Hiking in Kosciuszko

Some highlights of our trip

• The Kosciuszko YHA - friendly staff and great facilities.
• Meeting up with Gavin and Peter who turned out to be awesome hiking companions.
• Hiking to the top of Mount Kosciuszko, the highest mountain in Australia at 2,228 metres.
• Exhilarating leaps into the sky.
• The patience and skill of the photographer who captured our group leap at the top of Kosciuszko - what a star she was!
• Going down the ski lift, and a moment of butterflies when we went over a cliff.
• An amazing 22 km walk on the Main Range trail past gorgeous alpine lakes, rugged outcrops and breathtaking vistas.  One of the best hikes I've done in Australia.
• A great meal at a local Italian restaurant - including delicious salmon pasta and the best veggie pizza ever (after the world's worst veggie burger the night before.)
• Hiking through a surreal landscape of dead trees and seeing wild horses on The Dead Horses Gap walk.
• Seeing a huge gathering of crows on a rocky outcrop - I've never seen so many crows in one place, almost like something out of The Birds.
• Awesome dessert on the final night.
• Lots of talk about food - and often feeling very hungry as a result.
• Delicious cups of tea and hot chocolate after the hikes.
• Zante courageously leaping off a rock near the top of Mount Kosciuszko.
• Elizabeth falling out of a tree, then getting right back up and up the tree again - not letting anything beat her. Also, powering on ahead up the steep hills.
• Michelle, the Queen of Scrabble, who not only won but got a seven letter word; "frenetic." What a champ she is!
• Gavin's hilarious and entertaining stories including a new spin on dumplings - we'll never think of them the same way again!
• Learning a great and easy recipe for "Poor Man's Tiramisu" - great if you need to make dessert in a hurry.

The intrepid six

From left:  Zante, Elizabeth, Michelle, Peter, Gavin, Me

Hike to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko  (15 km)

Main Range Walk  (22 km)

    

Dead Horses End Hike  (10 km)

Flowers of Kosciuszko

The call of Thredbo

The crows are definitely the Kings of Kosciuszko and they remind you of the fact with their constant "craaking."

Ski-lifting

Leaping

Meet Up reference

Sydney to Hobart race

Nicola's husband, John, was one of the sailors in this year's race. It was fantastic to watch some of the behind the scenes and even get to see inside the boat.  Not exactly comfort!!  The loo, shared by 20 people, is something that would make a pygmy claustrophobic and the narrow bunks are angled at 40 degrees to the wall, so you're pinned in like a tinned sardine. Amazing that some of the competitors spend a whole year on the boat. They'll never take space for granted again.  Still, an amazing experience, I'm sure to be on the open ocean, pitted in combat against other yachts in their class.

At the harbour, before the race

Nicola and John

Watching the start at Watson's Bay

Some dolphins swam past.  Well spotted, Nicola!

John's boat (Go Team Garmin!)

Non fiction books read (2014)

Spiritual awakening

• The Mystery Experience: A revolutionary approach to spiritual awakening (Tim Freke)

The map of consciousness

• I: Reality and Subjectivity (David R. Hawkins M.D. Ph.D.)

Enquiry and assurance

• Question Your Thinking, Change The World: Quotations from Byron Katie (Byron Katie)
• Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life (Byron Katie )

Don Miguel Ruiz

• The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (Don Miguel Ruiz)
• The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery (Don Miguel Ruiz)

Experience curating

• Experience Curating: How to Gain Focus, Increase Influence, and Simplify Your Life (Joel Zaslofsky)

Assertiveness

• No More Mr. Nice Guy (Robert Glover)
  
  

Highlights of 2014

7 amazing weeks in Cape Town, making wonderful friends through Meet Up and doing 30 hikes.

