Overnight Hike

Tuesday, 8 October 2013

It's funny what the kids get really excited about. Despite the fact that we normally have to drag them kicking and screaming to anything that sounds remotely like a 'walk', they've been eagerly anticipating our first ever overnight bushwalk for weeks.  I'd told them they'd be carrying their own sleeping bag, sleeping mat and clothes but that didn't put them off at all - in fact they loved the idea. 

Our plan was to walk to the campsite at the far end of Wineglass Bay - so about 5k.  Perfect distance for the kids and although we had to carry both tents and water, a pretty easy re-introduction to overnight hiking for us.

As part of our packing extravaganza we had packed our walking packs completely before we left Hobart, so when we arrived at the car park it we just had to grab out bags, take some 'before photos' and we were away...

Now the photo on the right is of Jon with his pack. That's my pack leaning against his knee.  I know what you're thinking but I can explain.. One of the things we failed to find despite us both searching the house from top to bottom the night before was my 20 year old rucksack.  This was extremely unfortunate for Jonno as the only alternative for me was his daypack.  Now I bet you are thinking that I was glad about the whole situation but not really - I actually don't mind carrying a backpack - it's really very satisfying and I like to feel independent.  Instead I imagined that every single person we passed along the way probably thought I was unable or unwilling to carry my share. Oh well.  I did investigate the price of new packs online and the feasibility of a quick stop at Kathmandu on the way out of town but Jon persuaded me against a rushed purchase and after looking at the weather observations that would have actually meant 100k an hour gusts of wind over the bridge (instead of 80) and almost certainly no bus to shelter us. 

So we set off with the kids both trotting off ahead of us.. It's a pretty busy track and their big packs and bounciness earned them lots of admiring glances from struggling (and generally inappropriately dressed) tourists on the way up.  At one spot we stopped for a rest where there were some well dressed chinese tourists.  We dumped our packs next to their Chanel Handbags - I wish I'd got a photograph.  Onwards and upwards though...

 

The kids were still full of enthusiasm when we got to the newly re-jigged and improved lookout..

 

 It took us half an hour to get down to Wineglass Bay where we were rewarded with the sight of a pod of six dolphins swimming around. These dolphins actually spent the rest of the day and evening in the bay - we watched them as we sat with our hot chocolates later that night - what a treat.

 

It took about half an hour to walk along the beach to get to the camping area at the far end. This photo above shows a speck in the distance which is Jett, then Jon, then Zali.

The kids were pretty keen to set up their own tent once we reached the campsite - they'd already had a practise at home.  Behold both tents - my 20 year old Macpac Minaret - weight 2.6kg - replacement value $650, their brand new Denali brand Anaconda tent - weight 3.1 kg, replacement value $140:

 

Their tent was certainly WAY more spacious and airy than ours, and amazingly cheap - I had to get my old poles replaced for this trip and that cost $65 - nearly half the cost of their whole tent!  I did notice that the floor of theirs felt a little flimsy (although there's no way my tent floor is still waterproof), yet no tent is as fast to put up as a Macpac Minaret - I could have done it in the dark with one hand and still had time to make Zali and Jett a hot chocolate before they were finished.

 

We arrived at the campsite at about 4 so there was the perfect amount of time to get set up, explore a bit, have dinner then early bedtime. We were pretty exhausted from the late night packing and the aforewrittenabout harrowing journey.

 

The next morning the kids were up early and rearing to go.  It is so nice not having to pack up a giant family tent and we were all ready to go by without being in any sort of hurry by about 8.30.

The kids were keen to walk back to the car the long way (about 10k all up) so from the other end of the beach we turned left and went across the Isthmus via Hazards Beach.

I was a bit worried they'd run out of steam but with a planned stop for jelly-snakes and a drink every 30-40 minutes, they had no trouble making it back to the car in about 3.5 hours of walking and resting.

 

 

 In our entire journey they didn't complain once about having to walk or carry a pack. It was amazing. I think they loved the adventure of it all and when we met up with the cousins back in Coles Bay I overheard Zali talking about it and showing Miley her pack and what she was carrying. They were pretty proud of themselves and I recon we'd have no trouble convincing them of doing something similar again - in fact they were proposing 2 night trips as we walked back.  I recon I might have to buy myself a new rucksack for that though. 

