Walking with Friends

It was still dark as the sound of a thunder crack echoed around our house...rain had been forecast for this morning..but I still had a few hours sleep to go so I rolled over and hoped it would blow over for our walk with friends.
So this was an opportunity , with some precipitation around, to test out our Mamut Precip jackets. We packed our gear and headed off to to Venman Bushland to meet up with our friend, Noel & Narelle.

So it that where we are going?

In the end , apart for a few spits the rain did not materialise , the cloudy and cooler conditions made it nice to walk....but Anita did look good in her pink precip jacket don't you think.

Off we went for a leisurely 7 km walk and we immediately noticed that many of the creek crossings had simply disappeared due to the very dry conditions in the last month. It was great to enjoy this walk and lots of laugh's with some friend.

After a refreshing walk we enjoyed a great morning tea and more laughter.

enjoying a great morning tea..sorry for the angry selfy!

Oh I am so unfit and my feet hurt!

A nice ,if not cloudy ,spring day in the great South East with a breeze blowing , a good day for a longer walk. So we headed off a little later than planned (tried to get a longer Saturday sleep in), for a 15 km walk in the country side around our home at Mount Cotton.

We pulled on our packs weighing six kilos, about half what we will carry on the Camino, but its good to get used to our Osprey's and so far so good, both fit like a glove.
Anita , after suffering from having to access bottle water, now has her new 2 ltr Osprey hydration bladder and though she is still coming to grips with the initial "plasticy" taste (and leaking in the fridge last night...) she appreciated its convenience.

Anita powering on... she could be on any Camino road

It warmed up during the walk with a predicted high of 30degC...and I was only wearing a cap, bad idea as I think I was suffering a little  sunstroke by the time I got home...so its onto the net to find a classic Tilley sunhat (life time guarantee!).

Its just one foot in front of another....cannot shake my shadow though

So it was down past the chicken breeding properties (which are dotted everywhere and cattle grazing....quite amazing seeing we are only 10 minutes from a large suburb and shopping complex

Despite the threat of a thunderstom we made it back home without having to use our Mamut Precip jacket...but am sure will have the opportunity sometime soon.
Must say today did expose some of my weaknesses...need to get stuck into our exercise plan ( laid out by our PT) and to deal with my feet which were hurting (no blisters) by the investment in looser socks ,a new pair of larger Merrell Moab Mids which are on the way and a visit to my foot doctor to sort the old ingrown toe nail....what a pain getting old but thankfully we have plenty of time.

Survivor - The Election Walk

Who will survive the election

Voting Day  !!!!!  We decided to not only EXERCISE our muscles but EXERCISE our democratic right to vote and walk to the polling booth instead of driving.

It was a 2 hour round walk in lovely spring weather, blue skies and 27C, through our local park and along a long tree lined road. Once again trying out a different pair of socks.

Paul striding out

We made it down to Mt Cotton School, Voted had a drink and snack then headed home.

I don't think the Mt Cotton Kids are THAT bad ☺

As expected the good folk of OZ decided it was time for Krudd to Zip and now Tony is in the top job.
I guess he didn't know how to outwit, outplay and outlast Tony.