OOOh, tomorrow is going to be fun. I am going on a night hike. I have organised it, and earlier this week, Terri's brother David and I walked it through and even very sensibly took pictures along the way.
I used my Camelback for the second time. I really really really do not like having anything on my back (especially children) when i hike and it is even worse when I jog. Last Saturday I went for a run. I left the flat, intending to run to the Boat Club. I took a backpack which contained a change of clothes. I ran up to the Peak. Smack smack smack, the backpack against my back. It had no waist clip, it should be mentioned.
I was very irritated, it should be noted.
By 5km in, I was thinking, "I should just go home and change." But that would be wimpy and I didn't want to be that! So I kept going. Run run run. But that darn smack smack smack.
At 10 km I was walking and texting my lovely husband that I was 2hrs away. I knew I would not be running again, not with this albatross on my back. He was amazed. I was not impressed. And it was hot and I was unhappy. I had even brough water, and twisting to get it was annoying. It just wasn't good. All of it. Eventually I called Charles once I hit the road and totally abandoned the idea of walking the last four km. He came to collect me. I was so disappointed.
So yesterday, knowing it was going to be a walk, and that the Camelback had a Waistclip, i gave it a go. Filled up the bladder, carefully closed it, and was off with my map. Found the starting point and we were off.
THe entire hike took us 3hrs15minutes. This included about 15 minutes of watching cool things, and 0 minutes as I tried to find the entrance to Lady Clementi's Ride, which we eventually found without asking for help or consulting the map which means that we weren't lost or didn't make a mistake. It will be interesting to see how we do in the dark. The headlamps are v. cool.
The bladder worked well, but I found I was swallowing a lot of air, which means I am doing something incorrectly. I was quite uncomfortable by the end of the hike with all the air I could feel in my esophagus.
Tomorrow is a half day (end of term) or as Jasper put it "no lunch at school". The kids are getting excited about half term in Bali, moreso now that I have shown them the movies that Singapore Air is showing and the entertainment units available. You have to love kids. I'm trying to manage things and to show Charles where we can save a copper or two…but the problem is that I keep finding really cool and sadly, expensive things to do on Bali. Like I want Sebastian and I to get up one morning and climb the live volcano. Sadly, this experience will cost us around $100USper person. BUt I mean, how cool is that going to be, climbing a live volcano and seeing the sun rise at the top? Getting up at 2am, arriving at the base at 3am, climbing in the dark for a few hours? I think it sounds great!!!!
And that's only ONE of the things I have found to do…this is going to be a really great trip.