2013summary
K.I. Day 3 Saturday, 28 December 2013
K.I. Day 2 Friday, 27 December 2013
K.I. Friday, 27 December 2013
Belair National Park Wednesday, 25 December 2013
Special Talents Monday, 23 December 2013
The K2K Sunday, 22 December 2013
Takeaway Sunday, 22 December 2013
Morning Paddle Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Before and After #28 Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Milestones Sunday, 15 December 2013
Run-Sheet Sunday, 15 December 2013
Gingerbread Houses Sunday, 15 December 2013
It must be December.. Sunday, 1 December 2013
Not at all the plan..not even a bit Sunday, 24 November 2013
in other news.. Thursday, 21 November 2013
Winners are grinners! Saturday, 16 November 2013
Before & after #28 Friday, 15 November 2013
Triple Tops Mark IV Sunday, 10 November 2013
Lake Rosebery Paddle Sunday, 10 November 2013
Tullah Challenge Saturday, 9 November 2013
Assumptions Friday, 8 November 2013
Halloween Orienteering Sunday, 27 October 2013
Chocolate Saturday, 26 October 2013
Fine and Windy, with a chance of Sulkiness Saturday, 26 October 2013
Archives.. Friday, 25 October 2013
Freycinet Challenge - Part 3 Friday, 25 October 2013
In safe hands Friday, 25 October 2013
Freycinet Challenge - Part 2 Wednesday, 23 October 2013
Freycinet Challenge Part I Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Dogs and Babies Saturday, 19 October 2013
Mt Amos Sculpture Trail Friday, 11 October 2013
Contrasts Thursday, 10 October 2013
Walking Machines Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Fishing Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Mt Graham Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Restraint Tuesday, 8 October 2013
Overnight Hike Tuesday, 8 October 2013
Harrowing Journeys Part #4 Tuesday, 8 October 2013
Harrowing Journeys Part #3 Monday, 7 October 2013
Harrowing Journeys Part #2 Monday, 7 October 2013
Harrowing Journeys - Part I Sunday, 6 October 2013
McComb Swimming Carnival Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Fishy Update #3 Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Lift Lounging Wednesday, 2 October 2013
not so much riding Tuesday, 17 September 2013
Sensational Sydney Tuesday, 17 September 2013
Fishy Update #2 Tuesday, 17 September 2013
It's Back! Saturday, 7 September 2013
one of these things.. Saturday, 7 September 2013
Piñata Update Saturday, 31 August 2013
Fishy Update #1 Saturday, 31 August 2013
Home-Made Friday, 30 August 2013
We should have gotten meerkats Friday, 30 August 2013
Rainbows and Puppydogs Monday, 26 August 2013
Redbanks Sunday, 25 August 2013
Soccer Season Saturday, 24 August 2013
Bookweek.. Friday, 23 August 2013
Jon in the Winter Challenge Wednesday, 21 August 2013
Well this is quaint.. Wednesday, 21 August 2013
Winter Challenge 2013 Sunday, 18 August 2013
Preparation. Saturday, 17 August 2013
Proclamation Day Saturday, 17 August 2013
Inevitabilities Sunday, 11 August 2013
Saturday Afternoons Saturday, 10 August 2013
Sunrises Saturday, 10 August 2013
Re-surfacing.. Saturday, 10 August 2013
look! Saturday, 10 August 2013
Magic Melbourne Thursday, 1 August 2013
Sunday Paddle Sunday, 21 July 2013
Saturday Paddle Saturday, 20 July 2013
The novelty is over Saturday, 20 July 2013
Happy Birthday Me! Sunday, 14 July 2013
and in other news.. Saturday, 13 July 2013
Egg Island Circumnavigation Saturday, 13 July 2013
The Icebreaker Part IIIIII - wrap up Tuesday, 9 July 2013
The Icebreaker Part IIIII Tuesday, 9 July 2013
The Icebreaker Part IIII Monday, 8 July 2013
The Icebreaker Part III Monday, 8 July 2013
The Icebreaker Part II Monday, 8 July 2013
The Icebreaker Part I Sunday, 7 July 2013
