not planning my funeral

We're driving to the park, ready for a training run. Deb asks, Have you considered writing your own eulogy ? Yuk ! I reply, No thanks !

What would I say ? What *could* I say ?

I could praise myself. Why bother ? Either you already know and believe, or you think, Who's he kidding. I could admit to my faults, apologise to all those I have wronged ? A bit late for that if I'm already dead. Anyway, I don't have any faults :-)

The conversation turns to funerals. Do I have any after-the-last-minute requests ? No, definitely not. Funerals are for the living, the survivors. Whatever you want, go for it. Sure I'll be there -- the guest of honour -- but only in body. The mind will be gone and I don't expect that a spirit will be hanging round for the final festivities. So do what you like: as much or as little as you like.

I've been to a couple of funerals with singing and story-telling and crying. And laughing and dancing. All very nice for the living, for the nearest and dearest, that's their style. For me, it was a touch embarrassing.

Perhaps a moment for silent contemplation. If there must be music... a bit of Queen blasting down the aisles. Followed by Meatloaf, perhaps as I'm lowered down to fry :-) But it's whatever *you* like, I won't be there to be critical.

If I am there -- I won't be critical. Just surprised and a little bit pleased to be proven wrong on my view of the finality of death. Look for me in the mysterious fog which is sure to drift in. I'll be the wraith doing my favourite nose-picking pretence.

Having dissed all attempts for me to have an opinion on my own funeral, we go for a run. Coming back I tell Deb, Well, how about some final words ?

If anyone asks, tell them I said, "If only you'd asked me, I would have given you the correct answer." To what ? To anything. Anything at all.

Anything else, I've already said it. Or written it. Or considered it and decided that it is not worth saying.

But, of course, it's my funeral. So organisers can do whatever they like. I won't mind :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"If money won't make you happy, you won't like poverty either." … Ginger Meggs

===

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/ :-)

this too, shall pass. woohoo !

I've collapsed in a fun run, woken up in ED. Had my head opened (and closed) to remove a brain tumour. Had a cancerous testicle removed. (Cancer in both my thinking organs.) Been radiated and drugged, with various nasty side effects. Been promised death much sooner than I expected... So what do I really fear ?

You guessed it: constipation !

With six or more months of no further treatment, my digestion is almost back to normal. I can (and do) eat what I like, when I like. There are no more odd instances of food tasting "odd". (For months I could drink just a mouthful of instant coffee before it would taste so awful that I couldn't finish it. Now it still tastes awful -- when I make it for myself -- but I can drink it.)

The only remaining digestive oddity is the output. Sometimes the end product of eating will be soft and slimy and slipping out in a great hurry. Occasionally -- for no apparent reason -- it will hang in there, unmoving, for a couple of days. And boy ! does that make me nervous !

I can accept that I will pass away. Till then, I hope to continue passing with comfortable regularity.

===

For the last few weeks I have been -- except as noted above -- remarkably cheerful :-) Fear of death has faded. I no longer have to slap myself and say, sternly, It doesn't help to worry about it ! Now, I can barely believe that I will ever die. I am, I feel, as immortal as I ever was.

Not that that's an entirely acceptable attitude. I do need to balance obvious immortality with the acceptance that yes, I do have terminal cancer. But the out-of-balance has slipped from negative to positive. I can feel that and it feels good :-)

===

Feeling emotionally better affects me physically. My fitness has improved -- and I feel that I *want* to get even fitter. Not just for something to do: I want to run a few trails -- without the expectation of always coming last. (I've always been *nearly* last. Recently I even have trouble beating the bloke with the wheelchair puncture who carries his ailing guide dog.)

And there has been sex !

I've never been a great stud. Having a mind which is easily distracted is great when you're young and hasty. When you're older, being distracted from the current pleasure is... distracting. My mind will wander to current worries and I will lose... focus. Cuddling is great but it's better with a grand finale.

Many of my past worries are now irrelevant -- and that's something to be glad about :-) The worry of death by cancer may be under control but it still has its effect. I find it difficult to even begin to show signs of interest in sex.

Thinking about sex ? Yes ! I still appreciate an attractive woman, I still consider that sex would be pleasant. The thought simply fails to convert into any actionable physical response.

Over the last few weeks, however, my emotional state has lightened. My physical state has improved. (The warmer Spring weather does help.) And a couple of nights ago: Woohoo !

