Thursday – Travelling
Travelling to and from Geoquest is always an epic in
itself. We had the CRV packed to the hilt and I was the only one doing the
event….Jan was the designated driver and Susie Williams-Blissner along for the
ride as support crew! Gary was lucky to even make it to Geoquest, having his
house broken into and their car stolen just days earlier……luckily the thieves
were not into adventure racing, as Gary still had all his gear! After travelling
for 10 ½ hrs we arrived at Harrington at
around 4pm and we headed to the cute little house at Crowdy Head, which was certainly ‘crowdy’, as somehow we managed to fit 12 people over the weekend. I went for a
bit of an explore of Crowdy Head National Park by bike and returned to find
Gary all geared up in his new race outfit……the shark fishermen down at the
harbour didn't know what they were looking at!
Friday – Registration, Briefing,
Competencies, Kids Race, & Maps
Early morning is like the calm before the storm……we check
and rechecked that we had all our gear! Gary has 3 tubs, me one tub, 1 duffle
bag, and a food bag……we fit glow sticks to boats & PFD’s…. check we have
everything for the bikes…….then check on our team mates! The boys (Nick and Jaysen)
are still on the road with our extra support crew member – Pommie! We register
at 11 and the boys arrive at the Harrington Pub for the briefing. Gary gets an
exemption from the competencies as he is one of only two who have done more
than 10 Geoquest’ s …..this would be my 8th Geoquest and the 1st for the boys….so Jaysen, Nick and I had to get into the kayak,
capsize get back in again and swim. Gary just watched on with a smirk on his
face! We spruiked ourselves up for the team photo and then sat back and relaxed
as the kids race was underway…..Gary’s 3 girls were out there as were Jan and
Susie as volunteers!
Saturday – Geoquest Begins
Leg 1 Paddle 16k (Crowdy
Head – Diamond Head)
We get all geared up for the start at the lighthouse atop
Crowdy Head. The excitement builds and
as the mayor sounds the siren…Gary is off first off the mark down the hill……we
get to the ski’s in no time and soon we set off out to sea! What looked like
perfect conditions, was in reality the opposite….it was a bumpy mess out
there…..Gary and I both feeling unstable as we were wearing shoes / not paddle
footwear…shortening the leg length and reducing stability….the boys were having
the same trouble and had a couple of swims along the way……lucky they had been
practicing for weeks in the surf……getting in and out of the Fenn XT!!!! The
paddle finished at the beautiful Dunbogan Beach, at Diamond Head where waters
were calm blue and beautiful…..support crews would have had no idea how tough
conditions were out there for teams……I was certainly glad the be on dry land!
Leg 2 – Trek &
Swim 19k (Diamond Head – Laurieton)
We had a lightning fast transition as planned; food was
in packs ready to go, as we had a swim and compulsory PFD’s for the leg. We
just kept ours on! We raced around Diamond Head in what seems like no time at
all and headed towards the lake for the swim…..our team carried inflatable kids
Lilo’s and we blew these up as we ran. Nick the lifeguard ditched his, as he
kept slipping off, however for Jaysen, Gary and I this was just great….keeping
the chill off our upper bodies. We punched CP 4 and it was not long before we
were running up the ‘North Brother’….yes we ran a lot….we shocked quite a few
Geo Half Teams at this point and Team Rogue! CP 5 at the Trig Point was an easy find, so after reaching the summit and the views, I set a cracking pace
down the lovely trail off North Brother in Dunbogan National Park….the trail
was lots of stairs and switchbacks….just the way I like it!
Leg 3 – Paddle 16k
(Laurieton – Ross Glen)
We were in 3rd place at this stage, trailing
Macpac and Outer Limits by less than 20mins. We could just see them in the
distance as we paddled towards CP B, A, the C. They did not opt for the
portage, but we did…..we took a risk that it would not be too shallow……it paid
off…..we did not catch the leaders but did not loose any time either and put
some time into Team Rogue who were catching us. I was freezing…..so we just
paddled harder and faster…..and soon we arrived at the TA Ross Glen.
Leg 4 – Trek 15k (Ross
Glen – Old Batar Creek Quarry, Middle Brother State Forest)
We were wet and I was cold, so we did a full change into dry
clothes….the plan was for no more changes for the race……and with some epic
treks ahead a nice set of clean socks can help prevent blisters! This TA took a
little longer, as we had to also plot 8 CP’s (D – M) on the map and plan a
route which included collected CP 8 plus 8 of the possible CPs D-M …..J was
compulsory….it was the famous Bird Tree…the biggest Tree in Australia. We opted
for D,M,J,L,K,H,G through the TA (just to excite the support crew) and finished
with F. We saw three teams on this leg – Macpac, Outer Limits and Rogue. Macpac
were travelling extremely fast…..but we felt we were ahead of the others! K was
a long way down…..quite deceiving really, but it was much less off tack than E,
which we left out! We took a bit too long on F not fining the track out of the
TA, but bush bashed our way to the creek…..it was now night time as the light
had totally faded……this creek would have been amazing in the daylight……and full
of rapids if in flood. We ran down the flat rocks and punched F and exited via
the track back to the TA…..we were in 2nd place….ahead of outer
Limits…..1hour down on Macpac!
