Mummy, my legs hurt

Now that I've had a nap I can write this race report!  A marathon sandwiched between two 40+ degree days was never going be cool and pleasant, but what a top event it was - Narrabeen Allnighter had such a great laid back vibe and that special camaraderie amongst the marathoners and ultrarunners was there in droves.  My alarm was set for 12.30am(!) to allow for the hour and 20 drive to the northern beaches for rego at 2am and then a 3am start.  We'd come here as a family the week prior so I knew roughly where I was going but I always allow some 'getting lost' time just in case. Arriving alone, I wandered around a little, trying with my crappy night vision to spot anyone I knew, particularly any RMAs or Summit Sisters, but couldn't see anyone familiar in the dark apart from the Up Coaching team who were focussed on the job at hand. Another girl who'd arrived solo introduced herself as Ali (Martinez, who I later found out was very speedy!) and we h...

Near Glenbrook Distance: 3ish km... my Garmin tracked it as 5.4 as I left it on whilst swimming Duration: We took 2.5 hours but that included over an hour mucking around in the water, and breaks on the way back. This waterhole is a hidden gem!  A relatively short but steep track winds down from a nondescript dirt side track off Red Hands fire trail in Glenbrook National Park. The Kanuka Brook Gully track is clearly marked on maps but blink and you'll miss it when driving along the fire trail! There is a very small clearing opposite the trailhead where you can park, and from there it is about 1km down to the edge of the pool. The track is enjoyable on the way down with a few steep scrambles that were tricky for short legs. But it's all downhill.  :) Although Holly chose to wear her long socks, 'in case of leeches', there weren't any. :) First we skirted the edge of the pool around to the left, alongside a sheer wall that shaded the...

Near Lithgow Distance: 2.3km Duration: We took a bit over an hour Today we decided to explore Dargan Arch, a very cool eroded rock formation out near Bell. Getting there was an adventure in itself! We were following some vague directions which took us along the Darling Causeway, and up Sandham Rd to Dargan. We searched in vain for 'pole 384' to turn off at, overshooting it and ending up at a colliery. After some backtracking with all of us hanging out the car windows scanning poles and trees for numbers, we finally found 384, and drove a short way down a scrubby unmaintained trail. There was a bare patch about the size of 2 car spaces that we took to be the 'parking area' referred to in the notes we were using. From there it was a 15 minute walk down a loose, rocky, rutted 4WD track to Dargan Arch. The arch itself is very big and you can walk across it (with care of course). It feels quite safe but mind the edges, as its a fair way down! Looking down o...

Near Kangaroo Valley Distance: 1km return Duration: 20 minutes Tucked away  near Kangaroo Valley is the Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve, accessible via an unassuming dirt track that leads off a hairpin turn on Moss Vale Road at the top of Cambewarra Mountain. Leebold Hill Rd traverses the ridgeline for a few kilometres and gets progressively rougher; a bit of clearance on your car will come in handy here. Red Rocks trig point is at the end of a very short peaceful track, covered in orange butterflies when we were there in the spring time. The worn sandstone plateau brings you to a magnificent (but unfenced - be careful!) lookout with 180 degree views across the valley and Morton and Budderoo National Parks. This would be a great walk to spot cool gum nuts and cool rocks, but remember to leave everything just as you found it. This walk is within a National Parks managed reserve. It was cool and windy and we heard many tiny wrens tittering in the bushes.

Near Tallong, Southern Highlands NSW Distance: NPWS list it as 3.5km return, we got 5.3km return Duration: Listed as 3.5 - 4.5 hours and Grade 5, we took a bit under 3 (and we took our time mucking about in the creek) For our 10th wedding anniversary, Richard and I had a short getaway at Kangaroo Valley and decided to tackle a walk that we wouldn't be able to do if we had the kids in tow. Badgerys Spur walking track is just south of Tallong in the Ettrema wilderness area, and is a steep, chossy, loose track that drops 500 metres in just 2.5km. The bushland is open and scrubby making it one to avoid on very hot days and the track, although not really marked, is relatively easy to find. Climbing on all fours down this big sharp conglomerate bluff at the start you think, 'ah righto, this will be slow going!',  however the track soon evens out (but remains steep all the way down). Halfway down the hill we came to a stand of the biggest xanthorreas I'...

Near Blackheath, NSW Distance: 6.8km Duration: 2.5 hours Today we explored Fortress Lookout and the well-hidden Dr Dark's cave. Although the kids alternated between 'I hate life' and 'bush walking is awesome', they did great on this very steep and scrubby track! Heading along Mt Hay road we parked at a small parking area signposted as Fortress Ridge. Through a locked gate and up a steep rocky fire trail was Fortress Ridge Trail proper. At the end point of this track is a breathtaking vista, with the ground covered in scratchy low heath that slopes down gently -then all of a sudden you realise you're on the edge of a sheer drop, so don't let the kids run ahead on this bit! There are magnificent views down into the Grose valley and down to your left in the picture below you can see the (smallish) Medusa falls which I believe flow into Arethusa canyon. Backtracking from the lookout, keep your eyes peeled for the nondescript side trail to D...