Last day...6.13km added

Friday 31st Oct Well, here we are folks. Thanks to RFDS for giving me a reason to get active for a great cause. Thanks to all who donated and cheered me on. Thanks to my 2 4 legged fur girls. My #1 team. I would not have managed to get so far so fast if they had not been by my side (or front, or back...depending where the best smells were!). They bore up under the relentless drive I unleashed (no pun intended) on them as only pedigreed dogs are expected to. Yes, we had a hiccup midway, but they got me through the times I would have rather slept in or missed a day by their enthusiam 99% of the time. God bless them. Looking onwards to the next years challenge! Share

Day 29 challenge

Wednesday 29th Oct Enjoying the effort, now! Share

Hot, hot, hot!

Monday 27th Oct Still managed 6+ today despite the heat. Share

Day 25 challenge

Saturday 25th Oct Nice, cloudy and cool start to the morning ( considering the low overnight was 21C!), so the girls & I took advantage and got our 5klm in early. Share

Wind in my sails!

Thursday 23rd Oct The heats still around but a refreshing wind from the east has blown in today to help me get mu klms up during breaks at work. Someone upstairs must approve of my efforts to bless me so! Share

Day 22 continue on

Wednesday 22nd Oct Still going strong! Share

Back in action

Tuesday 21st Oct Still going. slower now that my target waa achieved. I feel so much better after this effort, I intend to keep it up! Share

Day 19 challenge - in the bag!

Sunday 19th Oct Had to do it today as todays marks a milestone birthday - the big 6-oh -(as in oh, my aching feet!) Thanks to everyone of my supporters!! The RFDS and I salute you! Share

Day 18 challenge (midday entry)

Saturday 18th Oct Getting there. Its a glorious day out there...a bit too glorious for this little duck to walk a fast walk in the midday sun, but I will persevere and get to the 90klm mark before this day is DONE! Share

Day 18, back to morning walks (praise god!)

Saturday 18th Oct I admit finding the effort to walk in the afternoon heat and humidity this past week has been challenging. By Friday, I had all but convinced myself I needed a day of rest. But if I have learned anything through this challenge, its that taking the easy road gets you nowhere..fast. I did manage a short solo walk yesterday..2.1klm, under the proviso that I'd smash out 6 klm today and get to 90klm. I set the alarm early so the dogs and I could hit the pavement at 5am for a 2klm walk/scratch-n-sniff. I'll do the next 4klm solo, during breaks in my work day. The finish lines just over the hill now! Share

Day 16 challenge

Thursday 16th Oct Just a quick solo walk tonight before dark due to some muscle soreness. Hopefully after a nice epsom salt soak tonight, she'll be right enough for a longer walk tomorow. Share

Day 15 challenge

Wednesday 15th Oct Walked solo tonight intending to reach the 80klm mark (yay!) My times dropping a bit since I am struggling with some sore muscles, but the winner is the one who overcomes the obstacles their mind creates as roadblocks the moment perfection isn't achieved. Dogs were fine when I got home from work. After yesterdays award-winning performance, I wasn't going to take the chance that I'd get a klm into a 6 klm walk and have to call it a day. I'm on the downhill side of this now..just need 17klm to meet my target! Share

Solo walk

Tuesday 14th Oct Got my 5 klm in today despite the girls shenannigans! Share

Kelpie takes out acadamy award in the category of: best actor in a fake paw injury to stop walking

