Monday, 12 March 2007
Eoin's kitbag
Eoin took these photos of his kit laid out before a training walk to show how much organisation he does for these sessions. It's ironic really, because he always forgets something. Usually it's just the sunscreen (notice it is also missing from the photos), but on Saturday it was his headlamp...
The Penultimate Trek (we hope)
Well, Saturday was the day of our last training session - and we got three of us out on the trail plus two members of the B Team. The aim was to walk from Checkpoint 2 (Lysterfield Lake) to Checkpoint 6 (Mt Evelyn), starting at midday. Owing to a difference of recollection concerning the car shuffle, we actually started at nearly 1pm, but we used the irritation to our advantage and polished off the 15.5km to Ferntree Gully in about 2hrs 20mins. Apart from feeling slightly sick after the climb in to Belgrave, we all managed very well. Below you can see Marc and me on what we all agreed was the worst section of the trail - walking alongside the Burwood Highway...
Then came the 1000 steps, for the first time since last year's Trailwalker. Well, I'd certainly forgotten how long they went on for. It was something of a struggle for all of us (even Eoin said he was rather dizzy as he reached the top), and after that Marc seemed to go into a bit of a decline... For the rest of the walk he was apologising for holding us back and saying, "I'm really not enjoying this". This may have had something to do with the development of some blisters.
Here you can see us as we arrived in Sassafras - the Sassafras Creek track has been whipper-snippered out of recognition and yet I still managed to trip over every loose twig and bit of bark...
After a pleasant hour for dinner in Olinda (avoiding the wasps), we made for Mt Evelyn at good speed - I know the route like the back of my hand now, obviously - making it down at about 9:15pm.
All in all, not too shabby. Now for the full event!
Then came the 1000 steps, for the first time since last year's Trailwalker. Well, I'd certainly forgotten how long they went on for. It was something of a struggle for all of us (even Eoin said he was rather dizzy as he reached the top), and after that Marc seemed to go into a bit of a decline... For the rest of the walk he was apologising for holding us back and saying, "I'm really not enjoying this". This may have had something to do with the development of some blisters.
Here you can see us as we arrived in Sassafras - the Sassafras Creek track has been whipper-snippered out of recognition and yet I still managed to trip over every loose twig and bit of bark...
After a pleasant hour for dinner in Olinda (avoiding the wasps), we made for Mt Evelyn at good speed - I know the route like the back of my hand now, obviously - making it down at about 9:15pm.
All in all, not too shabby. Now for the full event!
Thursday, 8 March 2007
Final training session details
The plan is to meet at Jells Park teahouse on March 18th (a Sunday) at midday. Below is a map of Jells Park to guide you...
The best entry is from Waverley Road - follow the road to the top of the hill and park on the right-hand side. You should be able to see the teahouse as you drive in, but it is well signed. In any case, I think we will all have our mobiles on us.
Look forward to seeing you there! Of course, we've got Saturday's 40km outing first...
The best entry is from Waverley Road - follow the road to the top of the hill and park on the right-hand side. You should be able to see the teahouse as you drive in, but it is well signed. In any case, I think we will all have our mobiles on us.
Look forward to seeing you there! Of course, we've got Saturday's 40km outing first...
Monday, 5 March 2007
$5000 up!
The more alert amongst you will recall back here when I made a promise to put a couple of photos up when we had raised $5000. Well, as of last weekend we are over the line... So, as promised...
Can you believe that the bizarre Elmo character won best costume? Robbed...
And here's me attempting to be alluring.
Notice that I even shaved my legs specially...
Can you believe that the bizarre Elmo character won best costume? Robbed...
And here's me attempting to be alluring.
Notice that I even shaved my legs specially...
Deja vu
Saturdya night saw two of us back on the trail from Olinda to Woori Yallock - this time Marc and me. We started later owing to Marc's inability to distinguish the Maroondah highway from the Warburton highway and getting a fair way to Healesville before working out the mistake. This may or may not have had something to do with the fact that Carlton were not getting thrashed for once...
Anyway, once we started we set ourselves the goal of beating the time that Eoin and I posted last week. This was made easier by the fact that there was not much need for map-reading, but as it was dark when we started the section from Silvan Dam, we certainly found the first kilometre pretty interesting! The path is very narrow and crowded by shrubs and bushes. It also twists and turns a lot, and we had the distinct impression that if we stepped off the path by mistake it would be a while before we found it again.
We got into Mt Evelyn to find a buck's night in full swing - I don't know what they made of two sweaty blokes having a rest outside wearing headlamps and rucksacks, but it is possible that they didn't notice owing to the presence of the topless barmaid (is there anything less sexy?).
Anyway, suffice it to say that we made it to Woori Yallock in 4 hrs 55 mins, chopping a full quarter hour off the record - a personal best which is unlikely to be broken anytime soon, certainly not during the event...
We were so busy walking that there was no time for photos... apart from one blurry one of Marc at speed in the dark, which I'll post if it looks any good.
Saturday will be our last proper training walk - and only 18 days to go now...
Anyway, once we started we set ourselves the goal of beating the time that Eoin and I posted last week. This was made easier by the fact that there was not much need for map-reading, but as it was dark when we started the section from Silvan Dam, we certainly found the first kilometre pretty interesting! The path is very narrow and crowded by shrubs and bushes. It also twists and turns a lot, and we had the distinct impression that if we stepped off the path by mistake it would be a while before we found it again.
We got into Mt Evelyn to find a buck's night in full swing - I don't know what they made of two sweaty blokes having a rest outside wearing headlamps and rucksacks, but it is possible that they didn't notice owing to the presence of the topless barmaid (is there anything less sexy?).
Anyway, suffice it to say that we made it to Woori Yallock in 4 hrs 55 mins, chopping a full quarter hour off the record - a personal best which is unlikely to be broken anytime soon, certainly not during the event...
We were so busy walking that there was no time for photos... apart from one blurry one of Marc at speed in the dark, which I'll post if it looks any good.
Saturday will be our last proper training walk - and only 18 days to go now...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)