Bluff Knoll ......

On 26th June 2020, I climbed to the top of Bluff Knoll in the Stirling Ranges. I trained and was prepared for this, I have been eating well, exercising daily, doing Pilates and Yoga, and taking Young Living's Ningxia and recovery supplements every day. I've had very little stiffness and no sore areas in the few days following the climb.

The trail had been closed after a bushfire started by lightning on Boxing Day last year and has recently reopened.

It was very cold and windy as we approached the summit. I thought I was going to be blown over by the strong wind gusts. My hiking poles were put to good use and I was able to steady myself and kept my feet firmly on the ground.

A strong wind blew clouds up and over the summit and the outlook changed dramatically.

I was slow and steady, it took me 4 hours to get to the summit and 2 hours 50 minutes to return, which included about 20 minutes at the summit to have a rest and something to eat.

Having achieved this goal I am now thinking of my next challenge.

This is - The next time .....

After climbing down to the bottom and then back up these stairs a few days ago, I decided to do some of them twice.

This is the section I did twice. 

It's a long way down.

The Southern Ocean.

The area has beautiful Western Australian native flora. These Leek Orchids are very small and I needed to lay down on the Boardwalk to take the photos.  

After completing the stairs I walked west to the end of the Boardwalk. It was very refreshing, the next time I'll do even more of the stairs and walk east along the track and find more treasures of the bush.

The western end of the Boardwalk.

Once was enough .... until next time

Today I walked the stairs at Sandpatch, Albany, they go down to the waters edge at The Albany Wind Farm, are quite steep and there's 500 of them.

I chat to whoever's around when I go for a walk, and today I was encouraged by a gentleman several years older than me who's been walking these stairs 5 times down and up 'on the days he doesn't take a long ride of his bike' for several years. I thought I was doing well going down and up once, but after chatting with him next time I'm doing some of them twice! Not sure which bit but I'm going to do more!

The Southern Ocean is such an amazing colour and when I get up this close it's fabulous, and even if I only had my phone I'd take a photo. Today I had my Olympus TG5 and my phone so I was able to use both, these photos are taken with the Camera.

When it gets tough ....

When things get tough is not the time to give up. As we go through life there will be good and bad, it's how we move through these times that we grow and get stronger or stop and choose to not go on to the full potential of whatever it is that's before us.

Today I saw not one, but two snakes on the trail

Goals are for us to move toward, like in a football match the goalposts may seem small from the far end of the field, but, as you get closer they start to look bigger and you may think they're easy to kick a ball through; it's not usually easy to kick a goal from any angle, but, you have to try or you will never know if you can do it. 

This is where I'm going 

This is a far as I could get

 I got to the lower part of the rock face and couldn't get my legs in a position to scramble up, I had several goes, but after trying from different angles and not being able to pull myself up I had to decide to finish here. I rested for a short time and took some photos then started the long walk back.

It took me three hours and was fabulous. 

 Don't give up because something doesn't finish like you thought it would. Be the best you every day, continue to dream, and set goals. Challenge yourself in every aspect of your life, be a person with many interests. And, some unique achievements that even you didn't expect to have. 

Keep moving toward your goal ...

Today I had a very long walk along the beach and enjoyed every minute. I took 15,000 steps and walked 10km.

Keeping moving is important, it's good for the whole person. Open your senses to the world around you. Find a place where the peace of the natural world can invade your soul, be there, and soak it in.

Every day is an opportunity to give yourself the gift of living a life full of the joy of movement. It's not so important to get a gym membership or do online programs, simply get outside in the fresh air, walk in your garden, or walk to the next street, do something, and everyday build on it and you will start to look and feel better.

I find having a plan helps me to reach my goals and encourages me to keep moving toward that goal.

For me, this month's goal is climbing Bluff Knoll in The Stirling Ranges. It takes passion and dedication to get out there and do the preparation, but if I don't then I won't get the opportunity to succeed as I already know how difficult it is.

Every step I take is towards my goal of climbing to the top of Bluff Knoll in a few weeks' time.

Where I walked today!

My walk at Goode Beach

I didn't get very far before I was tempted to pull out the camera! I really can't resist taking photos, especially when the view is so gorgeous. It was a glorious day, and the clouds were amazing, as well as the colour of the water.

I did walk in the water and with bare feet.

The walk is a 6km return. There are very handy toilets at the other end which is rather important for an older lady like me.

I'll be doing this again soon, probably wearing sneakers, and walking on the edge not in the water. It is winter and the water is getting cold. 

Preparing to climb Bluff Knoll

In a few weeks I'm going to challenge myself to once again climb Bluff Knoll in the Stirling Ranges. It's three years since the last time and I'm looking forward to those magnificent views on the way to the top and from the top. It will be very different as the bushfire last summer has changed the profile dramatically.

View from the top looking north-east 

Taken 2nd June 2017 

A few weeks ago from the bottom lookout, taken after the bushfire
but before the track was open to the public. 

Yesterday I did the stairs at The Windfarm in Albany, I was surprised I did it so well as it's quite some time since I've given myself even that challenge. Every day in the next few weeks I will also be doing Pilates and/or Yoga to help strengthen my joints and improve my balance, I've been doing both for some months and enjoy it immensely, so its no pain just a decision and the discipline to get it done every day.

These stairs are good for training, there's over 500 of them!

I have been bushwalking on the tracks that are near my home, and at times got up a bit of a faster gait, but alas, the orchids and wildflowers seem to attract me and I finish up mostly strolling along taking photos and checking out the Pelicans on the Jetty.

Now I'm off to walk very briskly along Goode Beach. Let's see how long I can go without a stop for photos?