Sure, I panted & puffed like a steam engine, I really do need to work on my aerobic fitness. But it was pleasure, pure & simple. Emotional improvement leads to physical pleasure, physical satisfaction feeds back to emotional satisfaction.

I'm sure that I'm the first person to discover the pleasure of sex :-) I can recommend it ! But keep away from Deb... we may want to do it again.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"If money won't make you happy, you won't like poverty either." … Ginger Meggs

===

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/ :-)

why carry on ?

Some of our friends at an orienteering event, Deb tells me, commented on the way that I continue to turn up at events. To carry on as though nothing has changed, as though I still have an eternal lifetime ahead of me.

And sometimes I have asked myself, Why carry on ?

The first -- and simplest -- answer is, Why not ?! What has changed that affects my reasons for going orienteering ? Nothing, really. I'm never going to be a champion, I never was. Yes, I have lost some interest in being sociable but it's still enjoyable chatting with orienteers. And with rogainers and with fun & trail runners.

Another reason for continuing to go orienteering is in the basic reasons why I go: because I enjoy being in the bush. Because there is the added challenge of finding control points. Because I sometimes beat one or two other people :-) These apply equally to orienteering, rogaining and fun running, especially trail running.

Some things, however, have changed. I enjoy these activities, Deb enjoys these activities. I *still* enjoy these activities -- and I am happy to continue with enjoyable activities (while I can!). And while Deb is enjoying these activities -- I am happy to provide good memories for Deb. I have no need for good memories but Deb has. Or will have, eventually.

And then, it is very satisfying to be able to complete a course. I may be slower & less fit than I was a couple of years ago -- but I am faster & fitter than I was a few months ago. I feel that I am getting fitter (relative to just months ago, that is ! ) It is very satisfying to get out in the bush and find that yes, my physical fitness is improving :-)

I have considered following my natural lazy tendencies to become fat and completely inactive. Eat what I want, when I want and never budge from my comfortable chair... That option does have some appeal ! But I prefer the options that I have tried before -- and enjoyed, before.

So I continue to go orienteering, to go rogaining, to run fun runs and trail runs -- because I enjoy them.

Though I also spend plenty of time reading. And playing World of Warcraft. Writing a phone app. Posting to blogs and planning future holidays. Occasionally even helping round the house. All of which are fun... and even more fun, with orienteering etc to break the routine.

===

And speaking of rogaining: On Saturday, Deb and I were at a rogaine.

We walked 29km in eight & a half hours. We were lost for only the last two hours. We won our category ! That's the mixed (male/female) with all team members (both of us) over 65. Yes, there were two other teams in our category. And yes, it feels good !

We went quite well. We enjoyed the event (except for some time when we were lost). And we did better -- went further, scored higher -- than we had for 18 months ! (Which includes 6 months pre-cancer -- so we did better than when we *thought* we were fit & healthy ! )

Mind you, after that rogaine effort, we are both still moving rather slowly and carefully :-)

I'll continue to turn up at these events while I can. While I enjoy it. Because, Why not !

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"If money won't make you happy, you won't like poverty either." … Ginger Meggs

===

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/ :-)

Much better, thanks

=> much later: I failed to post this on the day ! must have been really tired :-)

Breakfast from the store of food supplied as part of the walk. I have a mix of muesli, oats, some sort of healthy cereal. With milk and some yoghurt. All rather nice.

Then we walk out of our accommodation onto the Cape to Cape track.

Smiths Beach to The Aquarium -- a bit of sheltered water, nice and safe for swimming. We look but don't swim. To Wyadup Rocks, to Injidup Beach. We were at Injidup three years ago: me for the start of a trail run to Gracetown (about 23km), Deb to see me off then run her own 10km trail run, Deb's sister was in charge of transportation. ie She drove us to the start and picked us up at the end.

As we walk on -- up and down on sandy tracks -- I'm thinking, Wow ! Did I really run along here ?! Ah yes, those were the days, the days of our youth so long ago, when we were young and fit. Fitter. All those three years ago :-)

The walk so far has been very pleasant. Plenty of ups and downs but less bare exposed cliff top. Plenty of views down gullies, several small beaches, constant sound of waves breaking.

Yes, thank you, I'm feeling much better today... accepting the inevitable and enjoying the walk :-) It's still tiring though.

