The long walk.

Saturday saw myself and Spicy head up to Kinglake National Park to attempt the Mount Everard Circuit walk. There are differing records as to the length of the circuit, varying from 18.8km to 19.6km to 22km, so I am not sure exactly how far we walked. Assuming the maps along the trail are accurate then 22km should be the total length with a recommended completion time of between 6-7hrs.

The main trail and my pack

Unfortunately for Spicy, he failed to ask me how far we were walking when he agreed to come on this trek and the poor sod had not slept much before hand.

Lunch break

So upon our arrival at 11:30 we set off from the car park and took the trek along a small trail through the lush green forest along the Shelley Harris Track, which I should have taken a photo of!

Unfortunately when we reached the Mount Jerusalem track, which is the start of the main circuit trail, we did not pay attention to the arrows indicating the recommended direction we take around the track. So we started off going the opposite way and found out the hard way why the other direction was recommended. In fact when we reached the peak of Mount Everard, we had thought we were further along the trail than we were. When we realised where we were, the mountain did indeed live up to it’s previous name Mount Misery.

Mt Misery

Anyway, we drank some cement and hardened up and continued on our way and finally made it back to the car just under 5 and a half hours.

Spent and ready to go home

If we had traveled in the right direction our trip would have been much easier and quicker! So, the next time we head out on a trail we’ll know to pay more attention.

Oh and here is a tree that stood out a little amongst the gums, it amused me.

The Odd Tree

That wasn’t the end of my trekking for the weekend however, because I turned up to the 1k steps on Sunday morning too! I did however leave my backpack with the weights at home. If I had gone with my pack I think I would have suffered terribly at boxing tonight. Hmm, maybe I will just be a slob the rest of this week… mmm… hamburgers…

WOW!

Jean Claude Van Damme

need I say more…

and on a second note… they are making a Transporter 3?!

Don’t get me wrong, I like Jason Statham, but seriously?!?!

Inspiring the uninspired..

Life has been delivering its ups and downs in the last few weeks and work, research project, license tests and assignments were starting to get me down. I know I am close to the finish line with the project and tests and I should just wrap things up, but I have been uninspired to do so.

So we had a weekend away to visit Nuffies. Our first encounter with Perth and the wonderful beaches of Fremantle and Cottesloe, the wineries of the Swan Valley and a lovely stroll through Kings Park. The weekend trip to Perth was a great distraction and spending a weekend away with my Cheazles has helped me refocus on the bigger picture.

Sometimes the small things in life weigh you down and you get dragged into your own little world and you forget there are more important things.

I am now refocused to get this next two weeks of mental stress out of the way and then get back to the physical training for our trip to Nepal. I hear a lot of stories of people who fall in love with the Himalayas, both the people and the scenery. Perhaps it is the simple life you can experience when you get there, and the sheer size and scale of the mountains that remind you of your place.

I think I’m doing this trip for me.

Well, I should say Cheazles and I are doing this trip for ourselves.

I hope the next time we can do a trip like this, for someone else.

(Warning: long clip)