With just under three weeks to go before we head off to Africa we decided a team training weekend was just the thing to help us sharpen up. Sheepyard Flat just outside of Merrijig was the chosen location. Grant towed the camper trailer up as a consetion to worldy comforts. This was most appreciated when we arrived at sometime after midnight on Friday. The weather in the week leading up to the weekend had abviously been pretty wild as there was lots of snow visible a long way down the mountains.
Saturday morning was cold, but clear and we headed off out of the Howqua Hills towards Mt Stirling. The plan was to ride around the Stirling circuit road to Bindaree Falls and return along the river track. Typical of recent history, after an hour of riding we found ourselves back at camp due to a flat tyre and a realisation that we had no workjing pumps and had just used the last CO2 cannister. Not good when your heading up above the snow line. Back to camp and we grabbed another pump, more Co2 and headed back up the hill out of camp. We got to telephone box Junction on Stirling only to find the road was unpassable past this point due to heavy snow falls. Our route had to change from loop to an out and back. The local snow patrol were somewhat bemused to see four MTB's arrive and the riders start warming up chocolate muffins and cooking fruit toast on the pot belly stove.
The ride down was cold, very, very cold, and muddy, but good fun. It made the fire baked potatoes on the fire that night taste even better. The smell of Del's poloypro thermals couldn't even dull the appetite.
Sunday was a casual 25km hike. We left the road at 8 mile gap and then headed up Eagles Peaks ridge. By the time we got to the top we were pushing through knee deep snow. Stewie (aka the plough) broke trail to the top. The steep slope and gnarly trail made sure he was pretty stuffed byt he time the second summit was reached. The others had had a relatively easy time following his footprints, so it was time for Grant (aka Dozer) to take over. By this time Del had measured her length in the snow at least 6 times. The only thing funnier was watching her untangle walking poles and try to stand up again in the soft snow was her trying to leap from one thigh deep footstep to another.
The late afternoon was spent racing the setting sun back down the spur to the campground. With the ski fields of Mt Buller to the North East and the setting sun in the West the trip down was spectacular. Racing down a 25% gradient slope, the quads were well and truly trashed. Mission accomplished. Another truly memorable training weekend, and one which will have us nursing aching limbs and catching up on sleep for the rest of the week.
The ride down was cold, very, very cold, and muddy, but good fun. It made the fire baked potatoes on the fire that night taste even better. The smell of Del's poloypro thermals couldn't even dull the appetite.
Sunday was a casual 25km hike. We left the road at 8 mile gap and then headed up Eagles Peaks ridge. By the time we got to the top we were pushing through knee deep snow. Stewie (aka the plough) broke trail to the top. The steep slope and gnarly trail made sure he was pretty stuffed byt he time the second summit was reached. The others had had a relatively easy time following his footprints, so it was time for Grant (aka Dozer) to take over. By this time Del had measured her length in the snow at least 6 times. The only thing funnier was watching her untangle walking poles and try to stand up again in the soft snow was her trying to leap from one thigh deep footstep to another.The late afternoon was spent racing the setting sun back down the spur to the campground. With the ski fields of Mt Buller to the North East and the setting sun in the West the trip down was spectacular. Racing down a 25% gradient slope, the quads were well and truly trashed. Mission accomplished. Another truly memorable training weekend, and one which will have us nursing aching limbs and catching up on sleep for the rest of the week.
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