Many moons ago, Sarah and I got fit together. We would do boot camps and run in the Shoal Bay Park Run on Saturday mornings. It was such a great time of life. Our first little babies were soon to be two years old and we were both thinking of having our second. We saw the time as precious, a last hurrah before life got busier and more complicated with more babies on the way. We motivated each other ( probably Sarah mainly motivating me!) and set some fun goals to work towards like running in the women's 10km night run in Sydney and doing the Six Foot Track hike in the blue mountains.
With lots of help from Sarah's parents and her brothers coming along for the ride, we set the date for the Anzac day long weekend and before we knew it we were heading off on the 3 day, 45km hike through the mountains. We had packed carefully and prepared food and snacks but those packs were heavy! Luckily the first day Sarah's parents had our bags as we walked through a beautiful rainforest section of the hike and met us a few kms further up the road where we had to load up. It's 10 years ago now but I mainly remember how beautiful parts of it were. There is a beautiful river with a suspension bridge you walk to cross over. I remember camping in a field, thinking we would stay up and play cards but absolutely crashing out instead. Sarah very cleverly blew up her water bladder as a pillow! With our stellar packing we were able to help out some random guys with their lunch who had only bought army food that needed to be heated. The track was busy with lots of other hikers, we were passed by a runner who was doing it in a day, and overtook the Dad who was carrying such a load for his kids we wondered if he'd make it. We saw the experienced hiker string his sleeping cocoon up in a tree and climb in and ended up giving him a lift at the end.
There was one part I don't have pictures off but was absolutely gorgeous, rolling hills and fields. There was a whole day of uphill that felt like it would never end, with each bend deceptively looking like the precipice. Gradually my pack got lighter as we ate, while Sarah had the tent and utensils and remained as heavy as ever. As always Sarah is the toughest of all. So committed and never a word of complaint. Always caring about others needs before her own.
On day three we made it to the finish line at the Jenolan Caves and felt the elation of having done it. Sarah's parents met us for lunch and we told them all of our adventures on our way home. I loved so much about that trip. Being with my best friend, working hard and achieving a goal, the fun of the journey and feeling really connected in nature and to my body. I have thought of it so often these past 10 years and it's a great reminder to dream things up and go for them.
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