Pete and Dave headed up to the Blue Mountains over the easter break, with the aim of challenging Mt Solitary. With our mate Sam we headed out early in the morning from the Golden Stairs (misnomer - they were the brown from the mud) at Katoomba.
It was our luck to pick a morning where Wild Walks were holding an ultra marathon - 60 competitors running 45 kms in the bush. As runners passed us we encouraged them with comments like "you're still in it with a chance" and "go for it mate". One of them exclaimed that we were "crazy guys walking in the rain on a day like today." Yeah, and you're not crazy running 45kms in the rain on a day like this!
We booted it to the top of Mt Solitary, totally soaked by then, but happy to have made it to the top. No view to speak of, everything covered in fog and the rain still coming down. We were only able to stop for 5 minutes or so due to the cold/ wet, so decided to climb the Ruined Castle on the way back; a small side trip. We had fun clambering on the rock and watching a curious (hungry) magpie, before slogging back through the mud to the car. Overall 15km and a very enjoyable trip, despite the weather.
In other news we now have out teamspace page on the Oxfam website - donate now, our target is $1,500!!!
http://trailwalker.oxfam.org.au/Sydney/teams/team/?team_id=9946
Dave, on behalf of the Toes.
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Saturday, 23 April 2011
We're in!
The Toes got the offical word on Thursday that we've succeeded in the dreaded lottery and are in the Oxfam Trailwalker 2011!!!
Now we have the true motivation to continue with our training walks, start fundraising and cajole friends and family into volunteering to bring us food (and massages) at checkpoints.
We'll post our Teamspace page for donations shortly - the aim is to raise $1500 for the good work that Oxfam do around the world.
Now we have the true motivation to continue with our training walks, start fundraising and cajole friends and family into volunteering to bring us food (and massages) at checkpoints.
We'll post our Teamspace page for donations shortly - the aim is to raise $1500 for the good work that Oxfam do around the world.
Monday, 18 April 2011
A Malicki-adventure walk
So the Big Toes find out in 3 days if they are in the Oxfam Trailwalker 2011 or not. The last 200 spots of the 500 are up for selection on Wednesday night, so we're in a lottery to start. It's a bit nerve-wracking to say the least.
Not dissuaded, the Malicki component of the Toes went 'Toewards and Upwards' and rocked another training walk last weekend. Starting at Turramurra station, we walked to Bobbin Head via the Sphinx Track, then up to Mt Colah on the other side of the Ku-ring-Gai Chase NP. Not stopping there, we pushed on through Asquith and on to Waitara station. 4.5 hours,a total of 21.4kms! Check it:
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Turramurra,+New+South+Wales+%28Turramurra+Station%29&daddr=Turramurra+Avenue,+Turramurra,+New+South+Wales+to:Boomerang+Street,+Turramurra,+New+South+Wales+to:Fairlawn+Avenue,+Turramurra,+New+South+Wales+to:-33.7197941,151.141199+to:Ku-Ring-Gai+Chase+Rd+to:Park+Ln&geocode=FSNJ_f0d_QkCCSHSb4bMUiBWhg%3BFShS_f0d1xQCCSmRtjqL3KcSazEkX55XRTHQkA%3BFelX_f0deyYCCSnZmP1t3qcSazEmmAA-mKXS-w%3BFVpp_f0doDACCSkvB5Wx4acSazH0lwJluiHACQ%3BFQ56_f0dTzsCCSmpTgM9CKgSazGQQ3HlZ30BEw%3BFdMZ_v0d--0BCQ%3BFaej_f0dFLEBCQ&hl=en&mra=dme&mrsp=6&sz=15&via=4&sll=-33.70442,151.119132&sspn=0.0216,0.052314&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.695066,151.16415&spn=0.086408,0.209255&z=13
Interesting things we saw were a ton of kangaroos in the Kalkari visitor centre native animal compound, as well as half a a dozen unperturbed and peripatetic bush turkeys. We also ate hot chips down at the Marina - yum!
Toes crossed for our registration everybody......
Not dissuaded, the Malicki component of the Toes went 'Toewards and Upwards' and rocked another training walk last weekend. Starting at Turramurra station, we walked to Bobbin Head via the Sphinx Track, then up to Mt Colah on the other side of the Ku-ring-Gai Chase NP. Not stopping there, we pushed on through Asquith and on to Waitara station. 4.5 hours,a total of 21.4kms! Check it:
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Turramurra,+New+South+Wales+%28Turramurra+Station%29&daddr=Turramurra+Avenue,+Turramurra,+New+South+Wales+to:Boomerang+Street,+Turramurra,+New+South+Wales+to:Fairlawn+Avenue,+Turramurra,+New+South+Wales+to:-33.7197941,151.141199+to:Ku-Ring-Gai+Chase+Rd+to:Park+Ln&geocode=FSNJ_f0d_QkCCSHSb4bMUiBWhg%3BFShS_f0d1xQCCSmRtjqL3KcSazEkX55XRTHQkA%3BFelX_f0deyYCCSnZmP1t3qcSazEmmAA-mKXS-w%3BFVpp_f0doDACCSkvB5Wx4acSazH0lwJluiHACQ%3BFQ56_f0dTzsCCSmpTgM9CKgSazGQQ3HlZ30BEw%3BFdMZ_v0d--0BCQ%3BFaej_f0dFLEBCQ&hl=en&mra=dme&mrsp=6&sz=15&via=4&sll=-33.70442,151.119132&sspn=0.0216,0.052314&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.695066,151.16415&spn=0.086408,0.209255&z=13
Interesting things we saw were a ton of kangaroos in the Kalkari visitor centre native animal compound, as well as half a a dozen unperturbed and peripatetic bush turkeys. We also ate hot chips down at the Marina - yum!
Toes crossed for our registration everybody......
Walk 3: Back in Training
The Big Toes were at it again a few weeks back, without Mick this time.
We headed urban and city-side this time around, walking from Artarmon to the city via North Sydney, and then back to Artarmon along the Pacific Highway.
This is the scene from the Rotunda at Observatory Hill, essentially our half way point. Resting, stretching, and according to Pete looking a bit dopey and knackered.
We headed urban and city-side this time around, walking from Artarmon to the city via North Sydney, and then back to Artarmon along the Pacific Highway.
This is the scene from the Rotunda at Observatory Hill, essentially our half way point. Resting, stretching, and according to Pete looking a bit dopey and knackered.
It was a solid (and quick) 15kms; we're getting into a rymthm here and starting to feel good.
The GPS run-down of the walk is through the link below.
Dave (on behalf of 8 Big Toes)
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