Challenges.

I am sitting here looking at Mt Gower  one of the mountains on Lord Howe island. My husband has gone to climb that today. The funny part of that story is, I was going to go with him..until I did my research. Oh I’m extremely good at research…..that’s what I do before I venture into something new…….and I’m so glad I did.I investigated and looked at pictures of Tourists who had partaken earlier of this ‘walk’ and what I saw…made me definitely refuse to go. Even the tourist site says….”if you have a  fear of heights (definitely me) or bad knees and back( me)  then to think twice.” Oh  I didn’t have to think twice…I simply said no.

The Mt Gower  ‘walk’ is a guided nine hour hike up the mountain to apparently look back upon the exquisite views of Lord Howe Island……leaving at 7am and returning around 5pm.In reality the mountain is only 860m tall or so , about as high as Mt warning, but there the similarity stops. Climbing Mt warning you meander and wind and zig zag your way up until the last part. 

This mountain is nearly  straight up

The gradient looks like 60deg falling away to 45deg near the summit…and you have to use ropes at the edge of the cliff to wind your way around from near the beginning and then climbing almost vertically up ,on and over rocks while at the same time hanging onto a rope to assist you.  Yes you do walk in forestland but also walking extremely close by the side of the mountain hanging onto that lifeline rope as you are overlooking the edge that is plunging ..down..down…down into the water and rocks below . Not exactly my cup of tea! 

The tourist information site actually says” Despite there being ropes to steady yourself on, it is quite an unnerving experience walking along the slope with cliffs rising straight up to your left, and dropping over 100m straight down to the ocean to your right. The track starts to climb steeply – about 200m up in less than a kilometre.At this point you are about 400m up and there is still another 450m to go up, with about only one kilometre of walking left!…..As you can imagine, there is a lot of rock climbing in that last kilometre. Again there are ropes to aid you, although for the most part the rocks have plenty of handholds…. This section is likely to take a while…..”

And right now, you are wondering why I am sitting here on the beach edge near the lagoon under a cool palm tree looking at  this huge looming mountain in front of me…trying hard to see any moving life on the top of it……knowing that right now, Marc would be on the very top. 

I wonder if he can see me here talking to you ???? 

But that’s Marc….always needing a challenge to do. I’m more than content  being here, where I am thinking of him. 

Don’t get me wrong, I do lots of things with Marc and I too like challenges yes, but I don’t need that kind. If I had gone without knowing what was in front of me, I would have panicked and become frozen and then embarrassed as all the others would have passed me as I stood motionless not being  able to move one foot in front of the other. And I’m not sure what Marc would have done with me either. Stuck ! Going up would have been very hard, but to me coming down would have been even more terrifying! No, I don’t need that stress or challenge in my life.

So I sent Marc off with my blessing and to ‘enjoy himself’ early this morning as I lay on my nice white crisp sheets in my delightfully cool bed under the fan.

But I too have had my fair share of challenges this week, such as the cycling and the intense heat and no air conditioners. (How easily we get used to our comforts! )

Lord Howe Island only small and part of NSW. It is only 1.5 hrs flight from Brisbane..close to home ! It was discovered in 1788 by Lieutenant Ball, commander of H.M. tender Supply, on a voyage from Sydney to Norfolk Island and originally part of the Colony of NSW in 1855. 

The  Island is now home for some 350 people, and only allow a total of 400 guests in the island at any one time. We were very fortunate to be one of those ! Many islanders have roots going back to its early settlement in the 19th century. Our own accomodation owner is a fifth generation LHI! 

But there are not many cars. So, like everyone else, you hire/have a bike for a week and make your way around the island on that. 

Easy you say?

Well, yes and no. 
The bike follows the road. 

Now for cars, there is no effort as you glide along, the air conditioner on, conversations happening as you look at things and you gently meander your way around the island soaking in the scenery and the palm trees ……lovely…beautiful…ideallic, pleasant and arrive at your venue glowing in the scenery and coolness.

On a push bike…..well yes you meander your way around the island, on these same roads but there is no air conditioner, as the sun beats down on you and sweat drips heavily from your brow, fogging up the much needed sunglasses sitting underneath the baseball cap, that is sitting in your head underneath the bicycle helmet (as the law of the island instigates ). The conversations between you are stilted as you are riding along, breathing with the exertion of a hill….and yet another hill..and of course we mustn’t forget the road near the small airport  ..promptly called ‘windy point! I know why it’s called that now as you continually ride into a headstrong wind, your little feet peddling and peddling and Peddling as you creep along the road, the strong gusts of wind on ‘windy point’ pushing you straight backwards as you try to get to the other side!! 

But the Conversations begin again between you as you come back into the centre of town and ride easily along arriving at your venue dripping beads of sweat and exertion onto your hands.

However, we mustn’t forget the last trek of our ride back to the cabin…..yes, you guessed it, that last part is all uphill . The gradient reminds me of Rajah road at home (for those that know it,)On this island, no matter how hard I try, how much I turn my little legs and pedal and pedal and pedal I cannot make it all the way up the top of this hill near our cabin where we are staying, on my push bike.!!..I have to get off and physically push the bike up that hill …..weaving  my way into the welcome path of where we are staying -puffing and wheezing ..thinking I am ‘so unfit’. And as you guessed it…Marc rides up in front of me so easily. All I can say..it must be nice to have leg muscles!!