Tuesday 14th Oct Headed out after work to get my 5klms in with both dogs. About 700 metres into the walk, my kelpie x started hobbling. I tried to look for a bindi, but she would not let me near her paw. Slowed way down and kept going. Another klm down the road and everything she stepped on made her wince and limp on that paw. Again, tried to look & help, no dice. She even had my very empathetic staghound worried. Trying to help by getting in the way whenever I tried to see her siaters paw and giving me kisses to distract me from my veterinary duties. Went a little further and I was worried I would have to carry a 33 klg dog if she wound up lame, so we turned for home, trying to avoid bindi plants. Mission Impossible. We slowed way down and had a rest in some long cool grass under a weeping lemon tea tree near a canal, (hoping the rest would allow her to let me see her foot 🫩🙄 not a chance!) and got told off by a very cheeky and surprisingly unafraid gallah. We were obviously bothering it when it was trying to get a drink. So, we got up and kept slowly making our way home. We were coming around the last corner with the house nearly in view, when, what I can only ascribe to a miracle of divine intervention happened: all of a sudden the limp disappeared entirely. In fact, not only did the limp disappear, a cracking pace was set by the aforementioned invalid. It was then I realised I'd been had. My dog had collaborated with her sibling to cut the walk short. Maybe the award should be for best ensemble. One things for certain: our dogs got us figured out 😂 Share

Day 13 challenge

Monday 13th Oct Humid and warm after a solid nigjt of rain, so I knocked out the first 1.8klm by walking around my patio and using an indoor walking machine. Sadly, I had trouble getting my pedometre software to accurately count my indoor walking, so I lost out on about 500 steps/ph that I did which didn't make it onto the counter. I hate technology unless it works. I much prefer the outside exercise. I love the scenery and the wildlife and for these reasons its easy to stay motivated. knocked out another 2klm right after work on a solo walk. Still waiting to see if it cools down enough for the girls to have a short walk before sunset. Share

Day 12 challenge (to get dogs going!)

Sunday 12th Oct Got going early after a warm day yesterday so we could catch the cool of the morning. The girls started out strong..showing interest in the leads, and setting a cracking pace, for about 500 mtrs. Then they decided sniffing is better than walking. It was a battle to get any speed up after that. Next week will prove challenging as I'll be at work when I would normally walk, so we'll be doing afternoon walks in the heat of the day. 🥵 But at least it will be a solid 24 hours of rest before the girls have to walk again. May be just what the Dr ordered to get them out of this slump and back up to speed. With the week of training walks prior to the challenge thats 12 days in, we've walked a total of 90 klm in the past 3 weeks. I believe all 3 of us are champions for accomplishing this! Extra treatos for the team today! Share

Later, that same day... (day 11)

Saturday 11th Oct I managed to get both dogs iut for a slow 2 klm walk this afternoon, after going solo this morning for 4klm, then kept going for almost another 2klm alone after returning them to the house. They get full marks for getting at least 2 klms in. Might just need more pooch pampering upon our return. Share

Day 11, and its mutiny!

Saturday 11th Oct Woke up to do our usual early walk and the dogs scampered off out the back when I readied their leads and harnesses. So I fed them and went off on my own. Mutineers, the lot of them! 🫩 Since I didn't have my hands full with dogs to control, I found some runaway shopping trolleys abd returned them. It slowed down my klm/hr, but it felt good to do a good deed whilst doing a good deed. 😇 Also, since no dogs wanted to come, I took the opportunity to break my walk and had myself a nice maccas pancake and OJ brekkie. In fairness yesterday was a long, hard walk, so giving them a day of rest was warranted. So long as God blesses me each day with breath in my lungs and the ability to carry on, I will walk and not grow faint. Tomorrow, this team walks!! Share

Smashing records, day 10

Friday 10th Oct Last night the dogs and I walked 2.3 klm before dark, after a long day of chores and shopping left little time for our usual morning walk. So we got up early and hit the pavement, hoping to do 7 klm or more before thse dogs wore out. We managed 7.5 klm in just 1.19 hours. We avg around 5 klms in just over an hour, so I was pretty happy with this result and I felt like I could still carry on.. The dogs, on the other hand....(😅 I'm a mean team leader! a slave driver, if you ask them! just look at the picture taken after todays walk) - well, my dogs are exhausted, thirsty, and out of steam - but still giving it their best. My 2 little Aussie Battlers 🥰. Share

Beautiful morning walk

Tuesday 7th Oct We 3 girls started off walking in the dark, and were blessed to see this magnificient sunrise today (the photo does not do it justice). I can tell our fitness levels are improving, with the 2 gradual but lengthy hills on our walk taken at the same pace as the flat parts. My teammates are finally starting to realise a few sniffs here and there is okay, but our mail goal is to walk as far as we can for the time we have, and they really impressed me today by keeping a brisk pace throughout most of the 4klms. Share

Celebration walk!