The track levels out. Gentle rolling with no extreme climbs. We occasionally pass and are passed by the two small groups which have been organised by the same company.

On this "level" track I take off my shoes, change into thongs. With nothing to stub toes or scratch feet, thongs are comfortable. Today I started in running shoes, very comfortable, easy to walk in. Thongs require a slightly different style of walking and are very good for foot flexing and comfort... on soft ground.

There is a whale carcase on a rocky beach. It's well rotted -- smelly -- nothing much more than a large pale lump. Most interesting is what I claim are sections of teeth. Rather, the baleen (?) sort of things that filter krill out of the water. Whole thing is pretty interesting, actually :-)

The track goes down to the beach. We cross a very small creek. Back into the sandhills... at a point I recognise from my run. Sure enough -- there's an enormous sandhill to climb ! Not so bad, there's a side track, still hard work but not impossible.

Another 20 minutes easy walking. And finally we reach Moses Rock carpark, our pickup point. Another familiar point: Deb started her run here, I passed through just before her run started.

All nine of "our group" of walkers are now here. Pickup is 15 minutes late, we have time for a bit of a rest. Then... "home".

Dinner is provided: fish (to be cooked) and salads.

A couple of hours later we are all showered, clothes in the wash, several drinks drunk. We just had enough water for the walk, lucky the weather is not too hot.

Deb is now cooking the fish. Time to go...

====    Dr Nick Lethbridge  /  Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
===

"You can fool all of the people some of the time. Some of the people all the time. And make a fool of yourself... anytime." … Ginger Meggs
===

dying for you to read my blog: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au :-)
====
   

a moody improvement

For a while I thought that I could be an Epicurean. Pleasure, writes Epicurus, is the greatest good. In part, we seek pleasure by learning how the world works. I agree with that, though I also believe that it's vital to understand ourselves. Not just "the world".

Unfortunately Epicurus also writes that we should find our pleasure in a simple life. No thanks... not unless computers are a part of that simple life.

But what really makes me consider Epicurus is his approach to death; it seems to be exactly what I believe: When we are dead we are nothing -- so we will not be suffering. Nothing to fear because when we are dead... we don't know anything about it.

Of course there's still that transitional phase, the transition from life to death. There are many horrible ways to do that. But... once it's done... no more worries. Not for the dead person, anyway.

===

So if death is nothing to fear... why do I feel the urge to be fit ? It's because of the transition phase, the bit that is still "life". I certainly don't want to suffer. Being reasonably fit does not prevent cancer but it does make it easier to deal with the cancer treatment. So, while alive and capable, I may as well try to be fit.

===

It also seems helpful to have a positive -- cheerful -- attitude. And I have, in the last couple of weeks, felt quite good: more cheerful (though it may not be obvious!) and wanting to "do something". Why is it so ?

First possibility: side effects of a week's walking holiday. I can't say that I was rapt in what we were doing; walking along a coastline is not my favourite. But there was some satisfaction in finally being able to say, I did it.

A related possibility: running a 14km fun run. No matter how slow, it's a great feeling to have finished. It makes me want to run some more. I enjoy fun runs -- especially trail runs -- and am looking forward to more of them.

Another possibility: enjoying the company. I was walking with Deb, so there's a natural source of pleasure. Deb's sister walked with us, she's good company. And then there's an aspect which I should not mention...

Spending a week of Spring with two attractive women -- and no serious distraction -- makes me think of sex. Yet -- this being my wife and her sister sharing accommodation -- sex is not going to happen. So I end the week with a warm glow of, Wouldn't it be fun if … :-) Frustration, yes. But the pleasure of imagination, definitely.

Third possibility: a better balance of belief. I know that I have an aggressive & terminal cancer. The question is, *when* will it kill me ? I balance two beliefs: I believe that the cancer will kill me within the next year; I believe that I will live for quite a few years yet.

The two beliefs are contradictory but both are essential. I refuse to clutch at the false hope that my version of cancer is not really aggressive. I refuse to stop living just because I am dying. I intend to live as though I will live forever -- while not being too upset when I am proven wrong.

I balance these two contradictory beliefs. When I get the balance wrong I am either in cheerful denial, or in miserable fear of dying. (Fear of dying, not of death. That much is successfully Epicurean :-)

There is a possibility that my sudden improvement of mood is due to getting a better balance: enjoying life while quietly accepting its possible limitation.

