Mummy, my legs hurt

Yesterday I ran my 2nd ultra!  UTA didn't disappoint; after a brief moment of anxiety over the last minute course change, I realised it was a blessing and I'd likely be much more suited to the new course which now took in roughly the first half of the 100k course. The later start time after 9.30am threw me a little but then I realised it would totally take the pressure off for my only goal of 'not finishing in the dark' this year - I'd definitely be finishing in the dark with that start time! Plus, It was an opportunity to see Narrowneck, Tarros ladders and Nellie's glen, all of which I've been wanting to get to for a while now.  The expected all-day rain (and even possible thunderstorm forecast at one point) didn't appear... I'd thought earlier in the week that a top of 14 and rain would work to my advantage as I definitely do not do well in the heat. However although the sun was shining it wasn't nearly as hot as last year, thank good...

Near Hazelbrook NSW Distance: 3.4km Duration: ~2 hours Today we explored Burgess Falls and Oakland Falls in Hazelbrook, a beautiful, cool, relatively easy waterfall loop that is accessed from a grassy vacant lot on Winbourne Rd in Hazelbrook (can be accessed from the other end too). Burgess Falls in particular caught our eye as Burgess is Ty's middle name, after his grandfather. These and the neighboring Oakland Falls didn't disappoint; with small sandy 'beaches' they were a top spot to take a break along the way. The track itself meandered up and down through damp lush forest, crossing Hazelbrook creek and bringing us first to the top of Horseshoe Falls, where we carefully peered down over the rock platform to where the falls pooled below. Judging by the number of happy off-leash doggos we encountered this is a dog friendly bush walk; it doesn't appear to lie within national park boundaries. Two giant black labs were frolicking in one of the falls when w...

Near Mittagong Distance: 8.7km return Duration: ~ 4 hours We were looking for a peaceful adventure on ANZAC day and Richie found this nice little walk on the other side of Mittagong.  Box Vale walking track follows an old train cutting with a tunnel near the end, and passes some historic coal mining bits and pieces through lovely cool southern highlands forest. In autumn it was absolutely full of a myriad of frilly, lumpy and blobby toadstools which were fun to photograph. The tramway line was built in 1888 to carry coal mined in Nattai Gorge to the main line at Mittagong. The line passes through several cuttings and a tunnel, and ends at the "incline", where coal was brought up from the gorge. It was closed in 1896 and the tramway abandoned, and was later opened as a walking track in 1996. And we hit a milestone today... 4 hours walking, nearly 9km - the furthest we've gone as a family, yet there was no fighting, no whining; they had fun and collected ro...