Tough Bloke Challenge

Earlier in the year one of Michaels friends (Kirky) came up with the bright idea of all entering the Tough Bloke Challenge on the 2nd July. There were seven of us crazy enough to think this would be fun. However as the date loomed I was starting to think it was not my smartest decision with only a few casual runs over the previous months I got stuck into the gym for four weeks and prayed I would be "tough" enough to keep up with the boys.

The Tough Bloke Challenge was set in a scout camp down in Appin. An hour or so drive from where we live. It was a 6km bush track with 19 obsticles spaced in the run. The obsticles included basics like log hopping and flying foxes to the cold and dirty mud pool which left you 5 killos heavier afterwards to the one that challenged your mental capacity (for me the toughest) the 5 metre long narrow (even by a small persons standards) drainage pipe with little bit of stinky water in the bottom of it (it of course had been raining all week) and the deeper cold stinky pool covered in netting so you had to crouch along under it. I survived and even enjoyed it so much so we want to do it all again next year. My legs are still wearing the memento of a nasty scab caused by quite severe rope burn from the last obsticle but all and all an awesome day!!

Camping again

Alot of you probably think I have fallen off the side of the earth sorry for being so slack. However I would like to let you know that you are thought of often. I have attached some photos of Michaels and my recent camping trip. We took two days off work and heading up the coast an hour and a half from the city after work on Wednesday to a wee camping ground in the central coast. http://www.wildwalks.com/camping-in-nsw-parks/near-sydney-campsites/putty-beach-camping-area.html It was at Putty Beach in a national park. We had the luxury of flushing toilets, drinking water and one cold shower. We took along a trusty solar shower that in the afternoon we then topped up with boiling water, hung it from a tree put on our togs and showered very publicly. We seemed to have impecible timing that the wind started to blow as soon as I put on my bikini and atleast two cars would drive past whilst showering (they didn't seem interested in Michael). We had the camping ground to ourselves (and a few bush turkeys and migrating caterpillar) wednesday and thursday nights joined by a few friday and then over run by a big group of aprox 15 tents on saturday night. You will notice from the variety of clothing that we have some freezing weather at nights (especially the first two) and some absolutely stunning days!!! We spent our time relaxng, reading books, walking along the coast and exercising. It was a great few days away at such a convenient location. Bring on spring and more camping I think we are done for this autumn and winter.

Camping

Well being the true kiwi that I am no summer is complete without a camping trip. Michael's grandma had given us some money for christmas so we chose to put this towards a tent and some of the other essential camping equipment and organised a weekend away camping. After a bit of a process finding a camping ground with sites available we lucked upon a fantastic wee spot down the coast in Bulli. It had all the things we were looking for, a fantastic surf beach, a little cafe with great coffee and melting moments and a grave yard next door.

We were fortunate enough that Michael had the day off on friday so he drove down with a car load and I caught the train (1 1/2 hr trip) after work. Michael picked me up from the train station and we got busy errecting the tent whilst there was still some day light. Marco, Brent, Jay and Kirsten all had to work Friday as well so it was dark by the time they arrived and we all had a bit of fun putting up the other two tents in the dark.

The weekend consisted of relaxing, drinking, eating, swimming and a nice evening run on the beach. The water was so warm it was very easy to spend an hour in the water at a time. The camping ground was came complete with some tame wildlife consisting of rabits and lorikeets. The weather was very kind to us and it did not start to rain until Sunday morning when we had almost completed pack up. Pack up introduced some challenges of it's own with a lost set of truck keys requiring an unload and search in the rain. They were eventually found and we checked out and headed to the cafe for a nice cooked breakfast and great coffee. The camping trip as a whole was enjoyed by all and they are busy trying to find a site available to go again for easter weekend.