Priceless Moments

• Watching the exhilarating start of The Sydney Hobart yacht race with Nicola and getting to see inside one of the yachts thanks to John who did the race this year.
• Looking down onto the sublime alpine lakes of Mount Kosciuszko, leaping as a group at the summit and the way our wonderful hiking group bonded to form The Hiking Gang.
• Getting to do the stunning Manly Scenic Walk at last.
• Seeing Su and Alex's gorgeous little baby, Amilie, for the first time.
• Taking photos of Mandy's adorable puppy, Jessie.
• Mum commissioning a portrait painting of Mack that totally captured his spirit.
• Any time I spend with gorgeous Mack.
• A beautiful celebration of Geraldine's life after she passed away in February.
• The stunning sea cliffs on The Burning Palms walk in The Royal National Park.
• The amazing pot holes in the Berowra National Park and getting to meet lovely Chrisèl again.
• Mindful walking and the stunning city skyline on my nightly stroll through Waverton.
• Nourishing soup and fellowship with Jilly's lovely Eckhart group on Tues nights.
• The stunning reflections in the lake on The Goanna Track circuit in The Royal National Park plus a wonderful swim and getting to meet Lauren who joined our hiking group.
• Being blissfully reunited with my family in Cape Town.
• A bracing but gorgeous swim at Clifton with Mary-Anne.
• Cavorting round the pool at a party in Elgin with Matt.
• Doing The Two Ocean's Fun run and getting to bond with Jo after we both decided to walk.
• Leaping with Sam at Llandadno at sunset.
• Going on some wonderful photographic outings with Jo including World of Birds, Kirstenbosch and Bo Kaap.  It's so special that we share the same passion.
• Getting to go into the monkey cage at World of Birds and having them clamber all over us.
• Playing hide and seek with Matt at Boulder's beach.
• Exploring the dungeons of Groot Constantia with Matt.  He was far more cautious of the dark than me!
• Being blissfully reunited with my wonderful friend, Russell.
• Lots of leaps with Russell, including a daring leap on an overhanging rock on Table Mountain.
• Watching hundreds of dolphins doing leaps and even back flips near Llandadno with Russell.
• Skinny dipping at the top of Table Mountain after a hike up with Russell and doing a naked leap.
• Paddling solo along the Breede River at sunset, in awe at the stunning reflections in the river.

• Paddling up the Breede with Brandon and Russell and getting to navigate some rapids.
• Getting the old volleyball crowd together again and getting to show off my rampant volleyball serve on Camps Bay beach.
• Getting hooked up to Matt and Sam at Ratanga Junction and getting slung shot 100 metres into the air!
• Paragliding off Signal Hill with Russell and then watching the sun set over Lion's Head, exhilarated to still be alive!
• Hurtling down a hill on a taboggon - such a great experience to share with Sam and Matt.
• Being reunited with Mack in Sydney after 7 weeks away.
• Sue and I getting to see our faces form part of the show at The Sydney Vivid Lights Festival.
• Doing two beautiful hikes with The Hiking Gang in The Blue Mountains and a highly fun but competitive game of Foosball with Liz.
• Horse riding on a giant horse called Zorro through gorgeous scenery in The Blue Mountains.
• Getting stuck into DIY in my house and learning lots of new skills, thanks to my wonderful friend, Chris.
• The delicious smoothie at The Sappho Book Store where our hiking gang sometimes meets.
• Getting introduced to the hidden gems of The Central Coast by Chrisel, including the gorgeous Maitland Bay.
• Lots of delicious meals with Chrisel.
• Exploring the beautiful flowers and vistas at The Muogamarra Nature Reserve.
• Listening to Quanta Qualia, one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.
• Seeing the breathtaking Mermaid Pools for the first time, then getting to introduce it to my hiking gang.
• Being introduced to the deliciousness of The Lindt Chocolate cafe by Chrisel and getting treated to an orgy of chocolate on The Sydney Chocolate Tour.
• Facing my fear of heights and clambering over a rickety suspension bridge in The Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains, then coming face to face with a beautiful snake that swam across the rock pool that we'd been swimming in only moments before.
• The light filtering through the indescribably beautiful Blue Gum Forest in The Blue Mountains and the moon rising over the valley in the late afternoon. Also, the stunning Victoria Falls.
• Leaping as a group at Liz's 40th birthday party, she in her high heels!
• Watching Bryan Smith present his inspiring adventures at The Opera House, and David Doubilet, National Geographic photographer extraordinaire, show off his sublime underwater photographs.
• A freezing, but exhilarating swim in a forest pool in The Barrington Tops that I don't think had ever felt the sun.  I screamed like a little girl when I hit the water!
• Adventurous bundu bashing and clambering down the walls of a canyon to reach a pristine river adorned in orchids for a refreshing swim at The Wingello State Forest.
• Some of the best swimming of the year at Shoalhaven Gorge. 
• Hiking to the surreal flooded forest in The Kangaroo Valley. 
• Hiking in the bucketing rain and feeling very alive in The Canyon at The Blue Mountains.
• Exploring the abandoned mine and glow-worm tunnel in Newnes. 
• Buying a sexy i-phone 6 and falling in love with its panorama camera at the Meet Up Xmas party.

Less happy moments

• Henk, Antony's dad, passing away.
• Saying goodbye to Alex, Su and Amilie who left for Europe after living with me for 3 years.
• Saying farewell to Chrisel who has gone to Africa for a year.
• Getting bitten by a bull ant where men don't want to get bitten on Mt Kuring-gai!
• Seeing 18 year old Sally, Heather's dog, and bursting into tears when it hit me that Mack too is going to get old. 
• Getting lost in The Snowy Mountains.

