So here we are at the end of day 2 up here, and so far there’s no casualties to speak of, and no one has hit the wall yet…but we haven’t even done anything hard yet!!! The day started with the pitter patter of light rain on the roof, and 99% humidity making the 11 degrees feel a little sticky and muggy…and nothing like as cold as 11 degrees. Fortunately it was only light and the weather radar showed some hope that it would pass within a few hours.
In reality we had nothing to complain about given the incredible floods in QLD – the pictures and TV of it is like from a movie, and not in our own country. Just amazing, and we really feel for the people affected.
The training schedule for the day included a swim, run and bike (in that order) so our first moves were in the mini-bus and down the hill to Mt Beauty for a swim session in the pool. Mt Beauty is well named as it’s a lovely little town, and fairly quiet but gets a lot of passing traffic as the last petrol / good coffee / bakery / supermarket stop before the mountains. The pool was really nice although was a quirky 33 1/3m long that threw us all, being used to either 25m or 50m pools. But being grown-ups we adapted and got in a good session, me being in a lane with some pretty damn good swimmers!!!
I’ve finally got the names of everyone here sorted out – I was bit hazy when writing last night(!!) – which includes the following: Tony (the boss and initiator of the camp), Brad, Terry, Luke (QLD), Lisa (QLD), Liz (QLD), Andy (WA), Jacob (15yo, SA), Gabriel (cyclist), Luke (cyclist). A few more are arriving tonight – Bev, Vicki, Nick and Cam (cyclist). We’re a happy group of campers, and eating like kings!!!
So after the swim we drove back up the mountain to find the rain had stopped, the wind was calm and it was really pleasant – the temperature has a funny feel up here, not feeling as cold as back in Melbourne. I had a walk around Falls Creek village and found it very quiet, except for some workers doing a bit of general maintenance. No sign of the runners we saw yesterday…I’m keen to see them to be among equally skinny and hairy legged athletes!!!
Two sessions this afternoon started with an easy run around the edge of the Rocky Valley dam, past ski tows and in the midst of mountain peaks devoid of trees except for the dead snow guns standing like eerie skeletons in scattered patches on the hills – the fires came amazingly close to Falls Creek village. I rode my mountain bike while the triathletes ran along on a lovely dirt track – very nice.
The second session sent them off on their bikes along the High Plains Rd, over the plateau around the lake where it’s undulating rather than hilly. I left them to it and strapped on my running shoes for my OWN run along some tracks, up a ski run (*&%# steep!!) and along a ridge at the top of ski runs – a magnificent run in the sky around Falls Creek resort, but whether it was lack of fitness, the steep hills or thin air...it was hard!!!
Dinner is just about to be served – spaghetti bolognaise – so that’s enough for now. Similar sessions tomorrow, but I/we will turn up the intensity dial a little in the sessions…haha!!!
Dinner last night - beef gourlash!!
Getting the mini-bus to go swimming in Mt Beauty...a bit drizzly.
Outside the Mt Beauty swimming pool - a nice pool.
On the pool deck - nice water and 33 1/3m long!!
A nice view on the way back up the mountain - cloud hanging over Mt Bogong.
Lots of ski-doos all around Falls Creek, going rusty during summer!!
The runners along the aquaduct trail - really beautiful running.
Brad working on his bike - he knows his way around a bike very well!!
About to head off on a ride...
...and there they go!!
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