A final possibility: the weather has been warmer and I always cheer up when the weather warms up !

===

Most of this post is just me being over-analytical. Forget the rest... Boy, am I glad that the weather is finally warming up !

===

Finally: I have a quote which I thought would fit well with this post. Here I am at the end and I haven't found a place where it naturally fits. Perhaps I'm too tired to see the fit... so I just dump it here at the end.

It seems to me to be a valid philosophy. Straightforward. Honest. No gloss, no false hope. Acceptance that what is, is.

It may have been Conan the Barbarian who said it: "That which does not kill us, does not kill us." 

That's good enough for me.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"If money won't make you happy, you won't like poverty either." … Ginger Meggs

===

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/ :-)

holiday wraparound

The weekend before we went away was orienteering state champs, we each competed on both Saturday and Sunday.

While away, we walked the Cape to Cape Track: 133km on foot. According to our itinerary. Somehow, I lost the GPS trace for our first two days of walking. A lot of walking, definitely.

Then we spent Thursday driving, Friday and Saturday recovering.

Sunday: Deb & I run in a 14km fun run from the new Perth Stadium. Wow ! is that a mistake ?

In fact, it is fun. Hard work but fun.

The run takes us round the Swan River via some of the new "attractions": Matagarup Bridge, Riverside Drive to Barrack Square. Across the Macdonalds footbridge (that's not its name but it certainly looks a lot like the Mac's "golden arches"). A good opportunity to see the bridges and a very pleasant run.

Then over the Narrows and along the South Perth foreshore back to the Stadium. Again, a very pleasant place to run.

And I do manage to run, all the way. Slowly. Finish in just under two hours, Deb is just three minutes behind me.

We are both exhausted ! And (once we have recovered) satisfied :-)

We go home and rest... until Deb has to make Sunday dinner. Great to see the family again, after our holiday away. I continue to rest until after dinner, when I wash up. Just the big stuff that will not fit in the dishwasher.

An excellent but tiring weekend :-)

===

I should add: I am far more tired than I should have been. Or than I would have been, a couple of years ago. But my only actual "disability" is a sore heel and ankle. After resting, it hurts to move it but a few minutes walking and it is fine. Though I do need to be careful stepping down.

Once I start running it is no trouble: my running style puts less stress on my ankles than my walking. Today (Tuesday) the ankle still hurts but not when I walk... the ache has moved away from the bits that move when I walk.

===

Monday: for some reason I seem to be flat out all day. Still catching up after being away. And doing the few things that are my regular tasks around the house.

Tuesday: minding the grandson. A full day's work, a whole lot of fun. And that, is today. Deb is just back from yoga, time to wrap this up.

===

Physically I'm fine, almost over being exhausted. Mentally, okay -- as far as I can tell :-) Emotionally, I have my moments -- which I push aside. I may try for a better status report... in another post. Not that there is much to say, I just like to document as much as possible.

For now... that's all.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"It's a funny kind of month, October. For the really keen footy fan it's when you discover that your wife left you, months ago." … Denis Norden had it as "cricket"
===

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/ :-)

six days later

Six days since the past post ! What could have caused such a long break ?! Nothing much, just resting, recovering and catching up with what I'd missed while away from home... So:

Thursday, we drive home. Deb's sister leaves first, she has a family lunch at noon. First, though, there is time for a final café coffee. Thank you, Deb's sister :-)

Deb & I drive home via Capel, Boyanup and Dardanup. We like to avoid big towns; this way we avoid both Busselton and Bunbury. Nothing wrong with those two but the scenery is better off the main roads. For the same reason, we follow SW Hwy rather than the newer, shorter, faster Forrest Highway.

We are at Waroona by lunch-time so we eat at the Waroona Country Café. It's clean, it's neat, it loos as though it has been renewed in the last couple of years. I order a heat-and-eat croissant, very nice. Deb orders a toasted cheese sandwich, no worries says the manager... but it takes a long time. It needs to be made from scratch, the manager is by himself, there is a steady stream of customers. I try to eat inconspicuously while Deb is waiting...

No more stops, just an easy drive home. Where we arrive just after 2:30. pm.

The cat finally wakes up to say hello. I deal with emails (I check while we're away but leave most responses till we are home again). Deb checks the garden. All is well :-)

===

Friday: Shopping for supplies for the next week. Books from the library. Not much else.

