How to walk nearly 9k

Head to Australia Zoo for the day and you can certainly burn off some calories. We recently became a host family to a delightful young Danish exchange scout (not the one we were originally to have), and she and I headed off to the zoo for the day.

We patted kangaroos. There are two large enclosures for the kangaroos and you just wander through and take photos, pat, take more photos as the fancy takes you. The roos have private sections where they can go and have some time out away from we annoying humans but there are always plenty to see. You can buy bags of feed for them to snack on too. We ran into my sister, Mum, my 4 year old niece and 2 almost 3 year old nephews while we were here. One nephew when asked what he had seen at the zoo answered, "A plane". In his defence one had just flown over! Good to see the pony ride he'd just had made an impact! :)
We oggled echidnas hiding in logs. Love echidnas (Australia's version of a hedgehog, porcupine although I think ours is anatomically a bit weirder reproductive wise).
We snapped snoozing koalas. A couple had babies but I wasn't able to get you a good photo as the bubs were snuggled right in. The little one below is having a bit of a feast.

Australia Zoo (of Steve Irwin fame) is a brilliant day out and it's shown me that I can walk a damn long way while having fun. It's close by and I have an annual pass so might have to include it in my 'places to walk regularly'. Was I tired after my big day at the zoo? Oh yes indeed. I was stuffed actually but our host daughter had a blast and that is what was most important.

Big Day Out. Part 2.

A few hours after returning home from our Big Day Out Part 1, Jeff decided that he was going to take the dogs up to the dam for some exercise. I was still feeling good (no fatigue, yippee!), after our morning walk in the rainforest and started to consider going along for a second outing. We were both concerned about it being too much, on top of my previous walk, but in the end I decided to give my body the extra push and go. We figured if I crashed I could sit and wait for Jeff and the girls to come back.
Here the girls are on the causeway, reading all the interesting news that has been left for them to sniff up. Sophie is at left, Jess is at right with the blue collar.
We found this spot halfway through our walk and it reminded us of images we've seen of the Florida Everglades. We hope they are safe from that horrible oil spill. No chance of an oil spill here.
Here are my girls running to me. So cute. There's nothing like the total love and devotion of a dog.

We walked for about an hour in a very leisurely fashion. By the end I could feel my body becoming tight and uncomfortable, and my knees were beginning to protest. I felt good though, no fatigue whatsoever. It is now Monday morning and I still feel good. I could weep with relief! This is the longest remission I've had from fatigue in probably 9 years. I've also had the best quality energy this time around and this has enabled me to start this new part of my journey to wholeness and health. I'm hoping chronic fatigue syndrome is OVER, not just in hibernation.

I shall try not to become overconfident and do too much (as I'm known to do). Yes, I know who's reading this and what you are thinking! :) It's nice to feel a bit excited and sassy about it all though! Hopefully I walked a bit of size off my backside while I was at it.

Wishing Lynn over at Lynn's Weigh a love filled, successful recovery from surgery. We are all thinking of you and wishing you well!

Big Day Out Part 1

We were having a slow start this morning so decided to head up the range for brunch and a walk at one of our favourite spots, Mary Cairncross Park. Almost nine years ago Jeff and I were married here in an outdoor ceremony (obviously!).
This is the view down towards our home in the mountains. Aren't they lovely? I always so LOVE to have my first peep of the mountains upon my return from any long trip away. This was the backdrop for our wedding ceremony. Not bad eh?
Here is my sweetie reading the paper and waiting for our order to arrive. We were married right there almost at the end of the table - which obviously wasn't there for the ceremony! :) Even the wildlife attended with a scrub (brush) turkey doing a streak through, jumping on a table and knocking some glasses down. A flustered looking park worker scurried through after him. We just stopped the proceedings and got on with it again when all had settled down. Interestingly, one of our gifts was a piece of original Aboriginal art done by an artist I know, the topic of which was the scrub turkey.
After a delicious and slightly indulgent breakfast, a second coffee and much pouring over maps of the Pacific Northwest in preparation for our trip, we headed into the rainforest for an amble. It was pleasantly cool, not too busy and we got to see and hear some wildlife. The cat birds were very vocal although we didn't spot a one. They make a sound sort of like a baby crying. Tried to get a photo of a paddymelon for you but wasn't successful sorry. We did the full walk which I've not been able to do for at least 10 years. It took about 45 minutes I suppose. GO ME!!

A brilliantly chaotic strangler fig. These trees absolutely rock.

An eerie valley of palms.

Bushwalking

On Monday we set off on a bush walk in our local area. It was so lovely to be out in the bush surrounded by wild orchids, grass trees (front right of above photo), and the unique sound and smell of the Aussie bush. The grass trees reminded me of my childhood on the farm where we used these to make spears and bows and arrows from them. Much fun was had and I'm pleased to say that no injuries occurred either! They are protected now so photos will have to do.
Looking back down the track to see Mt Tibrogargan peeking back at me through the trees.

I MADE IT to the top! Woohoo. As my niece Miss 4 told her mother on the phone, 'Aunty Sandy was very slow.' Gotta love kids! The last bit was quite steep and I was shattered for a little while - so shattered that it took me awhile to be excited about my accomplishment. I remember when I couldn't climb stairs and when I struggled to get myself off and on the toilet, so climbing a lookout is HUGE. Shocker photo if I say so myself. :)
View from the top. Mt Beerwah in the back at left. To the right is Mt Tibberoowuccum. These mountains form part of the Glass House Mountains. I grew up here on a farm and then in town (small), moved away for work and am now living back here, happily snuggled at the base of one of the mountains.

Here I am on the way back down. Shocker photo again but it made me realise that I can see a change in my body shape after only 2kg lost. I barely recognise myself in these photos. In recent years I've become invisible and not had many photos taken of me. Not on purpose really, just when there are kids around you tend to point the camera at the little people. I'm also sure that I haven't rushed to get into any photos too feeling as bloated and gross as I have. Here's to being visible again.