100 Happy Days

My sister challenged me. I'm a generally optimistic, Pollyanna kind of spirit. I sometimes get knocked down, but I always get back up.

I posted them via Instagram as I'm also the kind of girl that (mainly) does what she is told, but here are my 100 days from Flickr as that's the way I'm rolling.



100 Happy Days Challenge, should we be worried that the Daily Mail is writing about it.

Walk 17 - Mamu Rainforest Canopy

Three quarters of the way up I was considering if it would be better to turn around now and head back down to solid ground but something told me to just keep going. One step at a time, trying not to focus on the open grill below my feet that went down and down. At least this time it wasn't a physical inability or struggle more an irrational fear of the height. The climb up the 37m tower was at the end of the Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walkway a wonderful treat in the Wooroonooran National Park. A reasonable entrance fee has you wandering along an accessible and easy walkway that includes a cantilever and an elevated walkway through the forest. The tower does take you to impressive views and is of course perfectly safe. At the top I was fine and snapped away in wonder at the great expanse laid out before us. The walk down was just as tough for me, you can't see me gripping the hand rail in the photo below. It feels a respected and special place with well placed information adding to the visit and the understanding of the place. Plus I thought it was rather cool that more than 900,000 plastic 2 litre milk bottles are in the recycled plastic decking on the walkways. We visited after leaving Mission Beach and heading towards Karanda all part of our forest experience in this part of Queensland.

Walk 15 - Whitsunday Peak

I wasn't expecting a walk on a sailing trip and I wasn't too excited about this one. I needed rest and warmth rather than a struggle uphill. I'm not in good physical shape and yes I do want to do something about that but I felt I needed a bit more R&R at this point. Off we went though. The kind Australian advice on the sign/map told us we needed to be fit, oh great I thought. Still, onward. It was a mental struggle more than anything, the two delightful ladies on the sailing trip were great, but I must have slowed them down considerably. I kept trying to get them to go ahead, no, no this pace is fine they tell me. Surely not. I was so red it was kind of funny. Eventually I get them to lead but off course I slow down even more and you know what happened then, they waited and made sure I was OK. Lovely lovely ladies. I was quietly dealing with my issues internally. One step at a time, mind over matter and all that jazz. Truth is I do enjoy it but walking uphill really kills me and I wasn't ready for this one so it was a bit of an effort. Despite one false calling on the summit we made it in good time and yes, as always, it was worth it. Seriously worth it, the view was amazing. I did take it in for a few seconds before having to sit down, shaking legs and a bit dizzy. That was OK but trying to stand back up the dizziness took on a new level but a few breaths and I'm back. Oh yes, drink more water, that helped. My shoulder/arm/neck had given me some gip on the way up but that view eased those pains and re-envigoured the spirit. Re-reading my journal entry I made that night, that view must have really been something as I commented on wanting to die or alternatively just stopping right where I was a certain times on the way up and just giving up. I tripped up a lot and just moving my legs one step at a time required concentration. So the smiley thumbs up photo below is a real wonder. There was some hope though. I lead off for the downward journey, now this as you may (or not) know can be equally at dodgy and hard work but I set off at a good pace and trundled down without any problems. Nope, knees, hips, shoulder all good. Miraculous maybe but I really enjoyed the walk down, we laughed at not remembering anything from our walk up - apart from the mushrooms. We met a few folks on on the way up and gave kindly, encouraging words. But what really did it was walking onto Sawmill Beach, Lance was there waiting to pick us up and we just walked into the sea and swam. It wasn't quite as spontaneous as that as we did make sure that our pockets were empty, but kind of. No fuss or fancy, just cooling off in the clear blue waters around Whitsunday Island. I live to walk another day.

Really Dry

Still Dry, fantastically impressed and proud of myself. It was a tough night when Adam decided to partake in some really good cognac but I savoured the smell alone. What has amazed me possibly more than my ability to stay away from the drink is the incredible generosity of the folks that are sponsoring me. Thank you all so much and if you'd like to add your contribution follow the link to my profile. My sponsorship money is going towards Auckland Region and Northland Hospitals. I'm raising funds to help their cancer patients get the tangible changes needed to make their cancer journey that little bit easier.

https://nz.dryjuly.com/profile/katiequinney






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Walk 11- Piha

A wild, windy and wet day in Auckland. Of course we could have stayed in bed, or moved to the lounge and curled up in front of the fire, reading. But no, the beach called. I needed windy. I needed to walk in the rain. Piha beach is a classically wonderful west coast beach. The wind pushed along the beach one way as we jumped into the streams and compared the waterproof nature of our shoes (I won). I struggled with the camera in a tricky light, trying to capture the wild nature and the crazy wind blowing us around. The walk back the rain was actually moving horizontally, my right side was soaked. I have a great coat as well as good shoes so I felt snug and well wrapped up, though my legs were starting to feel the chill of the rain.

Of course wild New Zealand does have it's fair share of marvellously placed cafes so after the walk we sneaked a corner seat in the Piha Cafe. Deservedly popular on a wild Sunday, we partook in a classic margarita pizza, crumble, coffee and hot chocolate before heading back to be curled up in front of the fire with a movie to help us slide through the afternoon and into Sunday evening.

Wet but still dry......
Donate to my Dry July Challenge here

The wind winning

The dog having the time of it's life

The beach goes on forever 

Warmed ginger syrup with milk

Coffee and crumble

My lovely man 

Celebrating with the orange juice

Exam and presentation done. The constant practice and hard work payed off. Passed exam, very very well (100%- what do you say to that mum). Presentation went well, the adrenaline coursing through my veins all day while I waited did me no good but all went well in the end. The Star Wars slide the obvious hit. Results were emailed out today. So celebration was due but in Dry July style it was freshly squeezed orange juice. It is fab having a neighbour with an orange tree. I did make it bubble by adding lemonade and drank it out of a champagne glass. Scary thought - maybe the great suit was due to the recent lack of alcohol. Moving on methinks.




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Inspiration in the orange juice

Trying to prepare for giving an amazing presentation with a cold is proving tricky. Trying to do it without the wine to get the creative juices flowing is unusual. So inspiration is to be found in a mixture of juices and Star Wars.
One week of Dry July done. Not too bad so far.....
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48 hours

48 hours in and I'm feeling rather proud. Today was one of those days when I'd normally come home and have some wine but despite the crappy nature of the day I came home and had a scone with jam and cream and a cup of tea. This Dry July may not be the healthy July I was intending.



Posted using BlogPress from my iPad