New friends met this year

• Srini, Gavin, Lauren,  Michelle, Zante, Wendy and Rob, Joe, Elna, Howard

Purchases

• Canon S110, iPhone 6

Favourite movies

• Whiplash
• Vikings (TV series)
• Her
• Tracks
• Finding Vivien Maier
• Interstellar
• Gone Girl
• Fargo (TV series)
• 100 Foot Journey
• Boyhood
• True Detective (TV series)
• Edge of Tomorrow
• The Budapest Hotel
• Africa (David Attenborough)

Favourite Song

• Quanta Qualia

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2014 Index of Links

 
Time in Cape Town

7 wonderful weeks in Cape Town in April & May including ...

• paragliding
• Bo Kaap
• Kirstenbosch
• Beautiful birds at World of Birds and cute monkeys
• Lion's Head
• Clifton 
• Llandudno
• Ratanga Junction - especially the Sling Shot!
• Leaping on an overhanging rock
• Two Ocean's Fun Run
• Paddling on the Breede River
• Climbing Table Mountain with Russell
• Walk at Silvermine with Russell
• Fishhoek with mum
• Boulder's Beach with mum, Jo and Matt
• Volleyball at Camps Bay 
• Chapman's Peak and Noordhoek with Jo
• Llandudno with Jo and Sam
• 100's of dolphins, including back flips!
• Fun at the top of Signal Hill with Russell and Jo
• Party at an Elgin apple farm
• Hout Bay and Chapman's Peak with Russell
• Lunch with Heather in Hout Bay
• Hint Hunt with Russell
• Lunch with Derek and Kobus
• ... and more

Hiking (26 hikes)

• Hiking at Mount Kosciuszko  (Jan)
• Macfarlane Reserve to Lindfield Station  (Feb)
• Kangaroo Valley  (Feb)
• Royal National Park - Burning Palms  (Feb)
• Berowra Valley NP walk: Thornleigh to Hornsby  (Mar)
• The Goanna Track Circuit - Royal National Park  (Mar)
• Uloola Track - Royal National Park (Mar)
• Hiking up Table Mountain with Russell (Apr)
• Hiking weekend in The Blue Mountains (Jun)
• Mermaids Pool & Tahmoor Canyon (Jun)
• Berowra to Mt Kuring-gai via Cowan Creek and Apple Tree Bay (Aug)
• Muogamarra Nature Reserve with Chrisèl   (Sep)
• Mermaid Pools revisited with the hiking gang. (Sep)
• Sections of The Six Foot Track, Blue Mountains (Sep)
• Hiking in The Grove Valley, Blue Mountains (Oct)
• Mount Jellore (Oct)
• Barrington Tops (Oct)
• Wingello State Forest and Morton National Park (Oct)
• Illawarra Walk: Thirroul to Wollongong (Nov)
• Evening Walk: Chatswood Circular via Fullers Bridge ending at Bavarian Bier Cafe  (Nov)
• Palm Beach to Wagstaffe, Pretty Beach, Killcare, Maitland Bay and Putty Beach  (Nov)
• Hiking through Shoalhaven Gorge  (Nov)
• Camping and hiking in The Kangaroo Valley  (Nov)
• Hiking in Canyon to Govett's Leap (Dec)
• Camping and hiking in Newnes (Dec)
• Hiking Cowombat Flat in Victoria.  (Dec)

Walks (4 walks)

• Manly Scenic Walk  (Feb)
• Collaroy to Manly walk  (Jul)
• Spring around Berry Island (Sep)
• Coastal hike at Le Perouse  (Nov)

Overnight trips away

• Mount Kosciuszko  (Jan)
• Kangaroo Valley  (Feb)  
• Hiking weekend in The Blue Mountains (Jun)
• Horse riding in The Blue Mountains (Jun)
• Central Coast  with Chrisèl (including Maitland Bay)  (Aug)
• Central Coast with Chrisèl (Aug)
• Camping weekend in the Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains (Sep)
• Barrington Tops (Oct)
• Camping in Wingello State forest (Oct)
• Hiking through Shoalhaven Gorge  (Nov)
• Camping and hiking in The Kangaroo Valley  (Nov)
• Camping and hiking in Newnes (Dec)
• Hiking Cowombat Flat in Victoria.  (Dec)

Exhibitions and shows

• Wildlife photographer of the Year 2014  with Sue (Jun)
• Opera House to watch David Doubilet presentation  (Jul)
• Live music with Jilly (Aug)
• Opera House to watch Bryan Smith (Oct)
• Watching Radical Reels (Nov)
• Watching Finding Vivian Maier with Sue (Nov)