Leg 5 – MTB 50k (Old
Batar Creek Quarry, Middle Brother State Forest – Swans Crossing)
It was by this time after 6pm, pitch black and so far we
had not touched our bikes…..so we were ready to hit the trails…..we had 5 maps
to get through……and the contours were so finely printed on the map it was
difficult to tell what the terrain would really be like! We had a nice descent,
but then a nasty 1k climb…..our Ay Up’s were ensuring we had good clear vision
and we just motored along at a good pace…..we located CP 10 & 11 without
any trouble, but found 2 Geo Half Teams searching for CP12….we retraced our
steps…..and were sure in the right place…..just as Outer limits caught us…and we found the the CP. We exit there together……and arrive at CP 13 at the Tennis Court at
Hannam Vale together…..we seemed stronger….as I did not need to get towed…so we
made a brake and pushed our way up to CP 14
(a waterfall) and exited just as Outer limits were arriving. We got
ahead again but only to be caught again searching the creek for CP15. It was to
be found on a creek junction….but we could not find one……all I found was a
fresh-water crayfish……hiding amongst the rocks wondering what all the fuss was about.
We thought this must not be right….went about another 300m along the
trail....and came to another crossing……and Jaysen spotted the CP in the
distance….we still had the ride around the trail to get to it……Outer limits
were now just one step ahead of us……but we soon got ahead following some steep
descents and pinchy climbs! We hammered to the TA choosing to take the minor
trails 2.5k as opposed to 5.5k on major trail……well we were devastated to find that Outer Limits
had put 20 minutes into us! Lesson learned!
Leg 6 - Trek 14k
(Swans Crossing – Comboyne Showgrounds)
Leg 7 - MTB 38k (Comboyne
Showgrounds – Lansdowne State Forrest)
Our spirits had really lifted now…..as we had not lost
places…..only time……Outer Limits were 2hrs ahead and we still had 4 legs
remaining. Our support crew were certainly excited to see us….they had no
access to spot tracking, so had no idea what had happened to us……it was now
daylight….but chilly as the cloud had mostly lifted and it seemed like a
perfect day for a ride! When we left this TA we would not see our support crew
until the last paddle….it was the time to have a break, as the next TA was
unsupported. This ride was tough…..we set out past Mt Bulli being chased by
James Pitman the photographer….. Gary shot
to the front to look good for the photos…..and Nick dropped his chain! We had
commenced the climb……and it was endless! The climb to CP 22 was tough enough….but it
just did not stop going up, up, and up! Nick towed me for a bit….but the bungee
was so stretched it was cutting off my fingers….so I opted just to ride. We
travelled along Big Nellie Road to CP23 Flat rock Lookout…..with magical views
out to the South East. Then another 5k or so to Newby’s Lookout, all in the
Coorabakh National Park. The pace was not fast….but were riding most of it …..
I did have to get off a few times. Finally a bit of relief along Coopernook
Trail with the climbs turning into more
pleasant undulations…..it was a huge relief to make it to TA 7 to find that
Outer Limits were just over an hour ahead…….we had caught up quite a bit.
Leg 8 – Split Trek 5k (Lansdowne State Forrest)
Gary and Nick teamed up to collect CP P, N & R.
Jaysen and I headed for CP S. I was not going to risk going to CPQ even though
it seemed so close…..just wanted to play it safe! We managed to get back in
about 45mins and I got a 5 minute break to sit back relax and eat my corn
chips, while Jaysen and I waited for Gary & Nick. We were in and out to the
TA in about an hour…so not bad…..same as Outer Limits!
Leg 9 – MTB Rogaine 20k (Lansdowne State Forrest – Coopernook Wharf)
We just had to collect CP27 and 3 of 4 CP’s (T, U, V, W,
X) and then not forget CP28. The good thing was that because we were up so
high……there was going to be some awesome descending….and there was…..but I
still can’t forget the climbing that we did! We opted to go the route U, W, X
and this worked well; I think Macpac chose this option too! The trail up to CP
X was a bit tricky to find….but we could see the high point…so not a drama!
Leg 10 – Paddle 13k (Coopernook
Wharf – Harrington)
Our support crew were so excited to see us…..Kylie had
hot chips….I ate all the crispy fatty ones….as I had struggled to eat a bit
earlier on the bike. I had to get these
down fast….as we did not have time to waste we were heading for a podium finish
and we thought Rogue were still on our tail. It was great to finish with a
paddle in the daylight……and Gary & I we were paddling like pros ….according
to Jaysen! We tried to jump on the back of a cruiser boat….but it was going a
bit too fast! In less than 1hr we had punched our final CP and heading for the
pub…..and the finish line! We were greeted by Pommie at the bank…and gatherer
all our compulsories….and make to 500m trek to the finish like…..we were stiff
tired….but nothing was going to stop us now! We crossed the line at 3.03pm in
31hrs and 3 minutes in 3rd place…. greeted by Craig & Louse from
Geocentric, Kylie & Family, Jan,
Susie & Pommie, our wonderful support crew! I was shortly bundled up
in a sleeping bag and animal fur hat….as it was cold and windy……but nothing was
stopping me from enjoying a bottle of Champagne with my team! Gary and I headed
to the pub later than night for a well-earned STEAK!
Part of the experience of doing Geoquest year after year,
is listening to the stories afterwards from friends and fellow adventure
racers. The winners of the Geo Half were doing their first ever big race
together and it was great to hear about their race at the breakfast! The
stories from teams who braved multiple capsizes in Leg 1 in shark invested
waters will certainly be on the tips of many tongues for a long time.
Discussion about the track to CP 18 was certainly a hot topic……as many teams
just thought it did not exist….how lucky were they! The town of Harrington
might never be the same…..as according to the local shopkeeper we are a ….and
have inspired the town to get fit….and get out there!
Support Crew:- Kylie
& Family (Diggie, Dersley, Emily, Charlotte, Sarah)
Jan
Susie
Pommie
Sponsors:- Mountain
Designs
Tri
Adventure
Ay
Up Lights
Hammer
Nutrition
Salomon
Photography:- James Pitman
