Are you guys alright with this still

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That was the most understated question of Saturday night.

XPD is creeping up on us. Our team is complete. We were all available for a training session last Saturday night.

We found a 42km walk in Lamington National Park. 21kms between Binna Burra & ORielys.

Rain was forcasted for the weekend. Nobody knew that it was going to be the most rain this area has had in over 100 years!!!

We started our walk at 6:30pm on Saturday night. The first hour was just a few puddles & clouded in. As it got dark we arced up our Ay Up lights. Then it started raining. It got heavier & heavier. Shortly there wasnt any room in the sky for any more rain.

It dumped on our heads non-stop for the next 9 hours! The puddles on the track got deeper & deeper. Then the trail turned into a running creek.

Each of us would have easily had about 20 or so leaches on us at any one time.

The walk took us 11 & a half hours. Lots happened in that time so here is a point summary.

1. Dog is the new team XMO (executive morale officer)
2. Dogs can sing (not)
3. Poetry is awesome on long walks.
4. Walking while sleeping is possible
5. 5 minute power naps do work
6. Goretex renewing conditioner doesnt work
7. Team 145 L-Attitude is awesome
8. Bike nix are not good for long walks
9. A big breakfast, a bacon egg burger, 3 extra strength coffees is the best recovery breakfast
10. Doing something that takes you outside of your comfort zone is very rewarding.
11. Bear Grylls is our team mascot

Until next time.
dog


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XPD If this is hell then I am in heaven

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What is expedition racing?

XPD racing very quickly becomes less about racing & more about surviving & experiences. Here is my account of XPD adventures. "It is as much an adventure as a race"

About 9 months ago, I showed a sniff of interest in doing what is easily the longest & toughest expedition length race in Australia. The next thing I know I am gearing up & training for the race with team Ay Up Grylls.

After a 2 day drive from Brisbane to Cairns in 2 cars full of crap (ok not so much crap, more like food, gortex, pretty red adventure racing shoes...) the feeling of "what have I just gotten myself into started pop up.

So much important, race specific details occured in the first few days. But for the reader it would be very boring.

One of our goals was to complete the 700-800kms course. This did not happen. It was becoming increasingly apparent as the days passed that we would not complete the course. (About 20 out of the 48 teams that started finished the course)



One of MY most important goals was to have an adventure of a life time with my partner Kirstie. This did happen cementing a solid reference point in our relationship.

Day one: Start, Dunk Island. A quick scoot around the trails, pick up a couple of check points then the 4 of us got into one of these...



...ocean paddled to a check point jumped out, snorkelled to a couple of markers. We had to do this twice. Back to the main jetty & then again the 4 of us got back into the boat for a channel crossing, at night.



Overloaded, full of water the entire way, swell washing over the sides of the boat. I am glad I spend a few $ on a good dry bag for my pack. Once at the transition area guess what? "We get to go for a ride!" Do you remember how sore your butt was when you first started riding a bike? Well if you have forgotten, pop an xpd pack on, get on your bike & ride.

As with xpd racing, this blog entry can easily just go on & on & on... "are we there yet? are we there yet???

Here is a brief of the next 7 days... Hiked, rode, navigated, sweated, tired, 2 min sleeps, paddled, hauled boats over rapids, walked, ate chocolate, drank river water, slept under the stars, rested, laughed, highs, lows & lots, lots more.

I will let this slide show tell you some more stories.

As much as I loved every aspect of XPD & adventure racing, my passion still remains on two wheels in the dirt.

Until next time: Reward is something you get with effort.

dog

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Everything I have ever done has lead me to this moment

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I recently watched the film 127 hours. In brief, it is a film about a free, adventurous and happy dude that got his arm jammed between a rock face and a large rock that dislodged. Trapping him. 127 hours later he came to the conclusions there was only one way out. So, he broke his forearm bones and cut his own arm off, escaping and was able to get help.

During his time stuck between a rock and a hard place one of the realisations he came to was this. 

Everything he had ever done in his life led him to the situation. The rock that had spent millions of years doing its rock thing had been waiting for him and that very moment.

Today is 2 years to the day that everything I had ever done led me to meeting the woman of my dreams.

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Kirstie. Thank you for taking such time & effort to put together such an amazing, wonderful & complete woman that you are today. I love the way you walk. I love the way you laugh. I love your smile. Passion, vision, support, dreams, strength, encouragement, sharing. All this & more we fit into one day. I am so looking forward to smashing out this moment, tomorrow & the rest of my life with you.

Until next time...dog

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