Nerves Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Frosty Toes Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Going Up Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Aurora Chasing Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Monster Cake Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Dark Mofo Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Mona Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Working in Miniature Sunday, 16 June 2013
Wheels.. Friday, 14 June 2013
Aurora Chasing Saturday, 8 June 2013
Tas Sprint Champs Saturday, 8 June 2013
Beautiful Bicheno Saturday, 8 June 2013
Saturdays Friday, 7 June 2013
Soccer Buddies Friday, 7 June 2013
Utensil Update III Friday, 7 June 2013
Doing the Hard Yards Friday, 7 June 2013
Small Change Sunday, 26 May 2013
Sunday Morning Paddle Sunday, 26 May 2013
Work Friday, 24 May 2013
Not great value Friday, 24 May 2013
Today was not a good day for Mr Fish.. Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Utensil Update II Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Utensil Update Friday, 17 May 2013
Having fun with the children.. Thursday, 16 May 2013
Mini Cupcakes Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Ye Olde Hobart Sunday, 12 May 2013
Dog People Sunday, 12 May 2013
Early Mornings Sunday, 12 May 2013
North West Bay Sunday, 5 May 2013
Tip Trip Sunday, 5 May 2013
Sculpture Trail Friday, 26 April 2013
New Bike Monday, 22 April 2013
Wombat 100 Part 3 Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Wombat 100 Part 2 Monday, 15 April 2013
Wombat 100 Part 1 Monday, 15 April 2013
Disco Zali Sunday, 14 April 2013
Spirit of Tasmania Saturday, 6 April 2013
Last Day.. Saturday, 6 April 2013
Mt Buller Summit Friday, 5 April 2013
What we're not doing this winter.. Friday, 5 April 2013
Jon's Ride Friday, 5 April 2013
you win some, you lose some, and then you get sick.. Friday, 5 April 2013
You win some, you lose some Friday, 5 April 2013
Luna Park Friday, 5 April 2013
Metropolitan Meerkats Friday, 5 April 2013
Bendigo and surrounds Monday, 1 April 2013
Cape Huay and the Three Capes Project Monday, 25 March 2013
Tarn Shelf Walk Sunday, 24 March 2013
Canberra Sunday, 24 March 2013
Capital Punishment 50k Monday, 18 March 2013
The Best Bike Bag Ever Friday, 15 March 2013
Lovely Kids Saturday, 9 March 2013
Beach Shadows Saturday, 9 March 2013
The best leg Monday, 4 March 2013
Summer Survival Monday, 4 March 2013
Sunday Night Dinner Monday, 4 March 2013
Bruny Island Paddling Weekend Sunday, 24 February 2013
Cuteness Friday, 22 February 2013
For Dr Evil Thursday, 21 February 2013
Almost Perfect Thursday, 21 February 2013
Lucky lucky lucky Thursday, 21 February 2013
Complaints Thursday, 21 February 2013
My thoughts exactly! Thursday, 14 February 2013
Lunchtime Ride Thursday, 14 February 2013
Our new pet Sunday, 10 February 2013
Modern Family Sunday, 10 February 2013
Blue Dragon Part 2 Sunday, 10 February 2013
The Blue Dragon Part 1 Saturday, 9 February 2013
Wardrobe! Thursday, 31 January 2013
Mad Monday Monday, 28 January 2013
Jetty Beach, Bruny Island Sunday, 27 January 2013
Thursday night paddling group Sunday, 27 January 2013
News Flash Thursday, 24 January 2013
Sunday Paddle Sunday, 20 January 2013
I have perfect eyebrows. Thursday, 17 January 2013
Little Adventures Sunday, 13 January 2013
Maria Island Friday, 11 January 2013
Face painting Friday, 11 January 2013
before & after #27 Friday, 11 January 2013
bang for your buck Monday, 7 January 2013
Surfing at Maria Island Sunday, 6 January 2013
Slide of Doom Sunday, 6 January 2013
Picture Perfect Sunday, 6 January 2013