another beautiful day in paradise

This beautiful weather just keeps going on and on...starting to get a little dry and warming up into spring (24deg C not as warm as the Meseta I know) so we thought we would stretch our legs with a short 5km walk in our local area of Mt Cotton.

Anita with her day pack

I was trying out my new lightweight, wicking, Marmot shirt..... trying out stowing my walking poles on my pack.....the wife thought I looked a bit funny in our suburban street , all kitted out and all so I had to walk ahead (ha,ha)

Paul all kitted up

Anita loving the fresh air and sunshine

ahh.....could be anywhere on the Camino....

Basecamp Fitness....the challenge to get us ready

Whilst doing more shopping at Globetrekker we came across a group that focused on getting people ready for whatever adventure they had in mind, this could include Everest basecamp, Kokoda, Tibet and yes, even the Camino having  trained 6 people in the last 12 months. So we set up a meeting with Chase (the usual young hunk that is fit and buff...but a nice guy) today....and once he had got over the long leadtime till we go ( normally get involved 3-6 months out), he talked us through what they could do for us... from endurance training program, trekking poles and walking technique and group weekend treks... so it was then down to the gym to what our capabilities were...what a sight in our shorts and running shoes going through their motion ...the trainer was suitably generous in his comments. So we left pleased ,with a training schedule being prepared and a professional reference point over the coming years to work with.
It was then down to Westend and Globetrekker to spend more of the kids inheritance, purchasing a Osprey 2ltr water baldder for Anita's pack, some lightweight shirts and our Marmot Precip softshell rain jackets....the latter being very lightweight and a long running; well performing jacket.

Show Holiday...lets go for a quick walk

It was an Ekka show holiday in Brisbane so, after a number of very busy weeks, we thought we would take the opportunity for a short 7km walk and afternoon tea at our favourite bushland, Venman National park.
It was a little cloudy after many weeks of blue sky and sunshine...but good for walking.

ahh...luv the Australian Bush

As we walked in the Aussie bush today we were taken to the Gum tree Forrest on the Camino...here is a little background
"In the mid to late 1800s, Don Salvado, the Spanish priest who established the New Norcia monastery and mission in Western Australia, decided that eucalyptus trees would be of benefit to his home country. So he exported some of the species he thought would grow there.
The trees were planted in Galicia, in North Western Spain, and it was hoped that these would be good for furniture making and could become a cash crop. As it turned out these gums were of no use for furniture, or anything else for that matter."

Anita , all kitted out and ready to walk. In front of a big old gum tree.

Then it was down for the hard yards...this is a great training ground with plenty of varied landscape and surfaces 

  Off we go ,the pack looks great and the walking poles are so good, particularly for  ascents and descents. 

So after a refreshing 7km walk we enjoyed a nice afternoon tea in the well set out facilities. Noting the sign not to feed the animals posted everywhere.. Someone who will remain nameless (ok her blood sugar was low and she didn't have her glasses on) she tried to tempt the local wild life to a little cracker.

looks like the message is clear

thankfully some animals are smarter than others..and.prefer something more substantial

ET the "old man" of the Camino

You can read as many books as you like but its only when you sit down and talk with someone who has done it that you gain a real insight into the Camino and if it is for you.
And so it was today, on the most magnificent day that thanks to our friend Noel and a chance meeting on a train that we had the privilege to meet Eric, who had walked the Camino with his step daughter in 2009 at the age of 75! He reminded us that we were "spring chickens" and when he mentioned that he was going to do it again next year when he reached 80....we were truly inspired, we'll only be 60.

We listened as ET shared many of his experiences on the Camino, Anita had also emailed a set of questions the night before and he came with typed responses...a true kindred spirit for Anita. Over coffee (a couple) and cake, along with our friends Noel & Narelle, we joked and laughed listening to most inspiring man tell of his journey. We had the advantage of reading Eric's 186 page amazing manuscript documenting the journey (on the table in the pic) but there is nothing like hearing it from the horses mouth(no offence Eric).

He shared also the sequence of events that set him on the path to planning a second walk....which included Noel's meeting on the train that Noel normally doesn't take. With Eric reading a Camino guidebook that he would not have except for.......the story goes on from there. But you get the picture....and here we are meeting together....God does have a plan.

And so after nearly 3 hours together we wished each other "beun camino" and went our separate ways....with plan to catch-up again sometime.

Increasing the Kilometres with a few hills thrown in

It was another beautiful day in the Great south East and a nice day to tackle a new 15km route we had plotted that involved an initial climb up West Mt Cotton Rd near our home then a run through Venman Bushland National Park then back down the hill. This gives experience of all terrains and walking services...and practice dodging cars which will come in handy on the Camino.

Beautiful views looking back down West Mt Cotton Rd

Anita watching out for traffic with her new trekking poles

 The weather was warming up quickly and I was wondering weather my walking apparel was a little warm but with plenty of shade around it wasn't a problem.

Anita resting with her new Osprey pack and trekking poles

Anita's Osprey Sirrus 36

Anita powering along with here new poles, across water and up hills.... in the beautiful Australian bushland 

watch your step Anita

When we stopped for lunch and it became a real wildlife experience, the birds and even Kangaroos had little fear of humans

Anita, didn't the sign say "don't feed the Animals!

"here skip......

This is Australia OK, we will pose for a picture but it will cost you.....