Eltham Lower Park, only ten minutes
drive from our house, is already busy as we arrive early for this
week's MelBushO orienteering event. Trailered ponies drive in as
families wander over to check out the miniature railway. A hive of
activity, and it's not yet 10am. Mark and Susi are already here, and
we take the children off their hands as they prepare for the
challenges of the B course.
We head off to the pony paddock, then
the woodland walk (with troll bridge), then the playground (with children's party), then the
steam railway, then back to the car. Phew, that's 45 minutes taken
care of. Returning to the orienteering, Max and Claudia immediately
spot the cakes and biscuits as their parents, all pink and sweaty,
return. Which would you rather, cake or Mummy? No contest.
We prepare for our courses, I opt for
the A course while Pat chooses the C. I trot across the oval and down
into the green stuff, spotting my first flag from some distance. Then leg
it south along the path and down to the small bridge. Crossing the
Yarra river by the footbridge takes me into Candlebark Park, dodging
the mountain bikes on the wiggly trails around the hill. Power lines
help a lot with controls 5 and 6, do they need to be on the map?
Heading down to number 8, I recall a
previous visit where I lost a lot of time here, so I simplify by
using the lakes and all is well. I encounter a young couple, he with
map while she, long-faced, follows. I do hope they come again. I
bound down the hill from control 9 as kangaroos scatter before me.
Over a stile, under the power lines, looking ahead to the 10-11 leg.
Is there a route without running on the road? I spot the small path
to the east of it and stagger up the hill, sweat-soaked bandana
slipping over my eyes.
I am getting tired and the map doesn't
fit the ground any more. Nothing seems right as I bumble my way into
the finish. Later analysis of my Clever Watch shows that the map is
fine and the controls are correctly placed. Must be something else. I
haven't lost any substantial time with my navigation and I am pleased
with my final time of 56 minutes, well inside the hour for 7.1km
actual run with 185 metres of climb. The results show only one competitor
(I think) of similar vintage ahead of me. Happy with that. Why can't
results show age classes though? Then we can compare ourselves with our peers.
I take more than a passing interest in
the organisation and planning, since it's my turn soon. The flags today were hung generously, I must remember that. Pat has
returned earlier and is pleased, Mark and Susi enjoyed their course
and the kids took a trip on the miniature railway. Everyone's a
winner.
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