Saturday: We go to the toy library but it is still closed for school holidays. While we are out we get coffee and cake; not at the first place we pass -- it is too crowded for us. The next place is just as crowded but there is easy parking out the back.

We rest for the rest of the day.

===

And I'll take a break just here. Call it the end of the holiday... a good holiday :-) The next couple of days are hectic, but not holiday. Not really "not dead yet" either. Too bad, it was fun so I'll post some detail anyway. Soon.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"It's a funny kind of month, October. For the really keen footy fan it's when you discover that your wife left you, months ago." … Denis Norden had it as "cricket"
===

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/ :-)

Last day walking

From Cosy Corner to The End !

Have you noticed that this is not very good as a "travel" blog ? The last month or two there have been very few interesting physical issues. I have focussed on my emotional state. This focus has continued, even though I am now documenting a very physical holiday.

Also, it's such an exhausting holiday that I can't remember -- and can't be bothered trying to remember -- actual facts of the walk. When I print a copy for Deb, I'll depend on photos to fill some gaps.

Aside: I spent six months getting unfit. I definitely have not regained all that I lost. Not to worry, gives me somethong to aim for :-)

So. Today. Briefly...

We are dropped back at Cosy Corner. I seem to remember some pleasant walking through bush. Then we reach the beach. But first, the blowholes.

We walk over rough, sharp limestone rocks. With holes, big enough to fall through. Onto sand or water, 3 or 4 metres below. I look nowhere except at my feet and where I will step next. My walking is accompanied by a monotone mumble of fuckfuckfuckfuck...

We finally pass the rocks.

Onto the beach. Five (or seven?) km of slogging through soft sand. This is awful. At least it's not scary.

Lunch (provided) is bean paste patties, tahini sauce, salad. The salad is nice but I am not interested. I look under the patties but there is no real food. I eat the patties -- not enough flavour to be objectional -- and leave the salad. Deb eats the salad, leaves the patties.

Next section winds through low shrub. There are 1600 varieties of plant in the C2C area. To me it looks like lots of varieties. Repeated again and again and again.

Back into taller stuff, above head height. With flowers. Much better.

I'm slowing down, exhausted. The other two go on ahead, occasionally waiting for me. I snap at Deb, it makes me feel terrible. They are very understanding. I feel better just slogging on by myself.

Finally... the last section. A couple of km over rocks and low grasses. Against a 30 knot wind. I think, I wish I had an enemy, I would give them a gift voucher for this section of the walk.

At last ! the final lighthouse ! We arrive minutes after 4pm. More than 7 hours walking, 20 km walked. The minibus arrives, the other group have walked the extra 400m to the actual lighthouse. We sit in the bus.

We mutter about the other group not being ready to leave... but we are sitting, warm. And the others soon join us.

Home via Augusta and Margaret River (the town!).

Takeaways (real food, steak :-)

I find an excuse to show Deb's sister our Antarctic photos :-) We all enjoy them. It does flatten the tablet battery so I am now sitting on the floor near a power point to type.

Heavy rain has just started but we have finished walking ! Excellent timing :-)

Now to bed. We drive home tomorrow.

===

I believe that my "feelings" about this holiday may not be accurately reflected in the blog. I loved the forest walking. Could do without most of the bits with a view of the ocean. (Oceans are for watching while sitting, not for slogging beside.) I enjoy perhaps 10% of the walking and grumble about the rest.

Then we come home. I enjoy the good company, fill my stomach, sit, relax... and write each post in this pleasant evening mood. Complaints of the day are faded into the past. A lot of the feelings of bleerrgh have faded into relaxed acceptance. But believe me: the walking is tough, tiring, not something I wish to do again !

On the other hand... Deb's sister is good company and enjoyed the experience. (While getting thoroughly exhausted.) Deb is excellent company. She was tired but outlasted me and her sister. And Deb has thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. So I am thoroughly pleased :-)

Still do not want to do it again !

====    Dr Nick Lethbridge  /  Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
===

"You can fool all of the people some of the time. Some of the people all the time. And make a fool of yourself... anytime." … Ginger Meggs
===

dying for you to read my blog: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au :-)
====
   

A long day

Boranup Forest to Cosy Corner. Almost 21km. Not too bad :-)

The start is very nice, through the forest. Then a long descent to the beach, a narrow track with lots of flowers to be photographed. Deb & her sister keep going, then finally wait for me.