Now for me, riding is fun…but I really thought , here in the island, I was so unfit as I was struggling quite hard….thinking this is not the usual me( I ride and walk around home) and I felt better when I realised my tyres were soggy and spongy making it more difficult . A little pumped air a few days later and I was off happily again…ready for another sweatbath.

Another challenge has been the hiking…..off track. 

We are cycling along and Marc espies a hill..the one he has been looking for on our trek….where there is a platform viewing of the island. And I think ok..I’m not going up Mt Gower so off we go…I follow my husband off the bike into the very hot sand, around the corner , into the bush land and yes..you guess ….straight up…..!

Hikes with my husband I do enjoy….when I have the right walking gear, shoes, water, maybe a walking pole….but did I have that …..oh come on..what are you thinking?
No, what I have on is a simple sundress, sandals and a baseball cap. Just the right attire for a strenuous hike straight up the transit mountain/hill..whatever you want to call it…don’t you think? It’s hot and humid, the sun is blaring ,me strenuously breathing ( The hill to my cabin was now looking easy!! ) as we ascend the summit to yes view over the most worthwhile beautiful landscape of  the island and surrounds. The hike up was definitely worthwhile…but ….we have to go down again……!! 

Snorkelling was also another challenge. 
We hire some gear, Marc fits us out with equipment and we enter the water. 

Now, have you ever tried to stand up or walk with flippers on? Me, I’ve never had flippers on….this was my very very first time …and oh I now know why they are called flippers.That’s because  they flip you right up, over, sideways, and flat on your bottom! It was like someone took my own feet and gave me theirs.I simply  had no control over my tiny twinkling toes in these bright long rubber things on the end of my feet. It took me quite  a while to navigate how to use them…..particularly once we left the rough waves and windy swirling waters of Ned’s beach and headed in contrast to the tranquil calm of the flat main lagoon! My feet ,after few more wrestles finally became mine again!!

Now underwater breathing is easy…..but with a mask ,air piece and a claustrophobic female attached to them…maybe not so easy. I had to learn to breathe differently! You suck in the mask so it’s attached to your face…because you have  to see where you going; you breathe through your mouth in and out….forget  the nose…it’s attached to that face mask …and under the Water you go….a vision of gracefully sliding ,gliding through the water, under the surface, your long hair floating out behind you as you swirl about in the underwater world you never generally visit.Serene .Peaceful.

But it’s not a good look when your face mask is half filled with water and your air piece, that important thing keeping you alive is now filling with water ….and you panic, flip over in your huge uncontrolled feet , choke and cough splutter on salt water.

Gliding beautifully …me thinks not. 
A totally different picture! 
‘Oh ‘says Marc. “Yours is broken.!!”

But once all fixed and back in place, it was a challenge I really enjoyed ..a successful challenge!  That was once I got used to the silence of the underwater world where all you can hear is the ominous deep breathing of DARTH VADER  from Star Wars movies breathing for you…….hearing  that  ‘deep menacing gasping ‘breathing’  and realising it was you!

Now those that know me well know that Boats and Lyndell do not match. Sitting in rocky swaying water always makes whatever is in my stomach want to come up ,say hi to everyone and land outside. So another challenge for me was being part of a small glass bottom boat tour for a few hours. 

After a few momentous trips to the toilet prior to commencing and strapped tightly to pressure point wrist bands which are supposed  to be great for motion sickness, I am dressed in swimmers and towel and we enter the boat. Out over the so called calm lagoon waters into deeper rockier ones filled with coral and fish, and we are told to look through the glass at the bottom of the boat to gaze upon beautiful colours of coral and the colourful fish following us who belong to this island hideaway.

Look down? 

Me sitting on Rocking ,swaying ,waters listening to our wonderful guides information of the coral and sea life….and he wants me to look down? Really????
‘Marc , tell me when there is something worthwhile to see…then I’ll look down! 

What was much better for me was the snorkelling IN the water and that’s when I successfully looked down continually to see a most glorious sight of coral, of shapes and colours in/under  the water. Such beauty of underwater scenery complete with that eerie Darth Vader breathing was absolutely amazing . I even managed to see a galpapados shark (swam away from that one quickly). Mind you I held Marc’s hand the whole way but snorkelled with him for a period of time in this glorious world of coral and colours and bright iridescent fish! 

And we once more entered the human world as we made our way back to shore..complete with dents in my wrists from pressing hard on the motion sickness bands! 

Today..we are three quarters into our short few days break away..
So where do I really start in my blog of our time here on Lord Howe island

Shall I tell you that our long awaited short few days away from work has been worthwhile…..?
Shall I tell you that the weather has been glorious? Hot but glorious.
Shall I tell you that the water as been soooo green, clear and delightful to swim in?
Shall I tell you that the cabin has been sweet and cute and easy to live in where we have read books played games and rested as we should? 
Shall I tell you about the meals we have eaten each night of fresh fish, meat and vegetables complete in tantalising tempting tastes?
Or shall I just leave it there……

I am now as I finish ,once more looking at MT Gower as it sits alongside this beautiful island landscape of water palms and sand …..and wondering where my husband is now in his descent within the tangle of ropes, rocks and boots making his way back to me from the dizzy mountain heights.
And what I know i can tell you  is……I’m so glad to be exactly where I am right now! 

That’s Right Here !!