Unprecendented

Had an uprecendented day of field work today. We were searching for new localities of two rare species; the grass dart a species of butterfly and Floyd’s Grass (Alexfloydia repens), which is the food plant of the butterfly. We found both species if two new localities in the Warrell Creek catchment. These species had not been recorded outside the Coffs Harbour area previously.

It was amazing that at each site today that we found Floyd’s Grass there were the Black Dart butterfly also present.

Water Dragon on Lily Pads

Windows

Back from holidays in Perth.

I did 5 runs while I was over there

12km 62:04 (5:29, 5:15, 5:13, 5:05, 5:33, 5:03, 4:54, 4:39, 4:49, 5:16, 5:10, 5:35)

16km 85.42 (5:23, 5:20, 4:50, 5:08, 5:36, 5:05, 5:33, 5:20, 5:24, 5:07, 5:19, 4:58, 5:20, 5:53, 5:47, 5:35)

12km 59:26 (5:04, 4:51, 4:57, 5:04, 5:21, 4:53, 4:49, 4:14, 4:36, 5:05, 5:27, 5:03)

10.3km 56:17 (5:38, 5:05, 5:24, 5:35, 5:50, 5:21, 4:51, 5:15, 6:00, 5:33,)

16km 79:56 ( 5:06, 5:04, 5:00, 5:04, 5:18, 4:51, 5:09, 4:58, 5:00, 4:39, 4:47, 4:25, 4:54, 5:10, 5:16, 5:15)

The temperatures were quite high throughout the week, up to the high thirties. I ran in the morning at the same time as I do in Coffs, and I hardly sweated at all. In fact the conditions were quite pleasant to run in. There was actually a cool breeze at times.

None of these things can be said about Coffs Harbour’s weather. I hate Coffs Harbour’s weather, it’s an interminably humid place.

I decided early in the holiday that I am going to show courage next year.  I’m going to train even harder, I’m going to get myself to the starting line, whatever it takes.

I also thought about the way windows open and close in your life. Right now a window has reopened for me to be able to run, for which I am so thankful. However, I know that this window may close again on me, there will come a day when I am no long able to run anymore.

And that is why I think it is important to open other windows in your life, as many as possible, so that if one closes you have some other passion to turn to that can sustain you.

On one day of my holiday, I took my camera out for a walk in King’s Park taking photos of flowers and birds. And after this walk I felt the most at peace of my whole holiday. My love of nature is a window that had always had a place in my soul. And if one day I can no longer run, the window of nature photography can open up more widely and sustain me.

My father is very frail. I managed to take him out on a few trips. One day I drove Dad out to show him the new athletics track in Perth. It’s a great venue, a new synthetic track, modern grand stand, throwing facilties. I jogged a lap of the track. While we were there Steve Hooker the gold medal pole vaulter was there training, and other athletes from the WAIS were training too, including a few amazingly long-legged female ones that Dad duly noted. I think Dad enjoyed the trip out to the track. He was disappointed that he didn’t get to the shops enough, I didn’t think he was well enough.

The Australian Masters Athletics Championships are going to be held there in April. I think I might even try and enter them.

Magic Mushroom

Orange, noice! Unusual!

Palms Crossing Trail Bongil National Park

Paperbarks with wet feet, Palms Crossing

 Dolmans Point

Broad-leaved Paperbark

Pixie Caps Orchid

Inspiring

The Coffs Harbour ocean swims. I was inspired by some of those who finished the event. One man swam the race with only one leg. How gutsy is that? He made the beach, but was unable to stand up. Someone came up to him with a crutch after about a minute sitting on the sand. Another lady finished the 250m swim with a helper. They hugged each other after finishing. What an achievment. I became all emotional and inspired just watching  on

Womens 600 metres start.

Mens 600 metres

One legged swimmer.

Some pretty piccies

Mulla Mulla (Kings Park), Verticordia (Meelup Regional Park), WA Christmas Bush, Nutysia floribunda (Meelup Regional Park).

Meelup Regional Park

 

Veiw to Sugarloaf Rock, Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park 

A toughie

Looking back I wonder if I should have continued to run and play touch football from December to January 2006? I did get to go in the Sawtell Fun Run, and finished with a result I was proud of. But at what cost?

A year and a half of knee pain. Now I am struggling to save my knee. Bushwalking is tough for me now. My knee niggles even walking around the shops.

In hindsight I should have rested. Bushwalking, photography are much more important things to me than playing sport. My days of competitive running are history now, back in the 1980s.

Saturdays, wait….

Knee wasn’t as good on the Muttonbird Island Circuit walk. A pinch of pain on the outside of the knee. The suggestion of nerve pain. I guess it has been worse but after last nigth’s walk I was expecting better.

I enjoyed watching Nathan Deakes win the world championships walk. He really competed well in gruelling coniditons. Towards the end I feared a judge with a red paddle might come out and disqualify him. I’ve never forgotten what happened to Jane Saville in sight of the Sydney Olympic Stadium.  Who’d be a race walker? Potentially not getting to finish an event because of judges.

Another sunset at Coffs Creek. The tide is very, very low thanks to the full moon at the moment.

Big Swell, Altocumulus sunset

Had a fun afternoon taking photos around the Jetty and Coffs Creek. I was walking along the North Jetty Wall when a big wave overtopped the break wall. My feet got very wet. After that there was a nice sunset at the bridge over Coffs Creek.

I just put the ProTec Patella tendon strap on and my knee feels suddenly much smoother. And this is after pulling weeds, sweeping out the garage. Please, please stop niggling knee.

Monday Raining

Tuesday Raining

Wednesday In Sydney at meeting

Thursday: 1km around oval

Friday: Walk 5.3km

Saturday Walk 6.6km 71 minutes (2 hour walk taking photos)

Sunday Walk 6.6km 68 m 48 (2 hour walk taking photos)

Walking 20.5km

City to Surf

Was on the TV this morning. Brought lots of good memories back. Like after the race sitting on the grass at Bondi Beach eating an orange, with Mum and Dad by my side, who had come out to watch me finish. Then walking back to Bondi Station listening to the LA Olympics on the transistor radio. Better days. Love you mum and dad. Miss you Mum.

This morning I did the Coffs Creek walk in 57 minutes 32. (29:07; 28:25). I’m getting faster and stronger. The pain was in the knee this morning, mostly on the inside. The knee cap is biting deeper into my femoral groove.

Coffs Creek

Walk rating 8/10. I’m going to beat you knee pain.

Reflections

Sunset Jetty