Total Fire Ban

From the Trailwalker website...

Oxfam TRAILWALKER is on! However, due to the Total Fire Ban called for Friday 23rd March and under instruction from Parks Victoria, Victoria Police, CFA and SES, the section between CP3, Ferntree Gully and CP4, Olinda Reserve, is closed.

This is a high fire risk area and has been made off limits for the safety of all participants and volunteers.

Oxfam TRAILWALKER Melbourne 2007 is now an 88.5km event. All finishing times will allow for the omission of this section. The clock will stop upon your Check-in at CP3. It will restart upon Check-out at CP4.

Thank you for your understanding of this serious issue. Thank you to the emergency services and agencies for helping to find a solution that allows us to conduct this amazing event.

...which is a bit of a shit. I'm in two minds because it gets rid of the really hard stage, but it means that we won't really have 'done it' (both Marc and me have been reminded by our spouses that this does not mean we can do it properly next year).

The car shuttle between the two checkpoints is going to be fun...

Final preparations...

Well, we're just getting together the last lists of things we need, and Belinda is picking up the Battlebus this afternoon. So all systems are go, despite the forecast!
Big thanks to everyone who has sponsored us so far - to date we've raised $6400 and lie 16th on the leaderboard. It would be great to add some more to that total, so if you're inspired over the next few days as we trudge through the Yarra valley, that would be wonderful.

You'll be able to keep track of our progress here (I think - that's a temporary link judging by the address, so you might need to go via the Trailwalker frontpage), and please do call or text us tomorrow. Especially those of you in Europe or the US - night time will be particularly difficult, and a chat or an encouraging SMS will be really helpful.

Photos and an in-depth report will be available sometime after Sunday, if anyone wants the sweaty details...

Weather Forecast Update March 21st

Bugger..... Looks like we might get a spot of rain again. After 3 months of training in 30C+ temperatures. Bloody Melbourne weather.

Surely it couldn't rain again ?!

All eyes are fixed on the long range forecast. Friday will be warm to hot but there's the promise of rain in the air on Saturday. But will it come after we have finished and are tucked up in bed? Or will it pour down as we begin our last climb up Mt Little Joe? Surely not two years in a row? That would be too cruel in the middle of a drought.

The masterplan

Here's our strategy for Friday - click on the picture for better resolution. Now we're just waiting on the weather forecast, which is currently for 30 degrees with a change (hopefully not too many showers until after we finish).

Sunday in the park with...

Yesterday was a lovely day for a stroll - bright and sunny, but not too hot. The walk around the lake seemed very short after our previous treks...

And now, a word from our sponsor...