Birthdays

• Liz's 40th birthday party
• My 44th birthday dinner with Sue (Sep)
• Sue's 70th birthday and Luna Park (Dec)

Eating out

• Breakfast with Jilly, Chris and Rosie (Jul)
• Lunch at Sappho Book store  (Aug)
• Breakfast at Sappho Book store (Sep)
• My 44th birthday dinner with Sue (Sep)
• Farewell dinner with Chrisel (Sep)
• Ribs at Darling Harbour with Roger and Jocelyn (Dec)

Picnics

• Picnic with Chrisel (Jul)
• Hiking Group picnic and dancing at Pyrmont (Dec)

Chrisel

• Berowra hike (Mar)
• Email after hike (Mar)
• Letter after returning to Sydney from Cape Town (Jun)
• Picnic with Chrisel (Jul)
• Opera House to watch David Doubilet presentation  (Jul)
• Movie etc. (Jul)
• Central Coast Weekend 1 (Aug)
• Central Coast weekend 2 (Aug)
• Muogamarra Nature Reserve (Sep)
• Day out in Manly with Chrisel (Sep)
• Chocolate tour with Chrisel (Sep)
• Letter (Sep)
• Farewell (Sep)
• Chrisel doing her course in Africa (Oct, Nov)

Sport

• Tennis with Brendan  (ongoing)

Outings

• Sydney to Hobart yacht race  (Jan)
• Vivid 2004 - and being part of the show 
• Sculptures at the Sea (Nov)
• Manly with Roger and Jocelyn (Dec)

Xmas and New Year

• Hiking Xmas party in Newtown
• Gavin's Xmas party (Dec)
• Christmas lights at St Mary's Cathedral (Dec)
• Xmas with Brendan and Eva (Dec)
• New Year's Eve with Jilly, Elna and Desmond (Dec)

Family

• Matt's 11th birthday party
• Mum and Mike cruise around Italy  (Jun)
• Henk passes away
• Watching hockey in the rain
• Family holiday in Mauritius
• Family holiday to Namibia
• Jo winning the Orms photo of the month and workshop trophy.
• Matt excels in his exams (Nov)
• Sam comes in top 20 of her grade.
• Trish and Mike newsletter (Dec)

Housemates

• Sue and Alex's gorgeous baby, Amilie
• Sue and Alex leave for Europe (Jun, Jul)
• Sue and Alex get married in Peru (Aug)
• Sue sends photos of Amilie (Dec)

Mack

• Gorgeous Mack (Dec)
• Liza's fave photos of Mack. (Dec)

Friends

• Taking photos for Mandy, Jilly's daughter.
• Planning Tasmania (Nov)
• Gourmet meals with Matt (Nov)
  

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Related

• Spiritual journey (2014)

Top Shot at camera club

I did a presentation of my photographic journey to the Mosman Camera Club.  It was such a delight to choose and compile my favourite photos into a presentation and create a story around it which focused on natural wonder.  I got such wonderful feedback from people who said the presentation had really moved them.  I was thrilled to get awarded "Presenter of the Year" award at the final awards dinner of the year.

Email to Trish

Hi Trish

Thanks for your newsletter.  It's so wonderful and inspiring to see how active you guys are and all the adventures and exploring you get up to. A great example for me to aspire to when I get to that stage in my life.

I hope you guys have a wonderful Xmas and festive season. Your trip to Sri Lanka sounds very exciting - that's a part of the world I'd love to explore in the future and I look forward to reading about your experiences there.

Life on my side is good.  I'm immersed in work that I enjoy and I can do from home, that doesn't cause me to much stress which is a big win for me.  I've joined Meet Up (what a wonderful site, I highly recommend it) and been doing some great hikes and weekends with them.  I plan to ramp that up even more next year.

Mack, my doggie, is still the apple of my eye and my walks with him in the evenings are often the highlight of my day.  I share him with another lady, and we adore him equally.  It's the perfect system; dog share.  I'm sure there's a business idea in there, somewhere.

My relationship with Dani came to an end in June after a year and I experienced a lot of grief over that. Ah, the torments of the heart!  But feeling a lot lighter about it now, and enjoying the freedom my life affords me right now without any relationships.

I've become a serious meditater and joined some wonderful spiritual groups, and that brings a lot of fulfilment and peace and social connection which has made all the difference.

I send my love to you all.  I think of you guys often too and enjoy following the updates on Facebook of the Vanderbeck clan.

Hugs,
G

Email from Nicola

Thanks again for an inspiring few days, some wonderful laughs, for being such a great friend & for making the Sydney to Hobart start such a memorable one. Hope I can repay the 'couch' favour (amongst others) one day :-) Keep believing in yourself G, you have so very much to offer this world!  

hugs Nic