogaine up near Gosford with Jacqui as chief navigator to make sure we didn't get lost in the bush.

Weather was spectacular, course was interesting and scenic with some fabulous views from high checkpoints. The undergrowth was a bit constraining but we survived with just a few scratches and bruises. All good fun AND we came second in our category.

As for the rest of the team, Giles is still holidaying in Europe and Todd is doing short walks after his surgery.

16 June

A change of scenery

A long weekend at Jervis Bay for 3 of the team (Giles is still traipsing around Europe) and various hanger on-ers. Beautiful weather for walking and stunning coastal scenery. Highlights of the weekend were -

1. Watching the wild seas at Steamers Beach only to be stunned by a whale breaching in the watery spume. There were several other whales nearby and it seemed they were playing (maybe feeding) in the waves.

2. Dolphins cruising Jervis Bay. We had several sighting over the weekend including one pod of about 10.

3. Good food and company.

16 June

Long road ahead (literally and figuratively)

Sunday, June 6 - Was it this hard last time? Our local team is down to two. Todd is on the sick list and Giles is away in Europe (hopefully climbing mountain peaks). After the torrential rains to mark the start of Winter, Michele and I were undeterred and headed out to "tame" section 7 of the Trailwalker course. Weather was favourable (whew) but trails were wet. We set out from near Davidson Park (CP7) to do an out-and-back to Kambora School (CP6) about 24km. For some strange reason we thought we'd do this in about 4.5hrs ... it took us 6.5hrs. A bit of a wake up call but all good fun.

24 May

Hitting the course

This weekend was planned to be the first full team walk, but it wasn't. Instead we have to post our first (and hopefully last) injury! Not a TW training injury, but nonetheless it will keep Todd off the trails for a few weeks at least. He is still planning a comeback for August ... after arthroscopy on his knee and a few weeks to let it settle.

In the meantime Michele, Giles and I hit the trail. Starting at CP4 we heading down the Sphinx track, stopped for a coffee at the marina then climbed back up Bobbin Head Track to complete the circuit. Nothing too demanding but we still 13.5 weeks to go.

14 May

First Team (almost) Walk

Ok. We've signed up so I guess we'd better get out walking!

Sunday 9th May was our first team walk (less Giles but plus Jacqui). It was a glorious day as we set out on the Spit to Manly walk to guage just how much more training we really need to do ... apparently quite a bit. Nonetheless it was great to hit the trail as an almost team, and it reinforced just how much we like getting out in the bush and that we do really enjoy each others company (so far). We managed to walk about 1/8th of 100km so I guess we need to build on that in the next 15 weeks.

Photo (courtesy of Todd) showings just how keen he and Michele were to get to the start of the walk

05 May

The journey begins

This year’s adventure really started back in 2006, the year Kate, Michele, Todd and Constance embarked on their first Sydney Trailwalker. Among our trusty crew that year were Giles and Sara, and we knew way back then that it was just a matter of time before Giles was out on the trail with us, rather than behind the wheel of the support vehicle crew. He was keen, very keen.

So while those of us who have endured the blisters and sore feet before needed a bit encouragement, Giles was ready to sign up without hesitation and gave us the push we needed to do it again. Let the journey begin. Trailwalker Sydney 2010 … here we come!.

ps - we don't have a full team photo yet .. but we're working on it.