The Outback Expat

My August Faves

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Another month over and August was a fun one!

1) The month started with a trip to the night Noodle Market at Southbank. The Aussie and I decided we needed a night walk in and around the City on the Friday night. We didn’t know what would be on at Southbank but there is usually something. The event was lovely and the area was bustling with stalls selling Asian food. I didn’t try anything but the Aussie was impressed and has hoped the market was back on when we’ve visited the area again on a Friday night.

2) I paid a trip to the Powerhouse with Naomi to watch Letters to Lindy which I talked about here. I really enjoy visiting the theatre at the Powerhouse is located in the beautiful New Farm area.

3) & 9) These photo was taken on my walk/runs around our local park just before the sun started setting. I love that we are so close to a park and with just a few laps of the park I can easily manage a good 3.5 or 5.5km walk/run.

4) The Glass House Mountains. On Ekka day we paid a visit to the beautiful Glasshouse Mountains. This photo was taken from one of the lookouts and still takes my breath away a bit. I love being in the great outdoors these days and feel lucky that within an hour or so we can be in this vista.

5) Colour Run – this was a fun morning for me and the Aussie which I am planning on writing about very soon!

6) P!nk! I still can’t believe that I got to go and see P!nk live in concert on her Beautiful Trauma tour! You can read about it here.

7) I understand from my Facebook friends that this bird is a Brown Falcon that landed on the balcony when we were staying on the Gold Coast. The bird stayed there for ages and let me get really close, hence the photo! We think it was watching something on the beach below as we also had a few different birds land on the balcony before diving off a few times later in the day.

8) This photo was taken at the start of the Bridge to Brisbane race (before the rain pummelled us!!). I wrote about the event here and am already looking forward to next years race which may be a 10km!

Bridge to Brisbane

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Almost this time last week it was drizzling with a threat of heavy rain and Naomi and I were making our way to the start line for Bridge to Brisbane.

Last year I was stuck on a bus with the Aussie on the way to see our friend give a speech for quite some time care of the same event. Even though I had participated in several walk/races at this time I don’t think it occured to me that the following year I would participate in the Bridge to Brisbane.

Twelve months later and I was up almost at the crack of dawn on a Sunday no less, to catch a train into the city, to walk to Eagle Street Pier where I met Naomi to catch a ferry across to Captain Burke Park.

Naomi and I sheltered under a canopy for quite some time whilst waiting for the race to start, chatting to a lovely lady who had had her knees replaced and her goal post surgery was to participate in the 5km Bridge to Brisbane. We shared parkrun stories and laughed waiting to get started.

Then probably about 20 minutes before the race started, so did the heavier rain. We got in line in the pink zone, assuming we would take more than 45 minutes to complete the race when I signed us up.

The race began in waves based on the colour of your bib. We set off heading towards one of my favourite landmarks in Brisbane, The Story Bridge. I have never walked over the bridge and have only driven over it by accident when I missed a turn off when following my Satnav! I have to say I was excited to walk over the bridge at long last and we walked across and back which was great.

Then we began the walk towards Southbank. It was at times up hill making me glad I was walking but yet quite satisfied that I was not out of breath too badly.

The further we got into the race the heavier the rain became. It got to the stage that I had to take my glassess off as we walked around Kangaroo Point because the rain was so heavy. We were literally soaked through but kept on plodding.

We hit the 4km mark and started to run, this hadn’t been our intention or plan but it felt good running, especially the downhill bits! The rain was a motivator I think and lead to some funny moments where whilst wiping my eyes because the rain was so heaving that I almost rain into the back of about 3 people. Hasty “sorry sorry sorry” was shouted as I carried on running.

We crossed the finish line in a very happy for me, 43 minutes and 5 seconds. We were just shy of our personal best which was about 20 seconds faster but frankly I didn’t mind. I had completed the Bridge to Brisbane, my muscles were tired in the best way and I am already plotting the next race!

