Megalong Return

View from the top of Carlons Head towards the Black Range


I spent Mon to Fri working intensively at North Head STP from 5am to late. So I had to pass on running. Fortunately I was able to get away Friday evening for a return trip to Carlons Farm at Megalong Valley with Neil Kate, Geoff, Michele and Serena. The forecast for Sydney was for over 40 deg so I hoped the Mountains would be a bit cooler. In the morning I was very tired and we hung around the campsite while the girls danced and Geoffrey threw his boomerang. Then after poking around Blackheath antique stores in the morning, Michele dropped me off at the Explorer's Tree at 1pm for what proved to be an epic adventure.



View to the Campground from Carlons Head - 450m below



It was hot, over 31 degrees but humidity only 73% and a fresh westerly wind. I ran down Nellies Glen to the Megalong road and turned left to Carlons Farm. I plodded along feeling quite comfortable, but I was careful to keep sipping water. I arrived at Carlons Farm just as Michele and Serena turned up in the car. Serena had stubbed her toe, so I carried on up to Bellbird Point which had incredible views of the Cox's river and Breakfast Creek. then on a whim I ran up to the Medlow Gap road and looked for the Carlons Head track. I couldn't find a track so I bush bashed straight up the hill until I came to the cliffs...I really should have told Michele about this beforehand, but I couldn't resist...I scaled the cliff using the chains and hand holds...it was a bit exposed and the wind was gusting over 20knots straight at the cliff... but the climb wasn't hard and the next thing I know I was on top. That was a change in elevation of 450 metres in 2k or a gradient of 25% overall. So I called Michele from the top, and we arranged to meet in Katoomba at the Golden stairs. I ran along Narrowneck at a steady pace enjoying the most wonderful views in the afternoon sun. It was hot, and I had run out of water but the exhilaration of being on top kept me going. It was about 32k all up with some very big hills.
View back to campground from Bellbird Point

Afterwards we had a delicious Indian meal at the Arjuna restaurant in Katoomba before returning to our collapsed tents at Carlons farm. (the wind had blown the over)
I was up at 6am on Sunday to a beautiful cool morning with light drizzle and moderate southerly wind. The tent was surrounded by kangaroos, some with joeys and two big males who were duking it out on their hind legs. This time I ran up to the Medlow Gap road and then 9k round to Taro's Ladder. The climb was taxing and it was hard to keep running afterwards, but I eventually perked up and ran to the coffee shop near the Katoomba oval. All up 25k with a 340m change in elevation overall.
Michele and Serena met me at the coffee shop, and after breakfast we had a great visit to the Scenic Railway. They really have done a great job with the boardwalk through the rainforest. It was interesting to see the use of lightweight galvanised channels to make the supports.
In the afternoon we had a disappointing meal at the Alexandra pub at Leura (that place has gone downhill quickly), dropped in at the Castros and got home about 6.
Next morning was Australia Day and I dragged myself out to run the Clovelly Star in reverse. I plodded along in ideal conditions to cover the 32k (with my extra bits) in 3 hours, Fairly slow but the hills of the previous days were holding me.

Narrabeen 32k and Clovelly Star 30k

I recovered from the flu suddenly and went to the Six Foot track training group 32k run across Narrabeen plateau. I thought the pace might be slower which would suit my flu recovery, and also I really wanted to see this area. It was a very pleasant morning, overcast and cool. About 30 runners. The organisers were just that, super organised with water drops everywhere. Due to the nature of the trails and the many turnoffs, it was a slow pace as we kept regrouping and going single file through the bush. I had quite a few good conversations along the way. The last seven k's or so we were able to sprint out along the excellent track around Narrabeen lake. I felt good and really enjoyed it.
Clovelly Star - Hmmm, should I do another thirty k on Sunday? Well I felt OK and it was local, so I joined the 6.20 group and off we went. I was tired but I didn't have any trouble keeping up along the hilly course along the coast to Malabar. After the hills the pace quickened (or I slowed) and the group started to break up. I stayed in contact until Kensington and the front four slowly pulled away. I came in about 500m behind, and felt pretty good. Tired but no injuries.