Monday 6th Oct Last night the Broncos took out the NRL premiership, as well as the Kings Birthday holiday, so todays early morning walk through the streets of a Brisbane suburb was quiet as 🤫, whilst the locals still slept. It was glorious! No interuptions, just walking and enjoying nature waking up to another glorious day in Brisbane! Share

Half-day sunday

Sunday 5th Oct I went walking later than usual this morning, and the dogs were not keen to keep going hard as the heat set in, a lot of sniffing and getting pets from everyone we encountered saw our time per klm dropl back down, but as it warmed up fast this morning, calling it early was unanimous! Share

All work and no walk (until after work!)

Saturday 4th Oct Had a goal to walk at least 2 klm during my 3, 25-minute breaks, at work today. Managed to walk during 2 of the breaks, for a total of 2.8 klms. Once the heat set in, that was me out. After work, had just enough sunlight left to get my 2 furry, but fantastic, teammates in their walking harnesses and hit the road. We did good speed, getting though 3.7 klms in 35 minutes. (screen shot of total of days walking effort. Its improving!) Share

3 days in...

Friday 3rd Oct I have walked a total of 17 klms for the challenge, and my 4-paws (or is it 4-pause?!) team has walked 12 of those with me. (I have let support know theres a few double entries inflating the total by 11 klms) My teammates are already showing their made of the right stuff and getting on with the task at hand. Their walking so far, including training the week before the challenge, equating to a total of 36 klms in 10 days. Unlike their leader, their little feet pads are holding up well. I decided a few days ago that Hoka's were a much better walking shoe than the steel capped boots I was using. It was worth spending a small fortune on my feet for this challenge to ensure I achieved the goal. Once again, thanks to my supporters for donating to the RFDS and encouraging me! Share

Day 4 training

Saturday 27th Sep The early bird gets the 🪱, but I saw no worms today as the 3 of us walked in the dark, before work called, and the hot weekend days make walking a chore. We managed just under 4, but thats nearly 4 more than b-4 so we'll take the win!! Share

Pit stop crew (training day 3)

Friday 26th Sep Day 3 and we"ve had a slight improvement on time and distance (4.7 klms in 49 minutes). As the 3 of us were walking, I realised we don't just walk...we pit stop. The 2 girls stop to smell the scents, (see photos) and I stop to havachat with the neighbours, using every opportunity to tell them about the RFDS fundraiser. I even mentioned the fundraiser to the Woolies customer shopping lady I encountered yesterday, who was madly scurrying up the aisles of Woolies with her trolley, filling online orders. All she had to do was enter the fundraiser and clock her walk/run as she filled orders. I might just pitch this to the RFDS 🙂 THANKS to all my supporters. Those that have mentioned joining me are welcome at any time (I can even leave my pit crew at home if you want. 🐕‍🦺🐕‍🦺 But its a good way to exhaust out the pets as well as feel great!) Share

Day 2 (Training)

Thursday 25th Sep We (dogs and I) did our 4 klms in 50 minutes. I believe I saw a 🐌 speeding by us at one point! Share

Day 1..off, and walking

Wednesday 24th Sep Downloaded a pedometre app, then took the dogs for their usual walk. While our dog walk is not going to beat any time records, we had a great walk, made loads better by knowing we were doing it for the Royal Flying Doctors cause. To all my supporters, thank you. You are welcome to come on board at any time with a dobation during this challenge month, with any amount. Until next time! Share

Big shout out to anonymous!!

Wednesday 24th Sep Its believing in one another that gets us across the line. Your donation goes a long way towards ensuring I accomplish this challenge for a great cause! Thank you for being so generous. ❤️ God Bless You. Share