MTB Orienteering 58:03 [3] 9.4 km (9.7 kph) +138m
MAP 3 of 3
I had the shorter map to the boys (Steveo and Matt.B). We only have an A4 copier at home and this map was slightly bigger so when we did a copy for Matt.B, it cut off control 10 and 11 - so i got the shorter map.
The sand and heat were getting to me. Plus this was the first bit of exercise since the Tri last Saturday. My left hand/wrist was throbbing a bit - after the sprain at the Lake Mac Rogaine, it was pretty tender after the Tri last weekend, and then i obviously flared it up again yesterday with car washing and weeding.
Got to the bottom of 7 and realised that it was an out and back climb. With my hot water and rapidly tiring self, i bailed on that and went to 8. On the way to 9, i overshot the track. Went back and found it and saw that the track was in pretty ordinary condition and there would probably be some walking.
So then decided that i would do 14 - 13 - 12 - 15 - 16 - 17 - finish. Got to 14 and threw in the towel. Skipped every other control and went back and tried to find shade at the front of Matt.B's truck.
Steveo showed up after about 10-15min and thankfully the water in his car was somewhat cool. We finished that and the car said that it was 33 degrees.
Went and got choccy milk and ice cream, got home and the car said it was 34 degrees.
Looking at vegetation coupled with heat and wind today, and the bush is in prime condition for a bushfire. Steveo said that when he got to the top of the downhill track, some of Fairly Dams has been burnt. He also said that parts of Heaton are still on fire and in this weather it probably wouldn't take much for the fire to jump onto Sugarloaf and race down the mountain.