Courtesy Alice:-
A chest infection isn’t best prep for an outstation or losing wallet and housekeys. I hopped on my bike and made it to the ‘rustic’ accommodation in time for the run.
Suckit and Itchy Bitchy had laid trail and the one in the duct tape old trainers promised a flattish trail with limited elevation, while waving his hand in the general direction of the hills and ridges around us. Mmm. He also told us we’d see where we slid down on his ass for 100 yards straight. Didn’t sound very flat!
From my posi in back of pack I enjoyed Leaky Fawcet’s interactions with friendly lodge puppy Bamboo, although the mutt enjoyed both my legs later that evening, repeatedly.
The trail went down thru forest to a dam and then up into the ridges. And up. And up. Nice and easy does it, small steps, but coughing fits won out. Creature’s missus inspired me to continue, or her cute arse did, then she waved me past sadly. At odd moments I could see Blows Herself and ABB, yes, very odd and hear shouting ahead of me higher up in the forested hillsides.
I jogged flat sections and wheezed like a defunct traction engine.
Cumalot was behind me and started jogging herself to up the pressure, thanks Matchuda!
Suddenly the downhill dirt track to end all downhill dirt tracks. Two or three hundred metres of almost straight down steep horror faced us and I reckoned Cumalot landing on me was better than the other way around. I skipped diagonally praying for roots not to trip me, and descended in sections with every expectation of disaster. Salomans I salute thee.
At the base we jogged around a shoulder and down a gently sloping wide trail. I realised I’d been off markings for 150m and stopped, Cumalot came jogging along happily checking me not flour!
I retraced and found dots of flour going into a banana field leading to a steep gulley. Here Chucky, Piggee and some others came jogging towards me whinging about Vs and FTs and out trails. I followed flour up the hillside after the gulley and there was a neat On In on a clear path.
The other Aussie visitor with Suckit, Ali, was just ahead as I exhaustedly made my way along the last few hundred metres back to the Lodge and I could hear the voices of Chucky’s group.
Browny appeared heading out again – lap 2 or sweep for damsels in distress I wasn’t sure.
Shower then beer, before a longish but good fun circle.
Good effort hares, well marked and a challenging set in steep terrain. I knew I’d sleep despite the brick slab masquerading as a mattress and ABB’s English radio wafting through the partition wall.