Bridge to Brisbane before the rain hit

We Climbed a Mountain

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We, did, we climbed an actual mountain! Not an Everest sized one, but a mountain nonetheless!

Around Brisbane there are a few mountains and since we first visited Brisbane I have been keen to walk up Mount Coot-Tha which is 287 metres above sea level and apparently has the highest peak within the urban footprint of Brisbane.

We live pretty close to Mount Coot-Tha and have taken our family and friends who have stayed with us up the mountain for coffee, lunch or dinner at the Kuta Cafe. We have never actually been to visit just because even though we do live so close.

After my holiday time with my family I am back on the diet and fitness bandwagon at full speed. I have Sunday as my rest day but was really in the mood to go for a walk/hike over the weekend and Sunday morning was the best time for me and the Aussie.

I set out to find a location which wasn’t too far away, would give us a good walk and with pretty scenes and Mount Coot-Tha fit the bill easily.

We set out for the Honeyeater Trail which leaves from the Chapel Hill area which has a nice little parking area at the base of the mountain and began the trek literally up a mountain.

The path up was pretty steep as it winds through the forest and definitely gets the blood pumping and lungs working hard. The trail is about 2.1km from the car park up to the Kuta Cafe area which doesn’t sound a lot but it gives you a good work out and you do have to come back again of course.

There are a few places to stop along the trail with perfectly placed benches if you need to stop and catch your breath or stop and admire the view which is a must.

The trail was very very popular and we passed runners, couples, families including small children and some dogs, so whilst it is a steep track, it is definitely doable. Nearly everyone said good morning, or at least hi from those on their way up the inclines which was really nice!

It took us just under 30 minutes to reach the summit and we stopped off at the Kuta Cafe for a coffee and coffee and sandwich for the Aussie.

I love the Brisbane skyline and even after a year of Brisbane living, still smile when I catch glimpses of it driving around and for that reason I love visiting Kuta and looking out across the river as it winds its way to the CBD. We wiled away some time enjoying the view before trying to identify where our house is located (we do this pretty much every time we visit Kuta) eventually resorting to the map and confirming it was where we thought!

Then it was time for the descent which was, as expected, very much easier as it was virtually down hill the whole way but was as enjoyable as the incline.

The trail is well sign posted throughout and we noted signs for a few other trails around the mountain including a reservoir trail which I am hoping we can visit soon.

We Climbed a Mountain

My June Faves

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A bit later this month but these are my favourite photos from June.

1. & 2. Both of these photos were taken on a walk / run at the park near our new house.

3. This was taken on the New Farm Park Run. It was our first time trying this venue and I really enjoyed the route and our usual weekend debrief.

4. I went on a walk with Naomi, our lovely American friends and a lovely friend they had visiting from Germany to Whites Hill. It was a great walk with some good hills to go up and down. I loved that I could breath pretty normally as we went up and down the hills and my recovery was really quick.

5. It seems exercise was the theme in my photos as this photograph was taken just before I started the Park Run at Wynnum. I have to get up about 5am to get to the Wynnum Park Run but I never mind because this view greets me as I arrive and I also get to do my weekly debrief with Naomi. Its a fantastic way to start the weekend.

6. On the 23rd the Aussie, Naomi our American friends and their friend from Germany went to a Winter Solstice Festival. This photo was taken during the lantern parade on our way to the bonfire.

7. The day after the Solstice Festival Naomi and I visited the Yoga Festival. I had never tried yoga so this was a good opportunity to see if it was something I would want to try again and it was. I was surprised by how strong I actually am and I definitely want to keep on doing the yoga.

8. As you know my family visited at the beginning of the month so I sent them this picture to show them that I had made up the spare bed after it was delivered for their visit.

9. When I did Park Run I entered a prize draw which was run by Dulux. Just after we got home I had a call to say I had won the prize which was a pretty much life size Dulux dog! It took a while by the dog (now named Dudley) was delivered to our house at the end of the month and he is causing hours of entertainment!!!

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