Then went off the Mike and Stefs' for the Warriewood swim. I missed that but had a great day and spent a couple of hours in the small surf with the kids. A great day.

The Flu returns.

I thought I had kicked the flu but it kicked back in with a vengeance and I had to lie low from Monday to Thur.
Finally got out for a run to the office and back on Friday.

Megalong Weekend Jan 10/11

Cricket at the Campground

Drove up to Carlons Farm camp ground with Neil, Geoff, Kate Serena, Michele and Honor. I made a silly error and we wasted an hour going up the Shipley Plateau. Finally got to the campsite and we had it all to ourselves, which was just as well as it was midnight and we made a lot of noise.
I slept very soundly after a week of flu, and we had a quiet morning exploring the area. Michele and Honor weren't into camping this weekend and went back to Sydney.
I took Geoff, Kate and Serena on a great hike from the Megalong road up the Six foot track to the Nellies Glen Turnoff, then up to the Narrowneck tunnel (Rennies). The kids were troopers and we had fun finding our way through the pitch black tunnel, and getting thoroughly filthy. We emerged onto the Federal pathway and followed it back to the Golden Stairs. I saw several Lyrebirds and found someones hidden lunch which animals had pulled apart. It included some Full O Fruit biscuits which I greedily ate.

Inside Rennie's Tunnel

We met Neil at the mountain top and then had a meal at the Blackheath pub, before going back to the tents at Carlons.
Saturday night was one of the most beautiful that I remember. A full moon came up through a misty sky about 10pm. It was dead still. All the bush was lit up by the moon as if it were a dream, the cliff of Narrowneck could be clearly seen. The weather was perfect, and I left the tent flap open. About 1 am I woke up to see the enormous moon filling the tent door.
At 5.30am I dragged myself out for a run. On the way back I had noted the didtasnces from ther campsite. So I ran with the sunrise, kangaroos and wombats along the beautioful Megalong valley to the Coffee shop and back. The outward trip was a struggle with the flu setting in, but I recovered on the return trip and ran along happily, at about 4.3min/k. 30k all up
Afterwards we had a fun game of cricket with our kids and some fellow campers Carol and Geraldine and their boys.
Later we hoked up the nearby hill and claimed it with a cairn of rocks, and the drove down through Biolpin to visit Catherine and Michaels Arabian stud. We learned a lot about Arabs, and I have to agree they are beautiful animals.

The Flu

Aaargh... the kids had now I got it. For a week as it turned out. This flu hung around for a week and I lost my voice for three days. Nio running for five days. Fortunately it went away very suddenly on Thursday.

Tuesday Sprints

Mon 5/1/08 Ran to work and later walked home. Very hot. Cycled to Airport and back to farewell Fred and Cindy.
Tue 6/1/08 Early meeting at Manly. Ran home at 7pm and stopped for 10*400m sprints at Pioneer. Pretty stiff after the weekend, ran them between 1.44 and 1.57.

Dee Why Dash 4/1/09

27k from Dee Why Surf club up to Oxford Falls then to Allambie Heights, Manly and along the coat to Dee Why. There were some big hills and one big down hill. I felt pretty good getting through it in 2:25. Mentally the hills were tough especially the last one at the end.
Yesterday I went on a 5 hour bike ride (in the saddle) from Malabar to Lillyfield where I met Graham, then all around Homebush Park, then on to Enfield for coffee with the Castros, then back along Cooks River and Foreshore drive. Left knee sore afterwards so I iced it and took Voltaren.
Last weekend I ran in the CR 5k in 18.53. Heidi ran 19.44. In the last week I also ran Heidi's secret Coogee Hill course, and we ran downhill intervals at Lapa. Numerous other runs, around Lapa/Malabar.