We walk six km along Boranup Beach. About 2km is soft, making for hard going. The rest has firm sand, easy walking but a long walk. The end is at Hamelin Bay, where we eat lunch at the edge of a caravan park.

btw: Names and other facts may be changed. This is all written from memory...

There's a cafe in the caravan park. I have an iced coffee, the other two have icecreams. I do remember the important stuff...

We set off again along... I have no idea, no memory of it... But there are sand trails, trails through low scub, perhaps a few trees. Whatever. I really enjoy walking in forest; I could totally do without more views of rocks, sand and sea.

There are a few tough hills near the end. Steep ups and downs but firm sand tracks, amongst head high scrub.

We meet "the other group" at a lighthouse near the end. They set off again. We find a geocache, then follow... Soon after, we reach the end. The minibus to take us home.

Deb is still powering along, her sister is exhausted, I'm somewhere in between. I started with a sore ankle (a tendon?). Each time after I stop, I have to get the ankle moving again, it takes a minute or two. After a longer break for lunch, I hobble for the first five minutes... And then I have a mild ache but no limiting pain. All good :-)

Good company, lots of tedious walking with some pleasant stages. Tomorrow is the last walking day. I think we're all glad to be doing the walk -- for different reasons, perhaps ! I've told Deb that *I* choose the next holiday :-)

====    Dr Nick Lethbridge  /  Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
===

"You can fool all of the people some of the time. Some of the people all the time. And make a fool of yourself... anytime." … Ginger Meggs
===

dying for you to read my blog: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au :-)
====
   

Gnarabup to Boranup

Another day on the Track. From Gnarabup to Boranup Forest. A lot of walking.

We have to pick up lunch from a nearby cafe. Deb's sister drives there. The trip organiser forgot to place the order. I'm sure there were stern looks... A phone call or two and lunch is made.

Lunch turns out to be ham & salad in a wrap. Best meal so far ! The wrap (flatbread?) also travels well, it's as good as new at lunchtime.

We start the walk following a mud map along streets. Deb navigates brilliantly.

Just before we reach the track itself, the other group of walkers joins us. The other group, is a group of four being organised by the same company. They have already been lost, in the streets... without Deb to navigate for them :-)

We let the other group get ahead of us. Then catch up with them. Then show them the correct path. They are from Sydney, can't tell a WA walk track from a 4wd track.

We see a lot of the other group, we walk about 5 to 10 minutes after them. They are leaving rest spots as we arrive. A good spacing.

This was yesterday: We walk past a "waterfall", so sign of falling water just a big pool and a shallow cave. Soon after, we pass several groups of tourists who walked a km or more past the pool -- still looking for a waterfall.

Today: We walk a couple of hours through low forest. Very pleasant. Down to a creek crossing with a small picnic area and a swimmable pool. (We don't swim.) And a geocache which we find. All very pleasant.

We are passed by several trail runners. They run up -- and down -- the 200 odd steps that we had just walked down. Makes me wish I were here for trail running ! A very nice trail for running :-)

Then we reach the beach. A hard slog across sand. Enough said.

A climb up to the top of cliffs, I try not to look down. But it's not too bad, not too many close vertical drops. The rain finally settles in. Just a light -- annoying -- drizzle. Backed up by a cold wind. I've had enough, and too much.

Back into the forest. We pass Conto campground. More very nice forest, I enjoy walking in forest. But I'm slowing down.

Deb falls back to walk with me. Her sister walks ahead to give us space. We are walking on a clear track... uphill :-( but through an area of tall, pale, beautiful karri trees. Just like the professional photo we have on our wall at home !

I'm cheered up. Would still rather not walk, tomorrow. But Deb will walk. And her sister will walk. So I will walk. Oh well, at least I'm walking in excellent company :-)

We finish the 21+ km just within the expected time. The finish is on a track in the middle of Boranup Forest. The minivan is there to take us home.

We stop (still in the forest) to offer help to two blokes with a flat tyre. But their problems need RAC help. We drive on. Home.

Dinner (provided) is small meatballs with large noodles. No coriander, no cumin ! With choc brownie for dessert. Delicious.

Need to rest, need to sleep...

====    Dr Nick Lethbridge  /  Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
===

"You can fool all of the people some of the time. Some of the people all the time. And make a fool of yourself... anytime." … Ginger Meggs
===

dying for you to read my blog: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au :-)
====