Today's Trailwalker inspired quote:
"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way!" ~ Dr Seuss
Today's Trailwalker inspired track:
"Climb" ~ Adam Lambert
Date: March 20th 2010
Where: Start - Checkpoint 3 (Odawara to Onshi Hakone Park)
Totals: 23.5km - 7:05 hours
We knocked off Start to CP 4 last weekend amid high winds, the odd squall, a barbie that wouldn't gas up, a jelly bean bonanza, hopelessly ineffectual plastic bag footwear, stupendous amounts of food, a cozy cabin, a pirate-ship and 36km of trails just waiting to be danced on and videoed.
Dropped Savster up at Lake Ashi, then disturbed the wabi-sabi of our driver's morning nap as we bumbled on to the bus to Odawara. Did some marvellous back-seat dance moves as he wondered off for a whiz. It was 6.30am and we were hungry. Hello Breakfast 2.
At Odawara eki we had Breakfast 3 at Becks, considered purchases at the Hakone Bakery for pre-morning tea, then complained the whole way to the start about those silly steps. In good spirits but hot.
Off we go. We have spats. No mud. No snow. It's a sun-shiny day. We passed springs first blossoms, which inspired a good 10 minutes of lyrical dance. Not easy with poles.
Start to 1 was fun. Not quite as slippery as we remembered. Snacks 2-4 consumed. Off we went down the road, massive happy Saturday traffic jam. We snuck out of it via the hiking course as we made our way to CP2.
Let's not mince words. CP1-2. We hate you. We'd temporarily blocked this 3 hours of endless huffy puffy from our collective Soundtrack conscious. But it soon came flooding back. The wind battered us the whole way to the top of Mt Sengen. Not doing anything for the hair. Don't stop til the top. Hungry beyond words. Lunch 1 demolished in record time. Ahhhh peanut butter sandos, we knew you well. Met our lovely friend Martin and his team HCCR, out for a train on the course.
Couldn't get down fast enough. The weather was turning. But we figured with all our terrific amounts of food, we'd surely be fine if we were lost to the elements, ooooh for a good hour, at least. With 20 seasons of watching Survivor under our belt (and absolutely loving Heroes vs Villians) we channeled our inner Russell, and got to the flower center, alliance intact. Finding no immunity idols on the way we did make quick work of nuts, maple bikkies, and deeply reflected on the promise of Caramello Koalas at the end. Got nothing for you. Head back to camp.
CP2-3 was a quick walk, punctuated with Trace's magnificent tour guiding and historial interpretation of the trail. Too tremendous to detail. By this time we were well into pre-afternoon tea snacks 7 through 15. It was almost time for canapes.
A taxi hurtled us from CP3 back to the Lake Ashi campground as we had to check in to Chez Cabin by 4pm. Pre-audibles consumed en-route.
Fabulous accommodation, wonderful welcoming staff at the camp-jo. Wish we could have stayed for a few more days.
Dinner was an extravaganza We ordered a beef bbq set for 1. It was massive and fed 4. Caramellos were soon gone, yummy baths and some very interesting stretching going on, not to mention what all those foodstuff do to one's insides. Apparently Em found an outlet, and as such was banished to her room. Lights out in the bunk beds. That was until the storm hit and we rocked and rolled all night.
Total for day 1 - climbed 1,778m. Down 1,107m. And 1 slight hissy fit pulled.
DAY 2
Date: March 21st 2010
Where: Checkpoint 3 - Checkpoint 4 (Onshi Hakone Park to Ashinoko
Camping Village)
Totals: 12.5km - 2:43 hours (including filming time for The Soundtracks "How
to Trailwalker Japan" instructional video...)
Morning bought good weather and we headed out to finish off the training with CP3-4, a lovely meander around le lac.
The terrain from the Garmin data above looks a little wacky... but it's pretty flat around the lake. Slight reprieve from the mountains. Lowest point about 720m and highest is about 790m so it's only a undulating 70m difference...
Completely around the shoreline of the lake. A good Sunday stroll. 'Later, little cabin.
In classic Soundtracker style we took the Pirate Ship back over to the start of CP3. Emma wants to ride the Pirate ship alongside us on the day and call out support (while campaigning for eco coffee stirrers) from the masthead. We allow it.
Then it was time to try out the latest addition to the Soundtrackers Kit 2010...
No words, we know. They don't even match. But they did work, even though they broke.
Time for a trail run. Lasted until The Hives finished. Then it was time for some bush dancing, Soundtracker style. The woods may never be the same.
"Spring is when you feel like whistling, even with a shoe full of slush."
Girl Guide Peanut Butter Cookies waiting for us at the end. Erin, we LOVE your treats. This must have been around pre-lunch time, because lunch 1 was at the BUREND ICECREAM Shop, where very sadly Trace's "Potato Chips Ice cream" was unavailable. She had "Purple Sweet Potato" flavour instead, and it tasted just as it sounded.
Total for day 2 - climbed 710m. Down 704m. And 1 fabulous video made.
And so now there's only one more section of the course to train. CP6-7. Which is tentatively booked in for April 11th. Em's Birthday. Nice present. The course - done. In the meantime, Emma and Erin are heading home to stock up on food items for the big day - oh and to celebrate Gran's 95th. Happy Birthday GRAN! An idea for a spot of trekking on Mt Cootha with Nat has been bandied about, and if not that - then definitely training brunch.
Trace & Dee will be throwing themselves headfirst into hard core training mode. Intermittently between blossom hanami's, dee's birthday retreat, a few more visits to the outdoor shop where we look at rain gear but never buy it, and perhaps a quick stop home to Australia to head to the studios to support Hayley at The Biggest Loser finale. Go Hags!
Thanks to Matt and Corts, Bev and cousin Stevie for their generous donations. You've helped us reach the 75% mark and we are thrilled with your support. You're all getting a free (autographed) copy of the "How to Trailwalker" training video. For Christmas. Only 15 days left to sponsor us before the April 9th first donation deadline.
We love you all. Go crazy. It's spring... "Spring is nature's way of saying "Let's party!" ~ Robin Williams
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