Matilda Waltz

Hi there...long time no see!

I know it has been a very long time and I have no excuse except that I just couldn't be bothered. But here I am on the farm, a little bored, so thought I would post about what we did yesterday.

Stephen had the day off (Sunday - isn't it suppose to be the day of REST?) so we decided to tackle a few geocaches we had been putting off for a few years. They are all on top of Mount Matilda. 

I had a good talking to myself before we left and said there was to be 'no whinging' and just enjoy the experience. I knew I would get tired but...I needed the exercise. 

Anyway we set off and arrived at the bottom of Mt Matilda around 11am. We figured it would take us about two and a half hours for the round trip. In the cache description it said there was a bit of a climb from the car park and the rest was pretty flat. After a while we were wondering when the flat part was coming....finally it did! 

We arrived at the first cache 'Matilda Waltz', found it quickly and signed the log. I was feeling pretty good, not too tired and happily went on to the next cache. The flies were becoming annoying and I wished I had thought to bring my fly net...oh and a hat...fancy going out in the Australian bush without a hat, sunscreen, bug spray and net?? Thank goodness we took water!

Onward and upward to Speakers Chair and Gimlet Gully

We still had a fair way to go before we got to the next cache and walking was starting to hurt. Pain the the tops of my legs...something I had never experienced before. I wasn't out of breath or feeling really tired..it just hurt! Anyway I had another good talking to myself (in my head) and reminded myself of what we had talked about in the morning and pressed on.  'The Speakers Chair' named after the Hon T F Quinlan who was the Speaker of the House of Assembly at the time he climbed up here. Then we set off for the last cache, 'Conway Gimlet'.

Along the track Steve almost stepped on this little cutie. Both of us remembered these when we were children. A kid in Steve's class brought one to school in a shoe box and I remembered Dad bringing one home for us after a trip away in his truck.

Australian Thorny Devil

Ok getting pretty sore and now my knee is starting to ache. I had a car accident a few years ago and my left knee smashed through the glovebox and it's never been the same since. I told Steve to go ahead as I was getting slower and slower....he was soon out of site. I had some stern words to myself and even thought about those poor men who were on the Kakoda track and how hard it must have been for them. Really???

Finally I got to a T junction and called out "cooee" to Steve. He called back and said he was at GZ which was downhill. I decided it would be better for him and me if I just kept going along the track and he could catch up. It didn't take him long. I was in so much pain by now I could hardly walk, almost crying but what would be the point of that!! This track was full of rocks that had to be stepped over, up and down and every time I lifted my legs, it hurt.

Finally we arrived back at the entrance 7.5 km's and three hours later. Steve brought the car to me and I piled inside. I was so happy to sit down. 

It sounds a bit funny now but at the time......it was agony! We will never be going back there.

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Before I sign off I want to remember my beautiful nephew Dom. He chose to leave us seven weeks ago today. He was a lovely, caring person a talented musician with a passion for the blues. We are missing him greatly.

Rest in Peace now Dom.