Our First 50km Walk & Welcome Back TP

  

Sunrise - Sunset

After a couple of wet weekends and false starts we finally got back out on the trail, and not ones to take it easy on ourselves we planned our first 50km walk for 2010.  It was also a significant event as we welcomed back Tony P after getting the "all-clear" from the Doc to resume training on his dodgy knee.  Given it was TP's first trail walk in some time we decided to plan things so that he could stop at the 30km mark while the rest of us carried on to 50km.  So it was a nice early start again with all of us meeting at Berowra Station at 0540 to leave TP's car and all head off in one car to Brooklyn.  Special thanks to Fred's wife Lynda for coming with us so early in the morning to drive the car back from Brooklyn.

It was another dark and chilly morning as we got away at 0605 but thankfully we must be getting fitter because the dreaded concrete track out of Brooklyn did not beat us and we all got to the top without stopping.  After that great start to get the blood flowing we soon felt warm (that and all of the gloves and jackets).  It was a beautiful morning and perfect walking weather - Tony R even took a picture of the sunrise to share with you.  We ran into several other Oxfam Groups and also a National Parks tours so it was great to see so many people out enjoying the trail so early in the morning.  It is however amazing how much more noise 4 people make than 3, or it that just the TP factor?

Despite being off the trail for several months TP was setting a good pace and after a very pleasant 3:02hrs walk we found ourselves at Checkpoint 1.  This was the same time as last walk and we were well pleased with our progress.  At Checkpoint 1 we helped ourselves to some snacks and a quick break before heading off towards Berowra Waters. 

As we started to hit the tougher hills we slowed down a bit, but knowing we had 50km to finish we kept our focus on the end result.  By the time we arrived at Checkpoint 2 we had worked ourselves into lather salivating at the prospect of a hamburger.  We stopped the clock at 2:47hrs and headed up the hill to the Berowra Take-Away (how come we can't count this hill in our training?).  Unfortunately all our salivating came to nought as Berowra Take-Away doesn't open on Sundays - should have checked that first! Fortunately the pie shop is next door and just a few minutes later we were all tucking into a hot pie and shortly after that TP left us.  So it was only three of the Amigos who headed back down the hill to Checkpoint 2 to start the clocking ticking once again. 

After the steep descent down from suburban Berowra into the mangroves it was starting to cool down and get dull as the clouds came over.  It was still a good walking temperature and we enjoyed the walk along the boardwalk and up Lyrebird Gully.  There is still a fair amount of water in the creeks, although nowhere near the levels of a few weeks ago.  As always the steep bitumen road at the end of Lyrebird Gully was a challenge but just a we had done at Brooklyn, we got all the up without stopping.  Once over the Pacific Highway it was all downhill to Apple Tree Bay.  By the time we arrived it was really starting to cool down.  We stopped the clock at 3:06hrs and we looked to be on track to finish before it got too dark.

After a short break we headed off over the hill and down into Bobbin Head.  After walking past the marina it was time to climb again.  While the initial part of this leg is steep and narrow it soon widens out into a fire trail and it is possible to set a good pace.  Since we saw the sun come up we figured we should take one of the sun going down.  We arrived at Checkpoint 4 (Sphinx Memorial) just as it got dark enough for headlamps again and stopped the clock at 1:29hrs.

All up we had covered the "official" 50.5km (plus our diversion to the pie shop) in 11:08 hours including our stops so we were well pleased. 

Thanks again to Lynda for coming out again in the cold to pick us up from Checkpoint 4 walk with lovely chicken rolls in hand.  As we piled into the warm car for the trip home we couldn't help but long for a warm bath, cold beer and a good sleep - it will be interesting to see how we pull up in the morning!

THE WALKERS:  AJ, Fred, Tony P, Tony R

THE STATS
Start – Cp1
Start Time: 6:04am
Duration: 3:01:44
Finish Time: 9:06am
Distance: 15.05km
Average Pace: 12.04 min/km
Average Speed: 5.0 km/h

Cp1 - Cp2
Start Time: 9:14am
Duration: 2:47:30
Finish Time: 12:02pm
Distance: 11.68km
Average Pace: 14.21min/km
Average Speed: 4.2 km/h

Cp2 – Cp3
Start Time: 12:31pm
Duration: 3:05:58
Finish Time: 3:37pm
Distance: 13.56km
Average Pace: 13.43 min/km
Average Speed: 4.4 km/h

Cp3 - Cp4
Start Time: 3:43pm
Duration: 1:29:32
Finish Time: 5:12pm
Distance: 6.60km
Average Pace: 13.33min/km
Average Speed: 4.4 km/h

Total Time: 10.24:44
Total Distance: 46.90km