A walk to remember

This is the up hill path at the very end of my favourite walk. If I'm feeling fit, I usually run up- all while El cheers me on... "run mummy, run!"

Winter is almost here. It’s starting to get very chilly in Emerald, which can only mean one thing…the kids and I get to come out of hibernation! During the summer time, if we’re not at the local pool or shopping centre, then we just hang out inside all day in fear that if we step outside we could possibly melt. Or even worse, risk my poor skin turning 10 shades darker and resembling charcoal from the unforgiving sun. It really is quite depressing.

But now that the cooler weather is here, we are out of hiding! We take nice long walks to the park and pretty much everywhere else. I can be out nearly all day with the kids just walking from one place to the next. The weather is perfect for it and the sun is forgiving. Doesn’t matter what time of the day it is, my skin still remains a nice caramel colour :). It’s also the only form of exercise I don’t demise.

This morning, we were supposed to walk to Kindy but we were running late. So as we drove there, I noticed that my favourite walking track had finally re-opened! This whole time, some parts of it had still been under water from the floods earlier in the year. So as soon as Noah and I arrived home, I put him in the stroller and off we went.

As I was walking, I was remembering and thinking to myself just how much I had missed this walking track. It made me reminisce about all the times I’ve walked that same track and with whom.

It reminded me of how little Elly was when we first arrived in Emerald and walked that track, and how she never wanted to sit in the stroller like Noah does, at the same age. She much preferred running on the track instead! It was the same track where I got to know my friend Cassie really well, all while we attempted to get super fit holding our heavy 1kg weights, and as we chatted about the meaning of life... no, nothing really that deep, just the weekly goss mainly :).

I thought about all the other special people I’ve walked that track with. My sisters Karla, Irma, and my good friend Kristen who all came and visited me in the cooler months, so it was possible. Well actually, Karla was the one exception. She came in the summer and made it her mission to walk all over Emerald in 40-degree heat and all while pushing a massive double stroller, but she’s Canadian, so she can be forgiven. Even my mami has walked part of that track with me, and I thought of her today, and how much I miss her. It’s also the track I walked for exercise when Noah was in my belly and the afternoon I was contracting before he was born the next morning.

I must’ve been in such a deep thought during all this reminiscing; as I did not even realise my iphone had fallen out of my stroller pocket at some point. It was only when I got to the last part of the long walk and stopped to get a drink, that I realised my phone was missing. So back I went with a happy and content Noah, to retrace our steps, look for my phone, and add close to another hour to our walk.

Well, I’m pleased to report that I eventually found my phone lying there around the bumpy part of the walk. I took it as a sign from the 'blog gods' that I needed to use my phone to take pictures of this much loved walking track, as to not forget it when we move away.

So I did…

The botanical gardens is the beautiful and shady part of the walk.

The first little park you come across. If you stop here for too long, YOU WILL get eaten alive by midges.

The river that runs all through the botanical gardens. I used to tell Elly that if she got out of her stroller, a 'crocodile' might get her... I was desperate and it worked most of the times.

Then we come to another park, and El would always want to get out...again! So i'd run past it or tell her it was 'broken!' It's mean I know, but I made up for it later.

ps. This little park has gone completely under in both floods. It used to have a convenient fence around it, but it didn't survive the latest flood.

The foot path that leads straight to Coles shopping centre. Unfortunately, I discovered this AFTER Karla's and I near death experience at a busy round-about. I thought at the time that it was the only way to get there...oops!

ps. The Coles shopping centre is STILL closed from after the floods. So sad. I miss walking up that path and dimolishing all my walking efforts, while the kids and I would get a treat from Wendy's.

Then there is what I like to call the 'wilderness' part of the walk.

The 3rd and final park in the walk (yay!). This is where I'd be a 'good mum' and let Elly get out and play. However, if we were running late and I needed to be a 'mean mum' again, I'd run past or tell her the 'ant's nest' will bite her bottom! I know, I tell El so many fibs- I could write a book full of them! :-/

Lastly, we walk over the John Gay Bridge and we are almost home. This Bridge has been completely under water...

a lot!

Now some pics of me and one of the best walking partners ever...

"Noah can you tell me where I dropped my phone!?"

p.s My 'Phil and Ted' stroller is the best! I knew it would be a good great investment. Thank you Phil and Ted... whoever you both are.