Training Log Archive: PrueD

Australian relay championships at Mundoolun. I was first runner in team PMS with Margie and Suzanne in W55. I started carefully and battled the lantana, which l have not met before. Although slow, l was accurate the whole way and brought the team in 3rd out of 7, so was pretty pleased. The rest of the team didn't have such a good run and we finished 6/7. Nevermind, it was all about me anyway. Lovely to be in the bush.

Australian Sprint Orienteering championships at Griffith University. I got up early and headed down the mountain to the Gold Coast, with a well worthwhile detour to Tamborine Mountain on the way. Lovely rainforest most of the way.People travelling up tomorrow for the relays should note there is to be a bike race on that road tomorrow and allow plenty of time.

After most of week on rural roads, I found the Gold Coast to be something of a sensory shock and I felt quite overwhelmed with the roads, traffic and general air and sea traffic around. I finally found a coffee shop (not many there) and a parking spot at the same time. Phew - I needed that coffee. The next challenge was getting to the event.

Anyway, once I got there my run was fairly nondescript. I was slow and got confused around the construction site, losing several minutes between 4 and 5. I also found the map quite hard to read.. My peers all beat me resoundly.

I then headed back to Beaudesert and was actually pleased to arrive at the caravan park. Green views and birdlife are a premium on the Gold Coast. I am definitely a country girl at heart.

C • country girl? 2

I stayed at Boggabilla last night in a very downmarket motel,although it was clean and the owner very hospitable.,. Boggabbilla is one of NSW poorest towns and has the second highest crime rate n the state. Its population is 58% aboriginal. Although I was quite keen to show my support for the locals, it was a bit depressing and I spent half the night awake expecting to hear my car being knocked off.
I then drove to Inglewood, where the recent floods were still very much in evidence. From there I drove to Warrick, in the granite belt. It was much drier and the scenery very appealing to an orienteer. Lovely open forest in undulating terrain with lots of wildflowers. Hopefully Stanthorpe is like that. After Warrick I drove off the map, arriving at Beaudesert with the help of Google maps. BD is another impoverished town. Poverty and deprivation seem rife in northern NSW and southern Qld. And of course the poorest of these live at the caravan park, where I now have my tent pitched. Fortunately the view is nice, that is, apart from the middle aged lady next door walking about in her underpants..
Interesting sign today. A warning that the fine for keeping a pet rabbit in Qld is $44,000 !!!

C • I love that sign! 4

Well I haven't done any exercise but thought I would provide an update on my holiday activities anyway.
After my exciting day yesterday I was looking for a little less excitement today. I spent last night at Wellington and then drove to Dubbo, Gilgandra (home of the Coo-ee March - a WW1 call to action) and diverted on the 70 km Warrumbungles tourist road. The scenery from Benalla to Wellington was consistently undulating, green and very wet. However, past Dubbo, the vegetation dried out a bit and reminded me of the Kangaroo Crossing area - lots of native pines with low acacias in flower, with lots of green grass. Really lovely. The Warrumbungles drive was fantastic - wonderful scenery, although significantly impacted by fire and more recently by floods. I drove up to the observatory and would have like to have spent longer, but couldn't.
I then drove on the Newell Hwy to Goondiwindi. The scenery then became less interesting - hundreds of kms of crops and water - still water everywhere! I tried to divert from Narrabri to Inverell, but again there were water crossings and I didn't want to get stuck, so turned back after 15km. I didn't fancy camping on sodden ground so took the motel option again. What a wimp I am..

Run around Blackburn lake and creeklands. Coughy most of the way. I haven't been for a run for ages due to skiing, flu etc. Spring seems to have sprung in its full glory in the meantime.

C • Perhaps 8

Street O in Box Hill. I only went because l had to collect something from Suzanne to take to Qld. The streets were dark and gloomy and there were a few people lurking. So l didn't really feel safe. Bring on the summer series.